Milk and the USDA vs Harvard School of Public Health

[barts]

Much of the advice--perhaps most--that the United States government offers its citizen is based, not on sound science or research, but the influence of industry lobbyists armed with political donations.

An example, with life and death consequences, is the United States Department of Agriculture's MyPlate. Compare this to the Healthy Eating Plate, created by experts at Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School. As the Harvard nutritional experts point out,

The Healthy Eating Plate, created by experts at Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, points consumers to the healthiest choices in the major food groups. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate, in contrast, fails to give people some of the basic nutrition advice they need to choose a healthy diet. The Healthy Eating Plate is based exclusively on the best available science and was not subjected to political and commercial pressures from food industry lobbyists.

As can be seen, Harvard is not promoting the dairy industry, which produces some of the most unhealthy foods a person can eat. The Harvard team,

recommends limiting milk and dairy to one to two servings per day, since high intakes are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer

and of the USDA's recommendations saying,

MyPlate recommends dairy at every meal, even though there is little if any evidence that high dairy intakes protect against osteoporosis, and there is considerable evidence that too-high intakes can be harmful.

The USDA is not working to promote the health and safety of Americans, but rather corporations whose only "bottom line" is shareholder value or profits. If the pursuit of those corporate values compromises people's health or lives that is merely collateral damage for which no one, including the USDA which is deliberately misleading people, will be held accountable.

[ironeagle]

This is always the way of it, when government officials are allowed to accept donations there will always be liars and corruptness. They will never be held accountable because the only people who can hold them accountable is themselves, therefore no one can stop them.

[Night]

You're right eagle, it's very sad. I can't believe that the USDA is basing it's damn healthy eating suggestions on what the food industry wants! Another example of how corporations are usually pretty damned evil.

[ironeagle]

I am not sure if it's true but once I heard the FDA's food pyramid was based off of the health requirements for pigs.

[Night]

I am not sure if it's true but once I heard the FDA's food pyramid was based off of the health requirements for pigs.

Have you seen how overweight the American population is? Their food requirements are probably more pig than human.

In fact, bacon and pork should be outlawed in our country, because more than half of all Americans would be committing cannibalism if they ate pork.

[Apeman81]

Much of the advice--perhaps most--that the United States government offers its citizen is based, not on sound science or research, but the influence of industry lobbyists armed with political donations.

An example, with life and death consequences, is the United States Department of Agriculture's MyPlate. Compare this to the Healthy Eating Plate, created by experts at Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School. As the Harvard nutritional experts point out,



As can be seen, Harvard is not promoting the dairy industry, which produces some of the most unhealthy foods a person can eat. The Harvard team,



and of the USDA's recommendations saying,



The USDA is not working to promote the health and safety of Americans, but rather corporations whose only "bottom line" is shareholder value or profits. If the pursuit of those corporate values compromises people's health or lives that is merely collateral damage for which no one, including the USDA which is deliberately misleading people, will be held accountable.

Which is a very good reason to stop wasting the people's wealth by creating and funding agencies such as the USDA.

Bereft of misinformation provided by an ostensibly objective but demonstrably subjective government agency, it's government affiliation greatly enhancing it's "halo effect", the people would decide for themselves.

Which is how it should be.

[RjBig]

And you guys did not even bring up MAP in your discussion of Milk...hmm...Interesting...MAP, myco-bacterium Avian Paratuberculosis is a bacteria found in cattle. This bacteria causes a disease in cattle called Johannes Disease, it is a wasting disease. MAP is passed on to Humans in the milk...Pastuerization does not totally eliminate MAP cells in milk...a recent study showed 7% of retail milk contained active MAP Cells. Many believe MAP infection in Humans is reaching epidemic status...It is believed to be behind the massive increase in Irritable Bowel syndrome, Chrones Disease, Colitis, and other problems in Humans...There is no known cure for infection with MAP....Most (80%) of liver patients, that have been tested for MAP, test positive...MAP virus was first discovered in Cattle back at the turn of the Century...1900...Only recently has the USDA taken any real action to curb the Infection rates of the Herds. If the cow can stand on its own it can be Milked...So yes the USDA is fully aware that MILK is not SAFE...and could potential cause terminal illness and yet they continue to push us to drink it....Sad and Disgusting...I am not saying we should ban milk...I am just saying Milk should be safe...With no MAP Bacteria...Including Dead MAP cells...I do not want safe milk..ie Milk with no Living MAP...I do not want any trace of MAP in my MIlk alive or dead...

[ironeagle]

Actually there was evidence offered concerning irritable bowl syndrome related to killing off saprophrites which naturally attack dangerous viruses, and bacteria. This is due to over sterilization.

[RjBig]

While your statement has some merit...There is a problem with peoples normal Gut bacteria being killed off by overuse of Anti-biotics...And yes it can sure make for some Irritable bowels, but it is also fairly easy to diagnose and to treat...In most cases...depending upon what prospers in the Gut void of Natural bacterias...This is normally diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crones or collidis, which are all may be linked to infection with the MAP virus...Here is a small Summary of a 2005 Study one of the first that made the connection between MAP and IBD, etc...There are many more and in fact the NIH is currently doing a long term study on this subject...And here is the summary....

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis causes Johne's disease, a systemic infection and chronic inflammation of the intestine that affects many species, including primates. Infection is widespread in livestock, and human populations are exposed. Johne's disease is associated with immune dysregulation, with involvement of the enteric nervous system overlapping with features of irritable bowel syndrome in humans. The present study was designed to look for an association between Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection and irritable bowel syndrome. Mucosal biopsy specimens from the ileum and the ascending and descending colon were obtained from patients with irritable bowel syndrome attending the University of Sassari, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy. Crohn's disease and healthy control groups were also included. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was detected by IS900 PCR with amplicon sequencing. Data on the potential risk factors for human exposure to these pathogens and on isolates from Sardinian dairy sheep were also obtained. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was detected in 15 of 20 (75%) patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 3 of 20 (15%) healthy controls, and 20 of 23 (87%) people with Crohn's disease (P = 0.0003 for irritable bowel syndrome patients versus healthy controls and P = 0.0000 for Crohn's disease patients versus healthy controls). One subject in each group had a conserved single-nucleotide polymorphism at position 247 of IS900 that was also found in isolates from seven of eight dairy sheep. There was a significant association (P = 0.0018) between Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection and the consumption of hand-made cheese. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is a candidate pathogen in the causation of a proportion of cases of irritable bowel syndrome as well as in Crohn's disease.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2007, p. 3883-3890, Vol. 45, No. 12
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.01371-07

[ironeagle]

By saying actually I did not say you were wrong. You presented this as the only cause I added one and pointed out over sterlization can be as deadly as none.

[RjBig]

It did seem rather condescending. I did not intend to imply it was the only cause, but a probable cause for a whole group of illnesses ranging from Crohns', collitis, IBD, fibra myaligia and many Immune disorders. The FDA has known about the presence of MAP in retail milk for decades and does not say anything...In fact continues to tell us it is safe...And it is not...at least not to the level that they claim.