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Archive for the ‘Hot Topics’ Category

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 10:02 PM
posted by Mik and Rudi

The POP Campaign has been busy in Washington with genetically modified and engineered (GMO/GE) food issues and seeking TRUTH in the labeling of these lab-created “franken” foods.

There are a number of issues in motion on this topic (POP is IN ACTION) …We are rallying together to preserve our access to PURE ORGANIC FOODS and to choose vibrant health for our inner AND outer environment, as well as educating the masses, policy makers and congress on these issues… it’s time to take the “sneakiness out” of labeling.

You can make a big difference NOW by taking actions below… make a call and fax a letter …and please donate to POP to continue all these efforts.

Also, check out this signed copy of the GE Congressional Dear Colleagues letter for a Bicameral Letter to the FDA Here and see a list of Kucinich Bills and co-sponsor tallies below.

What can you do to help?

1) NOW – CALL & WRITE YOUR TWO SENATORS & YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Here are the links for names and phone numbers to  The House and The Senate and see those who have already signed below.

A. Phone Calls: Tell him or her that you want mandatory labeling on ALL genetically engineered (or GMO) foods.

- Remind them this is a Non-partisan issue and is important to you and your family.

- This is simply truth in labeling – consumers, including you, have the right to know.

- He/she needs to Co-sponsor HR 3553 (Kucinich –see below)

- There is currently a Dear Colleague letter from Senator Boxer and Congressman Defazio asking for signatures on a Bicameral letter to the FDA supporting the Citizens Petition on mandatory labeling – please support this and sign it.

- More than 20 groups and thousands of citizens have sent a Citizens Petition to the FDA asking for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods – consumers are concerned.

B. Fax Your Follow-up Letter: The most impact is following up your call with a short letter faxed – see the bicameral colleague letter below – and an example of a letter:

To Your Senator

The Honorable (full name)
Room # (  ), Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC  20510

Dear Senator (name):

To Your Representative:

The Honorable (full name)
(Room #)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable (Name):

I am writing to tell you that I want mandatory labeling on ALL genetically engineered (GE/GMO) foods.  This is a simple truth in labeling concern where every consumer should have the right to know clearly what he or she is buying.  This is as important to my family as I am certain it is to yours. This is a non-partisan issue.

I am asking that you

1. Sign the Dear Colleague letter from Senator Boxer and Congressman Defazi for a bicameral letter to the FDA to require mandatory labeling and support the Citizens Petition; and,

2. Support and cosponsor HR 3533 Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act (Kucinich – see below) and any similar Senate Bill that might be introduced.

There have been thousands of concerned citizen and over 400 organizations and groups across the country concerned about GE labeling.  The time has come to secure a legacy of healthy food for our children for generations to come.

Respectfully,

(Your Signature)

2) GET INVOLVED IN TALKING to candidates and policy makers at all levels of government during this 2012 election cycle. Share knowledge with them and your concerns about protecting organic foods; that quality farming is important to you; and, that you want mandatory labeling of all genetically engineered foods.

3) SUPPORT OUR POP CAMPAIGN EFFORTS – donate or call 415-999-9414 to participate in many other ways.

References:

GMO Bills: Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Democrat from Ohio introduced three bills regarding genetically engineered foods and seeds – for viewing the complete bills, lease link to    http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php

H.R.3553: Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act – 19 Co-sponsors

H.R.3554: Genetically Engineered Safety Act – 3 Co-sponsors

H.R.3555: Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection Act – 4 Co-sponsors

Colleague Letter for a Bicameral Letter to the FDA:

Congressman Peter Defazio and Senator Barbara Boxer sent a letter to their colleagues on February 9th asking them to sign onto a letter to the FDA, calling for the FDA to implement mandatory labeling., in alignment with a Citizens Petition submitted.

The following Senators have already signed on: Boxer (CA) Begich (AK) Tester (MT) and Wyden (OR) The following Representative have already signed the letter: DeFazio (OR) Hanna (R-NY) Pingree ME) Kucinich (OH) McGovern (MA) Moran (VA) Stark (CA) Farr (CA) George Miller (CA) and Polis (CO), Filner (CA).

The POP Campaign, with you, is reaching out to legislators, educating them on Genetically Engineered labeling issues and encouraging their signature on a bicameral letter with Senator Boxer and Congressman Defazio.

Click this link to see the letter:

GE Food Labeling Dear Colleague 2.8.12

Thursday, February 9, 2012 @ 11:02 AM
posted by Mik and Rudi

Action Alert for another huge step towards freedom and health- the POP Campaign has been a strong advocate for Genetically Engineered labeling – we are asking everyone to contact their Senators and House of Representatives. Ask them to cosign this Bicameral Letter to the FDA “requesting” that the FDA mandate  (GE) labeling of all food. (We will get all of the phone numbers up later.) We are working with the Just Label it Coalition and others on this effort – go team.

Thursday, July 21, 2011 @ 01:07 PM
posted by admin

The global POP Campaign was founded to educate and to promote the power of the community of consumers and industry of the organics movement in preserving and promoting organic foods, dietary supplements, overall health and food freedom.  POP played a significant visible role throughout the process of making the Food Safety Bill, S-510, a much better bill.

The three-legged prongs of power for the POP Campaign to gain strong influence are Health oriented providers; Grass roots support and outreach, and Grass tops – industry participants.

The Campaign is poised to play a key role in coalition building with other representative groups, businesses, health practitioners and educators so as to strengthen its voice and leverage impact throughout the world.

Foods and Supplements Are Inexplicably Linked

In the U.S., as you know, dietary supplement rules and regulations are under the umbrella of food regulations as dietary supplements are considered foods, not drugs. Even without the regulatory connection, foods and supplements are inexplicably linked, as most dietary supplement ingredients are food based. Some dietary supplement companies only use organic food products to produce their supplements. This “linkage” is a point of contention among regulators; and, Congress continues to clarify the regulatory framework. Within this contentious context, POP’s role is essential on an ongoing basis to ensure an educational role and watchdog presence.

CODEX Threat to Supplements and the Dangers of a CODEX to U.S. Bleed-through

CODEX is a very specific threat to supplements worldwide, including potential bleed through to US policy. A major stage has been set as seen in occurrences in the international arena where the European Union, led in large part by the same players who are on their CODEX Delegations, passed a law several years ago requiring prior approval of supplements before entering the market place.  As we saw this year, this has dramatically limited product access.  Because the EU does not have the protections of the Proxmire Amendment, they have succeeded in setting upper limits on vitamins that are below the therapeutic threshold.

Although the Proxmire Amendment withheld challenges by the FDA and got ultimately folded into DSHEA, the threat remains to undercut this cornerstone. (Most recently the introduction of S 1310, the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act of 2011 which you will hear much more on soon.) Every significant piece of food and supplement legislation that has passed has a section pertaining to the coordination and compliance of that legislation with ANY treaty or international agreement the US has signed. Any treaty has CODEX rules as the driver, giving that agreement a trump card for over-riding any food policy and freedoms allowed so far within the U.S.

Besides the obvious protections in place, and the introduction of S-1310, are there still any tangible threats? Yes, threats to DSHEA in the near future exist.  On the front burner, the FDA’s egregious tactics where they raided the Amish Farm and the Oregon Maxam Nutraceutics supplement company with scores of armed agents shows their mindset – if you are small and ‘alternative’ you are a target.  Further, there are legislators such as Waxman and Susan David, who are always looking for ways to overturn DSHEA.  Again, the FDA continues to seek ways to get around DSHEA, they want drug like pre-market approval requirements and revive this at every level possible.

A small counter step was taken in 2010 where, for the first time pertaining to the CODEX and trade amendments in any legislation, the POP Campaign specifically shared process information with the Senate to amend the Food Safety Bill CODEX section to include FDA accountability language and a two-year report back to the Senate on the impact of CODEX on Food and Organic products. This is the first time that this has happened.

Another huge counter influence is the media where it continues to state fraudulently that dietary supplements are not regulated (or the new phrase, are ‘barely’ regulated) and run sensational dramatic stories to gain readership. The POP Campaign has made concerted efforts to be a source of reason, truth, and clarity and has helped share information and reframe the dialogue around these issues. In 2010, it garnered public statements for the record by Senators Harkin and Hatch that the FDA cannot adopt CODEX Guidelines affecting dietary supplements without Congressional Approval.

The ongoing work in CODEX has to do with setting reference values on vitamin and mineral supplements.  This is very controversial and will be used to expand this attack on supplements to the global market place and demand conformity to participate in trade issues. Furthermore there are activities in process or in development that will or may specifically affect individual products and where the POP Campaign can have a stronger presence and share information, for example in the cases of Noni and Kava (as seen in the note below).  Some additional supplement microscope activity is seen around Blue-green algae, Ginko Biloba, Acidophilus and probiotics to just mention a few. (Please see below.)

As CODEX bleed-through gains momentum as seen in FDA, Trade, Agriculture, etc. U.S. Departments agendas, these efforts to solidify and seek CODEX alignment require constant vigilance and education – a role the POP Campaign plays.

Legislative Policy Presence and Education Savvy

The POP Campaign plays a strong role of “health educator” and has a presence in DC – this presence being vital in connecting with legislators and key staff. Knowing how to script the message and what areas to provide information with certain legislators and policy makers is crucial to success. Strengthening this connectivity for back channel communications, leveraging, educating, and “getting the scoop” is the backbone of the long-term relationships of the Capitol consultants we work with.

The history includes time spent in the Office of Alternative Medicine, House Government Reform Committee oversight for expanding the health care system to include dietary supplement regulation, participating in numerous hearings that progressed into DSHEA, participated as a delegate to CODEX ‘S special Nutrition Committee, represented 6 million constituents in California, and much more.

So many areas are in development pertaining to food and supplements where POP has a role, for example, our DC presence helped garner several million in research dollars for alternative medicine research through appropriations. This is significant as a tactic for food and supplements because alternative medicine is tied to supplements both philosophically and as a means of therapy.  Every alternative system of healing uses nutrition as the first line of therapy and alternative medicine research dollars often are used for looking at nutritional supplement evaluation.

Grass Tops – Key Alliances

Many times, more powerful even than grassroots are well-positioned grass tops – business executives and owners from the industry willing to give support and speak out. The power of a business owner talking to a legislator is significant.  Business owners equal jobs and  are perceived as friendly territory for garnering support in future elections.  The POP Campaign has the ability to form sound coalitions with business owners and “grass tops” based upon sound thinking and without compromising its positions on organics on every side of policy education.

At the same time, there is no take away from the power of the consumer, and Congress generally wants to do the right thing. Grass roots and tops, providing accurate information and supporting each other through the POP Campaign, can forge new alliances, provide information of new standards, and maintain a complete organic presence.

POP Campaign’s Role Crucial in the US and CODEX Policy Making

Congress is becoming very interested in how the FDA is setting priorities and is engaging with them now about protecting the organic and supplement industry and consumers’ access. This is a high priority for the community. Equally, with CODEX policy making, the POP Campaign can play an important role.

1.        Educating the public about what is happening at policy-making levels – especially proving to be an accurate source of information on a topic where there is so much misinformation. (On the Food Safety Bill, there were more than 200 radio interviews and numerous articles and hundreds of group appearances.)

2.                   Solidifying and expanding the POP Campaign support base, especially through its global Moms for Preserving Organic Power initiative – MOMS4POP.

3.       Educate legislators on organic food and present information as to the alignment or not with CODEX guidelines.

4.       Engage with the international community to improve guidelines within CODEX Committees.

Conclusion

There are many good ingredients in supplements and food that the FDA would love to see forced out of the marketplace.  Science and the traditional use demonstrate benefit not just to wellness, but also to disease management and prevention.  If Noni and/or algae can help with health concern, then the public is going to insist it stay in the marketplace.  The key, of course, is for supplement companies (along with others) to engage in sound discussions and build their presence in Washington by supporting the POP Campaign and being involved so that as an issue arises, they already have an inside presence.

_____________

* MOMS4POP Strategy: MOMS4POP adds a unique platform to the POP Campaign where Moms engage other Moms to keeping their voices and choices alive, keeping organic food and standards pure, keeping informed and educated as leaders and taking action to make a difference…. while making money along the way. Each Mom can realize her dreams together with other Moms, get the professional support to contribute, and build wealth while doing what they do best – being a Mom.

Notes:

Hawaiian Noni: In the fall of 2010, the CODEX Committee on North America and the South West Pacific, included discussion of Noni (also referred to as Nonu).  The Committee from Tonga is running the electronic working group after developing a discussion paper regarding the development of a commodity standard for Noni.  (The same type of process is occurring in this Committee with Kava).  The Coordinating Committee noted that there was a need to better clarify the nature, scope, safety, and intended use of Noni. The Committee also noted that a number of scientific and technical issues needed to be resolved prior to proceeding with the development of a standard.  CODEX is considering whether or not a regional or global standard on Noni is needed.

In past years, the FDA has sent warning letters to distributors of Noni regarding the a breach of the disease claims regulations.  Noni also garnered attention at the NIH, and research looking at its potential benefit for cancer is ongoing.  This can be a doubled edged sword as the design of the study is essential to the outcome, and as we have seen the in the past, not all studies at the NIH in nutrients are well designed and executed.

Blue-green algae: This is listed in the FDA’s poisonous plant database, but they do not make that connection to dietary forms of algae.  The FDA has warned companies that sell drinks with algae as dietary supplements.  There remains a need for reframing scientific points and being alert.

Ginko Biloba: The large clinical trial on ginko at the NIH is a prime example of government corrupting the scientific process.  All of the experts agreed from the outset that the study design could not answer the key question (whether or not the use of ginko in seniors would delay the onset of Alzheimers.) The study as anticipated was negative.

Acidophilus and probiotics: The dramatic rise in the popularity of pro and prebiotics has stimulated interest at the NIH and FDA.  It is one of the incidences in which the benefits are widely known and have become mainstream.  Activia’s advertisements were recently required to change their commercials.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010 @ 08:11 PM
posted by Mik and Rudi
The Genie is out of the bottle…and it is MOM…and she knows how to empower herself while supporting a great cause – the POP Campaign.
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Hundreds of thousands of Moms in this country and globally are getting outraged about their food choices.
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MOMS are the major stakeholders in food and set the blueprint for healthy choices and organic quality. MOMS want to bring into the daily lives  of children and families the honest truth about food, the most “common sense” shopping methods and costs, and the correctness of healthy food choices. The POP Campaign trusts the instincts of informed Mom’s across this country. MOMS trust other MOMS who really care.  MOMS always want to stay away from that what harms – it simply is instinctual – and  MOMS who stand up against toxic food and stand for organic vibrant healthy food make a huge difference on the planet.
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MOMS4POP invites MOMS across the World to SPEAK UP, TO SHOW UP, and TO PRESERVE ORGANIC POWER – while becoming economically empowered and economically empowering other MOMS to do the same.
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MOMS4POP invites a MOM to:
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  • Become a DISTRIBUTOR of MILA under the Pop Campaign – one of the healthiest whole raw food products in the world.  Mila is a proprietary blend of the most nutrient dense chia seeds available in the world – packed with Omega 3′s, fiber, protein, phytonutrients and antioxidants!  Mila is a “word of mouth marketing” business opportunity… when you (mom) make money, Pop makes money too!  It’s a win/win! Mila is brain food and highly nutritious for babies, children, adults, pets and also good for pregnant and nursing woman.
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  • Engage in “Shop Talk” –Mom’s share what they know with at least one other cart-pusher in the market by pointing out “bad” food and sharing other options to elevate awareness.
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  • Support each other economically and the POP Campaign educational and research efforts through her efforts and networks, becoming a driving, self-sufficient economic force
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  • Call on MOMS to take a stand against toxic food and make pro organic, healthy food choices.
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… and more fun stuff to come.
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GO to lifemax.net/pop or contact rudi@popcampaign.org or mik@popcampaign.org to participate in this exciting pre-launch and learn more about these fresh exciting opportunities available to MOMS who care!
Saturday, August 14, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
posted by Rudi

As time ticks on in the battle for our food and supplement freedom, the POP Campaign continues to take an active and highly visible role  – invested in the outcome. Currently, we stand poised for a response to one of the biggest issues so far this year – S-510: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as well as any action towards restricting our choices or use of supplements.

Currently, S 510 is still waiting on the Senate calendar to be scheduled for a vote. The Food Safety bill has no specific date for coming to the Senate floor for a vote, but as far as we know, a scheduled assignment can have a 48-hour turn around! We stay alert.  The primary causes for delays, besides our own educational efforts as well as those of so many of you, have been ‘extender bills’ and major supplemental pieces of legislation that have priority such as the military and disaster relief—also the Supreme Court nominee hearings. These all have taken so much time. Of course, there also is the politics of the mid-term elections.

However, this does not mean that S 510 has become completely stagnant. Senator Harkin has yet to formally release his ‘manager’s amendment’ which still allows some maneuvering of language. We keep tabs on the pulse on the ground in Washington through one of our POP representatives, Beth Clay. Beth is working with Senators and Senate staff, especially Senators Harkin and Hatch, having scheduled a series of meetings to bring up our messages in person, provide sound educational input, and help frame the conversations and debate for better organics language. She also is keeping an eagle eye on any movement regarding supplements.

Your input as concerned citizens—especially the letters you have been writing and comments —have made a huge difference in steering the debate and educating representative on the issues. The POP Campaign is able to approach the key organics players with concerns from real folks who know about real situations. “Your letters are very helpful,” says Beth Clay, and “we all hope that you can keep up the hard work alongside us on this road to pure organics.”

The next step now is to help the POP Campaign turn S-510 into a national issue, sharing yours desires and knowledge about organic food and educating on your choices and freedoms. Right now is the perfect time to make this happen.  For example, during these mid-term elections, we may have the opportunity to speak with our representatives in person to steer questions and dialogue towards organic foods, supplements, and S-510. We ask you to help us frame the national debate around organic foods by continuing to write letters, make phone calls, and bring up great points and questions. So often, it is about making our government aware of an issue and sharing specific facts, ideas, concepts, studies, etc. so that those in policy making roles can be informed to clearly discern and formulate a good idea vs. a bad one. Together, we could have all types of representatives, governors, senators, and state legislators all working towards our cause as well. Help us make our issue a global issue – it is essential that everyone have the freedom to choose healthy food.

Stay tuned to the POP Campaign to keep up to date on the most recent actions. Also, check out our past blogs or our ‘Issues’ section for more general information on bills and issues. Note your push backs and pushes forwards – it all makes a huge difference.

Thank you for your donations, as they really help us keep the action going.  Please keep ‘em coming!  Donation button is on the right sidebar…

Saturday, February 20, 2010 @ 05:02 PM
posted by Rudi Leonardi

“Being Italian, (as you can tell from my surname Leonardi) I do not want McCain’s Bill or the FDA to take away my garlic …or other healthy supplements for that matter – this bill really stinks.  Take Action Now!” ~ Rudi Leonardi

It is important to highlight a few key dangerous points and considerations that support the POP perspective pertaining to Senator McClain’s S 3002 Bill, “The Dietary Supplement Act of 2010”. It is ESSENTIAL to act NOW and to show the strength of our pushback so other Senators and members of Congress do not support or co-sponsor this bill.

DSHEA, historically, is based on an intent and established framework that supports the concept that dietary supplements are generally safe….We know that there are dangerous ingredients that could be placed in supplements by unscrupulous and money-grubbing companies and individuals. There already are guidelines in place to protect us.  We know that there are many ingredients that have to be tracked – a huge job, but it can be done – we are fortunate to have great resources to help us find the truth.  For example, Dr. Brian Clement’s latest book “Supplements Exposed” is an excellent resource. (See popcampaign.org for the full article.)

DSHEA legislation already allows the FDA to evaluate each ingredient in a supplement to determine if it presents an unreasonable risk of injury or illness.  It already has an approval process in place and is alerted to major problems. Key here is that, if a “signal” is sent and detected that a product needs to be reviewed, then the FDA can decide the next step, coordinate with existing other agencies, conduct its own research, gather its “sensible facts”, and act….  DSHEA allows the FDA the discretionary power to do what is necessary to protect us.  (See reporting requirements in articles on popcampaign.org)

The “signal”:   “Serious” vs “Non-Serious” Adverse – Could mean Anything?

On page 7, lines 16 & 17, the McCain bill states: “…striking ‘‘SERIOUS ADVERSE’’ and inserting ‘‘ADVERSE’’.  The signal changes dramatically and dangerously. DSHEA currently states “SERIOUS” adverse effects trigger enforcement.

“Serious” is defined as:

… any experience resulting in any of the following outcomes: death, a life-threatening adverse experience, inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, a persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or a congenital anomaly/birth defect. Important medical events that may not result in death, be life-threatening, or require hospitalization may be considered serious when, based upon appropriate medical judgment, they may jeopardize the individual and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes previously listed (in accordance with 21 C.F.R. § 600.80 [2002] and 21 C.F.R. § 314.80 [2002]).

Without “serious” in the text, the FDA signal to act is instructed as “adverse,” which can be ANYTHING that happens ANYWHWERE in the world. It could be interpreted that supplements that interfere with prescription drugs are powerful enough to interfere with the stability of the human condition, could be equally dangerous and cause an “adverse” problem. This means that if someone in China gets sick (yes even 1 person of the 2 billion plus) because he/she suffered a stomachache because of an over abundant supplement of soy in the food, this would be an “adverse” signal. If a European connoisseur of wine and cheese got ill because of a supplement of valerian to help sleep off a happy hangover, this would be considered an “adverse” signal. If someone in Africa reportedly got dizzy after taking yohimbe, this would be an “adverse signal”.  An “adverse: signal could be the effects of ginseng, garlic…WHAT?  Being Italian, (as you can tell from my surname Leonardi) I do not want McCain’s Bill or the FDA to take away my garlic …or other healthy supplements for that matter – this bill really stinks!

Yes, this is a grey area and could happen with the proposed amendments, the S 3002 bill allows the FDA to yank a product for the simplest reason or smallest event while reinforcing it’s modulated criteria and selective rationale with such articles as listed below be relied upon fully as evidence for banning supplements, with or without consideration of all elements:

Other dietary supplements shown to potentiate or interfere with prescription drugs include garlic, glucosamine, ginseng (Panax), saw palmetto, soy, valerian, and yohimbe.14 (((De Smet PA. Herbal remedies. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002;347(25):2046-2056.))

If amended, the FDA could also use any incident, report, finding, research, etc.  from another country to yang a product from a shelf and set policy in the United States. This would be consistent with the some of the WTO Codex efforts to control supplements in other countries. We do not want this here in the US. We must protect ourselves.

There is snapshot in Europe of what we Americans might look forward to if this bill passes – “…EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, has sharply reduced the list of available supplements and is in process of reducing potencies to ridiculous levels, such as less beta carotene than can be found in half of a large carrot.” (European Legal Director Gretchen DuBeau working with ANHI).

Yes, there are money issues involved, reductions in government spending, and the perception (and facts) that the FDA is friendlier towards drug companies and less favorable to supplement businesses. Also, in his press release, Senator McCain references for his bill changes a GAO (Government Accounting Office) recommendations that came out in January 2007, from the previous Bush administration – these recommendations are believed by many to be biased and slanted to the industry drug giants. Many of these points will be discussed further as we continue our efforts to educate on this bill.

We still need to take action immediately.

Lastly – Athletes and Drugs

In his press release and citing his supporters of the NFL and Major League Baseball, Senator McCain highlights suspended Athletes – their situations being adverse signals”. Sports figures are used to signals from the quarterback, the center, and the backs, to the catchers, pitchers, managers and umpires.  Should we be sensitive that these athletes got their signals mixed up and that implementing this Bill will help these men on the field become more clear and allow them to make better health choices? There clearly is more to this. Does it not make sense that the athletes who were suspended purchased “illegal drugs”? Calling the Athletes confused and what they took as mislabeled supplements is really a backing away from the real issues of enforcement, illegal sales and use of steroids. Is the Sports industry trying to shift blame from the “US Anti-Doping Agency” (USADA) to the supplement industry, asking the FDA to get involved? Who is using whom to get what?

The time to ACT IS NOW!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 @ 10:02 PM
posted by Rudi Leonardi

supplements-banToday, February 3, Senator John McCain introduced his new bill called the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010.  The Senator intends to set a new agenda  with a “consumer safety” spin that will empower and enable the FDA to conduct a mandatory recall at will on any supplement that it considers unsafe because of a lack of information, research or clear labeling.

We all want safety  -there is no argument here. However, on the surface, as with most food safety bills, giving additional authority to the FDA creates a risk unless proper instructions and accountability are carefully framed.

This bill appears to  set a challenge whereby many supplements that support our health could suddenly be removed from shelves .  We intend to steer the dialogue in a different direction consistent with our POP Campaign philosophy and challenge any section that threatens any of the rights and gains we have made under DSHEA.  As we digest  the implications of this bill, we will share with you our next steps and discuss the  necessary push back efforts that make sense. Thank you.

Read the Bill Here

Friday, November 13, 2009 @ 09:11 AM
posted by Rudi Leonardi

As we accelerate the POP Campaign to Preserve Organic Power in our choices of growing, buying, selling and eating organic produce, fruits, nut,herb and supplements, I am acutely aware of the clashing of common and uncommon sense and the complexity and simplicity of the issues around food safety - especially when it comes to CODEX rules

It all comes down to LIFE – the vitality and vibrance of life-force in our foods and the life-force in our bodies. If you are pro-LIFE (Republican or Democrat), then you should support the vote to Preserve Organic Power in every food bill or issue – a no brainer – you are protecting life. If you are a Democrat or Republican and pro-Choice – then you should protect, support and vote to Protect Organic Power and our freedom to make our own health choices – a no brainer!  Food and health are  bi-partisan issues!

There are simply two worlds, the world we POP in where there are those who support pro-life and pro-choice in food and food supplements; or the world of those those who do not care about life, who want to eventually kill it – and us.  YES, this is a late, late, later term abortion of our lives - very late for some people on this planet – they want to abort our life force we put into our mouths!

The complexity of policy making and food safety, fueled by scare tactics, is at play here. Of course food safety is important, but is not an excuse to kill live food. In the US world of technology with the art of thinking, anyone can solve the problem of tracking a pathogen (a little bacteria guy) to its nest – and get rid of it.  We know it comes from a can in a factory where a worker who ate something for lunch dropped some bacteria into a can before it was sealed; or, it comes from – yes cattle and farm feces - the “five-miles-before-you-get-there stinky manure” that has seeped into ground water and is used on crops twenty miles down stream; or some huge factory source along the production line.

The answer: Send in 20 inspectors directly to that site. Cleanup the source of the problem – not all of the food. A no brainer that makes sense. Or, hire a hound dog to sniff out the source (we can smell manure and feed lots miles away), go to the cow source, become a certified FDA skatologist, and clean up the source and seepage into the water. How good is that? Also, provide training to all of us on how to plant and grow – I think we could do this with some sophistication these days – our grandparents did – yikes – our caveman ancestors did and we survived to today to watch Oprah. WOW – overwhelming, isn’t it – food safety.

Seriously, It looks like they are trying to wear us down and slowly abort our lives so that we either are forced to pop more pills (the other POP), buy more prescriptive drugs, buy fast food because we get too busy fighting the good fight, or just get tired of the whole thing – not having the energy to live, we roll over and fly off into the clouds. This would be cheaper on the system – we put in one big transfusion of cash for medical treatment before we leave to balance out whatever we took out in our lifetime and then cut ourselves off of any long-term social security or pension dependency – leaving a whole bunch of assets for our heirs and children to go on a  McDonalds hamburger spree or buy a whole cow for a back yard bar-b-q to celebrate that we died peacefully.  And, it starts all over again.

Phew – now that is a cleaver abortion-of-life game. Say NO! Support POP – Preserve Organic Power –  Preserve Life and Our Choices.