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Old 04-15-2009, 06:36 AM   #1
Athena
Avalon Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 19
Exclamation Food For Thought

Hi Everyone,

Well, I wasn’t planning to start a Food thread just yet—though it’s an integral part of Creating a Home That Heals—but some information just came my way that feels important to share.

Some of you may already know of Clif High from Half Past Human. If not, please visit his website at www.halfpasthuman.com to learn about his work. In a nutshell, Clif specialises in a technique known as “radical linguistics” which culminates in a body of information known as ALTA reports. I respect Clif’s work and pay attention to it.

Yesterday, Clif sent me the following email, which I’m including here with his permission:

{Quote} FOR HONEY USERS:
If you are not aware of the issue, please be advised that very significant amounts of [chinese honey] *ARE* being introduced into the US food supply stream via stealth to avoid duties/charges.

There are very serious issues with the 'honey' from china. Much of it is a mixture of HFCS {Athena’s note: “HFCS” stands for “High Fructose Corn Syrup”} and 'other ingredients'. We need not go into the types of potential issues here. Suffice it to say that this will be the next 'chinese food problem'. (some hints in the data about [peanut contamination via oil]....

Since honey users are frequently also health conscious, it makes sense to do honey purchasing from known producers, either locally or across the internet to trusted sources.

Just a quick warning. (immediacy data sets pointing to an [outbreak] due to
[bad honey]...and we don't think it means '****** off girlfriends'..." {End of quote}

My motivation for sharing this information is not to “scare” people; rather it’s to give a “thumbs up/pay attention” alert to all who may be interested. It’s a public safety issue. Being an informed consumer is absolutely vital when it comes to food and feeding our families.

My interpretation of this information is guided by The Precautionary Principle which states:
When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. (1)
The precautionary principle means taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty. In order to do this we must shift the burden of proof from those who might be harmed to those who create the risks, and choose safer alternatives to potentially harmful activities or substances. (2)

In this particular situation, prevention is very simple: read food labels and do not buy anything that contains honey or high fructose corn syrup from an unknown source. Actually, I’d suggest not buying anything with high fructose corn syrup in it, period, regardless of source—but we can get into the many problems associated with HFCS on another post. Many food companies are driven by the bottom line and will purchase their ingredients from the cheapest source without any attention to purity or concern of contamination…"Hey, honey’s honey—right?" Wrong—as all of you now know.

Pay attention to obvious pre-packaged foods such as cereals, granola/power bars, honey-baked ham/turkey/chicken etc, but also pay attention to less obvious foods. The only way to really know is to read labels. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call manufacturers. Ask where they are getting their honey from, and tell them about your concerns. If the person you speak with can’t give you a satisfactory and conclusive answer, simply don’t buy their products. If you eat out regularly, you may have to re-think what you eat.

Please pay particular attention to what your children eat (at home/daycare/school/with friends). Also keep in mind any elderly family and friends, and those with already compromised immune systems. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

The good news is, that raw, unfiltered, undiluted honey from a local supplier who can verify their source, can still be enjoyed. It’s a win-win situation. You get a pure source of honey, whilst supporting your local economy. Pure honey has a multitude of health benefits when ingested and used topically. Do a Google search and learn more about this powerhouse food that’s been used for hundreds of years around the world.

Yours in great health!
Athena

Notes:
(1) Carolyn Raffensperger and Joel Tickner, Protecting Public Health and the Environement: Implementing the Precautionary Principle, Island Press, 1999.
(2) Athena Thompson, Homes That Heal, New Society Publishers, 2004.
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