The Monsanto Protection Act – “Farmer Assurance Provision, Section 735” – Promotes the Growth and Engineering of GMO Foods and Seeds Without Any Judicial Oversight or Regulation

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

The Monsanto Protection Act & What It Means For YOU

"Free from Any Judicial Litigation" – WAIT WHAT?!?!?!

The “Farmer Assurance Provision, Section 735”, known as the Monsanto Protection Act, is a provision that was slipped into the "Continuing Resolution" spending bill.  This spending bill is designed to prevent the government shutdown and sequester.  The Continuing Resolution bill, including the Farmer Assurance Provision, passed the house and was signed by President Obama on March 29, 2013.  A sub-committee slipped the provision into the bill anonymously.  However, news has spread that Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt (R) drafted the provision in direct conjunction with Monsanto.  His reasoning for supporting such a provision: "it is only a one-year protection.”

So, What Does this Do?

In short, the Farmer Assurance Provision, Section 735 "allows agribusiness giant Monsanto to promote and plant genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically engineered (GE) seeds, free from any judicial litigation that might decide the crops are unsafe".

It stipulates that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “ignore any court ruling that would otherwise halt the planting of new genetically-engineered crops.”  Typically, the USDA approves GMO products and seeds as long as they pass certain filing regulations and conditions.  Unfortunately, the USDA does not conduct thorough reviews or tests of the many submitted food products it receives.  To speed up the process, the USDA typically approves products without performing tests that study long term effects.

Tests of these controversial products are usually performed much later by independent groups.  Some are sponsored by Monsanto and conclude that these products are safe.  Others are sanctioned by independent groups funded by "the people" who are protecting their health interests.  Typically, results from studies not financed by Monsanto show that GMO products can increase the risk of cancer and cause adverse health issues.

GE and GMOs can damage the environment and introduce additional pesticides into the food supply endangering the health of all consumers.  The unfortunate truth is that 80% of the food supply is already contaminated by GMOs.  The effects to our health are unknown.  

Do you really want to be a guinea pig?

What can we do?

Fight this by mandating the labeling of GMO products on food labels:

http://justlabelit.org/

Spread the news on Facebook.  

Read these articles to find out why GMOs and GE seeds are bad for you, your neighbors, and the environment.

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/04/02/gmos-monsanto-protection-act/
http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/dangers.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/ge_vs_organic.cfm
http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/eight-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you.html
http://www.badseed.info/
http://dailybail.com/home/jon-stewart-exposes-the-monsanto-protection-act.html

Main Sources:

http://www.workers.org/2013/04/07/monsanto-protection-act-chemical-monopoly-writes-its-own-law/
http://dailybail.com/home/jon-stewart-exposes-the-monsanto-protection-act.html   

Aspartame and Other Artificial Sweetners in Milk and 17 Other Products – Coming Soon!

Friday, March 1st, 2013

Aspartame and Other Artificial Sweetners in Milk?

The dairy industry is trying to pass a petition to the amend the definition of milk to include artificial sweeteners including Aspartame as ingredients WITHOUT listing them on the label.  How can you possibly even consider redefining the definition of milk?  It's already loaded with hormones that get into the food supply and our bodies.  Haven't you noticed that the next generation continues to grow taller and stronger than previous generations?  I'm pretty sure it's because of the hormones…

Milk should be defined as "the stuff that comes from milking a healthy cow". Nothing else should be added to it.  Thus, I find it disturbing that the dairy industry would even propose such an amendment. 

What's Wrong With Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners have been proven to cause cancer in mice.  New studies also suggest that they cause blood cancers in humans!

What Can We Do To Stop This

Submit a Formal Comment voicing your concerns at the Federal Register using this link:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/02/20/2013-03835/flavored-milk-petition-to-amend-the-standard-of-identity-for-milk-and-17-additional-dairy-products

Here's my comment:

“If Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are used in milk products, I will avoid purchasing these products like the plague and will advise others to do the same. We the people have a fundamental right to know what ingredients have been used in our food products. We are consuming these products, which means we can be affected permanently by what we ingest! We are what we eat, and I don't want to have aspartame or any artificial sweetener in my system. Labels were created to protect consumers from misinformation and ingredients that could cause potential harm to the well-being of people. Therefore, ALL ingredients should be listed on the label including Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. We have a right to be informed and decide whether or not we want to purchase a product.

Neglecting to list artificial sweeteners as an ingredient raises a red flag. This implies that the safety of artificial sweeteners is controversial and that people would never purchase products containing artificial sweeteners willingly. This is the case, and for once, please do not let the money make the wrong decisions for the people! Passing this amendment could further hurt sales rather than help them. I doubt many people will increase consumption of milk products with the addition of artificial sweeteners. If anything, more people will avoid milk products altogether.

Artificial sweeteners are not natural products and have shown to cause cancer in mice.

Please advise against passing an amendment to the standard identity for milk and 17 additional dairy products.”

Write to your representatives.

We cannot allow this to pass!  If it does, boycott all milk products or be a guinea pig with your health.

Sources:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/artificial-sweeteners-milk

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/02/20/2013-03835/flavored-milk-petition-to-amend-the-standard-of-identity-for-milk-and-17-additional-dairy-products