What are your thoughts on loose FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations and the latest food scare?

[Dovahbear]

Will you still eat junk food or food labelled as "healthy" inspite of the fact that there may be hazardous chemicals present in it?

One such example would be Subway's usage of Azodicarbonamide (used in the production of making foamed plastics) in breads, which is banned in U.K, Europe , Australia and certain other parts of the world, except the U.S.A where it has made news. The fact that this chemical might cause various chronic diseases and is still being used by many food companies shows how loose the regulations are in some countries.

[lucky24]

Its pretty scary how much the EPA and FDA have eased up on their regulations because of big business controlling them. I usually avoid eating out because of these things and I try to keep to the basic foods (im sure I am eating some GMO but its a better option than many other things on the market)

to anyone who thinks we should get rid of FDA, what are your alternative solutions so corporations can't get away with using foods unsafe for human use. I am asking this because there are many different things that we may not notice until a few years down the line and by then the damage has been done.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

The vast majority of regulations are written by one company or groups of companies to exclude other companies from competing...rarely are they in the interest of 'helping the population'.

The alternative is simple. 1) The law should require that all products be labeled accurately with their ingredients and the percentages thereof. 2) Companies would be encouraged to join private organizations to have their products evaluated and tested. Think Underwriters Laboratory. 3) The court system is our mechanism for getting rewarded if your rights are violated. Companies would not knowingly put out harmful products if the threat of lawsuits and poor sales would put them out of business. The free market will take care of it.

[Dovahbear]

But there's a problem, if the law requires that all the products be labeled accurately with their ingredients and percentages, won't it be easier to copy the product? Then the company will go out of business.

[lucky24]

private organizations are just as likely to be corrupted as the gov. FDA. I don't see how one is different from the other, can you elaborate a bit more on how a private organization which tests products will be any different. joining a private organization would be fairly costly especially for start up companies.

If a product doesn't cause problems immediately and causes problems over time, there is a good chance most companies are going to risk the lawsuits. Tobacco products are known to be harmful, and many of those companies have went to court yet they are still in business. The free market doesn't always take care of these things.

[lucky24]

the QA is right about that too, it will be much easier to rip off patents from other companies and slightly change it to create something new or just take that product and sell it in a different country

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Because then the private regulators would go out of business. The government just keeps on trucking.. Look at how the FDA and the EPA are conspiring with drug companies to make Asthma medicine outrageously expensive.

[foobar22]

It's ridiculous in the U.S.A. (I'm a lifelong American). They don't have to label GMO products, and it seems like everything has message (under different names, like "yeast extract"), mercury, aspartame, etc., etc. It doesn't shock me at all that there are dangerous chemicals in foods here that are banned elsewhere. Just look at how hard the good ole' U.S. of A. has fought for thimerosal.

[foobar22]

GAG changed M.S.G. (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) to "message".

[Anonymous]

You can't rely in someone to tell you if something is good for you or not. You have to do your own research and rely only yourself. Don't rely in the government

Sorry for the typos. I'm on my phone so it's harder to correct them

[Dovahbear]

Well, the thing is sometimes you'd want to eat out, and you don't exactly know whats in their food if they lie and deceive.

[knotme]

I try to eat as healthy as possible; unless I harvest my own food we are at their mercy; which is said

[quantumdefender]

the FDA is just like any other government organization. Corrupt! the look the other way of they are paid enough, and come down on those who dont pay. but as far as looking out for the citizens interests? good luck with that. how many cancer drug treatments sit in limbo while people are dying?

[Deft_maiden]

FDA is on the payroll of the big business much like rest of the government.

[Dovahbear]

It shows that we live in a dog eat dog world. The companies are causing chronic illnesses and the government is fully supporting it.

[Deft_maiden]

More like a big business and local/ state/ fed. government in bed together. The will of a few has more weight and say so. The Supreme Court is fully supporting it by over turning campaign contribution limits. Time to migrate again!

[Dovahbear]

So, knowing that there are harsh chemicals in so called "health" foods or junk foods, will you still eat their stuff or would you be hesitant to eat them?

[Deft_maiden]

Of course not. I try to steer clear of all GMOs, Corn Syrup and other harmful chemicals.
The problem is often times by law they not required to disclose. I am baffled how masses so indifferent about this.
Every single law put on ballot that required food manufacturers to disclose GMO content was defeated during the last election. In every state mind you! Tragic!
We are a part of the problem by being lethargic

[Junkyrdog1]

Mainly all the food at the grocery store has chemicals in it that's not good I don't know how they get away with it oh yea I forgot its all about money the universe is slowly falling apart and I don't think no one realize it yet I believe we the human is gonna extinct are selves

[biggie90]

Regulate food not supplements I like me some cell tech.

[Dovahbear]

Well, i'm talking mainly about food here. Would you still eat something which has harsh chemicals in it?

[biggie90]

nope i would not

[bh6676r942]

and you wonder why the damn cancer rates are so high in this country

[bh6676r942]

and I blame Barack Obama little bit I thought he had the power to throw the nusse over the neck of the FDA

[naima17]

I guess America assumes we will all die someday and want to kill us orf now. America is so corrupted.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

We need to get rid of the FDA.

[Dovahbear]

Well, that won't exactly solve the problem.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Sure it will. Keeping it isn't fixing anything.

[Dovahbear]

Knowing something unsafe is in the food you order, would you still eat it?

[yaddayaddayadda02]

No, but we are seeing horrible things in our food in spite of these regulations, and people are being kept from wholesome food by these same regulation. You are completely mistaken if you think the FDA is the only thing between you and unsafe foods

[Dovahbear]

Oh no, its not just the FDA, its also the companies who make these foods and the people who keep consuming it inspite of the harmful ingredients. How are people being kept from wholesome food by the same regulation? Won't getting rid of the FDA be like getting rid of the law (of food administration)? So if there is no law at all, companies would have the freedom to add whatever they desire to! That's unsafe too.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Raw milk is illegal in many places, farmers have been raided. Google or read things about Joel Salatin. He's been called a 'food terrorist' by the FDA. No, getting rid of the FDA is not getting rid of law. It's getting rid of corrupt bureaucracy. I just said earlier, there should be truthful labeling laws, and companies should be able to be used out of existence if they harm people with their foods. Remember it's your government who is responsible for high fructose corn syrup in everything.

[Dovahbear]

There will be corrupt bureaucracy in everything. If FDA no longer exists, it will be the private organizations who are just like the FDA. I understand about the truthful labelling laws, but if a company displays all of the ingredients they use, won't someone be able to easily duplicate their products? It's a win - lose situation always. So how can we have a win - win situation if there's no integrity on either side?

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Have you been electrocuted recently by an appliance? The ul is a private organization that tests electric cords and gadgets. Companies tend to have less bureaucracy because they don't have an unending supply of taxpayer money. Companies can duplicate now. You think they don't have r&d labs that decode what is in a coke by now? The win-win situation is letting customers and food suppliers agree to do business with each other. Without government interference. I'm sure you are scared of GMO's, right? how can you trust a government that appoints the head of Monsanto to the head of the FDA?

[Dovahbear]

Even though the companies will have less bureaucracy, it won't completely die. Anyhow, it can't really change. The government isn't really going to back off.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

It will if you start voting smarter.

[Dovahbear]

LOL. Not in my country it won't.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Remember, it was 'legal' for subway to put that yoga mat chemical in their bread. The FDA you are defending approved that. It was consumer outrage that caused them to change, and change quickly.

[Dovahbear]

I am not defending FDA, that was not my intention, i meant that even if you remove the FDA, there'll be someone else taking place of the FDA at some point in life. I'm just saying they should have stricter regulations. The same chemical is banned in various other countries. So why is it allowed in USA? Shouldn't they be scrutinized well?

[mario1321]

They are trying too off the weak

[Dovahbear]

You mean trying to get rid of common people? Hah.

[mario1321]

Thats my interpetation yes

[Dovahbear]

Okay, would you still eat the stuff?

[mario1321]

Have too eat even while you grow your own

[Anonymous]

Libertardians are stupid clowns.

[Dovahbear]

I don't know much about Libertarians, democrats and all such political parties but would you still eat it knowing something bad is in it? (Example: Subway, although they have apparently cancelled out the harsh chemical, but would you still eat it if the chemical was present?)

[Opinion Owner]

I wouldn't eat most things sold out there. Little choice about that, though.

[bh6676r942]

No you bottom feeder liberal, this has nothing to do with political parties it has to with complete carelessness and corporate greed