BrainDrain,

Have you considered this pushing of folate may be a stalking-horse for the recent attempts to regulate the vitamin and health food industry? I have done no research in this area, but I think I am starting to see connections with what I think may be the interests I suspect of being behind the scenes. Could the idea be to very publicly prove how deadly dangerous such vitamins and other dietary supplements THAT ARE TAKEN KNOWINGLY may be? To prove it by the unobtrusive but very deliberate mandatory addition of a substance known with certainty in medical circles, but less so amongst the public, to pose a health threat to a known significant part of the population?

During the recent fracas over the ratification of the NAFTA, the US negotiators (and I think the US pharmaceutical interests) were highly critical of the Australian pharmaceutical benefits scheme. This was and is a matter of domestic Australian political concern, and that alone. The PBS was emplaced after provision for it, and a raft of other Commonwealth government social service programs, by means of a Constitution alteration referendum held in 1946 followed by appropriate legislation over the years since.

At no stage did I hear a single peep from either side of our political fence highlighting to the US negotiators that this scheme existed by courtesy of a specific Constitutional provision, and that it was consequently off-limits to the discussion. It worries me that if our politicians did not see and shout out about assaults by a foreign country on our Constitution, then they may be missing what this folate administration may all really be about.

Forrest, when i first began researching the government plan to corrupt further our bread i had the inklings of a conspiracy of powerful unseen groups within a world society.

Nothing like a little healthy paranoia huh? - Hey, I'm not paranoid because they really are out to get me.

Hard proof for a secret agenda can only be gathered if the conspirators make errors. Circumstantial proof is hard to trust unless the quantity and quality is overwhelming.

My focus has been to raise awareness of our government's plan to corrupt our bread with yet another compulsory vitamin supplement, while challenging the highly dubious conclusions and reports they quote to support their rationale. (accurate data is developed but the conclusions derived are often inaccurate.) No media has been interested to date.

For anyone who wishes to persue a conspiracy theory:

There has been a decades long plan to supplement wheat worldwide with added iron, folate and other B vitamins. The number of companies and government agencies involved is staggering as are the quantities of money involved.
The US led the way in modifying bread as a vehicle to medicate the public with thiamin (to prevent Beri Beri! We followed suit in 1991 - only as we had no beri beri we claimed it was to reduce an extremely rare condition of alcoholics - wernicke-korsakoff syndrome.) I said previously the wholesale cost of Folic Acid needed to medicate ALL of Australia at the 'recommended' level is only 60 grand p.a. but add the cost of thiamin and iodine and the thin end becomes a rapidly thickening 'wedge'. Then add the US costs and the 50 other country's that copied them and then add countries in Europe like the UK and Rep of Ireland who are considering similar legislation right now and the money trail becomes very long indeed.'

What other countries do does not overly concern me. That the Australian government under both liberal and labor can do this without asking us first appals me.

...and on a final note: The possibility that individuals outside of Australia can instigate successful attacks on our diet and constitution without major public concern being raised and with willing or unconscious collusion of our government leaders just shows what a pathetic excuse of a democracy we currently live in.

Not that a better example could be found today - at least not one i am aware of. That in no way denies the fact that we need a better one.

Suggestions?

Maybe our democracy is not quite as pathetic as i postulated?

The Ministerial Council who were to make a final decision on the mandatory fortification of bread with synthetic folic acid on Oct25 have actually had a temporary change of heart and requested FSANZ look again at 'their' 'Final' proposal (as designed by the Ministers and their lobby masters) because of 'technical issues' and 'concerns'.

They still remain 'committed' to mandatory fortification of course, but 'just want to be sure'? (read: test the waters of public opinion now that their plot is being revealed for what it is - Bunkum!) Apparently four years of intensive investigation and two rounds of 'public' submissions were not quite enough to convince these 'committed' folic acid supporters of the righteousness of their cause.

The war ain't over folks but the good guys have had a minor victory. Let's make sure it is not a temporary one and let the Ministers know you can see the truth - that supplementing the daily bread of 16 million Aussies with a synthetic pill that they claim could help prevent 5 people a year (on their best figures) from being born with an NTD (but will ensure 160 000+ receive more than the daily UPPER limit for Folic Acid consumption at a cost to consumers of around $100 million a year and rising) IS NOT ON!

"Thank you for your email dated 18th October 2006 to the Honourable Stephen Robertson MP.

The Minister has requested that I seek advice in relation to this matter and inform you that a detailed response will be provided in the near future.

Once again, thank you for your letter and please be assured you will receive a full reply as soon as possible."

Lets see what his response will be.

Steve,

Well done for taking action. I am pretty sure i can tell you the initial response from your rep. Don't take bs for an answer!

It will be in line with Tony Abbott's mantra that 'overseas data shows mandatory fortification to be an effective way of significantly reducing NTD's' (Cough - !bullsh1t! - cough)

Hopefully they will not try to use the same line my state Health Minister quoted that this proposal will provide a 124.5 million dollar per year benefit (pure crap) while at the same time there is no evidence (yet reported or perhaps even investigated) world wide of any health concern resulting in countries where similar legislation was enacted.

The Ministerial policy guidelines for FSANZ's proposals for food supplementation make interesting reading and can be found here: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/ministerialcouncilpo1603.cfm

Waaaayyyyy down at the very bottom of page in a .pdf
I have copied tonnes of other useful data, if you want a squizz - let me know.