Toxins in Baby formula and Organic Foods

It should be a Federal Crime when
companies deliberately
put toxins in our foods. This article
specifically references "baby formula."
As if we don't have enough autism and
ADHD problems with our children.
At the bottom is a proxy letter to
Congress.

Why is this Organic Food Stuffed With Toxic Solvents?
Last December, the U.S. National
Organic Standards Board, an expert
 panel that advise the USDA Secretary
 on organic matters, narrowly approved
Martek Biosciences Corporation's
petition to allow the use of
 their genetically modified soil fungus
and algae as nutritional
supplements in organic food.
The product is an omega 3/omega-6 oil (DHA/ARA) synthesized from
 fermented algae and soil fungus.
The oil is extracted from this biomass using hexane, a neurotoxic
byproduct of gasoline refinement that is specifically banned in organics.
The Cornucopia Institute investigated Martek's patent and safety
 filings at the FDA, and discovered that the product also contains
 synthetic chemicals, stabilizers, carriers, and some of the
ingredients are also genetically modified.
(As it turns out, some of their products were developed by
Monsanto before Martek bought the technical rights.)
Martek's formulated oils are added to "organic" milk, infant
formula, and a number of different foods. After a formal legal
complaint, the USDA announced in 2010 that it had "inappropriately"
allowed Martek oils to be included in organic foods.
But enforcement of their removal was delayed for 18 months in
an apparent effort to permit corporate lobbyists to petition for
review and legal inclusion in organic food. According to the
Conucopia Institute:
"Although Martek told the board that they would discontinue the
 use of the controversial neurotoxic solvent n-hexane for
DHA/ARA processing, they did not disclose what other synthetic
solvents would be substituted. Federal organic standards prohibit
the use of all synthetic/petrochemical solvents".
How Did Unapproved Ingredients Make
it into Baby Food?
It is distressing to see that chemical additives have skirted
USDA approval and made their way into infant formulas—
some of which even bear the USDA Organic Seal! This
confirms that even organic certification is NOT watertight,
and you, the consumer, will need to stay on your toes.
Martek's DHA and ARA products are synthetic attempts at
omega-3 fats that have been in the U.S. marketplace since
2002, and in organic products since 2006. They are chemically
extracted from certain types of algae and fungi that have never
before been part of the human diet, and have never been
approved by the USDA. Yet they have made their way into
your baby's bottle.
In fact, it is unlikely that the production process of these
agents has been examined at all—and for good reason.
The Cornucopia Institute has uncovered an entire list of
questions regarding the source, processing, and other
ingredients used in the manufacturing of Martek's DHA
and ARA, any one of which could result in a ban from
their use in certified organic products.
GMOs, Lies, and Petrochemicals
For starters, Martek's synthetic oils are extracted
using a toxic petrochemical solvent called hexane—
a process that's just about as NON-organic as you
can get. Hexane extraction is widely used in the
production of oils, such as fatty acids and vegetable
oils, but is banned in organic produce because it's a
non-organic material.
So what's their loophole?
Martek Biosciences was able to dodge the ban on
hexane-extraction by claiming USDA does not consider
omega-3 and omega-6 fats to be "agricultural ingredients."
Therefore, they argue, the ban against hexane extraction
does not apply. The USDA helped them out by classifying
those oils as "necessary vitamins and minerals," which are
exempt from the hexane ban.
But hexane-extraction is just the tip of the iceberg. Other
questionable manufacturing practices and misleading
statements by Martek include:
  
     ·         Undisclosed synthetic ingredients,
               prohibited for use
     ·         in organics (including the sugar
               alcohol mannitol,
     ·         modified starch, glucose
               syrup solids, and "other"
     ·         undisclosed ingredients)
     ·         Microencapsulation of the
               powder and nanotechnology,
     ·         which are prohibited under
               organic laws
     ·         Use of volatile synthetic solvents,
               besides hexane
     ·         (such as isopropyl alcohol)
     ·         Recombinant DNA techniques
               and other forms of
     ·         genetic modification of
               organisms; mutagenesis;
     ·         use of GMO corn as a
               fermentation medium
     ·         Heavily processed ingredients
               that are far from "natural"

Your Body Knows These "Nutrients" are Fake
Although DHA and ARA from real foods are indeed important
nutrients, the synthetic versions are not even remotely the same.
They are foreign to your body, and to your infant's body, which
is why many babies are having terrible adverse reactions.
Naturally derived omega-3 fats have important benefits to your
baby's eyes and brain. Martek has manipulated this fact into a
clever marketing ploy that convinces mothers that this artificial
concoction is as good for their babies as breast milk.
But there is no scientific evidence to substantiate Martek's health
claims. Martek claims that their formula is "proven in independent
clinical studies to enhance mental development." According to the
Cornucopia Institute, this claim is based on one single study involving
just 19 infants. Martek neglects to mention the numerous other
clinical studies that fail to show any advantage in brain development.
The Perfect Formula for Diarrhea, Vomiting and
Gastrointestinal Pain
The Cornucopia Institute has compiled a summary of hundreds of
adverse reports submitted to the FDA about possible intolerance to
DHA/ARA-supplemented infant formula. Of those reports, 98 are
said to be "confidently linked" to intolerance to the DHA/ARA oils.
Many hundreds more are highly suspect. The reported
gastrointestinal symptoms include:

    ·         Severe gas
    ·         Diarrhea and vomiting
    ·         Gastric reflux
    ·         Constipation and bowel obstruction
    ·         Agitation, fussiness, crying, and
              severe distress

The adverse reaction reports filed with the FDA represent
only the tip of the iceberg, as most parents are unaware
that Martek's additives may be the cause of their infants'
problems. Some parents and their babies have endured
these symptoms for weeks or months before identifying
the cause, believing it was simply colic or unexplained
fussiness.
A few companies have made a conscious decision to not

use Martek's additives in their baby food products, in
order to protect the organic integrity of their foods.

Cornucopia has published a list of "USDA Organic"

products containing Martek's additives Shockingly,
ALL organic infant formulas with the exception of ONE
(Baby's Only Organic) contain Martek's DHA! Some

baby foods also contain it, so it's a good idea to get in
 the habit of reading ALL of your labels.
Beware of Other Known Contaminants
in Infant Formula
Your child is perhaps never more vulnerable than in
the first few months of life, when his or her fragile body
 is still rapidly developing. Pound for pound, infants
experience greater exposure to chemicals than adults,
and have immature and porous blood-brain barriers,
 which allow greater chemical exposures to reach their
developing brains.
It is best to avoid infant formulas whenever possible.
Breastfeeding is best. Infant formulas have been found
to be contaminated with a variety of problematic chemicals,
including:

   ·         Perchlorates (a component of rocket fuel)
   ·         Melamine
   ·         Advanced glycoprotein end products (AGEs)

Please avoid feeding your baby soy based formula due
to dangerously high concentrations of manganese and
estrogenic compounds, among other problems. Most
infant formulas also contain far too much sugar. The
most recent contaminant found in infant formula (as
well as food and commercial juices) is arsenic. This
 is particularly worrisome for babies because they are
 especially vulnerable to arsenic's toxic effects.
Is there Arsenic in Your Baby Formula?
Researchers at Dartmouth College warned that there
is an "urgent need" for regulatory limits on arsenic in
food products after levels in two infant formulas were
found to be up to six times the U.S. federal limit for
drinking water. iv There are currently NO regulations
for arsenic levels in foods or juices.
The arsenic in infant formulas is thought to come from
the brown rice syrup used to sweeten some formulas.
Rice is a plant that is very efficient at taking up arsenic
from the soil, regardless of whether or not it's grown
organically.
You Can Avoid All of These Problems by
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding offers a list of life-long health benefits
for both mom and baby, making it the best food you
can give to your baby by far.
Many are aware that breast milk contains antibodies,
 or immune molecules, that are transferred to the baby,
 giving her immunities to illnesses that the mother is
immune to. The converse is also true -- if your newborn
 is exposed to a germ, she will transfer it back to the
mother while nursing. The mother's body will then make
 antibodies to that particular germ and transfer them back
 to the baby at the next feeding.
So it's not just a matter of vitamins, minerals, proteins
and fats that makes breast milk far superior to formula.
 In fact, breast milk also contains substances that may
significantly enhance your baby's gut and support the
healthy development of her entire nervous system.
If you are unable to breastfeed, you may want to consider
 the option of purchasing human breast milk, which is
 becoming a hot commodity online. Nursing women are
 now earning up to $1,200 a month from selling their extra
 milk to other families, many of whom are pairing up online
 via Craigslist and other classified sites. This trend
harkens back to ancient times when wet nurses
(women who breastfeed babies other than their own)
 were used for a variety of purposes. For more about
this option and some cautions, please refer to this
article on the sale of breast milk.

Is the U.S. Becoming a "Dumping Ground"
for Substandard Products?
Food in the European Union (EU) seems to be
getting safer, while American food may be
becoming more dangerous. The EU has been
 progressively tightening their standards, while
 the U.S. has been loosening theirs. Consider
herbicides, for example.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide
 in the U.S. and is the primary ingredient in
Monsanto's broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup,
which is causing incredible damage to our environment.
 As a result of Monsanto's lobbying, a U.S. regulation
passed in 2011 increased the tolerance for residues
of the herbicide glyphosate on corn. The tolerance is
even higher than the one allowed by international standards.
 The Codex Alimentarius Commission has established
a maximum residue level for glyphosate on corn
at 5 parts per million, but the U.S. regulation now
allows 13 parts per million.
The EU herbicide/pesticide legislation is probably
 the strictest in the world, a testament to their
commitment to consumer protection. Besides
limiting these chemicals, they ban genetically
engineered foods and the hormone BGH, whereas the
U.S. continues to allow them. Many more such
examples can be found.
As the European Union and other nations have
begun to tighten their environmental standards,
manufacturers have begun to use America
as a dumping ground
for consumer goods that fail to meet other nations'
standards for toxic chemical content. Manufacturers
ship wood, toys, electronics, pesticides and
cosmetics to the U.S. containing substances
that are banned or restricted elsewhere,
because they raise the risk of cancer or
cause reproductive or neurological damage.
Think about all of the dangerous and poor
quality products we're importing from China
that make the news now on a regular basis.
Unlike the European Union, which uses a
"precautionary principle" that prescribes
protective steps whenever there is scientific
evidence of risks to public health or the
environment, the U.S. EPA relies on
voluntary steps from the industries
themselves. This model of consumer
protection has unfortunately been swallowed
 up by corporate corruption.
If the government is unable to provide
the oversight needed to ensure public
safety, then it's up to YOU, the consumer,
 to protect yourself.

What You Can Do
The Cornucopia Institute has posted an Action
Alert in the form of a proxy letter you can sign
and mail off today. They will hand-carry your
letters to the USDA spring meeting to protect
organic products from synthetic additives.
You can print out this proxy letter here.
Signed proxy letters should be mailed to:

The Cornucopia Institute
PO Box 126
Cornucopia, Wisconsin 54827

Also consider including a donation check
with your letter, to support the invaluable
work the Cornucopia Institute performs to
 protect your and your family's right to clean,
wholesome, truly organic food. As of
right now,
 there does not appear to be any
additional benefit
 to contacting your congressman,
but if the need arises, Cornucopia
 will notify all their members and
subscribers with the information.
I can't encourage you enough to
participate in this process. It's important
 to recognize that you CAN make a difference!
Always remember that collectively, we have
 the most effective power in the marketplace
 that can exceed the power of these multibillion
 dollar, multinational corporations. We can vote

with our pocket books. But we also need to
make our voices heard; we have to let these
agencies know that we are watching, we're
paying attention, and we're not going to allow
 this immoral, if not downright illegal, industrial
favoritism to continue.
Until American consumers are willing to vote
LOUDLY and CLEARLY with their checkbooks

by refusing to purchase cheap products created
under poor standards of safety, we will continue
to be suckers for substandard and even dangerous
products that can compromise our health, along

with the health of future generations. So think 

carefully before you purchase your

products! The real cost of "cheap products"
comes in the price you pay for your long-term health.

Posted By Dr. Mercola | April 01 2012 | 148,459 views