10 Questions Come To Mind

When I hear in the news that 143 million pounds of beef gets recalled, after most had been distributed (business as usual during the investigative period) and subsequently consumed by an unknowing public, questions come to mind.

While the investigation was going on, the producers were able to continue selling. Subsequently most of their food when to schools; no one protected the children. As a result of the recall delay, 28 people fell ill.

10 Questions I Would Like Answered

1. What body will protect us from the recall of already-eaten, 143 million pounds of anything?
2. Who keeps the public from suffering from the business end of USDA?
3. When do we get the protection that is explicit and implicit in the formulation of government?
4. When will government put the health of people before the revenue of business?
5. How does one create a viable argument for health overruling practices so obviously rooted in commerce?
6. Why are non-organic substances allowed in organic foods?
7. When did we agree that the USDA could defile organic products with non-organic ingredients?
8. Why are producers allowed to label their products organic when in fact they aren’t?
9. How is it acceptable to call non-organic food organic when such a thing is fully unnecessary?
10. Should it really take an act of congress to say that organic needs to be organic?

There are many who take serious issue with the National List’s allowances. Two great articles are on The Daily Green. When “Organic” Doesn’t Really Mean Organic the first article, there is a detailed example of the implications related to the use of non-organic intestinal casings. And, in 38 Non-Organic Ingredients Found in ‘USDA Organic’ Foods the second article, you find a list of the non-organic substances and how they came to be on the list, (when the information was not restricted).

Just because “the people” want it and it is good for them, doesn’t mean that they can have it. It must be economically feasible. Some people decided that they wanted healthier diets for themselves and their families. Some farmers decided that they wanted to produce healthy, organic, fruit, vegetables and cattle. The USDA decided to step in and “regulate” to hell what is organic and how it should be done, and who gets to obfuscate the guidelines. In the face of all that goes on surrounding meat and product, the bonus question that I have is:

Are we any safer with government regulating than if it weren’t in charge of organic guidelines?