Food Is Not Politics

Food is not politics. I promised to move most of the political content to Freedom Connector, but here's an e-mail from Patricia Evans about food, followed by one from Tom O'Bryan...

Patricia Evans writes:

"

Thanksgiving is a good time to talk about Food Freedom with your family and friends. Help Virginia Food Freedom gain support and momentum for 2015.

The 2014 “Virginia Food Freedom Act” was killed in committee, but Del. Bell is bringing the bill back in the upcoming 2015 legislative session as HB 1290.  The bill will go before the Agriculture Subcommittee of the Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee sometime between mid-January and early February.

Bernadette Barber, a Lancaster County farmer and well known Virginia Food Freedom advocate recently spoke at the Russell County Republican Banquet about the benefits of the Virginia Food Freedom Act, HB 1290 sponsored by Del. Rob Bell.

"The ability for people to make foods in their own home and sell them to their family, friends and neighbors can change the whole food scape of Virginia. It stabilizes our economy. People want food choice and when you cannot buy it unless it is only licensed by the government there isn't really a choice."

Dwayne McIntyre, chairman of the Russell County Republican Committee called it "the reset button" to restore our rights we have slowly lost over the last few decades.

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms was the key note speaker. "Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal" was the topic.

Other speakers included Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association president, Lois Smith, Delegate Yost, Fauquier County farmer, Martha Boneta, House Agriculture subcommittee member, Del. Will Morefield, Senator Ben Chafin, and Del. Rob Bell.

A Constitutional amendment for the Right to Acquire Foods Directly From Your Farmer has yet to land a sponsor.

 Read more here: http://bitly.com/1AI83FD  and Business News"

 Tom O'Bryan writes:

"

Good day, Priscilla!

 

Wait. What? Turkey is just meat and bones and such, right? There's no wheat, barley or rye in a turkey, right? Especially before it's seasoned and cooked, right?

 

Well, there shouldn't be. Sigh.

But there just might be gluten in your turkey...

 

Dextrin and starch are two products used in many foods, and may or may not come from gluten sources and contain toxic gluten proteins. Unfortunately, they could also be found in your turkey (e.g., a turkey may be injected with hydrating juices containing gluten to fatten it up creating a hidden, potentially toxic exposure to gluten)*.

 

Even with the food labeling legislation passed earlier this year, some U.S. government agencies do not regulate the labeling of foods with these allergens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates meats, eggs and poultry, does not currently enforce allergen labeling. USDA products may have potential gluten sources in them listed in the ingredients as dextrin or starch.
 
This is not true of FDA-regulated products, where dextrin and starch are required to be labeled as containing a "wheat" product. Companies that put allergen labeling on products with a USDA seal may voluntarily comply with the FDA allergen regulations or they may not. "