Food sources – What are you really eating?

Concerned about food sources? If you are not, you need to read more on the subject. You probably know about the contaminated China pet food and spinach E-coli scare, because it was diligently reported by all the major news sources. Do you recognize these incidents as an isolated situation that once resolved will not happen again, or as a call to action? This is a call to action to the indifferent attitude of Americans towards demanding high standards for our food sources.

Fresh food consultant Edith Garrett and Associates (www.edithgarret.com) reports that there are 76 million cases of illness and 5,000 deaths a year due to food poisoning. While some of this food poisoning may be due to poor food storage and preparation, the recent mass recall of pet food and spinach is a major red flag to question and demand higher standards from food sources.

On June 7, 2007, United Food Group recalled 445,000 pounds of ground beef contaminated with E-coli. bacteria E-coli, not necessarily the deadly strain, is present in about 84% of beef on the shelves, according to a 1995 USDA study. E-coli bacteria are normally killed by thorough cooking to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, those who eat rare ground meat are more likely to get sick from the E-coli bacteria in the ground meat.

Industry specialist Peter Kovacs recently issued this warning in the Washington Post: “America is sitting on a tinderbox with the uncontrolled importation and distribution of substandard food ingredients.” Poorly handled American foods and some that are genetically altered add to the threat.

Some consumers clearly understand the danger–among multiple lifestyles as advocates of natural foods–those people most see as strange balls of granola and berries. They dress in natural fibers and eat only organic food. Some even take healthy eating a step further as they grow and compost food in the backyard. Having had the privilege of growing up on a cattle ranch and having parents who believed in raising all their own food, I am alarmed that the leaders of the USA (FDA) have become indifferent in demanding high standards for our food sources. It all comes down to making big profits is more important than having high quality food.

Nutraingredients-USA.com states, “Food safety takes on a new level of importance in 2007 and will underpin all food ingredient issues.” You, the consumer, must demand that our food sources meet high standards. While our leaders are complicit in big business and profit, you the consumer have the most powerful weapon, if you don’t buy the substandard food products these big business will be out of business in six months. What better way is there to demand what you deserve?

On the heels of tainted pet food and toothpaste from China, the World Net newspaper reported on June 7, 2007 at 1 a.m. pottery and other products contain significant amounts of lead.

I challenge you to protect your health: read every label, if you don’t know what the word means (don’t buy the product until you know the ingredient is safe). Last but not least, buy only organic food from organic farmers who started organic farming before the year 2000.

“Currently, up to 45 percent of US corn is GM, as is 85 percent of soybeans. It has been estimated that 70 to 75 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves, everything from soft drinks to soups to crackers to condiments contain GMO ingredients.”
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/28/more-trashing-organic-standards/