I have just finished reading The Unhealthy Truth after hearing a TED talk by Robyn O’Brien on the same topic. I am largely impressed and excited about this book. The information contained was not entirely new to me, but Robyn adds a fresh spin with regard to allergies and toxins. As a research-aholic, I adore the types of stats and studies she generously shares throughout the book. The explanation of GMOs was unique and helpful. And the information on additives and colorings was new to me and greatly appreciated. I’ve been doing even more research on that now that I have read this book. I would recommend this book to others, with the stipulations below.
Let me first say that I think the work Robyn is doing is wonderful. I think we need more people – moms – like her who love their children enough to buckle down and learn about the food they are feeding their families. And I further admire her efforts to reach outside her family and educate others; not only with the “big stuff” but also the “practical stuff”. Robyn’s heart is pure, obviously, and she is to be respected and esteemed for her work.
Robyn’s “method” regularly includes following the money trail. I think this is brilliant (and not an easy task). I was dumbfounded to hear that The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was fully funded by Kraft Foods. No wonder they did not want to partner with her organization, AllergyKids.com. Another astonishing example of her money trail research includes studies in aspartame. She admits that there are studies to both support and admonish the use of aspartame in our foods. However, her money trail research concludes that 100% of those pro-aspartame studies were funded by the aspartame industry. Wow. And she goes even further, but I won’t spoil it.
She reveals how other countries do not subject their children to the toxins that we do in America. Are you aware that soy formula is suggested only as a very last resort for babies in the U.K.? Moms and Dads in Japan, Australia, Spain and other countries demand more health-conscience options for their families. I was shocked to discover how the large food conglomerates have voluntarily accommodated these families in their over-seas food production, but have refused to do so in America.
Finally, a new piece of information to me and one that I am very intrigued by is the evidence that Yellow 5, a food coloring, contributes to hyperactivity and aggression in children. The “Southampton Shocker” was a large, double-blind study that sent shockwaves across Europe regarding hyperactivity and impulse control in children. Could this additive be the cause of the rise in ADHD diagnosis in children in America?
While there was a great number of accolades to be made about this book, there were also a few things that I found annoying, but digestible: 1) I have kids and talk about them to everyone who will listen (and those that don’t), but I do think the book is a little strong in that area. It seems that the author could not decide if the book should be about her kids’ story or about unhealthy food. I think that if she shied away from so many details about her kids, she may have a chance at holding the attention of a larger audience. 2) There are a lot of rhetorical questions that make me wonder if she thinks I’m too dumb to connect her dots, but I chalk it up to her being Southern (I am too, so I can say that).
But here is where I really take issue with the book: Robyn (a self-proclaimed, card carrying Republican) suggests that the answer to these issues is increased government regulation and public healthcare. Robyn, I say to you with great respect, are you nuts????
This book contains evidence that government is not to be trusted, that current regulations do not apply (loopholes and lobbyists always seem to win), that money and power are more important than the law, and that power is routinely abused. And yet, Robyn calls on this very government which has “shattered her trust” to further watchdog our food and pharmacy. The conclusion I cannot shake is that MORE regulation and laws will equal MORE distrust, MORE corporate lobbyist wins, MORE abuse of power and MORE money available for corruption.
The book suggests, and I concur, that the cause of many of our food and drug issues is due to our system of government that serves the interests of corporations, and marries the government and business (large business, more precisely). This is called “Corporatocracy”. Wikipedia defines it more eloquently, “The concept of corporatocracy is that corporations - to a significant extent - have massive power over governments, including those governments nominally elected by the people, and that they exercise such power via corporate monopolies and mergers and by their enormous, concentrated economic power which, by recent economic crises, allows them the luxury of saying "we are too big to fail" and by legal in-the-open mechanisms (lobbyists, campaign contributions to office holders and candidates, threats to leave the state or country for another with less oversight and more subsidies, etc).”
While this idea might sound far-fetched to some, I think this book is superb evidence that Corporatocracy is real and should be avoided at all costs. Monsanto. Searle. Lilly. Cargill. Pfizer. The list goes on. If we increase government’s role in our food and healthcare concerns, I believe we are only encouraging this philosophy, and thus encouraging greater power of corporations over government despite the desires of the people.
I do not believe real change comes from increased legislation and public healthcare. I believe sustainable change comes from grass-roots -- from the people. I refer to chapter 6 as a perfect demonstration. “As of this writing tartrazine [ a dangerous food additive/coloring] is not federally banned in England. Nevertheless, a whole host of leading companies [Wal-Mart, Kraft, Coca-Cola and Mars] have voluntarily removed artificial colors, the preservative sodium benzoate, and even Rumsfeld’s aspartame from their products” Why did they do it? According to The Unhealthy Truth, it was because of consumer awareness and opinions. The people were not expecting the government to take care of them. They took it upon themselves to take a stand. And it worked. I concur with Robyn that changes have not been made here in the US because the people are not educated (or they don’t care). Legislation will not change their understanding (some new unlegislated, unhealthy additive will come along) or their attitude.
I do not believe that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of, or “protect” my family. It is my responsibility. I do not want the government acting as my over-seer. I have seen over and over again that they do not have my family’s best interests at heart. And I can’t blame them – it is not their job – it is MY job. The role of government is to protect my freedom to choose, and to allow me the freedom to take care of my family as I see fit.
I admire Robyn’s efforts. I think we need more people like her educating America about our food supply and the Corporatocracy that is invading our food supply and medical well-being. I try to educate my friends and family in the most non-judgmental way that I can. Education is key. But when it comes to the actual practice of protecting my family’s health, I take that into my own hands.
What we do may not be for everyone – each family has to decide what is right for them. But we have taken baby steps to get here and we will continue to take baby steps forward. We cut out most processed food. We grow our own food or purchase from locally known farmers. We barter with other like-minded families (I may trade some home-made fresh cow milk cheese for some honey from a friend that I know does not use pesticides on her bees). We freeze, dry, and can to eat all year. We mill our own wheat and make our own bread. And if this sounds nuts, let me tell you it is so rewarding and fun. And I still have a life – my kids and I are always running around all over town having adventures.
Nowadays, almost everyone has ACCESS to a farmers market for healthy food – they don’t have to move to the country like we did. People can take measures into their own hands and not have to rely on the government to baby-sit their eating habits. And when the people make the right decisions – corporations will feel it in their pockets. Money talks – and it is not until then that changes will be made. Just like in the U.K.
I also encourage people to become politically involved. Our family may not like the government involved in our family decisions, but we do like to get involved in their decisions! We work hard to get the right local people elected. We work hard to support and educate others about national candidates who want government to butt out (we love Ron Paul and his support for small government). You can’t “fix” the FDA by breaking it up and adding more laws. You can only fix them by freeing up people make their own decisions, by educating the people, and by letting people’s money do the talking.
Finally, just to round out my point above, I will speak a moment on public healthcare. The same argument as above applies to this principle. Public healthcare basically marries government with Big Pharma . The result: Corporatocracy. More deception, overly prescribed drugs, less transparency in pharama issues, the list goes on. Corporatocracy only helps the Government monarchs (the Rumsfelds) and those in bed with them (Corporations). I am not an anti-capitalist. I believe in businesses turning a profit. As long as they are doing it without lying, cheating or stealing to do so. But, for example, put Merck and the government in the same brothel – legally now- and their lying, cheating and stealing can only get worse.
My request is that the author would reconsider her suggestions for further government laws/involvement/regulation and for public healthcare. It is my sincere belief that these will only further the problems we have today and put our children and grandchildren at greater risk. I hope readers will at least consider the possibility.
Lesli Peterson
