When governments abandon the public interest — look out for your own health

From Helke Ferrie, in Vitality Magazine:

Our Constitution guarantees that the laws, from which our government derives its mandate, shall work in the “public interest.” In actuality, this mandate is mostly an experience of illusion for the public, because the government and its agencies prove to be chronically delusional. The difference between an illusion and a delusion is that an illusion is a misconception, sometimes based on deception; illusions are correctable through reality checks. A delusion, on the other hand, refers to a belief maintained despite contradictory proof. Delusional views and policies refuse to be confused by the facts.[1] Shedding illusions is the first step towards eliminating delusions. True, this is hard slogging, often painful, extremely frustrating, but unfailingly liberating. So, here we go!

FDA and Health Canada going after raw milk cheeses with much-touted survey?

How about that, Canadians get a voice in American federal decision making. But really we’re a separate country, aren’t we? Click image above to go to this page where you can comment.

Remember a few days ago we wrote about that article from the Ontario Farmer about how the FDA and Health Canada were seeking public input on raw milk policy? Well it seems that what they were really on about was soft raw milk cheeses. And yes, it does seem that that Health Canada is taking their comments via the FDA site (see image above), although no one at Health Canada’s media relations office ever got back to us on it.

FYI: Raw milk not fortified with Vit. D, etc, etc. — Health Canada advisory

It’s curious to think they probably issued this because Michael Schmidt has been so much in the news lately:

OTTAWA – Health Canada would like to remind Canadians not to drink raw (unpasteurized) milk because it could contain bacteria that could make you seriously ill.

Historically, unpasteurized milk has been linked to many serious diseases. Several kinds of bacteria that can be found in raw milk, such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria, have been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks. These bacteria can cause serious health conditions, ranging from fever, vomiting and diarrhea to life-threatening kidney failure, miscarriage and death. Children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.

“What does it profit a man?” — farmer Michael Schmidt — on our culture of profiting from death and destruction

By Michael Schmidt, special to The Bovine:

Profits paving the way to a bright future in rural Ontario? Photo by Michael Schmidt.

Health Canada, CFIA and the local health departments across Canada are on the loose to chase the wrong goose.

First of all please read the following excerpt based on official data from the US.

Since Government is  relying a lot on the research data from the US, I will assume that I can do the same thing.

Health Canada not so worried about Fukushima fallout in Calgary rain, but raw milk, now there’s a health hazard

Finally, some mention in the mainstream media of potential health risk from Fukushima fallout, be it ever so dismissive:

From Michael Platt in the Calgary Sun:

“There’s no need to panic — probably.

But not knowing whether to shrug or cower over radioactive iodine falling on Calgary as a result of a meltdown in Japan last year has Canada’s top nuclear critic wondering why.

“There’s no need to be concerned, but what you should be concerned about is why the authorities are so quick to dismiss it,” says Dr. Gordon Edwards.

Raw milk debate coming to a boil in Saskatchewan — The Star Phoenix

From  Andrew Matte, in The Star Phoenix:

“Dozens of Saskatchewan residents say they’re getting a raw deal from the federal government because they’re forced to go underground to buy unpasteurized milk they believe is more nutritious than what’s sold in grocery stores.

The long-simmering debate between raw-milk consumers and federal officials continues across the country where law-breaking dairy producers share small quantities of unpasteurized milk to local buyers despite a federal law prohibiting its sale in Canada.

Raw-milk drinkers are calling on Ottawa to lift its ban on the sale of raw milk and introduce a new milk category and introduce testing and quality control to help ensure it’s safe to drink.

Michael Schmidt’s statement regarding actions by Fraser Health re “Our Cows” raw milk cowshare in Chilliwack B.C.

Photo of one of the cows from the "Our Cows" raw milk cowshare in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Thanks to Hella D for the photo. Click image above to go to Hella's post with more such photos.

Statement regarding the Raw milk farm search by health authorities in BC [by Michael Schmidt, who is the agister for “Our Cows”]:

Fraser Health followed exactly my suggestion which I made last year to Tim Chum who is head of enforcement at Fraser Health in BC.

Now a word from our sponsor… NOT!

You will die!!!!!!!!

The dire warnings given below about raw milk remind me of a fun new blog I’ve stumbled upon lately titled “Narco Polo”, whose author, Robert R. Arthur, advocates for the legalization of drugs. The author, who is a former teacher and public defender, has also written a book titled “You will die, the burden of modern taboos”.

Unfortunately this fascinating volume is currently out of print, but soon to be reprinted by those fun loving folks at Feral House — you know, the people who brought you “Sex and Rockets”, “The Carnival of Life and Death”, “Cult Rapture”, and “Apocalypse Culture”. But lest anyone think we might be biased here on the Bovine, or oblivious to other points of view, here’s some intel from a recent official Canadian health advisory on raw milk, excerpted from Bill Marler’s “Real Raw Milk Facts” blog:

“OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Aug. 24, 2011) – Health Canada would like to remind Canadians not to drink raw (unpasteurized) milk because it could contain bacteria that can make you seriously ill.

Latest GMO corn introduction makes it appear Health Canada has dropped all pretense of regulating GMO food crops

From Lucy Sharratt, on Rabble.ca

“Health Canada has begun permitting genetically engineered (GE, also called genetically modified or GM) foods onto the market without any health safety assessment. Our government has never adequately examined the safety of GE foods and crops but has now dropped the pretence altogether.

After almost 15 years of approving the varieties of GE soy, canola and corn that we now eat, Health Canada has stopped bothering with the formalities. This complete lack of safety evaluation is not an oversight or loophole in the regulation of GE crops and foods however. Rather, it is the deliberate extension of a regulatory system that relies on corporate data and was designed to support the industry.

On July 15, Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences announced that they had received approval to introduce their new eight-trait GE corn ‘SmartStax’ into Canada and the U.S. But Health Canada did not assess ‘SmartStax’ for human health safety and didn’t even authorize it. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officially approved the environmental release of ‘SmartStax’ but didn’t conduct an environmental risk assessment. Furthermore, the CFIA actually substantially weakened a critical environmental stewardship rule just for the introduction of ‘SmartStax’ — without publishing a justification.

Dr. Shiv Chopra (ex Health Canada) talks food irradiation, other dangers

Dr. Shiv Chopra, on food irradiation, and other health concerns:

“Almost all American and Canadian food is already being irradiated. Take note of out-of-season fruits, looking fine but with blackish and horrible tasting pulp inside. Notice also the strange looking depressions on melon skins with mush and tasteless pulp inside. It is all due to irradiation destroying fruit ripening enzymes that convert their starch into sugar.