Bovine Growth Hormones, Monsanto, and the FDA, part 1

It was brought to my attention this week that a petition was started by Frederick Ravid to oust President Obama's appointment of Michael Taylor as senior advisor to the FDA.  Taylor's appointment came in 2009 but this news is resurfacing again in the hopes of making a change.  Why is this important and who is Michael Taylor?  Mr. Taylor happens to be the former vice-president and lobbyist for Monsanto, the lovely company that brought us Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH and rBST) and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  And don't get me started on the bullying they do on the good old-fashioned farmer that wants to grow clean, healthy crops.

In 1993 Monsanto started injecting their cows with genetically engineered bovine growth hormones in an effort to increase the milk supply.  What resulted was a milk filled with hormones and something called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which can increase your chances of getting cancer, especially colon and breast cancer.  This hormone, rBGH and rBST, is so dangerous that Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have all banned it and yet, it is found here in the USA thanks to Michael Taylor.  Monsanto bullied and threatened to sue the companies that insisted on labeling their milk and milk-products as rBGH-free.  Thankfully, we the people, made a change and you can now find these labels on organic milk and milk-products.  Although that is a win for us, Monsanto still fights to have this labelling made illegal.

On a side note, I have pulled out the organic milk from Archer Farms we have in the refrigerator and it states, "Our farmers pledge not to treat their cows with rBST.  No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated cows and non-rBST treated cows."  SERIOUSLY??  With all the proof that shows the horrible side effects of bovine growth hormone, the honest organic farmers out there still have to label their milk with this scathing lie.  Thank you Michael Taylor for not giving a shit about the health of the people of this country and focusing all of your time to lining your pockets with not just money but the disease-ridden souls of the people suffering at your hand.

I encourage all of you to sign this petition to get Michael Taylor out of the FDA: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269891&id=35461-18914749-37iPRBx&t=2

For a more in-depth article on this subject please visit: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/rbgh/.  The Sustainable Table also offers a very informative blog on all sorts of topics that are related to our environment.  http://www.ecocentricblog.org/

I would also like to share Jeffrey Smith's website http://www.responsibletechnology.org/ where you can learn about GMOs and how to create a non-GMO diet.

This is a very important and serious topic that we, as consumers, must take a stand on as it affects our farmers, our country, and our health.  For a bigger overview of our food industry please watch the documentary, "Food, Inc."  It will change the way you eat.  Making the slight change from regular milk to organic milk can make all the difference so please, especially those with young children, take the time to find organic milk and milk-products.

Okay, I'm putting the soapbox away but keeping it close by as I will be talking about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in the next few days.

In the meantime, eat wisely, read the ingredients in the foods you eat, and good health to you all!