wellerworld

I am sorry for my absence of the past month or so, I have been in mourning for our food supply, such as it is. 

In my humble opinion, it seems the USDA has lost it’s ever loving mind. After Monsanto’s loss was hailed as a wonderful victory on NPR, the USDA rushed through approval of GMO alfalfa. Then they followed up with GMO ethanol corn and beets in February. What were they thinking? 

Ethanol fuel uses more fuel to produce than it produces and clogs up motors. That makes sense. Alfalfa is a crop that has never been talked about as an “at risk” for little critters or diseases. I have no idea what the story is with beets, except of course, they want to start planting in the spring, so you have to approve it. If anyone understands beets, please, enlighten me. 

The “Food Safety Modernization Act” was put through Congress with so many tricks that even the people who had voted against it didn’t know they were voting for it at the last moment. President Obama signed it with much flair. Did anyone actually read the thing except me and the lobbyists? http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ353/pdf/PLAW-111publ353.pdf 

It appears we now have the door open for Codex, depending on what happens behind closed doors without asking for input from any of us. Also, and more to the point, the FDA has been handed control of our much of food supply.  Have they done such a terrific job with keeping us safe from drugs that they deserve expanded oversight? 

In the 90’s I was part of the movement to keep local farmers in control of their land by keeping out contract farming. A service I had the opportunity to retire from when the Water Keepers took up the banner. You can watch a movie and go to the Hill if you’d like http://www.pigbusiness.co.uk/pig-business-events/capitol-hill-march-2011/ 

Now Monsanto’s contracts read much the same as the meat producer’s did then (and I’m sure still do). Use their stuff, they take your money, you lose control of your land, you get the liability for environmental damage…forever. Here’s a great link to their contract story http://healthfreedoms.org/2011/03/02/monsanto-shifts-all-liability-to-farmers/ . You may read the “Stewardship” agreement for yourself. 

(Although I do not necessarily agree with the efficacy of the products recommended by this group, most their editorials are right on the mark). You might also enjoy the one on soy. I sure did as every time I ask a client, or anyone else, so you are eating soy why? Do you not like your hormonal system? Has it done something to offend you? 

So, back to the original question, “Is it food or is it fill?” The answer is fill. As in, it takes up space in your body without providing the benefits of food. It also takes up space on land that could be producing food that would actually nourish us. The flip side? It’s very pretty in a grocery store display, so colorful and uniform and long lasting.