http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/41161.html

By Kristen Davenport For The New Mexican (SantaFe, NM newspaper, March 22, 2006

Bill would take food-label rights away from states

“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

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/genetic_engineering/

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.

Other food & labeling issues you can worry about

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.

Bad Fats

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 sourcesAmerican Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4776National Institute of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002468.htm

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.

The Good Fats

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 antibiotic-resistant bacteria that we all need to contend with.

Other food & labeling issues you can worry about

Antibiotics

Other food & labeling issues you can worry about

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.

Hormone additions

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 TechnologyProblems

• Development of resistance by pests

• Resurgences and secondary pest outbreaks

• Adverse environmental and health effects

pesticidetreatment

pesticidetreatment

History of Pesticide Resistance

Chemical TechnologyProblems

• 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

• 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

Human Health Effects

Bioaccumulation Biomagnification

• Cultural control (hygiene)

• Control by natural enemies– Introduce or encourage predators of the pest

• Genetic control

• Natural chemical control

Natural Pest 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

Genetic Control

Natural Chemical Control

• Manipulation of pests’ hormones or pheromones to disrupt the life cycle.

• Japanese beetle trap.

Integrated Pest ManagementIPM

• 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?