Connections to Health - Codex Alimentarius

THE ISHTA HOLISTIC HEALTH CENTRE

CONNECTIONS to HEALTH

Codex Alimentarius

We've covered this topic before in these pages but sometimes when something is a serious as this it needs restating in a different way. Caroline Torres in her newsletter "The New You" puts it quite eleoquently.
Here's her article

You know, it's not just the newspapers that are good at spreading misinformation and panic. Some of us health nuts are pretty adept, too.
Take this email I keep being sent by various people...
"CODEX DANGER TO HEALTH"
Perhaps you've seen this too. There are different versions, but here's the general gist...
"This is IMPORTANT. Codex Alimentarius is coming into force from the end of this year, that means ALL nutrient supplements and herbal remedies will be banned! Sign this government petition today and put a stop to this legislation. Everybody, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

Okay, maybe it doesn't say the last bit.

I've had many requests from readers asking me to send you this email and urge you to sign the petition. But if I do that, I'll not only be sending you a bunch of untruths, I'll also be inviting you to waste your time on a pointless petition.
The fact is, these emails have it all wrong. And that's a shame - because there IS a threat to your health freedom out there right now. It's just not what the internet scare-mongerers say it is.
So, in the eternal quest for the truth, I've spent weeks researching what's really going on and why it concerns you. And I mean weeks...

The hard-gotten TRUTH about what's really threatening your health With so much misinformation out there, uncovering the truth hasn't been easy.
Fortunately, an extended bout of pregnancy-induced insomnia has meant I've had a fair few extra hours to kill. And reading EU directives and WHO guidelines is actually an excellent way to fall asleep. Really, I recommend it.

Okay, let's start by sorting out fact from fiction.

Codex Alimentarius ISN'T a piece of legislation that's coming into force at the end of this year. In fact, it's a commission that seeks to establish food standards for countries around the world. So signing a petition protesting against Codex will do precisely nothing.
BUT...

That doesn't mean your supplements are safe. Far from it.
From 1 January 2010, many food supplements ARE set to be banned here in the EU.
But it's not Codex Alimentarius that's the problem. It's the glorious European Food Supplements Directive. That's not all. As part of this same Directive, next year the EU is likely to impose restrictions on maximum dosages for all vitamins and minerals. So if you want to get a high dose Vitamin C supplement for example, chances are you won't be able to.
Now, this is seriously worrying. Never mind the fact that your choice and freedom as a consumer are being stolen from you by a bunch of beaurocrats you never even had the chance to elect.
The fact is, this legislation could seriously affect your health.

Let's not beat about the bush here. Research over decades has shown that the levels of nutrients in our soil has plummeted between 60 and 70%. We simply cannot get optimum levels of nutrition from just eating our 'five a day'.
Most of us do benefit from taking supplements. But all those benefits could be lost to us if the EU goes ahead with imposing maximum levels.
You see, even though the levels haven't been set yet, some of the proposals are looking downright daft.
Did YOU know carrots are dangerous? No, me neither....
Take the proposed maximum level for selenium. At just 25-30mcg, that's the same amount you'd get by eating one Brazil nut. As for beta-carotene, the proposed maximum level is the same amount you'd get by eating two carrots!
Are the Brussels beaurocrats REALLY suggesting that it's dangerous for you to eat two brazil nuts or three carrots?
Of course not... so why these stupidly low levels?

It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Who's really behind all this? Could it be the powerful pharmaceutical companies with their constant lobbying?
Think about it - next year, you may be unable to get hold of a decent beta-carotene supplement, but you'll be perfectly free to buy a packet of paracetamol.
Here in the UK, approximately 25,000 people are admitted to hospital with paracetamol poisoning each year, with 500 deaths.
As far as I can see, no one has yet died of a beta-carotene overdose - although your skin could go yellow if you really overdo it.
If the Eurocrats really want to protect our health, why not impose restrictions on tobacco, alcopops or ProPlus - all of which have the potential to harm?
Why all this fuss about vitamins and minerals - all of which naturally occur in our food anyway?
Call me cynical, but as far as I can see, this legislation has nothing to do with protecting consumers and everything to do with protecting the interests of big pharma.

Thankfully, organisations like the Alliance for Natural Health are fighting tooth and nail to stop the directive and preserve our right to optimum nutrition.
If you want to help fight the fight, the ANH urges you to write to your MEP. You can find out who that is here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members.do.

Or, you can visit http://www.anhcampaign.org and see how you can help the Alliance for Natural Health.
On top of that, I'd like to invite you to forward this email to your friends.
Why?

Let's get everyone fighting the right battle, and preserve our health freedom
Over 12,000 people have already signed that petition I was telling you about. Their well-intentioned efforts are going to waste.
This must stop.
We need to let as many people as possible know what the REAL threat to our freedom is, and what action they can take that will be effective.
Without the right information and the right action, we cannot possibly win the fight.
And if you're in any doubt as to whether this is worth fighting for, just consider this latest bit of research...

Vitamin D could prevent diabetes (but not if Brussels has anything to do with it)

A new study in The Journal of Pediatrics surveyed 128 young people with type-1 diabetes and found 61% had insufficient levels of Vitamin D. The researchers also found that this put those youths at a much higher risk of developing bone problems in later life.
The EU's suggested maximum level for Vitamin D is 5mcg. But the researchers here recommended that kids supplement with 10mcg - twice that amount.
That's not all... Vitamin D has also been found to reduce pain, prevent multiple sclerosis, depression, lower cancer risk... the list goes on. Most nutritionists recommend 10mcg (or 400iu) a day.
Let's fight for our right to buy this dose - not to mention optimum doses of other vitamins and and minerals - before it's too late.