Trio of Los Angeles raw food advocates reportedly charged with raw milk conspiracy (update 1)

(NaturalNews) The raid on Rawesome Foods by a combined force of agents from the FDA, LA County Dept of Agriculture, CDC and the LA County Sheriff’s office wasn’t the only SWAT-style armed raid that took place today. Sharon Palmer , a mom and owner of Healthy Family Farms was also arrested and taken to jail. A third woman, Victoria Bloch, the LA County liaison for the Weston A Price Foundation (www.WestonaPrice.org) , was also reportedly arrested, NaturalNews has learned. Sharon Palmer is being charged with “mislabeling cheese,” NaturalNews has learned. (Yes, mislabeling cheese! This earns you an armed raid in America today, even while the real crooks in Washington run free…) This is on top of the conspiracy charge which has been leveled against all three (James, Sharon and Victoria). Victoria Bloch is being charged with conspiracy under Section 182A of the California penal code (http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/182.html), which states that that law applies “If two or more persons conspire to commit any crime.” As NaturalNews previously reported (http://www.naturalnews.com/033220_Rawesome_Foods_armed_raids.html), the SWAT-style raid was conducted like a terrorist operation , where the cops immediately went after Rawesome’s cash and then began vandalizing and destroying the store’s entire inventory. This raid was an act of economic terrorism against a legitimate, ethical business selling wholesome, healthful products to a very happy group of members. A massive public protest on the front steps of the LA courthouse is being planned for the morning of August 4th, where James Stewart has been promised a hearing before a judge. NaturalNews is calling on its readers and supporters to join in this protest to help send a message to the law enforcement tyrants that we will not tolerate our health food stores being terrorized by criminal cops and rogue federal agencies . We will announce the time and place of the protest as soon as we are provided the details. Watch for that announcement here on NaturalNews.com or on our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/HealthRanger Video coverage of the event is being provided by a contributing reporter whose name we will reveal after the video reports are filed (in order to protect him from possible oppression by L.A. law enforcement thugs). Matt Drudge is linking to this story from www.DrudgeReport.com and Alex Jones is also covering it from www.InfoWars.com We’ve also posted a CounterThink cartoon on this raw milk topic. You can view the cartoon at: http://counterthink.com/Raw_Milk_Lineup.asp Spread the word, folks. Enough is enough! We must take a stand against this government-run campaign of terror against health food retailers . It is time to stop government-run terrorism against health food stores . It’s time we fought back and let these criminals know we will not be treated like food slaves by a corrupt, criminally-run government that wishes to force everyone to drink DEAD MILK and DEAD CHEESE (which they know causes disease). This is it, friends! Big Government has declared war on the innocent. The Obama administration, which has already gone out of its way to promote yet more GMOs in the food supply, is now overseeing government-sponsored terrorism against the health food movement. If you don’t take a stand against this, you might as well lay down, surrender to Big Brother, and eat your soylent green… We are collecting funds for the legal defense of Rawesome Foods. Please donate through the Consumer Wellness Center at www.ConsumerWellness.org where 100% of the donations go directly to their legal defense. Thank you all for your sharing of these stories and your concerns. We are fighting for our basic rights and freedoms against a police state cabal of criminals who now run our federal government and will stop at nothing to turn innocent citizens into gulag prisoners.

Dangerous levels of lead found in many garden hoses

(NaturalNews) Allowing your kids to play with the garden hose, filling the inflatable kiddie pool, nourishing your garden with hose water — these all seem like harmless activities. However, research is now proving otherwise. Many commercially bought water hoses contain dangerously high levels of lead which leech into the water flowing through them. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, water sitting in a garden hose that has been left in the sun can contain a level of lead that reaches 100 times over what is considered a safe amount. Many garden hoses are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – a toxic plastic – and lead is often used as a stabilizer in PVC. The dangerous levels of lead in garden hoses could potentially cause lead poisoning, cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm. According to a special ABC report on Good Morning America, reporters from ABC’s Phoenix affiliate KNXV-TV randomly purchased 10 garden hoses at places such as Wal-Mart, Target, Ace Hardware, and Home Depot (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=3369894&page=1). These reporters filled sections of the garden hoses with clean water, sealed the ends and put these hoses outside for about a day. The water was then delivered to a lab. Five of the 10 hoses, or 50%, came back showing levels of lead much higher than 15 parts per billion (ppb), which is what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems safe for drinking water. Four of those hoses came back showing extremely high lead levels. The same report found that some garden variety hoses are leaking up to 20 times the amount considered safe for usage. Consumer Reports also tested 16 of the most popular hoses sold nationwide, finding that many leached up to 100 times the safe amount at the initial flush of standing water. Imagine the water flowing through these hoses contaminated with such high levels of lead – do you want your kids splashing around in it in a kiddie pool, or drinking it in the midst of summer play outdoors? Why exactly is lead exposure so dangerous? Lead is highly toxic and harmful even in very low doses. The Environmental Protection Agency clearly states on their website that exposure to lead in water that is being consumed above the action level, or 15 ppb, can result in delays in physical and mental development in children, anemia, and muscle problems. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure and, eventually with heavy exposure, the development of kidney problems or nerve disorders. According to the National Safety Council, young children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to lead’s harmful effects because their brains and central nervous system are still being developed. For these children, even very low levels of exposure can have disastrous effects, from reduced IQ and behavioral problems to stunted growth and kidney damage. At higher levels of exposure, children could become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die from lead poisoning. Within the last decade, children have died from lead poisoning in both New Hampshire and in Alabama. Lead can also enter tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials, which is another important reason to invest in a good water filter. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes; however, new homes are also at risk because even legally “lead-free” plumbing can contain up to 8 % lead. Lead-laden soil and your beloved garden And let’s not forget about the fate of your garden. The same lead-infused water your children may be playing in is most likely also being used to saturate the soil your fresh-grown veggies are growing in. A disheartening New York Times article on lead in garden soil said that lead is “surprisingly prevalent and persistent” in both urban and suburban soil, which is more increasingly being used for the foundation of home gardens. Many health officials, soil scientists and even environmental engineers are concerned that the increasing popularity of urban “backyard” gardening will put more people at risk for lead poisoning and other hazardous health effects especially those that don’t protect themselves. The EPA and Department of Housing and Urban Development suggest — but don’t require — lead levels in soil of lower than 400 parts per million (ppm) in children’s play areas, and 1,200 p.p.m. in all other soil. However, many and cities, states, and entire countries have set much lower limits, such as in the Netherlands, where 40 p.p.m. is considered highly substandard. Most unpolluted soil averages about 10 p.p.m. In the New York Times article mentioned, one random urban resident’s garden had soil containing lead levels of 939 p.p.m. Dangerous amounts of lead have been documented for almost a decade in backyard and community gardens in major cities such as New York, New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and many others. Lead-laden soil has been found in both inner city neighborhoods and suburban areas. The reasons for these hazardous levels of soil contamination are many, from lead paint, leaded gasoline, lead arsenate pesticides, lead plumbing, lead batteries and automotive parts, roadways, and so on. While many of these products may have been banned years ago, the remnants of highly toxic lead often remain in the environment. Now, lead-laden garden hoses can be added to the list of dangerous hidden lead. How to avoid lead contamination While environmental engineers and soil experts have said any place is potentially tainted with soil contaminated with lead, there are steps that can be taken in order to protect yourself and your family. First, eliminate the potentially poisonous garden hose and replace it with one you know for certain is safe and lead-free. This will drastically reduce the amount of lead being deposited in your yard and notably eliminate direct exposure when watering by hand or caring for the garden. A lead-free garden hose is also much safer for providing children a much-needed drink or play in the sprinklers, and pets will also be spared of potential lead poisoning from water bowls filled from the hose. Warning labels accompany hoses in some cases, but not all. A lead-free garden hose will clearly be marked as safe for drinking. One idea is to invest in a medical grade hose with nickel-plated fittings. These hoses are often sold as marine or recreational vehicle (RV) hoses and are commonly sold in marine/RV stores. The types of garden hoses that Consumer Reports claim to be safe from lead contamination are as follows: • Teknor Apex Boat and Camper NeverKink • Swan Marine/Camper • Gardener’s Supply Co. 33-469 • Better Homes and Gardens Kink-free Keep in mind that these manufacturers might produce other hoses that are not lead-free, so read packaging closely to ensure you have the right hose. Although it is impossible to eliminate all contaminates from the environment, switching to a lead-free garden hose is a good start as well as an intelligent choice for the health conscious consumer. The widespread presence of lead contamination in soil doesn’t mean you have to give up gardening, but it does suggest the necessity of caution, as well as a possible change in plot design and crop choice. Local public health departments and county extension services often offer free soil testing; at the least, they can recommend companies or schools that do it for a small fee. Individuals generally mail dirt in sealed plastic bags for analysis. If high levels of lead are found in your soil, experts advise covering it with sod. You can also alkalinize the contaminated soil by adding organic matter such as compost and lime, or replace it entirely. Soil with a pH level above 7 binds with lead, which lessens the chance of absorption by both crops and the human body. Fortunately, the body will eliminate low levels of lead naturally, as long as you maintain a healthy daily diet. Home gardens can be planted with fruiting crops such as squash, eggplant, tomatoes, corn and beans because these plants don’t easily absorb lead. Some lead-leaching crops are leafy greens, herbs, and root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Sources: http://containergardening.about.com/b/2009/05/21/warning-lead-in-garden-hoses.htm http://healthy-family.org/caryn/24/lead-poisoning-and-your-garden-hose http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/garden/14lead.html?_r=1&hp http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=3369894&page=1 http://containergardening.about.com/od/greencontainergardening/a/Gardenhose.htm http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/index.cfm

Group sues cosmetic companies for falsely labeling products organic

(NaturalNews) Kiss My Face, Hain-Celestial, and 24 other consumer and cosmetic product companies are the subject of a new lawsuit filed by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a California-based group that works to protect the public from toxic chemicals, and promote products and practices that improve public health and the environment. The companies are all accused of improperly labeling various products as “organic” that do not contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients, as is required by California law. The California Organic Products Act of 2003 requires that any product labeled “organic” contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. But Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH, says that after purchasing a variety of products made by the companies in question, his group determined that many of them were in clear violation of the law. “For years, organic advocates have called on personal care companies to fix their improper ‘organic’ labels, but our recent purchasing shows the industry is still rife with unsubstantiated organic claims,” said Green. “We want to encourage companies to use organic ingredients, and insure that consumers can trust organic labels to be meaningful and consistent.” Currently, there are no federal laws or established standards governing how organic personal care and cosmetic products are to be labeled. So many manufacturers blatantly market and sell products as “organic” that are loaded with petrochemicals and other harmful toxins. This is why the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) initiated a boycott of several brands that it dubbed “organic cheaters” back in 2009 (http://www.naturalnews.com/027440_organic_consumers_products.html). Of the 26 products CEH obtained, many of them not only contained less than 70 percent organic ingredients, but some actually contained harmful chemicals like cancer-causing BHA and cocamide DEA, asthma-inducing triethanolamine, and hormone-disrupting parabens. And in a few cases, products labeled “organic” did not even contain a single organic ingredient. To see a full list of the products CEH says are mislabeled, visit: http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=529 Sources for this story include: http://www.ceh.org/making-news/press-releases/29-eliminating-toxics/528-lawsuit-launched-to-end-mislabeling-of-organic-personal-care-products-

25 Amazing Facts About Food revealed in free downloadable report

(NaturalNews) Did you know that a common ingredient in commercial breads and pizza dough is made from human hair ? Or that Chicken McNuggets are made with an ingredient that’s also an industrial chemical? In cooperation with the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (www.ConsumerWellness.org), NaturalNews has just released a free downloadable report (PDF) called 25 Amazing Facts About Food that unveils a collection of astonishing and little-known facts about the food we eat very day. Available now as a FREE download, this report reveals: • How confectioner’s glaze (used on medicine pills and candies) is actually a body fluid secretion from an Asian Beetle called the “lac bug.” • The crucial role of the date palm in the history of human civilization and how it allowed our ancestors to branch out from North Africa. • Details about the world’s most expensive spice, which sells for up to $5,000 a pound! • The truth about how Coca-Cola, to this day, imports thousands of tons of coca leaves into the USA every year, resulting in hundreds of pounds of cocaine being produced. • Which common sweetener substance is actually a powerful first aid wound treatment and effective antibacterial that can even kill superbugs! • The secrets of food-based deodorizers that can clean your breath and body smells simply by eating a few simple foods and supplements. • The miraculous anti-cancer medicine found inside the pit of everyday peaches — and why it’s being ignored by the medical profession. • The shocking truth about a dangerous chemical used in microwaveable popcorn that causes a crippling lung disease. • The little-known secret about High-Fructose Corn Syrup: It’s actually made using a toxic chemical catalyst that’s so dangerous it can burn a hole in the human stomach! • Why some junk foods can be more addictive than heroin due to the use of chemical additives. These amazing facts about food are available through the free downloadable report 25 Amazing Facts About Food at: http://www.naturalnews.com/RR-25_Amazing_Facts_About_Food.html Also available: An expanded report, 100 Amazing Facts About Food offered at WebSeed.com: http://programs.webseed.com/100_Amazing_Facts_About_Food__NN.htm The report was researched and authored by the editors of NaturalNews.com, including editor Mike Adams, an award-winning journalist and nutrition advocate. Years ago, Adams cured his own prediabetes using the healing medicines found in natural foods, and now he shares a message of nutritional healing with the world through reports, articles, animations and much more. Adams serves as the executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center, which offers annual grants that support worldwide nutrition programs for children and expectant mothers. See the success stories of grants from 2009 and 2010 at www.ConsumerWellness.org Download 25 Amazing Facts About Food now at: http://www.naturalnews.com/RR-25_Amazing_Facts_About_Food.html

Law firm investigation under way into faked blueberries in name-brand cereals and breads

(NaturalNews) The law firm of Finkenstein Thompson LLP, with offices in San Francisco and Washington D.C., has launched an investigation into the issue of “faked” blueberries being used in cereals and bread products. As reported here on NaturalNews and revealed by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (www.ConsumerWellness.org), General Mills manufactures a cereal called “Total Blueberry Pomegranate” which contains no blueberries and no pomegranates. Many cereals, breads, bagels, pancake mixes and muffins imply they contain real blueberries either by using the word “blueberries” on the front of the box or by showing prominent pictures of blueberries on the product packaging. But the ingredients list reveals many of these products contain no blueberries at all. Instead, they are often made out of artificial coloring chemicals, partially-hydrogenated oils and processed sugars. Instead of delivering the nutrients that people expect to enjoy when they eat real blueberries, these “fake blueberry” products deliver chemicals and processed sugars. If you have purchased a “fake blueberry” product from Kellogg’s, General Mills or other food company, Finkenstein Thompson LLP wants to hear from you as part of their investigation. You may call (877) 800-1450 or email them at contact@finkelsteinthompson.com More information is available at: http://www.finkelsteinthompson.com/investigation/blueberry_products.php “We believe consumers are likely to be misled into purchasing and eating these products based on the pictures of blueberries or the word ‘blueberries’ on the front of the packaging of these products,” said Rosemary M. Rivas, an attorney with Finkelstein Thompson LLP, which has represented consumers’ rights for over a decade. “Ultimately, we want these deceptive and misleading marketing practices to stop, and enable consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to the food they purchase and eat. We applaud the Consumer Wellness Center’s efforts in investigating and ultimately bringing this issue to the center of national media.” If you haven’t seen the “Blueberry Deception” video that exposes the fake blueberries used in many cereals, bread mixes and other products, you can view it at: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=7EC06D27B1A945BE85E7DA8483025962 The fake blueberry fiasco also led to a satire video (comedy skit) recorded by the Health Ranger, called, “General Mills Total Mind Games,” viewable at: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=851519FA1AC72A56F7205D2285CC66CF Learn more about the Finkelstein Thompson LLP investigation at http://www.finkelsteinthompson.com/investigation/blueberry_products.php Watch NaturalNews.com for more updates on the status of this investigation into how consumers may have been misled by the product labeling and marketing of these fake blueberry products.

Hundreds of herbal remedies now outlawed across Europe

(NaturalNews) Live in Europe? Get your herbs while they last. New rules put forth by the European Union (EU) will ban the sale of certain herbal remedies that have been used for centuries. Traditional herbs such a St. John’s Wort or Echinacea must now meet strict licensing guidelines in order to be sold, while other lesser-known herbs that haven’t been “traditionally” used in the last 30 years won’t even make the cut to reach consumer shelves. Only those products that have been “assessed” by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will be available for purchase. The real kicker? Even approved products will only be recommended for minor ailments such as the common cold, which means that product labeling may no longer be allowed to convey the potent health benefits of widely-used herbal remedies. According the the EU, the laws were put in place to protect consumers from the “damaging” effects of traditional herbal remedies. The subtext of that statement, of course, is that herbal remedies can sometimes have dangerous interactions when taken with prescription drugs. Used alone, however, herbal supplements rarely pose a problem. With so many people taking prescription drugs, it’s clear that the EU’s move to ban herbal products is a monopolistic attack on the alternative health movement. While they can’t admit the dangerous and deadly side effects of manufactured drugs, they can shift the blame to herbs. Richard Woodfield, MHRA head of herbal medicine policy, claims that the new regulations empower the consumer: “The current signs are that the [herbal remedy] market will be lively and competitive. The key difference for consumers is that in the future they will be in the driving seat and able to make an informed choice when they wish to use these medicines.” Banning widely-used natural substances that may help cure or prevent illness promotes “informed” choices? Paul Gimson, director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales, also claims that herbal remedies may not be safe because they have not been put through clinical trials in the same way drugs are tested. Isn’t this a tad obvious, however, since drug companies would never even consider testing or promoting a natural herb as a medicinal cure? Clearly, herbal remedies are not widely used because doctors or health care professionals recommend them. They are used because people know they work. The most disturbing part? These regulations point to a movement toward complete restriction of herbal products and the idea that pharmaceutical companies may someday have patents on herbal remedies. Consider a possible scenario: A woman who has been taking Chasteberry supplements to regulate a gynecological condition may now need a prescription for it. She goes to her doctor and, instead of giving her the herb, he recommends a drug. She can no longer buy Chasteberry supplements unless she scours the Internet in search of a reputable company that sells safe herbal products. As we all know, these companies can be hard to find. Not only do these laws threaten the livelihood of nutritionists, herbalists and holistic healthcare providers across Europe, but they put consumers in a lose-lose situation: go without herbal remedies or run the risk of purchasing them online. Vicky Perks, clinical nutritionist at The Health Diva and health food store, Beanfreaks, notes that the regulations are “poorly thought out” and are driven by money: “Licensing is just a way of generating extra money for the government. It costs 50,000 to license one product.” Herbal products still on shelves will be for sale until their expiration dates. Stock up while you can. Sources for this article include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13215010 http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/05/09/fears-that-eu-rules-on-herbal-medicines-may-put-patients-in-danger-91466-28657790/

US meat and poultry widely contaminated with bacteria including superbugs

(NaturalNews) How would you like a big, juicy burger loaded with onions, mustard, ketchup — and a big helping of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases? If you find that dish stomach-churning instead of appetizing, then maybe you should think twice before eating not only meat but chicken and turkey, too, at least in the U.S. According to a nationwide study just released by the Flagstaff, Arizona-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), meat and poultry from U.S. grocery stores have an unexpectedly high rate of dangerous disease-causing bacteria, including antibiotic resistant superbugs. In fact, almost half (47 percent) of all meat and poultry samples tests were contaminated with S. aureus. What’s more, 52 percent of these contaminated meats contained superbugs, meaning the bacteria were resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics.That adds up to multi-antibiotic resistant Staph germs being present in about one out of every 4 samples of meat, chicken or turkey. “For the first time, we know how much of our meat and poultry is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant Staph, and it is substantial,” Lance B. Price, Ph.D., senior author of the study and Director of TGen’s Center for Food Microbiology and Environmental Health, said in a statement to the media. The research, published today in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases , is the first national investigation of antibiotic resistant S. aureus in the U.S. food supply. The scientists collected and analyzed 136 samples of beef, chicken, pork and turkey sold under 80 brands in 26 retail grocery stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Flagstaff and Washington, D.C. So where does this downright nauseating contamination come from? The TGen researchers reported that DNA testing shows the food the animals themselves were fed is likely the major source of contamination. “The fact that drug-resistant S. aureus was so prevalent, and likely came from the food animals themselves, is troubling, and demands attention to how antibiotics are used in food-animal production today,” Dr. Price added. The dirty truth many Americans — especially meat eaters — don’t want to face is that conditions on so-called industrial farms are not only often inhumane but downright sickening. Animals raised for slaughter are packed together densely and steadily fed low doses of antibiotics in their food. The new report concludes these industrial farms are the ideal breeding grounds for drug-resistant bacteria that can move from animals to the human population. “The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria — including Staph — remains a major challenge in clinical medicine,” Paul S. Keim, Ph.D., Director of TGen’s Pathogen Genomics Division and Director of the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics at Northern Arizona University (NAU), emphasized in a media statement. “This study shows that much of our meat and poultry is contaminated with multidrug-resistant Staph. Now we need to determine what this means in terms of risk to the consumer,” Dr. Keim, a co-author of the paper, added. But doesn’t the U.S. government routinely survey retail meat and poultry for drug-resistant bacteria? The study points out the feds only check for four types of superbugs — but S. aureus is not among them. The paper urges a more comprehensive inspection program and points out S. aureus can cause devastating health problems. While it’s true Staph germs can usually be killed with proper cooking, the scientists pointed out Staph still poses a substantial health risk through improper food handling and cross-contamination in the kitchen. Infections with S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections to life-threatening diseases, such as pneumonia, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and sepsis (infection in the bloodstream). And should you get one of these antibiotic-resistant strains from meat or poultry, treatment can be difficult. “Antibiotics are the most important drugs that we have to treat Staph infections; but when Staph are resistant to three, four, five or even nine different antibiotics –like we saw in this study — that leaves physicians few options,” Dr. Price stated. For more information: http://www.tgen.org/

Public school bans students from bringing lunches from home, forces them to eat cafeteria food

(NaturalNews) Individual responsibility and personal freedom are becoming a thing of the past in the nation’s public schools, as strict control over what students can and cannot eat — or bring to school to eat — escalates to near-dictatorial levels. The Chicago Tribune reports that for the past six years, Little Village Academy on Chicago’s West Side has prohibited students from bringing their own lunches from home, a policy that many say subverts parental authority and violates students’ rights. Principal Elsa Carmona first enacted the food policy after observing some of her students drinking sodas and eating chips for lunch, instead of eating a well-balanced meal. By both mandating that students eat lunch at school and improving the quality of food served, she hoped to improve the health of her students. While they appear to be good intentioned, Carmona’s efforts have actually angered many students who say they would prefer to bring their own lunches from home. And ironically, the policy has had the opposite effect, in some cases, of actually causing students not to eat anything at all, which is even worse for their health. Students that have food allergies or other medical conditions that require them to eat something other than what is served in the cafeteria are able to be exempted from the policy. Most students, however, still end up being forced to eat whatever is served. And many students that do not have medical conditions, but that would prefer a meal from home, are stuck without a choice in the matter. “This is such a fundamental infringement on parental responsibility,” said J. Justin Wilson, a senior researcher at the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) in Washington, to the Chicago Tribune . “Would the school balk if the parent wanted to prepare a healthier meal? This is the perfect illustration of how the government’s one-size-fits-all mandate on nutrition fails time and time again.” Last year, a non-profit group known as “Mission: Readiness” came on the record accusing school cafeterias of being a threat to national security because they are allegedly making children “too fat to fight” in the military. The group has called for strict federal food legislation to control what children can and cannot eat (http://www.naturalnews.com/029226_school_lunches_national_security.html). And late last year, the state of Pennsylvania’s board of education actually proposed banning all sweets from school functions, including birthday parties (http://www.naturalnews.com/030365_junk_foods_schools.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-school-lunch-restrictions-041120110410,0,4567867.story

NC bill to criminalize natural medicine delayed: Call and oppose NOW

(NaturalNews) Yesterday, NaturalNews made an important announcement about a rogue bill in North Carolina that threatens to criminalize the practice of unapproved forms of alternative medicine, and we urged our readers to immediately call and oppose it. Thanks in part to your quick action on the matter, Senate Bill 31 (SB 31) has once again been delayed for a vote, this time until tonight — which means now is the time to continue flooding the legislature with calls of opposition. In case you missed it, SB 31 is a bill that was filed in early February as a type of clarification to existing North Carolina law concerning the “unauthorized practice of medicine.” If passed, the bill will reclassify those who practice unapproved forms of natural and alternative medicine as Class I felons, which threatens a large number of practitioners who are not officially licensed by the state to do the work they do, with being put out of business (http://www.naturalnews.com/031953_medical_practice_licensing.html). Few in the natural health community were even aware of the existence of SB 31 until just recently when the original NC House discussion and vote on the bill was to take place on March 31. That first vote ended up getting delayed until the evening of April 4, just hours after we made the announcement to our readers to call and oppose it. As of this morning, the NC House is now planning to debate and vote on SB 31 this evening (http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2011%20%20&BillID=s31). You can read our first announcement about SB 31 here: http://www.naturalnews.com/031953_medical_practice_licensing.html You can also read an actual copy of SB 31 here: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/PDF/S31v2.pdf This is a crucial time to continue hammering the NC legislature with opposition to SB 31, as the push-back seems to have made an impact in delaying the vote. NC lawmakers appear to be catching on to the fact that the public is aware of their scheme, and perhaps they are now reconsidering the repercussions of supporting a piece of legislation that is clearly not in the best interest of North Carolinians, or the millions of Americans that stand to be impacted by the negative precedent this bill will set. If you live in North Carolina, you can find contact information for your appropriate Congressmen by clicking the following link: http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html Once there, you can find your representatives by selecting your district, or by inputting your county our zip code. And even if you do not live in North Carolina, you can still help oppose the bill by calling the NC General Assembly line at (919) 733-7928 and expressing opposition. You can also reach NC Governor Bev Perdue’s Raleigh office by calling (919) 733-4240. Be sure to call as soon as possible as the hearing and vote is set for some time today . And once again, be respectful and clear in presenting your case. Explain that SB 31 threatens to further erode health freedom by turning many honest alternative health practitioners into criminals. The bill also threatens to set a dangerous precedent of intolerance for those who practice outside the officially-approved government medical paradigm. And be sure to urge support for the Consumer Health Freedom Act (http://www.ncchf.org/2011/03/29/opposition-to-sb31-action-alert/).

Tests reveal that some ‘green’ products still contain petrochemicals

(NaturalNews) The burgeoning natural and organic household product sectors are solid evidence that the public is becoming increasingly conscious of the importance of avoiding synthetic chemicals. But a new study presented at the 241st National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) has revealed that some “green” cleaning products still contain ingredients derived from petroleum. In an analysis of more than a dozen different commercial liquid laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, and hand cleansers, researchers found that some of them contained as much as 57 percent carbons derived from petrochemicals. And some of these even bore labels saying “petrochemical free,” which indicates some major discrepancies within the industry. “The plant-derived carbon content of the product samples tested was largely inconsistent with some of the content claims made on packaging,” said chemist Cara A.M. Bondi who worked on the project. “For example, a liquid laundry detergent that makes the claim ‘petrochemical free’ contained only 69 percent plant-based carbon, meaning that 31 percent of the carbon in this sample is, in fact, petroleum-derived.” In hand cleansers, plant-based carbons represented anywhere from 28 to 97 percent of overall carbons, depending on the brand. Liquid laundry detergents ranged from 28 to 94 percent, and dishwashing liquids from 43 to 95 percent. Even so, all products marketed or labeled as green contained 50 percent or more plant-based carbon than non-green alternatives. Seventh Generation (SG), a highly reputable name in the green products industry, says that because there is no official standard for regulating claims made by companies marketing their products as “green,” “sustainable,” or “eco-friendly,” there is no verifiable way to determine whether or not their claims are accurate. So SG has proposed making carbon-14 dating, a technique that identifies whether or not carbon molecules are of a natural and renewable origin, the modus operandi for testing green products. The company effectively used carbon dating in its tests to determine the presence of petroleum-based carbon. SG did not reveal the names of the companies or products that contained petrochemicals, and instead chose to promote the carbon dating testing method as a way for companies to help improve their products. An SC representative stated that the findings were an “opportunity to align and move forward in a way that adds value to the consumer and to the industry.” Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/acs-sii030911.php http://news.discovery.com/human/petroleum-more-common-in-green-products-than-public-led-to-believe.html

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