Its hard to believe that there is a single soul today that hasn’t heard of the benefits of eating organicly. Or thought to go organic at some point. If one puts aside the undeniable price increase a family is burdened with if the decision to go “organic” is made, it is doubtful to me that most would choose the pesticide laden produce over the organic.
For those that have friends that have been considering buying organics, here’s a site that will get them a free starter kit (a 9 page downloadable booklet explaining the benefits of organics) if they commit to eating 10% organic. It sounds like an easy way to start.
Mission: Organic
No, this is not a joke. I’ve been stewing over this for a number of days now. I just can’t figure out who had to be asleep at the wheel for this to happen.
The Agriculture Department of Pennsylvania has deemed that milk labels that state “rBST-free” or “hormone free” are no longer permitted. Do you want to know the reasoning behind this? Hold on to your hats. Here is a direct quote from Monsanto spokesman, Michael Doane, in speaking about the hormone free label, ”implies to consumers, who may or may not be informed on these issues, that
there’s a health-and-safety difference between these two milks, that
there’s ‘good’ milk and ‘bad’ milk, and we know that’s not the case.”
And if you are wondering what Monsanto has to do with PA dairy regulations….maybe it has to do with their request to the FTC to take action against dairies using “hormone free” labels. Their request was denied. But they obviously have friends in high PA places.
Monsanto, the only manufacturer of rBST (also known as recombinant bovine growth hormone - rBGH) also sued a small Maine dairy back in 2003 due to their “hormone free” labeling practices. Monsanto claimed…guess what? The same exact claims made by the Pennsylvania Agriculture Dept. I am looking into if they won the suit or not.
The rBST hormone has been approved in the US since 1994 but is is banned in the European Union, Canada, Australia and Japan. Under FDA policy, food companies are allowed to make claims on labels that they do not use rBST, as long they do not “mislead consumers” to believe milk from cows without rBST is safer or of higher quality.
So Monsanto is sleeping with the PA government. It is said that Ohio is also looking into a similar ban. Please contact your representatives and let them know that if THEY too sleep with Monsanto, that you will not support them!
This is too hysterical not to share. Aside from some darn amusing tactics, you are joining hands with a good cause and a number of groups that support true organic practices in the dairy industry. Without our support and involvement, organic practices will be allowed to erode.
So join our bovine sisters for free and get your posters and blog badges, as well as your map sticky.
I just love Mike Adams! Can everyone relate?
My husband tells me I have a hypersensitive sense of smell but I think its ONLY to chemicals. Perfumes, fake aromatherapy candles, etc…..all make me tense up (among other lovely things like headaches, itchiness, watery eyes). If I’m suddenly in close quarters with someone who is doused in perfume/cologne, you can bet that ALL I’m thinking about is how to get away FAST.
Toxic Perfume Lady (comic)
I’m thinking its a really good thing that the media has recently been focusing on Bisphenol A, pthalates and PBDE’s. If you’ve not had a chance to glance at the news lately, bottom line is that these chemicals are used in a variety of every day products and are proving to be a burden to our bodies, especially our little ones. Bisphenol A is used in hard plastic, think baby bottles. Its also used in the plastic that lines food cans. PBDE’s are flame retardants and used in TV’s, sofas, mattresses. Pthalates are used not only in cosmetics but are the main softener used in polyvinyl chloride (think soft plastic….like baby toys).
All of these chemicals are labeled “endocrine disrupters” as they can block natural hormone functions and they have been shown to cause genetic changes in the reproduction system (low sperm count, egg production disruption, changes in breast/testicular tissue). Endocrine disrupters are the cause of the sex changes that we’ve seen in amphibians and fish. JUST what you want to be experimenting on your bodies, heh?
A recent collaborative of environment groups across the country tested a small group of volunteers representing a cross section of the population (ranging in age from 12 to 50). All were found to have these three chemicals in their bodies. This small monitering mimics the results of a recent CDC study of over 2,500, where 92% were found to have Bisphenol A in their urine.
One of the things that has always driven me bonkers about this chemical issue is that the responses we get from the powers that be are always singular. Meaning, they respond to the outcry against each individual chemical as if it is not really the sum of our entire exposure that is important. No one is regulating or calculating our entire body burden and no one who markets chemicals in any way (from personal care to plastics) is stepping up to take responsibility.
Anyhow, back to my point of the recent media attention. I think its important that we don’t let this topic die. That we continue to talk and blog about it and thereby keep it active enough for the news media to report on.
Here’s a quiz you can take to get an idea of YOUR body burden. http://extras.insidebayarea.com/bodyburden/bodyburden.html
