Trust Not In The USDA
By Sarah E. Brown for Fresh N’ Lean

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was ostensibly created to protect and promote public health, but corporate interests often get in the way of its purported mission. In order to protect ourselves and our families, it is important to understand where the USDA is going wrong–and where we, as individuals and communities, have a chance to take a stand for high quality, safe, and nutritious food.

Need proof the USDA isn’t looking out for your health? The Bloomberg Report (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/genetically-modified-crops-will-get-faster-approval-usda-says.html) revealed that the USDA gave preferential treatment to agricultural giant Monsanto to  give it an unfair edge over competition. Monsanto has been involved in numerous lawsuits from organic farmers who protest its favoritism towards profits over people, harmful genetically modified monoculture and unfair monopoly over the global seed market. Genetically-modified crops containing biopesticides have led to mutated insects that are growing more resistant to insecticides. The USDA recognizes this risk and ignores it, and as a result, over time more pesticides are used to eliminate mutated pests, wreaking havoc on human and ecological health.

The USDA has also ignored known threats to national and global food supply systems, such as when they discovered bee-killing pesticides present in approved products and chose to turn a blind eye instead of taking a stand to protect our families and the environment.

Public outcry has not stopped the USDA from moving forward on damaging public health decisions. Citizens against GMO corn (almost 45,000!) were ignored compared to a mere 23 citizens in favor of it.

Here at Fresh N’ Lean, we believe that optimal health and wellness are not negotiable. We must continue to put pressure on the USDA to address our public health needs, not corporate interests. Together, we stand with farmers, individuals, families and communities in favor of the USDA supporting organic, non-GMO, plant-strong nutrition.

(Source: http://www.nationofchange.org/4-proofs-usda-doesn-t-care-about-your-health-1330526966)