WEB POSTED 11-21-2000

MURDER IF YOU DON'T KNOW IS SUICIDE IF YOU DO!!!

Recently at an annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Doctor Lynn R. Goldman delivered a speech entitled "Pesticides, Pathogens and Pollutants: How Safe is the Food Children Eat?" According to news reports, a half hour after the session in which she participated, the noted doctor was still trying to get out the door. One of the questions which stood out was a doctor�s inquiry concerning the dioxin levels in milk. Dr. Goldman described dioxin in our food supply as "a very real threat." In answer to another question, the Johns Hopkins pediatrician and researcher stated that the Food and Drug Administration has not yet decided whether to routinely test for dioxin levels.

"Eating fresh foods is generally a good and healthy practice," Dr. Goldman assured her questioners. "You can form good lifelong habits in a child. My 4-year-old loves fruits and vegetables. I don�t want to discourage that."

What she does encourage is greater awareness of the fact that pesticides, pollutants and pathogens can be even more harmful to children than to adults.

"The government," she says, "must now analyze how the same pesticide has multiple pathways into a child�s body, such as through foods, drinking water or household products." She further pointed out that the Environmental Protection Agency has set the year 2006 as a deadline for a complete analysis of the safety of food in the United States.

The current stir is centered around genetically altered foods �sometimescalled "Frankenfood"� which is the result of unscrupulous farmers tampering with the very nature of plants in order to increase the yield (and, therefore, the profit). Every time I read of this practice, which is in the news quite frequently recently, I am reminded of a Biblical quote which describes the actions of a man who presumes to improve upon the work of The Creator Himself. The Book of 2Thessalonians, Chapter 2: Verse 4 says of this arrogant on, ".... he AS God, sitteth in the temple OF God, showing himself that he IS God!"

Out in Plano, Texas, Frito-Lay Inc. reportedly is seeking to purchase corn that is not genetically modified for use in Fritos corn chips and Doritos tortilla chips. An executive of one of Frito-Lay�s competitors was quoted as fearing that the chip company will suddenly spring "... out from behind a bush and bash us with a label" boasting that Frito products are free of genetically modified ingredients.

Japan is described as a "latecomer" among the nations that are beginning to shun genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for food, but has "already resulted in a rush by importers and retailers to seek non-GMO products." Food companies say, however, that, unlike Europeans, "most U.S. consumers aren�t concerned about GMO foods."

In the "Strange Bedfellows" department, not only are Gerber, Heinz and Frito-Lay becoming circumspect about GMOs. Away back in February of this year, the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES stated in a front page article, "Seagram said its wines and spirits are GMO free".

Amen for the healthy drunks!