Apitherapy under attack

[Eric McArthur]

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Eric McArthur

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on Yesterday at 03:29 PM (25 Views)

An American company which has been trading for some 30 years was raided by the FDA for making claims about honey and health. The root of the problem for the business is Codex Alimentarius, the best kept secret ever! Is Codex good for our health?
check the link:
http://apitherapy.biologist.com/2010...-firm-over.htm

The Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Best Kept Secret Ever, Pertaining to Food Regulation

By Eric McArthur
I was recently introduced to the above Commission, which when I started to ask around about it of friends, acquaintances, professional contacts, medical practitioners and ultimately politicians - even my barber, I was astounded to discover that few if any of those questioned, like myself, had even heard of Codex let alone understood the significance of the organisation. Perhaps I was asking the wrong people!
Beekeepers also should have some knowledge of Codex Alimentarius, since as food producers, viz: honey, they should be aware of the tight regulations defining exactly what honey is; its origins, its constituents, qualities and the parameters which honey must meet to be deemed saleable as a pure honey product. The Codex rules cover the complete range of extremely demanding tests which may be carried out on honey to determine adulteration or spoilage caused by heating and over heating. These tests are carried out to determine that levels of key constituents in honey fall within the pre-determined levels established for pure unadulterated, unspoiled honey; substances such as HMF (Hydromethylfurfuraldehyde), diastase and invertase, which are extremely sensitive to temperature. Water content is also an important criterion: Honey is also screened for adulteration with HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) and any other substances which fall out-with the Codex definition of honey.
So far so good – beekeepers should be grateful for such a clear cut reference regarding their prized product.
However, when the detail of Codex is scrutinised another less benign picture emerges which gives cause for pause.
Codex, despite its origins as a set of regulations based on the Napoleonic Code, which is a positive code of practice; if a list is drawn up of permitted items, anything not on this list is forbidden. Whereas under Common Law anything not forbidden in a list is permitted.
The origins of Codex Alimentarius lie with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Due to disputes relative to food quality and food standards generally, Codex Alimentarius was set up as a trading standard within the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1893 and employed to settle disputes relating to food up until the start of the First World War.
Codex in its present form was resurrected by Fritz de Meer, the former CEO of I.G. Farben, who was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for Crimes Against Humanity at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trails after the Second World War.
The organisation which oversees Codex is the World Trade Organisation (WTO), under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
Further The rules of Codex Alimentarius have virtually nothing to do with Consumer Protection it is purely a Trade Commission whose prime aim is to enable Free World Trade.
Codex has some virtues relative to food quality, however there are aspects of Codex that need to be examined closely, and which don‘t bear up to scrutiny.
Numbering among the key beneficiaries of the Codex regulations, which originally were purely voluntary, but which after the formation of the WTO in 1995 became mandatory by default, are; Monsanto, Bayer, BASF, GlaxoSmithKline, Welcome, Pfizer and many other household names in the pharmaceutical, bio- technical and bio- agricultural fields.
Despite the tight definition and control of food regulations, there are glaring omissions in the Codex rules primarily in the fields of GM foods, pharmaceutical and chemicals. There is great pressure being brought to bear to dilute the standards required for the labelling of foods with a GM content: There is great pressure being brought to bear on Food Supplements, including vitamins, minerals, nutritients and Foods for Special Dietary Uses. Codex rules preclude any claims being made that a normal diet does not have sufficient nutrition for people with Special Dietary needs and thus at a stroke denies patients suffering from ailments like cardio-vascular, cancer or diabetes etc access to such food supplements. Worse, under Codex vitamins, minerals and nutrients for special dietary needs are now classed as poisons. However the pharmaceutical multis have very generously been excluded from such Codex regulations and patients are able to purchase their high priced patented products recommended for these conditions.
Regarding GM based food the real test of the power of Codex appeared in 2003. The principles of Codex for genetically modified foods, which were adopted at that time, were instrumental in the US, Canada and Argentine launching and winning a trade dispute at the WTO against the European Union. Further, future guidelines for GM foods will contribute to making such foods, which comply with the regulations mandatory for all WTO member countries. The three countries mentioned above are now pushing hard that there be no requirement for food manufacturers and exporters of GM foods to disclose GM content in their products. Thus by default, while the world population sleeps, the big GM multis achieve their goal - the universal consumption of their GM foods. Unlike conventional foodstuffs GM crop seeds can be and are already well covered by patents.
Pesticides and Chemicals are out-with the mandate of Codex and in this field the disregard for Consumer Protection is quite dramatically demonstrated: despite 127 Nations agreeing to forbid the use of nine of the worlds most dangerous persistent organic chemical pollutants (POPS); chemicals which are so dangerous to human health that the agreement to ban was unanimous: Under Codex seven of these nine chemicals have been reinstated for use; hexachlorobenzine, toxaphen, aldrin, dieldrin,
pentachlorophenol, endrin and mirex.
Organic foods are increasingly being targeted by Codex. Rules governing the natural quality of organic foods are systematically being undermined and the Codex Committee on Food Labelling is moving to permit substances like sulphur dioxide, which is a known allergen; sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, which are potentially carcinogenic and have been implicated in hyperactivity in children; carrageenan which is associated with ulcers and cancerous tumours in the digestive system.
Codex has given the Green Light to the use of ethylene for the production, processing and marketing of Organic Foods. Thus moving this industry toward WTO enforced acceptance of the same dubious unnatural standards that non- organic foodstuffs are subject to. By reducing the high standards expected of organic foods the market is opened up to large non – organic food producers, who see the opportunity for higher profits on the back of the high reputation for purity which organic produce enjoys at present. In addition of course, organic produce does not contain pesticide residues or genetically modified organisms. On a more sinister note – good consumer health is not in the interests of the ‘health care’ industries. The demand for high quality organic produce is ultimately a threat to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries according to Dr Paul Taylor of the Dr Rath Health Foundation ( http://www.dr-rath-foundation.org/), because as well as promoting good health organic products result in lower demands for pesticides, veterinary drugs and GM foods and thus are a continuing threat to multi national profits.
It would seem that Codex once ratified will enforce the routine treatment of all dairy cattle, with recombinant bovine growth hormone, resulting of course in all milk being contaminated by this hormone. By the same token all animals in the human food chain, be they furred, feathered or finned will be treated with sub-clinical antibiotics. All food, which is not eaten fresh, under Codex will be irradiated.
However well intentioned as Codex was, as a set of voluntary food regulations, somewhere between its resurrection and the present time the agenda altered virtually unnoticed. Instead of the Codex Alimentarius remaining voluntary; these Regulations suddenly became mandatory by default, because any sovereign State which is not Codex compliant, in a dispute loses its case however justifiable and correct that case may be. In 1962 the powers behind the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which presides over some 27 active subsidiary committees and ad hoc intergovernmental task forces, decided to embark on an ambitious program setting out comprehensive rules for all food consumed in the human food chain. The present aim of the project, which was initially proposed as a voluntary code is to have the Codex Alimentarius rules in place by early 2010 at which time Codex would be ratified world wide. Once ratified according to Dr Rima Laibow, President of the American National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) – (ww.Heathfreedom.org), Codex is cast, not just in stone, but the equivalent of solid rock – Codex it seems is not subject to the normal rules governing treaties between countries. Codex can NEVER be repealed! Is this a good idea?

[Eric McArthur]

I have noticed belatedly, that the link given for to this site has beciome corrupted. Correction below!


[url]http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2010
/04/video-fda-targets-us-firm-over.html

[Stromnessbees]

Hi Eric, thanks for posting this link. It might be worth pointing out that the video is about half way down that page.

I am very aware that natural products and remedies are being forced off the marketplace by creeping changes of regulations. These regulations are promoted by the big companies that ultimatley benefit from them. It's been the same in so many other aspects of our lives. Think of the prohibition of the sale of unpasturized milk, how it affets local trade. And the rules about abattoirs, which forced so many small operations out of business. We need to wake up and demand to make decisions for ourselves again, use what's available locally and look after our place. Small is beautiful!

Doris

[gavin]

I'm a bit reluctant to enter this discussion as I know Eric holds passionate views about Codex Alimentarius, and I have no wish to see the friendly atmosphere here change, but isn't this apitherapy case more to do with health claims and their regulation?

This is from a post on Bee-L pointing at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis:

http://tinyurl.com/yfnj5vp

In a complaint filed March 25, the U.S. attorney's office for western Wisconsin alleged that the products are misbranded and unapproved, therefore violating the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The agency said it has not received any reports of consumer illnesses tied to the products.

No officials from the 38-year-old family-owned company were available Monday to comment.

In labeling and promotional materials, the company claimed bee byproducts such as propolis can cure or prevent diseases such as asthma, dermatitis, ulcers, cancer, kidney disease, bone fractures and insomnia.

So isn't it right that consumers in the US get protection from this legislation designed to protect them from unjustified claims? If apitherapy businesses wish to advertise their products that is fine, but surely if they make health claims that they cannot justify they should be brought to book?

Moving now from apitherapy and its regulation to the Codex Alimentarius I have to say that I really don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing as a whole. However I'm pretty sure that this is hard to justify:

It would seem that Codex once ratified will enforce the routine treatment of all dairy cattle, with recombinant bovine growth hormone, resulting of course in all milk being contaminated by this hormone. By the same token all animals in the human food chain, be they furred, feathered or finned will be treated with sub-clinical antibiotics. All food, which is not eaten fresh, under Codex will be irradiated.

That being said I agree that small is beautiful and would like to see more of our food (including honey of course) raised by small-scale producers. There *are* issues about over-regulation of food production, and the more regulation of honey production the less likely it is that a diverse supply will continue. There's no point inventing spurious concerns though.

best wishes

Gavin

[Stromnessbees]

Sheila Dillon has recently devoted The Food Programme (Radio 4) to the same topic: Beetroot juice has been proven to reduce blood pressure, and yet it's impossible to claim its health benefits due to new EU regulations:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rd4dv

Doris

[Jon]

Hi Gavin, Eric, Doris.
As you know, I have spent a considerable slice of the last 20 years working in Mexico.
One of the things that gets my goat is the complete lack of regulation over natural cures and foods claimed to have special medicinal properties.
A regular feature of life there is someone getting on the bus to do a sales pitch on some potion, powder or mixture of herbs which he claims will cure everything from flatulence to cancer.
The sales pitch is ridiculous but there are always two or three passengers who hand over hard earned money to buy this wonder cure. It is generally people who can't afford to bring a sick child or family member to a doctor. Their ignorance and poverty is being exploited.
I have seen ads on the telly for a product called 'Fataway after eating' which claims that if you take a sachet of this stuff, you can eat as much as you like and it will 'dissolve' the fat leading to no weight gain.
Mexico has the highest rate of type two diabetes in the world so this is not a good message to give out.
Anyone who claims that propolis cures cancer is a conman and should be stopped in his tracks. A hefty fine usually does the trick.
I for one am glad that I live in a jurisdiction where there is control over false or overstated claims for natural products and I speak as someone 100% committed to organic food production.
A society without rules and regulations is tantamount to anarchy.

[Stromnessbees]

A society without rules and regulations is tantamount to anarchy.

Hi Jon

I certainly don't want anarchy either. What I would like is regulation where it really matters. When it comes to bees for example, it's impossible for us to make rules that would protect our local populations from the damaging effects of imports, all for the sake of free trade.

Doris

[Eric McArthur]

Hi Jon

Point taken regarding regulations! The Tobacco scandal a few years back springs to mind. The tobacco barons were fined heavily for misleading smokers by claiming that smoking was not injurious to health, worse they also claimed that smoking Menthol cigarettes was beneficial to people suffering from respiratory ailments! No compensation has yet been paid out by these criminal!
The main function of Codex is not to foster Consumer Protection but on the contrary to facilitate World Trade.
The fact that the multis; Big Ag, Big Chem and Big Pharm are exempt from the regulations of Codex is questionable to say the least. It is really the multi that need regulating - before they either rob us all blind or destroy the quality of our food completely.
Pesticides and Chemicals are out-with the mandate of Codex and in this field the disregard for Consumer Protection is quite dramatically demonstrated: despite 127 Nations agreeing to forbid the use of nine of the worlds most dangerous persistent organic chemical pollutants (POPS); chemicals which are so dangerous to human health that the agreement to ban was unanimous: Under Codex seven of these nine chemicals have been reinstated for use; hexachlorobenzine, toxaphen, aldrin, dieldrin,
pentachlorophenol, endrin and mirex.
Organic foods are increasingly being targeted by Codex. Rules governing the natural quality of organic foods are systematically being undermined and the Codex Committee on Food Labelling is moving to permit substances like sulphur dioxide, which is a known allergen; sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, which are potentially carcinogenic and have been implicated in hyperactivity in children; carrageenan which is associated with ulcers and cancerous tumours in the digestive system.
Codex has given the Green Light to the use of ethylene for the production, processing and marketing of Organic Foods. Thus moving this industry toward WTO enforced acceptance of the same dubious unnatural standards that non- organic foodstuffs are subject to. By reducing the high standards expected of organic foods the market is opened up to large non – organic food producers, who see the opportunity for higher profits on the back of the high reputation for purity which organic produce enjoys at present. In addition of course, organic produce does not contain pesticide residues or genetically modified organisms

[Jon]

Hi Doris and Eric.
I actually agree with both of you re. free trade.
It is always presented as progress but a bit of protectionism would do no harm at times.
As it stands at the moment, there is nothing we can do re. the importation of bees of diverse races from within the EU and further afield.

The is a recent EU directive regarding the cutting of turf which was put in place to protect peat bogs.
This has also snared lots of farmers in rural Ireland, relatives of mine included, who own a few acres of turf bank which they exploit sustainably by only taking what they need themselves each year. Turf cutting is so much a part of rural tradition here there should have been an exception made for local use.

The NAFTA free trade agreement has completely destroyed small scale agriculture in Mexico as it is impossible to compete with US agribusiness. It is now almost uneconomic to grow maize in Mexico even though maize has its genetic origin there and has an almost sacred place in their belief system going right back to the Aztecs and earlier. The anthropology museum in Mexico city has a section on maize and the cobs grown by the Aztecs was about a quarter the size of the cobs grown today so you can see how much it has been improved without the need for any gene splicing.
Some of the distinct varieties of maize are in danger of being lost as GM maize which was intended for animal feed was planted by campesinos and some of the GM genes have ended up in the general gene pool. There are hundreds of different varieties of maize in Mexico, with different colours, tastes and textures, much like potatoes. These are suited to different soils, altitudes and climate. It is a crying shame to see what is happening.
I don't know a great deal about codex alimentarius but there is certainly a need to have some form of regulation of health claims made for food products which are being sold to consumers.
I grow as much as my own food as I can as that way I have control over the quality of what we eat at home. I also make most of the alcohol I consume out of apples and pears and various other fruits. Still enjoy a pint of Guinness though and you can't make that at home! I used to make my own cheeses and still make huge amounts of jam and chutney in the summer. It's hard to find the time for everything.

[Eric McArthur]

Hi Doris and Eric.
I actually agree with both of you re. free trade.
It is always presented as progress but a bit of protectionism would do no harm at times.
As it stands at the moment, there is nothing we can do re. the importation of bees of diverse races from within the EU and further afield.

The is a recent EU directive regarding the cutting of turf which was put in place to protect peat bogs.
This has also snared lots of farmers in rural Ireland, relatives of mine included, who own a few acres of turf bank which they exploit sustainably by only taking what they need themselves each year. Turf cutting is so much a part of rural tradition here there should have been an exception made for local use.

The NAFTA free trade agreement has completely destroyed small scale agriculture in Mexico as it is impossible to compete with US agribusiness. It is now almost uneconomic to grow maize in Mexico even though maize has its genetic origin there and has an almost sacred place in their belief system going right back to the Aztecs and earlier. The anthropology museum in Mexico city has a section on maize and the cobs grown by the Aztecs was about a quarter the size of the cobs grown today so you can see how much it has been improved without the need for any gene splicing.
Some of the distinct varieties of maize are in danger of being lost as GM maize which was intended for animal feed was planted by campesinos and some of the GM genes have ended up in the general gene pool. There are hundreds of different varieties of maize in Mexico, with different colours, tastes and textures, much like potatoes. These are suited to different soils, altitudes and climate. It is a crying shame to see what is happening.
I don't know a great deal about codex alimentarius but there is certainly a need to have some form of regulation of health claims made for food products which are being sold to consumers.
I grow as much as my own food as I can as that way I have control over the quality of what we eat at home. I also make most of the alcohol I consume out of apples and pears and various other fruits. Still enjoy a pint of Guinness though and you can't make that at home! I used to make my own cheeses and still make huge amounts of jam and chutney in the summer. It's hard to find the time for everything.

Hi Jon

Sounds like the good Life - Lucky you!