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BST MILK and Ordinary MILK Indistinquishable? Not Really.
On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 00:46:34 GMT, "James Curts"
wrote: "Torsten Brinch" wrote in message .. . On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 18:10:04 GMT, "James Curts" wrote: Many of these chemicals, just as in the instances of dirt grown vegetables, were within the plant structure and could not be washed off. The only solutions are to remove the items from the store shelves, which one major local grocery chain did, or to advertise the product so strongly and favorably that customers consumed the evidence. The threat of food poisoning from aldicarb residues in American hydroponically grown cucumbers comes to mind as one example that residues of toxic chemicals within the plant structure cannot be washed off. Indeed such aldicarb-soaked hydroponically grown cucumbers would had been better removed from the shelves -- before unknowing customers ate them and got sick. However, hydroponically grown produce should from what I've heard generally have -lower- residues than conventionally dirt-grown, and the residues would not very often exceed maximum recommended levels, and not frequently lead to clinical poisoning. The first portion of your message is factual while the insinuation at the end is unfounded and unnecessary. Aldicarb (trade name Temik) is a granular pesticide registered since 1970. It is used to control insects, mites, and nematodes on bananas, cotton, citrus, dry beans, grain sorghum, ornamentals, pecans, peanuts, potatoes, seed alfalfa, soybeans, sugar beets, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, and tobacco. Additionally, there are tolerances established for residues of aldicarb on imported bananas and coffee beans. Rhone-Poulenc is the sole registrant of aldicarb. It is restricted to use by certified applicators only. Aldicarb was never licensed or intended for use on water melons or cucumbers. The use on the cucumbers you mentioned was illegal and while a fact was not discovered and isolated to prevent the illness and hospitalization of consumers until after the fact. The EPA was immediately on top of this and was grateful that Rhone-Poulenc immediately pulled the product and compensated the growers for the purchases. Conventional hydroponic produce, unfortunately and for news fodder, is lumped together with produce obtained by introducing "organic" additives into the nutrient supply. The cucumbers in question were from an "organic" hydroponics grower whose crop was infested almost beyond redemption practices by insects, mites, etc. and the chemical was applied in much higher amounts than was necessary. Normal hydroponic practice is to create an environment in the greenhouse which supports beneficial insects and organisms to combat these unwanted infestations. Chemical additives are seldom even considered or necessary and in today's well overseen actions nothing harmful is ever used in the serious commercial operation. What you've "heard" is of no import and in simple form has no foundation other than to imply a familiarity you do not possess with the topic. A serious study of hydroponics growing practices as we find in the US, Australia, Israel, etc. shows a conscientious approach to food production not found in dirt or supposed "organic" systems. To clarify a small point, organic growing practices in true form are the ideal food growing method and produce healthy, nutritious and wholesome food. In reality and from a commercial standpoint it cannot compete with conventional dirt farming in the market place. From the same standpoint it cannot compete with standard hydroponics without cheating. Cheating means using the large hidden barrels of chemicals and the sprayers after hours, as one example. Cheating can be unwitting. For instance, farmer A farms organically (so he thinks, along with the trade regulator) farmer B applies all the replacement nutrients to his land (synthetic nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus salts, and any trace element salts required) and sells organic matter to farmer A who fertilises his land with this OM. Now he doesn't think that he is indirectly using artificial ferts to his land, but what do you think? "Organics" being no more than a marketing ploy in today's market place is hard pressed to maintain a market share due to the added cost of production and the subsequent higher price to the consumer. As mentioned earlier, the production standards and supply guarantees have caused the removal of "organic" fresh produce from the shelves of a major chain of grocery stores in our area and without customer complaint. The statement containing: "heard generally have -lower- residues than conventionally dirt-grown, and the residues would not very often exceed maximum recommended levels, and not frequently lead to clinical poisoning." is ambiguous, cheap and insinuating reporting at best. Hydroponics is not in question and conversations with the folks world wide who produce and use these products are proud of what has been accomplished. James Curts |
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