It Should Be a No-Brainer!

[GreatLakesGramma]

Quote:

Tell FDA to Ban Arsenic in Animal Feed

Last December, the Center for Food Safety and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for the immediate withdrawal of approvals for arsenic-containing compounds used in animal feed. The petition was supported by a coalition of food and farm groups around the country.

Arsenic-containing compounds are most widely used in chicken production, and most chickens receive arsenic-laced feed. Most arsenic-containing animal feed additives are not used to treat sickness. Instead, these additives are commonly used in poultry production to induce faster weight gain and create the appearance of a healthy color in meat from chickens (and to a lesser extent, turkeys and hogs). Arsenic is a known and powerful carcinogen, and it is now well known that these feed additives lead to arsenic residue in conventionally raised chickens—chickens sold in supermarkets and restaurants across the country—and in the environment, putting our health at risk.

A public comment period is now open through June 15th on the petition. Tell FDA to ban arsenic and arsenic-containing compounds in animal feed!

Center for Food Safety

[phkrause]

Makes you think twice about eating that other white meat.

pk

[SivartM]

Mmmm... Arsenic McNuggets. I'm lovin' it!

[Kevin H]

On the vegitarian side, I've heard that some companies have contracted with genetically altered corn for it's vegi chicken products and that this may be causing organ failure.

[SivartM]

But GM foods aren't as definitely dangerous as arsenic. And pretty much all corn that's not organic is GM.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Vegi chicken is bad enough all by itself. It doesn't need GMO corn to make it unhealthy.

[SivartM]

Good point.

Well, not all veggie chicken is unhealthy. Mostly stuff like Fri-chik (my favorite, unfortunately) and other things distantly related to food.

[Kevin H]

I'm all for our veggie meats, I'm just worried about the organ failure that is being tied to those made with the genetically modified corn, and apperently not all the companies are using this. I read about one which is having the problem of being contracted to use this corn, but not sure if it's fair to just mention the name, but it is a huge non-adventist company but with historic ties. And while I've read about the one having the problems with their food produced from this corn causing the organ failure, I don't know how wide spread it is among the other companies.

[Guest]

Is it Morning Star Farms?

Is it Boca?

I would like to know.

[phkrause]

Is it Morning Star Farms?

Is it Boca?

I would like to know.

I second that, would also like to know.

A number of years ago Boca Burgers got a great review for being the lowest fat, calories etc. over all other HBers. Also most healthest I believe. So I'm curius to know.

[GreatLakesGramma]

With regard to GMO corn in vegetarian meat substitutes, read the label. If it has corn in it, and it doesn't say organic corn, then it's GMO. Not all farmers grown GMO corn, but when they sell their crops at the elevator, it all gets mixed up together, so it's impossible to buy commercially grown corn that doesn't contain GMO corn. Don't buy anything that just says corn, or rice, or soy either, because they are likewise all contaminated with GMO versions.

Oh, by the way, are you aware that the entire domestic beet sugar crop is now, as of this year, all GMO? That means that if you are buying anything with sugar in it, it's GMO too.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Kevin H, where did you hear that GMO corn is linked to organ failure? Are you sure of your source? There are a lot of exaggerated, unsubstantiated, and even totally false claims going around about just about every aspect of natural foods, health, and environmental issues. I am suspicious of claims like that, unless I know the source is reputable, and generally free of exaggerated claims. It doesn't help the credibility of the organic, natural health, and environmental movements when exaggerations and outright falsehoods get passed around. It just causes people to discount the legitimate issues right a long with the false information.

[karl]

Kevin H, where did you hear that GMO corn is linked to organ failure? Are you sure of your source?

It may be that the church mice got into the corn bin and transported bits of the dried corn into the various nooks and crannies of the organ's mechanism, thus causing failure.