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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
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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 foodsthe vast majority of vegetables,
  grains, fruits, and nutsremain 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
_engineering/
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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.
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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/p
resenter.jhtml?identifier4776 National Institute
of Health http//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/enc
y/article/002468.htm
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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.
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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
antibiotic-resistant bacteria that we all need to
contend with.
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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.milkism
ilk.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.
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Organic dairy brands available locally Horizon,
Stoneyfield Farm,
Local stores (Schorlings and Churchills) sell
meat from Amish farms w no hormones or antibiotics
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Environmental Sciences Towards a Sustainable
Future Chapter 17

• Pests and Pest Control

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Pest

• Any organism (plant, animal, microbe, fungus)
  that has a negative effect on human health or
  economics

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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

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Chemical TechnologyImprovements

• Second-generation pesticides
• Used after WWII
• Organic chemical
• Toxic to humans and agricultural plants
• Pests developed resistance

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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.

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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?
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Pesticide Use in the United States
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Chemical TechnologyProblems

• Development of resistance by pests
• Resurgences and secondary pest outbreaks
• Adverse environmental and health effects

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pesticide treatment
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History of Pesticide Resistance
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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.

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Some Examples of Insect Food Chains
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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

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Bioaccumulation Biomagnification
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Natural Pest Control

• Cultural control (hygiene)
• Control by natural enemies
• Introduce or encourage predators of the pest
• Genetic control
• Natural chemical control

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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

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Natural Chemical Control

• Manipulation of pests hormones or pheromones to
  disrupt the life cycle.
• Japanese beetle trap.

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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

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When is certified organic food worth your money?