E. Coli Recall in California. More Regulation Needed in Food Industry?

[HD MM]

See folks, sometimes regulation is a good thing. If we had more of it, perhaps Big-Ag wouldn't have the issue we have with food born illnesses that we do today....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/18/e-coli-alert-calif-compan_n_427597.html

[HDRoberts]

There is a lot that needs to be done in the food industry. Number 1 is stop subsidizing corn, and stop feeding it to cows. The science shows that e-coil thrives in the rumens of cows that eat corn, where it is much less a problem in grass-fed cows.

Number 2 is to get rid of big ag, and go back to small farms.

[HD MM]

There is a lot that needs to be done in the food industry. Number 1 is stop subsidizing corn, and stop feeding it to cows. The science shows that e-coil thrives in the rumens of cows that eat corn, where it is much less a problem in grass-fed cows.

Number 2 is to get rid of big ag, and go back to small farms.

Agree and agree!

It's sad that a handful of the companies that control the majority of our food stream continue's to put profit ahead of health. This is just another example of the carelessness that exists.

And like you said, the fact our own government subsidizes corn helps Big-Ag produce cheaper products, at the same time fueling some of the issues we have in our food industry today.

[fallout2600]

I'm all for breaking up the corrupt Dept of Ag. Bring it on!

As for more regulation, if we go back to small farms, would it be needed?

[HD MM]

Speaking of corn, a recent study has shown that Monsanto's Genetically Modified Corn has been linked to organ failure in rats.

But alas, our country is one of the only countries in the world that still doesn't mandate labels for GMO based foods! When more than a quarter of our the food at a normal grocery store contains corn, this is an obvious concern and will lead to more problems....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/19/monsanto-gm-corn-causing_n_425195.html

[HD MM]

I'm all for breaking up the corrupt Dept of Ag. Bring it on!

As for more regulation, if we go back to small farms, would it be needed?

Probably not. There's more transparency with small farms. It's the bigger ones who won't let the consumers in on all of the details.

[fallout2600]

HD, I agree, GMOs are not good. It is basically cloned food. If folks knew that, they wouldn't eat it. No one is running to the store and demanding cloned meat. But there meat is being fed cloned grains....

[HD MM]

HD, I agree, GMOs are not good. It is basically cloned food. If folks knew that, they wouldn't eat it. No one is running to the store and demanding cloned meat. But there meat is being fed cloned grains....

If I can't have regulation to get rid of GMO based foods all together, I'm willing to compromise, for now.... At least give us a label that tells consumers if it's GMO based or not.

[fallout2600]

If I can't have regulation to get rid of GMO based foods all together, I'm willing to compromise, for now.... At least give us a label that tells consumers if it's GMO based or not.

The only way you're getting a GMO label is to shake up the Dept of Ag.

GMOs = big money on the global food market.

[HD MM]

The only way you're getting a GMO label is to shake up the Dept of Ag.

GMOs = big money on the global food market.

Yet EU, Japan, China, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand have labeling laws for GMO food. And despite the fact that a 2008 CBS News poll found that an overwhelming 87 percent of Americans would like GMO foods to be labeled....

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/11/eveningnews/main4086518.shtml

Where's the outrage? The public must be made aware of the ramifications. And sadly enough, headline grabbers such as the E-Coli outbreaks and the studies done on the rats should serve as wake-up calls for consumers to start educating themselves and thus pushing the FDA, USDA to do something....

[HD MM]

The only way you're getting a GMO label is to shake up the Dept of Ag.

GMOs = big money on the global food market.

And to add to that point, sadly I don't see this happening for a while as the GM Crop Pioneer is now firmly implanted in the Obama administration as director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture....

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17945-roger-beachy-gm-crop-pioneer-now-us-farm-science-chief.html

The common folk don't realize just how political our food industry really is. Scary as hell.

[HDRoberts]

Nothing new. One of the scariest parts of Food Inc. was showing the connection of so many government officials to Monsanto.

While it might not be the top concern for may, the first thing I would do as president would be to nominate Michael Pollan or Joel Salatin secretary of agriculture.