Viruses to be added to foods to combat bacteria
Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? Let’s see. To combat bacteria, such as listeria, in foods such as cold cuts, sausages and hot dogs, the FDA has approved the addition of viruses to these foods. So, theoretically, these viruses attack only bacteria, not plant or human material, but doesn’t anyone but me remember that viruses have a nasty habit of mutating? Sure, today, they only make your lunch meat “safe”, but tomorrow the government will be announcing the need to find a “lunch meat flu” vaccine before we all die from the “lunch meat flu” pandemic.
This is my favorite quote from the article. Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said .”They (the FDA) couldn’t approve this product if they had questions about its safety.” Oh, yeah, the FDA would NEVER approve anything that later turns out to kill people (cough, Vioxx…. cough, antidpresseants…. cough, NSAIDs… I don’t need to keep coughing, do I? You’ve gotten my point?).
If you think I’m overexaggerating, try the Yahoo search for FDA drugs that kill and the Google search for FDA drugs that kill. Ironically, the news story about viruses added to food is one of the news articles that comes up for this search.
Oh, and in case you think that you’ll just avoid the food products that have been treated… they’re not going to label the products that use this method. Yep, makes me glad I’m a vegetarian.
I couldn’t have said it better. I was utterly shocked when I read this article. I became a Vegetarian about 6 months ago and this just affirms my decision along with many others. The sad thing is that the general public thinks the FDA is looking out for our best interest. I just spoke with a friend last week who questioned why I decided to become a vegetarian and when I told her the reasons she said ‘oh gross…don’t tell me any more, I don’t even want to know…’ – I guess ignorance truly is bliss…until you die from hormones, steroids, antibiotics…and now viruses…
Comment by Sabine — September 17, 2006 @ 5:40 am
I was truly shocked when I read your article, I know of many dangerous process and drugs that the FDA has approved, and they definitely have their own agenda – and it’s not food safety or health. Many people have simply learned to “trust” in our government, and not for good reasons, but out of usually out of fear of change, or ignorance. It’s very sad that more people don’t learn to trust their instincts and their peers, fellow vegetarians, herbalists, and their friends and loved ones who warn them of the dangers of some of the foods, food processing, and dangerous ingredients imposed upon us by the FDA without the consent or knowlege of those who eat the “treated” foods. Viruses??? Incredible – what’s next, feeding our children vaccine sandwhiches?!! Wait, I shouldn’t give them any ideas!
Comment by Herbal Whirled — December 1, 2006 @ 1:14 pm
Well, actually, there has been talk, in the past of adding vaccines to fruits and vegetables. A little polio with that apple?
Comment by jmanty — December 1, 2006 @ 1:57 pm