Irradiated Foods Cause Severe Neurological Damage

NaturalNews.com

by Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor

In a study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) report on cats developing severe neurological symptoms due to a degradation of myelin, the fatty insulator of nerve fibers called axons. Because myelin facilitates the conduction of nerve signals, when it is lost or damaged there can be impairment of sensation, movement, thinking and other functions, depending on what particular nerves are affected. This loss of myelin is found in several disorders of the central nervous system in humans -- the best known being multiple sclerosis (MS).

So what caused the cats to develop neurological problems? Although the researchers' statement to the media practically buries the fact, a close read shows the animals were fine until fed irradiated food. What's more, when they were taken off the irradiated diet, the animals' nervous systems began healing.

The new study took place when the researchers were faced with reports of a mysterious illness in pregnant cats. A commercial company had been testing various diets on the animals to see how the food impacted growth and development in the felines. The food used, it turns out, had been irradiated. Irradiation, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for many human as well as animal foods, involves exposing foods briefly to a radiant energy source such as gamma rays or electron beams in order to kill bacteria.

Some of the cats eating the irradiated cat food exhibited very severe neurological symptoms, including movement disorders, vision loss and even paralysis. "After being on the diet for three to four months, the pregnant cats started to develop progressive neurological disease," said Ian Duncan, a professor of medical sciences at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and an authority on demyelinating diseases, in a statement to the media.

The sick cats were shown to have widely distributed the very severe demyelization of the central nervous system. Their neurological symptoms were very much like those seen in people with MS and other demyelization disorders. When the felines were taken off the irradiated foods, they began to recover slowly. However, according to Dr. Duncan, the restored myelin sheaths were no longer as thick as normal myelin sheaths.

The finding is important, the scientists concluded in their study, because it shows the central nervous system retains the ability to reestablish myelin -- so strategies that could be developed to spur the growth of new myelin sheaths anywhere nerves themselves are preserved could be a possible therapy for treating a host of severe neurological diseases in humans. "The key thing is that it absolutely confirms the notion that remyelinating strategies are clinically important," Duncan stated.

Curiously, although the scientists' related their findings to possible human applications, they were quick to dismiss a possible connection between people, irradiated food and health risk. "We think it is extremely unlikely that (irradiated food) could become a human health problem," Duncan explained in the media statement. "We think it is species specific."

However, not everyone agrees irradiated food is fine for humans or animals. According to the Center for Food Safety, studies have shown irradiation produces volatile toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene, which are known or suspected to cause cancer and birth defects. A 2001 study found an association between colon tumors and 2-alkylcyclobutanones (2-ACB's), a new chemical compound detected only in foods that have been irradiated.


For more information:

http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/...
http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/23/n...
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/catalog/i...


About the author:

Sherry Baker is a widely published writer whose work has appeared in Newsweek, Health, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Yoga Journal, Optometry, Atlanta, Arthritis Today, Natural Healing Newsletter, OMNI, UCLA's "Healthy Years" newsletter, Mount Sinai School of Medicine's "Focus on Health Aging" newsletter, the Cleveland Clinic's "Men's Health Advisor" newsletter and many others.

Pentobarbital Is Killing Eagles But the FDA Says It's Safe for Pets

NaturalNews.com

by Susan Thixton

Just when you think you've seen it all and nothing would be too shocking to learn or read about the pet food industry, you stumble across something that causes your jaw to drop. I stumbled across something that proves once again –- you can't be too careful about the food and treats you give to your pet.

First – a little background information. Back in 2002, the FDA released a report of their 2-year study/testing finding pentobarbital (the drug used to euthanize animals) in pet food. Their findings were that many brands of pet foods –- purchased right off of store shelves -- contained the euthanizing drug pentobarbital. With that finding, the FDA began an 8-week test to see if levels of pentobarbital in pet food could be harmful to pets. The FDA testing showed that the amounts of pentobarbital in pet food would not harm pets (even though their study only tested dogs). You should know that the FDA ran their testing on 42 twelve week-old Beagles –- and again the testing was only for 8 weeks.

Pentobarbital was found in many pet foods yet was determined by the FDA not to be harmful to pets. And one more time –- the testing to determine this only lasted 8 weeks even though our pets might be eating this euthanizing drug in pet food their entire life.

So, to the point of this article -- I just stumbled upon a U.S. Fish and Wildlife report that stated pentobarbital is considered an environmental hazard "responsible for the deaths of over 140 Bald and Golden Eagles in recent years -- as well as numerous other wildlife and dogs." Other wildlife named in the report were California Condors, Vultures, Hawks, Wood Storks, Gulls, Crows, Ravens, Bears, Lynxes, Foxes, Bobcats, and Cougars.

This report stated the reason the wildlife was exposed to pentobarbital is from access to euthanized carcasses of farm animals and small animals in land fills. "Poisonings due to accidental feeding of tainted meat to captive animals have also been reported."

In big bold letters the report stated "Poisoning of eagles or other wild birds, even if accidental, violates Federal law!" This report also stated that Veterinarians and livestock owners have been recently fined for 'involuntary killing' of eagles. "Veterinarians must inform clients that a pentobarbital euthanized carcass is poisonous and requires proper disposal. The client needs to know that the carcass can poison and kill scavenging animals, including federally protected species, other wildlife, or even pet dogs."

Even though the FDA determined through their eight week test that pentobarbital in pet food was Not harmful to our pets, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency is saying that pentobarbital euthanized carcasses are killing wildlife, including endangered species. Do we have a conflict between Federal Agencies?

As I wondered about the 'conflict' between the FDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency, I continued to dig a little further, and that's when I found the jaw dropper document. I wondered if the FDA had any information regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife report –- and low and behold, I found something...Dated July 21, 2003 (a little over a year after the FDA's report that pentobarbital found in pet food was determined to be safe for our pets to consume) –- the FDA posted a change in the labeling requirements for pentobarbital and a change in the definitions. The following are the quoted changes... "Special considerations. Product labeling shall bear the following warning statements: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD: This product is toxic to wildlife. Birds and mammals feeding on treated animals may be killed. Euthanized animals must be properly disposed of by deep burial, incineration, or other method in compliance with state and local laws, to prevent consumption of carcass material by scavenging wildlife." And "Limitations. Do not use in animals intended for food."

So this is what we have: Euthanized animals are being rendered and the end ingredients become ingredients used in pet food. The FDA determined that the pet food/treat ingredient most likely to contain pentobarbital is Animal Fat. Pets are consuming pentobarbital as you read this right now.Pentobarbital euthanized animal carcasses are killing wildlife. The FDA's own rules for the drug specify its limitations 'not for use in animals intended for food.' Yet it's still there. Granted, and geez I hate to give them this, the amount of pentobarbital in pet food –- since it is found in only some pet food and pet treat ingredients (but some very commonly used ingredients) –- is not at the same levels as would be consumed by wildlife in a euthanized carcass. But come on folks (FDA, CVM, and AAFCO) –- can you not add two and two and come up with four?

Personally, I think the FDA should again test pet food for pentobarbital and any dog food, cat food, dog treat, or cat treat (and any other animal feed for that matter) that contains even the slightest bit of the drug –- the manufacturer should be heavily fined. With respect to our national treasures –- the Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles: "The laws provide for substantial fines and prison sentences in criminal cases. For example, the maximum fine for violating the Eagle Act is $100,000.00 for a person or $200,000.00 for an organization and one year in prison." Under Federal Law 'intent' is not required for conviction –- criminal convictions require the violation be 'knowingly' committed. With respect to our pets, we've got a 'knowingly' committed act. The guilty pet food manufacturers knowingly purchase ingredients that contain pentobarbital. Yet no one fines them for breaking the law.

One year (2002) the FDA determines pentobarbital in pet food is perfectly safe for our pets to consume, and the very next year (2003) they determine pentobarbital an environmental hazard responsible for killing over 140 eagles. No further study or regulation change within the FDA has occurred since the 2003 label change. Did they forget about our pets? I think so.

Eagles are a national treasure –- no grey area there. Our pets are a treasure as well. They enhance our lives. They are family. To allow pentobarbital euthanized animals to be cooked and placed into pet food is criminal and should be stopped immediately.

One more quote from the FDA document dated July 21, 2003, "This rule does not meet the definition of "rule" in 5 U.S.C. 804(3)(A) because it is a rule of "particular applicability." Therefore, it is not subject to the congressional review requirements in 5 U.S.C. 801-808." I'm just guessing that the above quote means 'let's keep this quiet. After all, if people find out about this, we might have to go back and change what we said about pet food.' Just a guess.

Wishing you and your pets the best.