Stephen Colbert, from Cows to Cosmetics, You've Led Me Down a Sticky Path
As I research the new gluten-free labeling initiative, and answer some interesting questions about it, I am reminded of other sticky issues bubbling for attention in the background. When I watched this video from Stephen Colbert's Oct., 6 2010 show which was posted on foodista.com this morning, I decided to give these bubbles a little attention. The foodista post was simply intended to show that the raw milk controversy has gone mainstream. That's it. But this is an interesting subject to me, since certain groups are proclaiming that raw milk will help cure dairy allergies. As a person who suffers from the same, I am intrigued, but not about to run out and guzzle a giant glass of moo cow. Or even a tiny one. Thus, mine will be the cautious path and I'll do some heavy investigation before even commenting on it. (However, if you are one of those folks who have had your dairy allergies actually cured from raw milk, I soooo want to hear from you. Moo.)
The video clip itself, however, innocently drew me into other sticky issues. This clip is really more about civil liberties than it is about the benefits or risks of drinking raw milk. Which is interesting, but in today's times, civil liberties usually ends up in an "us" versus "them" discussion, which is ... well you tell me.
Pasteurization without representation. _Ron Paul
Individuals are stupid. _David Acheson, former Assistant Commissioner for the FDA on Food Safety
But my attention stuck on something else that Stephen mentioned in the clip: New York's stand on the health risks of dangerous chemicals in common household products. To be fair, in his own words:
“… New York State will start enforcing a 40-year-old law that requires manufacturers of household cleansers to reveal the chemical ingredients in their products and any health risks they pose. Way to spoil the surprise Bloomberg!”