Comments on: This Is Nuts! http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:05:44 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: AitchD http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818543 AitchD Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:47:47 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818543 <p>Back in 2002 I heard a former FDA inspector on the radio explain how regulation and deregulation affect the meat slaughterhouses. He said when they had inspectors, the holding pens and the ramrod conveyors were inspected and hosed down to remove fecal matter; deregulation in the 1980s reduced the hosing to the slaughter house fecal matter only; after further deregulation in 2001, they let the consumer lick it off.</p> Back in 2002 I heard a former FDA inspector on the radio explain how regulation and deregulation affect the meat slaughterhouses. He said when they had inspectors, the holding pens and the ramrod conveyors were inspected and hosed down to remove fecal matter; deregulation in the 1980s reduced the hosing to the slaughter house fecal matter only; after further deregulation in 2001, they let the consumer lick it off.

]]> By: Miro http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818476 Miro Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:06:44 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818476 <p>Where’s “Get Your FDA ON!” when we need it!???</p> Where’s “Get Your FDA ON!” when we need it!???

]]> By: tejanarusa http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818466 tejanarusa Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:59:00 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818466 <p>Oops, forgot to put the link to that quotation from CSPI: scroll down pretty far to find it, under “Responses.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/captions.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/captions.html</a></p> <p>And, yes, it is pretty amazing. Maybe there’s hope of changing it now.<br /> For all our complaints and worries about Obama, he has made some 360 degree changes in his first two weeks. I’m still cautiously optimistic…</p> Oops, forgot to put the link to that quotation from CSPI: scroll down pretty far to find it, under “Responses.”

http://www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/captions.html

And, yes, it is pretty amazing. Maybe there’s hope of changing it now.
For all our complaints and worries about Obama, he has made some 360 degree changes in his first two weeks. I’m still cautiously optimistic…

]]> By: tejanarusa http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818462 tejanarusa Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:56:51 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818462 <p>I wondered whether it was a reg or a statute: according to the website of Center for Science in the Public Interest, it is the Food and Drug Act itself:</p> <blockquote><p><strong>Recalls.</strong> Today recalls of contaminated food are voluntary. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not give the FDA the power to order a producer to recall a food product, with the exception of infant formula. If a firm does not recall a product, the FDA can go to court to seek an injunction or seizure of the product. But these legal actions waste precious time, and if a food company or importer fails to recall a contaminated product, it can continue to reach consumers. Mandatory recall authority would ensure that recalled foods are removed from the market more quickly and effectively. </p></blockquote> I wondered whether it was a reg or a statute: according to the website of Center for Science in the Public Interest, it is the Food and Drug Act itself:

Recalls. Today recalls of contaminated food are voluntary. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not give the FDA the power to order a producer to recall a food product, with the exception of infant formula. If a firm does not recall a product, the FDA can go to court to seek an injunction or seizure of the product. But these legal actions waste precious time, and if a food company or importer fails to recall a contaminated product, it can continue to reach consumers. Mandatory recall authority would ensure that recalled foods are removed from the market more quickly and effectively.

]]> By: Knut http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818326 Knut Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:39:38 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818326 <p>Of course, eCAHN, as you no doubt recall, Stigler’s solution was to have no regulation at all, on the grounds that that would make it impossible for private firms to ‘capture’ the regulators — sort of like Alan Greenspan’s approach to the financial sector. One of those things that ’seemed like a good idea at the time.’</p> <p>Chicago economics turns first and third-class minds into second-class minds.</p> Of course, eCAHN, as you no doubt recall, Stigler’s solution was to have no regulation at all, on the grounds that that would make it impossible for private firms to ‘capture’ the regulators — sort of like Alan Greenspan’s approach to the financial sector. One of those things that ’seemed like a good idea at the time.’

Chicago economics turns first and third-class minds into second-class minds.

]]> By: pmorlan http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818322 pmorlan Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:28:22 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818322 <p>I just noticed that the title of this piece is called “This is Nuts”. Sorry to steal your pun Christy.</p> I just noticed that the title of this piece is called “This is Nuts”. Sorry to steal your pun Christy.

]]> By: pmorlan http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818320 pmorlan Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:25:57 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818320 <p>Forgive the pun but that’s just plain NUTS.</p> <p>On a different topic. Firedoglake had Jim Holbert as their guest this past weekend. Mr. Holbert is running to unseat Republican Hal Rogers in Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. I participated in the discussion and I corresponded with Mr. Holbert after the discussion. During my correspondence with Mr. Holbert I told him that I was impressed with his answer about prosecuting Bush war criminals. I told him that I’d be glad to help his campaign in any way that I could but that I couldn’t make a donation at this time because I was unemployed. Today I get the mail and I have a letter from Mr. Holbert. Enclosed with the letter was a check for $20 to help me put gas in the car for my job search. I’ve never had a politician give ME money before, it’s always been the other way around so I felt that I should share this with you guys. I hope Firedoglake will invite Mr. Holbert to talk with us again in the future so that all of us can ask questions and possibly donate to his campaign.</p> Forgive the pun but that’s just plain NUTS.

On a different topic. Firedoglake had Jim Holbert as their guest this past weekend. Mr. Holbert is running to unseat Republican Hal Rogers in Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. I participated in the discussion and I corresponded with Mr. Holbert after the discussion. During my correspondence with Mr. Holbert I told him that I was impressed with his answer about prosecuting Bush war criminals. I told him that I’d be glad to help his campaign in any way that I could but that I couldn’t make a donation at this time because I was unemployed. Today I get the mail and I have a letter from Mr. Holbert. Enclosed with the letter was a check for $20 to help me put gas in the car for my job search. I’ve never had a politician give ME money before, it’s always been the other way around so I felt that I should share this with you guys. I hope Firedoglake will invite Mr. Holbert to talk with us again in the future so that all of us can ask questions and possibly donate to his campaign.

]]> By: Synoia http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818319 Synoia Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:25:18 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818319 <p>Buy peanuts, put them in a blender.<br /> Press button. Voila, peanut butter.</p> Buy peanuts, put them in a blender.
Press button. Voila, peanut butter.

]]> By: otchmoson http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818295 otchmoson Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:38:59 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818295 <p>Donald Rumsfeld–heading Searle, at the time–knew which levers to pull to get aspartame approved. To see the benefits of this wonderful additive, visit: <a href="http://www.mpwhi.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.mpwhi.com/</a> –it’ll make you think twice before gulping another Diet Coke. As for RBGH . . . I believe it entered the marketplace AFTER rDNA insulin, which gained FDA approval in a mere 6 months, despite being the 1st ever biotech drug–thus, no guidelines to direct approval issues. The year: 1982. Here’s another case of industry-friendly approval, followed by industry support as Eli Lilly withdrew ALL natural (animal) insulins, leaving insulin-dependent diabetics ONLY rDNA genetically-engineered insulin as a lifeline. Still waiting for comparative studies . . . or even the completion of Phase IV studies required (back in 1982), but FDA is obviously in no rush.</p> Donald Rumsfeld–heading Searle, at the time–knew which levers to pull to get aspartame approved. To see the benefits of this wonderful additive, visit: http://www.mpwhi.com/ –it’ll make you think twice before gulping another Diet Coke. As for RBGH . . . I believe it entered the marketplace AFTER rDNA insulin, which gained FDA approval in a mere 6 months, despite being the 1st ever biotech drug–thus, no guidelines to direct approval issues. The year: 1982. Here’s another case of industry-friendly approval, followed by industry support as Eli Lilly withdrew ALL natural (animal) insulins, leaving insulin-dependent diabetics ONLY rDNA genetically-engineered insulin as a lifeline. Still waiting for comparative studies . . . or even the completion of Phase IV studies required (back in 1982), but FDA is obviously in no rush.

]]> By: Jo Fish http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818276 Jo Fish Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:23:53 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/02/04/this-is-nuts/#comment-1818276 <p>The article seemed to imply that they had “shopped” the labs to get a negative result. Your explanation seems to make sense, but why were they shipping anything with a positive result at all? Oh, yeah the FDA protects us all from evil companies. Not!</p> The article seemed to imply that they had “shopped” the labs to get a negative result. Your explanation seems to make sense, but why were they shipping anything with a positive result at all? Oh, yeah the FDA protects us all from evil companies. Not!

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