June 28, 2016 - Robyn O'Brien

June 28 2016

Huge Number Oppose Biotech Sponsored GMO Labeling Dark Act 2.0

Late last week, news hit that a “compromise” on GMO labeling had been reached.The only thing being compromised is the integrity of GMO labeling in America.

This new piece of legislation, introduced by Senators Stabenow and Roberts, has no enforcement mechanism or penalty for violation, making the whole scheme effectively voluntary.

Under this new industry proposal, large corporations would win and American families would lose, and a dangerous precedent is established: states’ rights are trampled.

Not surprisingly, consumers around the country were left to wonder “Whose interests are these guys representing?”

It’s critical that consumers contact your senators today, even if you’ve done it before. They need to hear from you specifically about this “compromise”—It is Monsanto’s dream bill.

We’ve stopped them before, and with your help, we’ll stop them again.

Please call your senators now at 1-877-796-1949.

Yesterday, a letter was written and signed by over 70 groups, opposing this “compromise” given that all that is being compromised are on-pack labels, labels already in place by multinational food companies. The full letter with additional talking points is below.

Thank you for being part of the food movement.

June 27, 2016

United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

Re: GMO Labeling Bill – OPPOSE

Dear Senators,

On behalf of the undersigned food safety, farm, environmental, and consumer advocacy organizations and food corporations, and the millions of members we represent across the United States, we strongly oppose the new Roberts / Stabenow legislation on GMO food labeling.

The process that created this legislation has been profoundly undemocratic and a violation of basic legislative practice. The bill addresses a critical issue for the American public, yet it was neither subject to a single hearing nor any testimony whatsoever. Rather, the bill’s preemption of the democratically decided-upon labeling laws of several states, and seed laws of numerous states and municipalities, is the result of non-transparent “bargaining” between two senators and industry interest groups.

As explained in more detail below, we oppose the bill because it is actually a non-labeling bill under the guise of a mandatory labeling bill. It exempts major portions of current and future

GMO foods from labeling; it is on its face discriminatory against low income, rural and elderly populations; it is a gross violation of the sovereignty of numerous states around the nation; and it provides no enforcement against those who violate the law.

NO MANDATORY STANDARDS – The Senate bill itself prescribes no mandatory standards for GMO Rather, it preempts the labeling laws of several states including Vermont, Connecticut, Maine and Alaska based exclusively on a multi-year discretionary process determined solely by an as of yet unknown, future USDA Secretary.

A VAST NUMBER OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GE FOODS WILL BE EXEMPT FROM ANY LABELING – Either intentionally, or through poor drafting and lack of scientific expertise, the novel definition of “bioengineering” under the bill would exclude from labeling a vast number of current foods produced with genetic engineering, including those where the “modification” is “found in nature,” those in which technology cannot as yet detect the novel genetic material, and foods made with non in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, such as new generations of food made with RNAi and so-called “gene-editing” In fact, 99% of all GMO food COULD be exempt from labeling as the bill leaves it entirely up to a future USDA Secretary to determine what “amount” of GMO ingredients in a food qualifies it for labeling. If that Secretary were to decide on a high percentage of GMO content, it would exempt virtually all processed GMO foods which comprise more than 99% of all GMO foods on the market.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RURAL, LOW INCOME AND ELDERLY POPULATIONS – The bill anticipates that GMO labeling will be done primarily through QR codes (“digital” labeling). Because of their lack of access to smart phones, more than 50% of rural and low income populations, and more than 65% of the elderly, will have no access to these This impact will fall disproportionately on minority communities. Millions more that do have smart phones may not be able to access these QR codes because they cannot afford to maintain their data service or their neighborhoods do not have adequate network coverage. The study of the efficacy of QR codes outlined in the bill is to take place significantly AFTER any labeling is established and in the marketplace. The results of such a study, if any, may take many years to clarify and codify. Such a “study” provision is clearly not sufficient to absolve the bill of an unconstitutional discriminatory impact.

VIOLATIONOF STATE SOVEREIGNTY BY SPECIFICALLY PREEMPTING GMO SEED LAWS AND POTENTIALLY NUMEROUS OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS – The bill not only preempts state food labeling laws, but also specifically preempts GMO seed labeling laws, such as those in Vermont and Virginia that are designed to help farmers determine what seeds to buy and plant. Additionally, either intentionally or through poor drafting, the bill could be interpreted to be a preemption of more than 100 different state and municipal laws and regulations throughout the nation.

NO ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THOSE WHO VIOLATE MANDATORY GMO LABELING – The bill provides no civil or criminal penalties whatsoever against those not in compliance with GMO labeling The bill specifically excludes the capacity of the USDA to order any recall of misbranded food, even in cases where a product has been produced with genetic engineering but the corporation involved purposely decides to violate the law and not label.

For this and other reasons, including the bill’s definitions being in direct conflict with regulations under the National Organic Food Production Act, the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the international Codex Alimentarius, the undersigned organizations and companies urge you to VOTE NO on this misguided, inherently discriminatory bill. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Center for Food Safety

Food and Water Watch

Abundance Cooperative Market

Beyond Pesticides

Biosafety Alliance

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center

Central Park West CSA

Citizens for GMO Labeling

Crop CSA

Crush Wine and Spirits

Dr. Bronner’s

East New York Farms

Empire State Consumer Project

Family Farm Defenders

Farm Aid

Food Democracy Now

Foundation Earth

Friends of the Earth

GMO Action Alliance

GMO Free NY

GMO Free USA GMO Inside

Good Earth Natural Foods

iEat Green, LLC

Institute for Responsible Technology

International Center for Technology Assessment

Katchkie Farm

Keep the Soil in Organic Coalition

Kezialain Farm

Label GMOs

LIC Brewery

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service

Miskell’s Premium Organics

Moms Across America

National Family Farm Coalition

Nature’s Path

Non-GMO Project

Nutiva

Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance

Northeast Organic Farming Association

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont

NYC H20

Oregon Right to Know

Organic Consumers Association

Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association

PCC Natural Markets

Pesticide Action Network North America

Presence Marketing

Regeneration Vermont

Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ

Rodale Institute

Rural Advancement Foundation International

Rural Advancement Foundation International USA

Rural Vermont

Slow Food California

Slow Food Hudson Valley

Slow Food North Shore

Slow Food USA

Soil Not Oil Coalition

Sunnyside CSA

The Cornucopia Institute

U.S. Public Interest Research Group

Vermont Public Interest Research Group

Vermont Right to Know GMOs Coalition

Wood Prairie Family Farm

June 28 2016

Supplement Smarts: The 4 Key Supplements to Take Every Day

Dr. Frank Lipman Lipman Health, Solutions 0

Supplements – in my book, they’re essential health-boosters that can help fill in nutritional gaps and protect your body against the occasional diet slip-up. While they won’t make up for a bad diet, think of supplements as your nutritional pit crew, standing at the ready to make those quick adjustments, tweaks and fixes to your internal engines and get you back out on the road, raring to go.

Fact of the matter is, with so much of our food grown in soil that’s depleted of nutrients, it’s tough to get the necessary nutrition from food alone. Furthermore, if your meal features foods that have been genetically modified, sprayed with pesticides, processed, packaged and trucked long distances, most of the nutritional value has been lost by the time it hits your plate. So our bodies wind up being overfed with empty calories – and starved of nutrients.

While I recommend everyone should eat whole, preferably organic foods or from farmers’ markets, I also believe that supplements are important as well. So where to start? Here’s my list of supplement superstars that just about everyone can benefit from – and the vita-must-haves that do wonders and help make wellness sustainable. I’ve broken my favorites into three groups, so you can discover the supplements that best suit your needs. They are:

The Everyday Fab Four – the four basic supplements that are the cornerstone of good health.
The Supportive Six – the six ‘problem solver’ supplements, that are there when you need them.
The Fascinating Five – my five favorite supplements you may not be familiar with – but should be!

The Everyday Fab Four

At minimum, I recommend taking these 4 supplements every day: a multivitamin, vitamin D3, fish oil and a probiotic. Why? Because the Fab Four covers a lot of health bases. Together, they can help keep your gut and insulin levels on an even keel, keep energy levels high and even help reduce cancer and heart disease risk.

1. Multivitamin

We have a huge need for protective, health-supporting nutrients to help us combat the daily assault of living in a polluted and stressful world. It’s also why I put a good multivitamin at the top of my “vita-must” list. Think of a multivitamin as a little insurance policy to help protect your body against the vitamin and mineral shortfalls that can occur even in diets that are rich in healthy foods. By gifting your body with a multi, you’ll also be optimizing cellular function, which helps make all your systems work consistently at their peak, instead of sputtering through the day.

Be Well Tip:

When buying, look for multis in capsule form with an easily absorbed enteric coating versus harder-to-digest tablet versions.
Always take your multi with food to assist with absorption and prevent the queasiness that can sometimes occur on an empty stomach.
If you’re on medications, review your multi’s contents with your doc to make sure there aren’t any contraindications.
As there is currently little regulation of supplements in the US, be sure to buy from a reputable company.

2. Vitamin D3

Vitamin D, actually a pre-hormone and not a vitamin, is like the office busy body – it’s involved in just about everything – playing an essential role in the making of hundreds of disease-preventing proteins and enzymes, and affecting more than 2,000 genes in the body. It enhances muscle strength, builds bone, has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects and bolsters the immune system. Come up perpetually short and over time, you could be leaving your body vulnerable to scourges like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Here’s the tricky part: it’s virtually impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from food, so you have to get it from supplements and sun exposure.

Be Well Tip:

Generally 2,000 – 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 is a typical maintenance dose, but if your levels are low, you may need more – but don’t DIY it or guess your appropriate dose. Have your levels checked by your doc at your annual physical to determine your needs. Here is the Vitamin D3 (2000) that we use often with patients as a maintenance dose.
Ideally, your levels should be in the optimal range of 50 to 80 ng/ml.

3. Fish Oils

Fish oil supplements are rich in the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are vital to good health. They support your body’s ability to prevent chronic diseases and help protect it against inflammation. They also promote a stronger immune system; cardiovascular, joint and vision health; strengthen skin, hair, and nails; and enhance nutrient absorption, metabolic function as well as attention, mood and memory skills. In short, fish oil is seriously good stuff, but as with Vitamin D, you can’t make your own omega-3 fatty acids, so you’ve got to get it from outside sources. Fatty fish and fish oil supplements are your best sources – so I urge everyone to indulge!

Be Well Tip:

I recommend a dosage of 2 to 3 g of EPA and DHA (combined) daily, but make sure you choose a good quality fish oil to ensure purity and the removal of heavy metals, pesticides, PCB’s and other contaminants.

4. Probiotics

Probiotics are the naturally occurring “good” bacteria that live in your gut and play a significant role in your total wellness. When you’re healthy, your intestinal tract hosts a battalion of more than 100 trillion friendly bacteria, who spend their days aiding digestion, boosting your immune system and consuming bad bacteria. They manufacture key nutrients and limit the growth of yeast and unhealthy bacteria – and in their spare time, they also help inhibit bouts of lactose intolerance, poor digestion and diarrhea. But as strong as your belly battalion might be, poor diet, stress, pollution and antibiotic use can wipe out the good guys – so it’s up to you to fortify and repopulate your gut with healthy bacteria – which is where probiotics come in. A daily dose of probiotics is a fantastic way to swiftly and significantly improve digestion and strengthen immunity – no prescription required!

Be Well Tip:

Look for probiotic capsules or powders with the two most common and effective beneficial bacteria, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.
The daily dose for both should be 10-30 billion viable or “live” units of bacteria a day.
Side effects are rare, although some people may initially experience some gas and bloating, which usually subsides within a few days.

If you’re looking for an easy way to get these four supplements at once, the Be Well Daily Dose includes a multivitamin, fish oil, vitamin D and probiotic.