http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/41161.html
Bill would take food-label rights away from states
By Kristen Davenport For The New Mexican (SantaFe, NM newspaper, March 22, 2006
“A bill that would forbid states from labeling food products unless the
federal government allows it passed through the House of Representatives
last week without a single committee hearing.”
“No research to date has conclusively shown that genetically modified
foods are harmful to human health. However, organic farmers (and some
scientific researchers**) say GMOs are a threat to biodiversity and that
pollen from such engineered crops threatens to drift into organic gene
pools.”
“So far, no states require labeling on all GMO crops, although the European
Union requires all food containing GMOs to be labeled as such.”
** my addition to quote
More complete coverage on website of Union of
Concerned Scientists
corn, soybeans, and cotton
corn and soy used in food processing, small amounts of engineered
ingredients show up in a majority of processed food products.
But most foods—the vast majority of vegetables, grains, fruits, and
nuts—remain unaltered.
Of the eight other engineered food plants allowed in U.S. grocery
stores, it appears that only engineered canola and papaya are currently
available.
Among food animals, only engineered fish are under active
consideration by U.S. regulators.
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/genetic_en
gineering/
Other food & labeling issues you can worry about
Bad Fats
Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as bad cholesterol
(LDL).
Found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood & some
plants such as coconut, palm oil and palm kernel oil.
Trans Fats were invented by hydrogenating liquid oils to withstand better in
food production process and provide a better shelf life.
raises bad cholesterol levels(LDL) and lowers good cholesterol (HDL)
Found in many packaged foods: french Fries from some fast food chains,
other packaged snacks such as microwaved popcorn as well as in
vegetable shortening and hard stick margarine
Jan 1 2006, US requires labeling of these fats. Some packaged products
have removed them.
Hydrogenated: oils that have become hardened, an oil
becomes saturated when hydrogen is added (i.e., becomes
hydrogenated).
Partially hydrogenated: oils that have become partially
hardened and contain high levels of trans fatty acids, which
are linked to heart disease. (Look at the ingredients in the
food label.)
Info compiled from following sources
American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4776
National Institute of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002468.htm
The Good Fats
Monounsaturated Fats: lower total cholesterol and LDL
cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and increase the HDL
cholesterol (the good cholesterol).
Nut, canola and olive oils are high in monounsaturated fats.
Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL
cholesterol.
Seafood like salmon and fish oil, as well as corn, soy, safflower
and sunflower oils are high in polyunsaturated fats. Omega 3
fatty acids belong to this group.
Other food & labeling issues you can worry about
Antibiotics
 Most cows, chickens, and other livestock are raised under
confined, "factory-like" conditions & routinely given low levels
of antibiotics in their feed or water.
 The animals grow slightly faster and helps stave off
infection
~70 percent of antibiotics and related drugs made in the United
States are used for the purpose of fattening livestock.
 concern that they will increase the number of antibioticresistant bacteria that we all need to contend with.
Other food & labeling issues you can worry about
Hormone additions
Bovine growth hormone (Somatotropin), Stimulates milk
production in cows
Naturally occurs in cows milk but synthetic supplement given to
many milk cows
No proven health effects (http://www.milkismilk.com/)
rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) is a
controversial, genetically engineered version of the Bovine
Growth Hormone used for increasing milk production in cows.
Used in the United States, it is banned in Canada, Australia, &
New Zealand.
Organic dairy brands available locally; Horizon,
Stoneyfield Farm,
Local stores (Schorlings and Churchills) sell meat from
Amish farms w no hormones or antibiotics
Environmental Sciences: Towards
a Sustainable Future Chapter 17
Pests and Pest Control
Pest
Any organism (plant, animal,
microbe, fungus) that has a
negative effect on human health or
economics
The Early Years Of Chemical
Pest Control
• First-generation pesticides (inorganic)
– First attempt at chemical technology
– Included heavy metals such as arsenic and
lead
– Toxic to humans and agricultural plants
– Pests developed resistance
Chemical Technology
“Improvements”
• Second-generation pesticides
– Used after WWII
– Organic chemical
– Toxic to humans and agricultural plants
– Pests developed resistance
DDT: the magic bullet
–Cheap
–Broad-spectrum and persistent
–Effective for disease prevention (typhus fever,
malaria)
–Expanded agricultural production
–Paul Muller awarded Nobel prize in 1948
–Kills birds, lead to Silent Spring by Rachel
Carson
–Banned in U.S.
Ethics of DDT
Cheap & effective control of malaria (lethal disease
found in tropics).
Other means of prevention include mosquito netting
and window screens (more expensive)
Should people have access to DDT to treat their
homes?
Pesticide Use in the United States
Chemical Technology
Problems
• Development of resistance by pests
• Resurgences and secondary pest
outbreaks
• Adverse environmental and health
effects
pesticide
treatment
pesticide
treatment
History of Pesticide Resistance
Chemical Technology
Problems
• Resurgences: after “eliminating” a pest,
its population rebounds in even higher
numbers than previous levels.
• Secondary outbreaks: outbreaks of
species’ populations that were not
previously at pest levels.
Some Examples of Insect Food
Chains
Human Health Effects
• Cancer, dermatitis, neurological disorder,
birth defects, sterility, endocrine system
disruption, immune system depression
• Agricultural workers suffer acute poisoning
during pesticide application
• Aerial spraying and dumping bring pesticides
in contact with families and children
Bioaccumulation
Biomagnification
Natural Pest Control
• Cultural control (hygiene)
• Control by natural enemies
– Introduce or encourage predators of the pest
• Genetic control
• Natural chemical control
Genetic Control
• Plants or animals are bred to be
resistant to the attack of pests
• Introduction of genes into crops from
other species: transgenic crops
• Sterile males are released into pest
population
Natural Chemical Control
• Manipulation of
pests’ hormones or
pheromones to
disrupt the life cycle.
• Japanese beetle
trap.
Integrated Pest Management
IPM
• An approach to controlling pest
populations using all suitable methods chemical and ecological - in a way that
brings about long-term management of
pest populations and also has minimal
environmental impact
When is certified organic food worth your money?