Our yogurt is in danger
The FDA's moving on a request from the yogurt industry that would undermine yogurt as we know it by weakening minimum ingredient and labeling requirements in current FDA standards of identity.
The proposed amendment would allow processors to:
* Substitute imported Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) and other cheap, inferior (imported) dairy ingredients for the American farm milk and nonfat dry milk.
* Use milk and dairy ingredients that do not meet minimum federal Grade A standards (
a scary thought following the Chinese melamine milk scandal).
* Include whey derivatives as allowable ingredients in yogurt.
* Disguise the presence of aspartame and other controversial artificial sweeteners by hiding their presence in the fine print of the ingredients label.
Milk protein concentrates are created when milk is ultra-filtered, a process that drains out the lactose and keeps the milk protein and other large molecules. The protein components are then dried and become a powder.
That all sounds relatively benign - until we learn that those "other large molecules" can include bacteria and somatic cells; that virtually all MPCs come from other countries, most of them with very poor food safety records (China, India, Poland, the Ukraine); and that the milk used to make MPCs is usually not cows' milk. More often, it is from water buffalo, yaks, or other animals common to the countries where MPCs are manufactured.
Not only is MPC "junk", it also undercuts American dairy farmers (who are in a state of crisis as it is) and screws consumer.
Take action! Submit your comments to the FDA
HERE.
Submit your comments by March 31, 2009
Deb
in WI
