food activism martin donohoe. medical education, public health, and social justice medical training...
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Food Activism
Martin Donohoe
Medical Education, Public Health, and Social Justice
• Medical training• Public health and social justice• Importance of social, cultural, economic,
and racial contributors to health and disease
• Study on black-white health disparities
UN Declaration of Human Rights
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care”
Writing and TeachingFood Justice Issues
Food Justice: Major IssuesPoverty and Famine
• U.S. Poverty– 15% (22% children)– Racial disparities
• Worldwide– 1.1 billion lack access to clean water– 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation
• Famine: 18,000 people starve to death daily (1 Hiroshima every 8 days)
• Foreign aid
Food Justice: Major Issues
• Decreasing biodiversity• Deforestation– Overpopulation, unsustainable agricultural practices
• Soil erosion• Decreasing water availability• Corporate control of agriculture• Agricultural subsidies• Diversion of food crops to biofuels
Food Justice: Major Issues
• Pesticides• Indoor combustion of coal and biomass• Overuse of agricultural antibiotics– Food-borne antibiotic-resistant diseases
• Poor oversight of U.S. food safety system• Obesity epidemic
ActivismGMOs, Biopharming, and rBGH
Genetically-Modified Crops
• 29 countries, 250 million acres (10% of global farmland), commercialized 1994
• Most soybeans, cotton, corn; other crops• 80% herbicide-resistant (e.g., Roundup Ready
soybeans); 20% produce their own pesticide (e.g., Bt corn)
• No commercially available GE crop that is drought-resistant, salt- or flood-tolerant, or which increases yields
Genetically-Modified Crops: Risks
• Contamination– Financial consequences
• Allergies• Superweeds• Changes in soil, soil bacteria• Altered nutritional value, potential adverse
health effects• Increased herbicide/pesticide use
Biopharming
• The engineering of plants to produce pharmaceuticals (enzymes, antibiotics, contraceptives, abortifacients, antibodies, chemotherapeutic agents, vaccines) and industrial chemicals
• Secrecy, violations, poorly regulated• Risks – similar to GM crop risks, and more• Widespread opposition (NAS, UCS, BMA,
Consumers Union, others
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)
• aka recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), brand name Posilac©
–Monsanto → Elanco (Eli Lilly)• 10-15% of U.S. dairy cows injected with
rBGH• Used to increase milk production by
cattle
rBGH
• Marketed primarily to large dairy farms (LDFs), which are supplanting small dairy farms
• LDFs have–Worse environmental impact records–Higher rates of workplace injuries–Contribute to decreasing agricultural
diversity
Effects of rBGH on Humans
• Increases IGF-1– suspected contributor to breast, prostate
and GI cancers–may be partly responsible for earlier onset
of puberty
• Causes 16 different harmful conditions in cattle
rBGH Worldwide
• Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the European Union have banned rBGH• The Codex Alimentarius, the UN’s
main food safety body, has refused to certify rBGH as safe
Oregon Measure 27GM Food Labeling (2002)
• Required labeling of wholesale and retail GM foodstuffs
• Defeated 70% to 30%– Despite widespread public support for labeling
• Opponents outspent proponents $5.5 million to $200,000– Out of state ag biotech money– Disinformation campaign
GM Food Labeling Today
• Many countries ban or limit GM crop production and importation
• Vermont requires GM labeling, CA ballot measure proposed, Alaska outlaws GE fish (Washington considering), Arkansas bans GE rice, Boulder (CO) bans GE crops on public lands, certain Northern California counties ban GM crops
Oregon PSR’s Campaign for Safe FoodrBGH Campaign
• All fluid milk products in Oregon now rBGH-free
• All hospital systems in Oregon rBGH-free (over 160 hospitals nationwide)
• Dairies increasingly abandoning rBGH in response to consumer demand
• Starbucks (company-owned stores), Chipotle, others rBGH-free
Oregon PSR’s Campaign for Safe FoodOregon Biopharm Bill
• Signed 2007, MOU completed 2010• Opposition: agricultural biotech, Oregonians
for Food and Shelter• ODA and Public Health Dept. must approve
permits before field trials• FDA preliminary safety opinion required
Oregon PSR’s Campaign for Safe FoodOregon Biopharm Bill
• Public comment period, public meeting• Preference for non-food crops, secured indoor
greenhouses• $10,000 fee to company• Company responsible for required remedial
action
Representative Kucinich’s House Bills (all pending)
• The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, or H.R. 6636
• The Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act, or H.R. 6635
• The Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection Act, or H.R. 6637
Representative Kucinich’s House Bills (all pending)
• Mandate GMO labeling• Require proper GMO safety testing• Eliminate seed patenting• Increase rights and protections for farmers• Administer full liability to biotechnology
companies for damage caused by GMOs
Suggestions for Health Care Professionals
• Education (self, patients)• Public speaking• Op-eds• Vote• Lobbying• Work with groups (see phsj website “food
safety issues” page)• Run for office
Speak Up
“The first job of a citizen is to keep your mouth open.”
- Günter Grass
Have Faith in Your Ability to Affect Change
"If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in your tent“
- Anita Roddick
