You are currently browsing the daily archive for September 9th, 2009.
An Associated Press release yesterday (September 8, 2009) states that two California produce shippers have recalled thousands of cases of green onions supplied by an onion farm in Mexicali, Mexico, over fears the onions could be contaminated with salmonella. Department of Agriculture inspectors found salmonella in a routine test taken last month. No illnesses have been reported. Officials notified the shipper, Steinbeck Country Produce. The company issued a voluntary recall for 3,360 cartons. The shipper Ocean Mist Farms recalled 1,746 cases as well, after realizing they came from the same lot.
It’s not the onions, people, it’s the number of hands and chemical “inputs” on the onions that make the difference. As Michael Pollan says, “Shake the hand that feeds you.” If your produce comes from three thousand miles away and takes half an army to get it to you, that’s a lot of hands touching what you put in your mouth. Buy local and support your neighborhood farm. If you don’t know where it is, click the “Local Harvest” button on the left side of the page and find out!
Oh, one more note: did you notice that the test turned up positive in August, but the recall wasn’t issued until September? Let’s be careful out there!
In Scientific American (August, 2009) more evidence was presented that the corporations now providing the majority of food to our grocery store shelves are not trustworthy. Specifically, independent studies on GMO crops do not exist because they are not permitted. Consider this quote from Globalresearch.ca:
GMO Scandal: The Long Term Effects of Genetically Modified Food on Humans
For the past decade, the period when the greatest proliferation of GMO seeds in agriculture has taken place, Monsanto, Pioneer (DuPont) and Syngenta require anyone buying their GMO seeds to sign an agreement that explicitly forbids that the seeds be used for any independent research. Scientists are prohibited from testing a seed to explore under what conditions it flourishes or even fails. They cannot compare any characteristics of the GMO seed with any other GMO or non-GMO seeds from another company. Most alarming, they are prohibited from examining whether the genetically modified crops lead to unintended side-effects either in the environment or in animals or humans.
Back in the early days of our country, there were traveling salesmen that would peddle remedies from their wagons. Some were herbal in nature, sarsparilla for upset tummies or white oak for rheumatism. But more ofteb they were simply grain alcohol in a medicine bottle. A “shill” in the audience, with a detailed script to follow, would regale the prospects with tales of amazing healing. We all roll our eyes and laugh at the country bumpkins in movies who line up for these remedies.
How are we different? Megacorp comes along and promises an end to world hunger, more food, more cheaply for all! Gar-un-teed, ma’am! And we fall, hook, line and sinker. They even offer up proof: Scientists to stand up and make amazing claims of prosperity. But they are just willing to shills for Megacorp, spewing back the script in exchange for their piece of the profits.
Walk away. Take as many of your friends and loved ones with you and just walk away. Until we know the truth, it’s just so much snake oil.
This post is part of Real Food Wednesdays, hosted by Cheeseslave.
