Re: media blitz invariably tied to commerical interests

[Guest guest]

That "advertorial" for Big Dairy illustrates what the word "propaganda" means. Eight hundred members on this RawDairy forum - who know better - is wonderful, but how many subscribers to the Columbian read that il-logic, then went about their business, convinced that REAL MILK is a health hazard?This case has the hallmarks of a classic set-up. Evidence of which is not available = yet. I urge skeptics to fold-in to the scenario the stake Monsanto has in the milk biz, and its track record of corruption/ outright criminality. _____________________>> > ...That scary milk!> -Blair> > http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/12162005news67370.cfm> > In Our View: Ban Raw Milk> > Friday, December 16, 2005> Columbian editorial writers> > Raw milk poses severe health risks to the public, and the retail sale> of raw milk should be outlawed by the state Legislature when it> reconvenes next month.> > Abundant national evidence supports such a law. Retail sale of raw> milk for human consumption is illegal in more than half of the states,> including neighboring Oregon. Abundant local evidence is seen in the> fact that at least eight children have been sickened by an E. coli> outbreak traced to unpasteurized milk produced by a dairy north of> Woodland.> > While that investigation continues and could include more people> affected by the bacteria, the best evidence is known science. Raw milk> is becoming popular with people who believe it is more healthful or> tastes better, but health experts warn against drinking unpasteurized> milk. Most susceptible to disease from raw milk are children, the> elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.> > As Don Hamilton and reported in Thursday's Columbian,> Oregon outlawed retail sale of raw milk in 1993. In Washington state,> it's legal only with a state license. Only six dairies have been> licensed in the state, five in the past year. The Woodland dairy is> not licensed.> > Public health laws should stem from scientific facts, not vague> promises of miraculous cures or glowing testimonials about taste.> Among the experts are:> > n Sheehan, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's> Division of Dairy and Egg Safety, says drinking raw milk is "like> playing Russian roulette with your health."> > n Dr. Emilio DeBess, public health veterinarian with Oregon Health> Services in Portland: "Sometimes the fecal material contaminates the> area of the udder of the cow. Even though you try to clean that area> pretty well before you actually start milking, the possibility of> contamination is very high."> > n Blair , spokesman for the Washington Dairy Products> Commission: "No one, and I repeat no one, has any business consuming> unpasteurized raw milk. It can contain some pretty serious> microorganisms, such as listeria, such as salmonella, and the most> serious of all, E. coli. It's an urban myth that raw milk is somehow> healthier. That's a belief, not a fact."> > These are knowledgeable experts, not online propagandists,> uncredentialed nutritionists or self-styled medicinal specialists.> > Some of the gimmicks deployed to distribute raw milk include "cow> share" programs, and selling raw milk marked ostensibly for> consumption only by pets. But transporting raw milk across state lines> is a violation of federal law, and for good reason.> > Raw-milk fans complain that pasteurizing milk destroys nutrients,> enzymes and other beneficial bacteria. But Barbara Ingham, food> scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was recently quoted> in FDA Consumer magazine: "The benefit of destroying the harmful> bacteria (through pasteurization) far outweighs the supposed benefits> of retaining those helpful microorganisms." She also said "there is no> scientific evidence that raw milk enhances resistance" to diseases.> > Particularly troubling is the fact that children are often most> susceptible. Yes, parents are most responsible for protecting their> children. But when wrong choices are made for those who are too young> to make their own right choices, the government must step in to> protect them.> > It's best to trust the scientists, especially when children and the> elderly are at the greatest risk. Next month, it'll be time to trust> our legislators to act. They should join lawmakers in more than 20> other states and help prevent the type of E. coli outbreak that hit> our area this week.>