The FDA a Missing Ingredient in U.S. Stimulus Plan

It seems that we can’t go for too long without some sort of food scare that spreads across the country.  Salmonella and E.coli outbreaks in tomatoes, peppers, herbs, spinach, lettuce, beef and now even citrus fruits have become a growing problem.  Fresh produce, it appears, has become a risky product for the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Margaret Hamburg, the new chief of the FDA, views this as a “critical time” for food safety.  While they are taking steps to prevent contamination in fresh produce, the FDA claims that as their responsibilities increase, their budget allows for less.  And according to a report put out by news services last month, FDA scientists have even shown concern that their safety warnings were ignored by leaders who have close ties to industry.

While a watchdog for our complex healthcare and food industries, the FDA has become a catch-all that doesn’t have the budget or the power to fitfully oversee what we are putting into our bodies.  With all of the stimulus money going in different directions, the FDA is being overlooked even as we face a “health crisis.”  Unfortunately, the debate is focused on healthcare rather than health in general, and perhaps our energy is better exhausted over where health problems stem from in the first place: what we eat!  And there is no longer an excuse for us to be ignorant about what is going into our bodies.  Even minor changes in the food industry would cause a rippling domino effect that could change each of our lives significantly.  How is this possible?  The proof is in the pudding, or at least that is what the new documentary, “Food, Inc.” hopes to show.

Filled with interviews of major foodies, advocates, farmers and organic grassroots, the film promises to dish up a heaping serving of shock and awe concerning the way we eat and how big corporations are actually just cards in the hands of consumers.  We call the shots, we make Wal-Mart carry organic products and we can revolutionize the way we eat if we want to.  Unfortunately, the monster corporations behind our food industry make unhealthy choices just for profit, i.e., treating all ground beef with ammonia to combat any chance of an E.coli outbreak.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t ingesting ammonia, a toxic powerful cleaning chemical, just as bad if not worse?

And as we take a closer look at the FDA, what about that curious catch-all, all natural? Hint: organic and all-natural are not the same thing. If the USDA gives a product an organic label, that means the product is 95-100 percent organic. And remember: what is on the front can be incredibly misleading concerning the actual label on the back. All natural, according to the USDA and FDA, “defines as natural those products that are ‘minimally processed’ and contain no artificial flavors or colors, or synthetic ingredients or chemical preservatives.” However, “both agencies are reviewing their definitions of natural.”

Due to the rapid changes occurring every year in the food industry and the deception of companies when playing on people’s naievete, this review is necessary. MSG, a popular additive and flavor enhancer, subsequently goes by 25 different names that are not recognized by the average consumer and these changing names often slip by government agencies. The FDA even ALLOWS MSG to be cloaked beneath the prevalent ingredient in natural and organic products, “natural flavors.”  What in the world is natural about MSG, a chemical that is known to increase obesity, kill brain cells and even chemically alter the brain?  In this instance, trust yourself. Going by your instinct is best; if you can’t understand the ingredients, don’t eat it.

Perhaps it is time to put your money where your mouth is.  How we live our lives determines our health and if we haven’t go that, we haven’t got anything.  Hopefully, the FDA can get a slice of that stimulus pie going around the table.

Have a different opinion?  Tell us today at SocialYell, especially our forum on the U.S. stimulus plan.

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She is completely dedicated to her organic lifestyle.