A Blast From The Past: Topham’s FIREWEED
column Exposed WHO 35 Years Ago (Part 2)
by
Arthur Topham
Part 2: Global interests at the dinner table
There are major nuclear and commercial industries now preparing the unsuspecting public for some horrendous changes to our diets which will have genetic effects that might be everlasting. Behind the scenes of the food irradiation game are some international players worthy of mention as they’ll be setting the standards for nuking your Sunday dinner. We have the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) of the United Nations.
Together the FOA/IAEA/WHO have formed a Joint Expert Committee which is promoting a marketing strategy (the big sell) for what they term “Wholesomeness of Irradiated Foods”. They are also developing radiation standards for world-wide adoption.
Specific levels of irradiation called “rads” are used to ‘preserve’ various foodstuffs. (Please note that irradiated food doesn’t in itself become radio-active.) 500 rads over a relatively short period of time is enough to kill a human being. The Joint Experts are recommending acceptance of food irradiation levels up to 1,000,000 rads. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set standards at 100,000 rads but Canadian officials want to go for the ‘Experts’ recommendations, not that either of healthy.
There have been a number of studies done over the recent years that indicate food irradiated with gamma rays is not as “wholesome” as the vested interests would have us believe. There is evidence that irradiated food causes chronic reproductive and mutagenic effects in animal studies. A genetic abnormality known as polyploidy was observed in children in India when irradiated grain was fed to them. Kidney disease, shortened lifespans, chromosome damage and leukemia all reared their ugly little heads in case studies of irradiated foods. Of 413 Food Irradiation Studies by the FDA, 408 proved irradiated foods dangerous.
From a nutritional standpoint alone food irradiation is insane. Radiation destroys vitamins, particularly Vitamin A, several B Vitamins, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Fats and amino acids are also seriously effected. The “Experts” say zap them then enrich the results with synthetic additives. It doesn’t make any sense but it sure makes dollars for the fat cats.
Currently Canada isn’t importing irradiated foods other than spices, although government permission has been given for irradiating potatoes, onions, wheat and wheat flour.
Here in B.C. we have a $38.7 million dollar commercial food irradiation plant being built in Richmond, $12 million dollars of which is your money in the form of federal Scientific Research tax credits. This will be the world’s largest continuous-feed food irradiation facility capable of processing 250 tons of food every 24 hours!
All this is enough to agitate the atoms off the staunchest junk food junky. And to add insult to injury the food and nuclear industries don’t want food that’s been nuked labelled for fear of causing “undue alarm” amongst consumers!
It’s my strong contention that should these food nuking plants start production we’ll be bequeathing upon our children and future generations a legacy of medical problems what will dwarf Chernobyl and make Three Mile Island look like a tea party.
If you’re concerned about the effects of food irradiation and want more information write to: Food Irradiation Alert, 5338 Ewart Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5J 2W4.
Editor’s Note: Arthur Topham is a contributing columnist. He is a former elementary school teacher and a 16-year resident of the Cottonwood area. He is also the former head of the local Green Party.
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