CODEX ALIMENTARIUS
The CODEX ALIMENTARIUS Commission is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations and the World Health Organization. It is part of an international movement to set up guidelines for food additives, pesticides, veterinary drug residues in food, and to standardize natural products such as herbs, vitamins, etc. All good points. A major fear, however, is the pharmaceutical industry's power to restrict public access to vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements by escalating the removal of many products from the market, and making the rest available by prescription only.

As we end the decade of major scientific discovery and tremendous advances in medical technology, society is burdened with ever increasing suffering and death due to degenerative disease which the medical /scientific community is not able to prevent, and in many ways contributes to by the vast array of toxic drugs and chemicals. While many prescription and over-the-counter drugs offer short term solutions to nagging health problems, more often than not, their lengthy unadvertised side effects impede the immune system, attack major organs, and ultimately contribute the individual's demise. While the patient and family undergo tremendous physical, emotional, and financial suffering, excessive profits are derived by the medical / pharmaceutical complex.

As we approach the new millennium there is a major struggle underway. The struggle is over control of health maintenance and money. Unsatisfied with mainstream health care, a growing segment of the public is beginning to take charge of their personal health. Consumers are making positive steps toward disease prevention by doing everything possible to strengthen their immune systems. More dollars are being spent on nutritional supplements and organic products than ever before. Drug companies are not pleased about sharing the profits. This is what prompts the rational concern that the pharmaceutical industry

will assert its formidable influence to restrict public access to inexpensive natural products in order to reign in all the profits for themselves.

If this should happen, it will be an enormous setback for public health. Citizens deserve a right to maintain and preserve their health by having access to what nature provides in her vast storehouse of nutritional supports. More information on this topic can be obtained from the following watchdog organizations and the FAO/LTN and WHO:

You can e-mail your concerns to the Codex Alimentarius commission directors in Rome: john.lupien@fao.org and anthony.randaf@ao.org