Why I Distrust the FDA

People blindly assume that if the FDA approves something, it must be safe. I disagree with this sentiment and here are a few reasons why:

1. Thalidomide: this drug was approved to "safely" treat morning sickness in expectant moms in the 1970s to catastrophic results.

No mother I know would risk doing this to her child, no matter how terrible her morning sickness was.

All from an innocent enough looking pill: 

Finally, an apology from the manufacturer, after 50 years of denial. 

Perhaps the FDA should apologize as well. 

2. BT Corn: This genetically engineered corn was approved to be grown in the United States and was later found to kill Monarch butterflies, who fed on the pollen. Note: This pollen is exchanged with other corn plants on the wind. 

Information about BT corn from the University of Kentucky. Please note that despite the fact that this particular GMO killed Monarch butterflies, there is no mandatory labeling of GMOs in the United States or Canada (the two powerhouses in the GMO world).

For more information, read the following articles: 

Monsanto's BT Corn

BT: The lesson not learned

3. Meat industry: animals are boiled and skinned alive, chickens have 1/3 of their beaks sheared off so they can be forced to live in cramped quarters without killing each other, baby chicks are fed so that their breasts become too heavy for them to walk, cows are fed food that makes them ill, then given 50.00 worth of antibiotics to make them "well," then killed and fed to humans, or other animals...I could go on, but I won't. 

For more information:

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

The following documentaries:

Fed Up!

Food Inc. 

Frankensteer

Earthlings

Farmagedon

We now have a diminishing bee population...wonder why. 

These 3 things are reason enough for me to wary of labels that state, "FDA Approved." To me, it means nothing. I am still skeptical. 

I think we should all be skeptical.