The Gormley Files

2nd star on the left and straight on till morning?...

2011-11-18T20:37:58.868-05:00

2nd star on the left and straight on till morning? =)

haha, it does look Sith-like, doesn't it? GLad...

2011-05-31T22:08:31.736-04:00

haha, it does look Sith-like, doesn't it? GLad you liked the article!!! Love your blog! ( :

HAHA! I thought that stepper machine was some sort...

2011-05-29T09:27:26.968-04:00

HAHA! I thought that stepper machine was some sort of Darth Vader thing at first.
Great article.

Interesting and informative blog. Thank you for po...

2011-04-28T15:34:24.653-04:00

Interesting and informative blog. Thank you for posting it. I found your blog while doing a search for images of Capitol Hill for a photo that I am sending in to Virtual Rally to Strengthen Social Security. I'm creating a collage of images that are going to be my background while I am holding a sign stating that my children and I do not want to work until we die just so greedy Wall Street Banksters and politicians can get wealthier than they already are off of the Taxpayer's backs. I try very hard to eat healthy. I am trying to go back to eating Vegan and perhaps even going Raw Vegan eventually. I was a vegetarian for seven years and it was the healthiest and happiest I ever was in my life.
Got married to a meat eater and ended up eating dead animals again. It has been very detrimental to my health. It's hard living with a meat eater. But I love her very much...so whadda'ya gonna do? Please keep up the excellent blogs. I am book marking this one.
Peace, Mr. Blaise Gauba, Torrance, CA

That puts washing dishes in a new light!

2011-02-15T02:23:31.943-05:00

That puts washing dishes in a new light!

Dear Ralph, Thanks so much---to you and NSF---for ...

2010-12-28T11:16:37.512-05:00

Dear Ralph,
Thanks so much---to you and NSF---for taking the right stand on this!
All my best,
James

Thank you for raising the veto issue! We've se...

2010-12-28T10:35:45.272-05:00

Thank you for raising the veto issue! We've set up an Action Item to urge just this action by the current occupant of the White House:

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=7853

Dear Roy....thank you for the eagle eye....I corre...

2010-12-27T21:09:06.525-05:00

Dear Roy....thank you for the eagle eye....I corrected my numbers.
Dear Death-by-Him.....thanks for that correction, although this part was taken out anyway, fortunately.
Dear Bro Ron......re whole milk versus raw milk, whole milk refers to full-fat milk or milk with 3% milkfat....raw milk refers to unpasteurized milk.....so these terms to really mean different things. In addition, raw milk is a term used by many if not most producers of raw milk and raw milk cheeses, as well. I respect what you are saying in that critics try to make it sound like raw means ...unfinished or uncooked, like raw chicken, but until we come up with a better term (maybe pure milk?) then we're pretty much stuck with this for now....
Thank you all for writing in!
James

Please try to avoid the use of the term "Raw ...

2010-12-23T06:29:00.822-05:00

Please try to avoid the use of the term "Raw Milk". It is "Whole Milk". Raw Milk is a disparaging term used by those who hate anything that is not under their control.

hey- the part where it specifically refers to Code...

2010-12-05T22:56:01.713-05:00

hey- the part where it specifically refers to Codex harmony is actually in section 305(c)(5), not 306!

825 billion in 2010????? count your zeros. I read ...

2010-11-19T14:35:22.898-05:00

825 billion in 2010????? count your zeros. I read the bill and it said 825,000,000 in 2010.
That's 825 million. Not that I'm in favor of the bill, I most definitely am not, but get the facts straight.

Dear Laura, Farms have been excluded from the lat...

2010-08-18T10:08:57.571-04:00

Dear Laura,

Farms have been excluded from the latest version of the bill thanks to widespread input from consumers and farm/organic groups.

However, S. 510 would ultimately make our food less safe, not more, and S. 510 would do so at the expense of health food retailers and manufacturers, and consumers of natural foods.

While S. 510 has undergone some revisions along the way it still falls far short of what is acceptable.

Given that my information suggests it could come up for a vote shortly after Labor Day, there isn't sufficient time to ensure that the bill is overhauled before a vote comes up.

That is why we all need to join with Citizens for Health (citizens.org) and send a message to our senators opposing S. 510 in its current form.

Among my concerns about S. 510:

1) What the bill says: If the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) believes that there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to an article of food (and any other article of food that the Secretary reasonably believes is likely to be affected in a similar manner) will cause serious health consequences, then the source would have to give HHS agents access to all of its records.
My concerns: Simply believing there's a potential hazard isn't enough - there should be proof before HHS intrudes upon the livelihood of our health food retailers and manufacturers. Taking it a step further: What constitutes "reasonable," and by whom is it determined? There needs to be evidence, and it needs to be clear and definitive.

2) What the bill says: Biennial registration of food facilities is required.
My concern: What is a food facility and what is it not? Is it a farm stand, a roadside fruit and vegetable market, a food co-op, a health food store? These must be specified or specifically excluded.

4) What the bill says: It mandates use of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) as a means of identifying sources of contamination.
My concern: HACCP is a risk-based algorithmic approach to food safety that allows many shortcuts and involves a monumental amount of expensive paperwork and recordkeeping with NO improvements in on-site, physical inspections.

5) What the bill says: If the Secretary determines...that there is a reasonable probability that an article of food is adulterated or misbranded...the Secretary shall provide the responsible party an opportunity to cease distribution and recall such an article.
My concern: Similar to #1 above, what level of evidence will constitute "reasonable" probability? In addition, the words "adulterated" and "misbranded" have been applied by the FDA so liberally over the years that they've become watered down as descriptors of contamination.

And, lastly, the biggest problem of all with S. 510:
What the bill says: "Nothing in this Act shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization or any other treaty or international agreement to which the U.S. is a party."
My concern: No other countries ensure that all of their internal regulations are consistent with WTO or any other treaty or international agreement - so why should the United States sacrifice its sovereignty? As if that wasn't reason enough, we all share the concern about what might happen to the affordability of - and especially our access to - the products and services we choose to maintain our heallth and wellness if the United States was required to harmonize with the WTO, SPS, the Uruguay Rounds, and Codex!

Dear Mr. Gormley, Thank you for the information p...

2010-08-17T22:07:50.055-04:00

Dear Mr. Gormley,

Thank you for the information posted in your blog about SB510. I have skimmed the wording of the proposed legislation, and readily confess that the legalese is eye-glazing and I can't speak to the accuracy of your assessment about many parts of the bill. However, organic food is important to me, so I searched on the word "organic" in the text of SB510; the only two parts referring to organic farming (Sec. 110, Building Domestic Capacity, and Sec. 419, Standards for Produce Safety) state that if this proposed legislation is passed, "the proposed rulemaking under paragraph (1) shall: …‘(E) in the case of production that is certified organic, not include any requirements that conflict with or duplicate the requirements of the national organic program established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), while providing for public health protection consistent with the requirements of this Act."
... and that within two years after passage, a report must be submitted to Congress that would include a description of: "…(H) The impact of requirements under this Act (including amendments made by this Act) on certified organic farms and facilities (as defined in section 415 (21 U.S.C. 350d)."

So, could you tell me where to look in the text of the proposed SB510 that brought you to the conclusion that it would: "• Harm U.S. organic farmers by imposing overlapping regulations."

I agree with you that one of the most important and necessary steps to protect the food supply would be to re-establish frequent, thorough, third-party inspections of all food processing facilities (like in the old days, before that program was gutted). I also believe that $500 per year to register as a local farmers' market seller is way too high. And I would very much prefer that all produce be regulated under the guidelines of the organic food producers; that would make consumer protection simpler and more uniform, and I bet it would result in a healthier population. Eventually.

Thank you for your blog, and for inviting readers to post comments.

Laura
Florida

Thanks so much! You made my day....or my month! ~...

2010-04-21T14:59:13.199-04:00

Thanks so much!
You made my day....or my month!
~James

PS> Are you Dr Passwater BTW, as I can't see your profile?

James -- A fantastic review! It made my heart warm...

2010-04-21T14:26:51.966-04:00

James -- A fantastic review! It made my heart warm to read through the contributions of many of these pioneers. Just to see the photos of so many of my departed friends that I miss so much made my day and year. So many -- Shari, Carlton, Abram, Milt,and others as well as my live friends who are still making important contributions. Great job!

Nice work, James.

2010-04-18T21:55:17.420-04:00

Nice work, James.

Thanks James! Great historical write-up on the imp...

2010-04-18T20:18:15.216-04:00

Thanks James! Great historical write-up on the important events of our industry. In addition, the book, Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, which changed the protocol map in natural healthcare. Also, Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) and Dr Jeff Bland were instrumental in developing the alternative MD market with an educational foundation.

Again great job,
Mike Bohannon, ND

Dear Attorney Collins, Thanks for writing in, and ...

2010-02-14T21:38:46.633-05:00

Dear Attorney Collins,
Thanks for writing in, and yes I am aware of the 1990 law and that the 2004 law was an expansion of that.
I know that you have been an articulate and effective advocate for the legal, responsible use of steroids.
Unfortunately, the FDA does not seem to be aware of the DEA's jurisdiction; nor is USADA, apparently.
And no, I am not suggesting DEA agents go into high school and college gyms; I don't see FDA agents doing that, do you?
I do not advocate changing the DEA's mission; I just want the FDA to get out of the way so that the DEA can do its job--focusing on illegal steroids and illegal sales, distribution and use of banned substances in sports and outside sports.
The DEA does not need new power or a new law; likewise the FDA does not need the DSSA bill. FDA should stick with drugs/medical devices, labs and food safety; and the DEA should be allowed to do its job, to fulfill its mission, to focus on what it needs to be focusing on--illegal drugs and drug hybrids, in whatever form they are masquerading in, yogurt, supplements, milk, you name it.
Supplements need to be taken out of this equation since this is a drug problem not a supplement problem.
Keep up your good work keeping sports and bodybuilding strong (and clean).
Thanks for your note.
Best,
James

Actually, the Anabolic Steroid Control Act passed ...

2010-02-14T18:17:07.741-05:00

Actually, the Anabolic Steroid Control Act passed in 1990, and steroids have been criminalized for nearly 20 years. The 2004 law was an expansion of the existing statute, adding new compounds and streamlining the definition of an anabolic steroid. The DEA already has unambigious authority to investigate and enforce the federal criminal laws in this area. If it is proposed that the DEA should begin monitoring, tracking and testing all American athletes for banned substances (would that include high school and college athletes as well?), then we are changing the agency's mission, diverting its attention from its intended focus, and greatly expanding both the reach of the federal government and, of course, its budget. Not a good idea, in my humble opinion.

Dear Jim, Thanks so much for all of your good work...

2010-02-13T17:55:08.016-05:00

Dear Jim,
Thanks so much for all of your good work to protect American consumers, their rights, their access to good products.
Best,
James

Excellent article, James. The DEA should absolute...

2010-02-13T17:45:29.937-05:00

Excellent article, James. The DEA should absolutely be the agency of enforcement for any illegal drugs, however they are disguised! Thank you!

Dear Sri, Thank you. (1) I was surprised by beef ...

2010-01-29T12:07:29.685-05:00

Dear Sri,
Thank you.
(1) I was surprised by beef not being on there, too, but I think that was one of the unexpected observations that came out of the analysis done by Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) from their Outbreak Alert! Database, which includes outbreaks from 1990 to 2006 using data from the CDC and other sources.
(2) Good point about the lack of preventive measures in these bills---even worse, perhaps, is the over-reliance on algorithm-based statistical sampling of foods in lieu of old-fashioned on-site, physical inspections.
(3) Again, I would point to a food-safety system that is in a shambles that relies of 1 per 1,000 or 1 per 10,000 sampling as opposed to testing of every lot or every batch.
Many thanks for your astute and welcome observations!
James

Well put. I would like to add a couple of points...

2010-01-29T11:38:57.138-05:00

Well put.
I would like to add a couple of points

1. I am surprised to see raw Beef missing from the list of 10 riskiest foods. We have seen several contaminations in Beef.

2. The currently active food safety bills in congress right now tend to miss out on preventive measures like requiring testing before shipping food products from manufacturers.

3. It is unfortunate that several of the contaminations occurring are detected as a result of someone getting sick as opposed to a test performed by the food company. This obviously implies that the food safety methods used are grossly inadequate and untimely!

- Sri

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment; I&#...

2010-01-24T09:09:31.150-05:00

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment; I'm only trying to shine one tiny spotlight on the great work that others are doing to help with this time of great need.
All my best to you both,
James

Not a person or has destroy Haiti but it was a it ...

2010-01-24T02:32:39.587-05:00

Not a person or has destroy Haiti but it was a it was a natural incident.. so world should help them With open hearts.... understand them own brothers and sisters....Jewish Addiction Recovery and Treatment