Friday morning we had breakfast with the Thai delegate who was so badly treated by Dr. Grossklaus on Wednesday, November 1. You will remember that the Thai paper on the addition of sugar to formula and beverages for babies and young children received not only short shrift, but rude and inappropriate dismissal despite the vital importance of the issue for world health.

The Thai delegate was startled and very unhappy with the proceedings. We spoke with him on Thursday on the way to the Floral Gardens, gave him our materials and asked if we could meet with him on Friday morning. He agreed. He was quite distressed: although he is one of the Codex managers, he had never attended Dr. Grossklaus’ Committee and he was deeply upset by what he saw and experienced for himself and others.

Our breakfast was interesting, to say the least. This gentleman is based in Rome at Codex headquarters and had never attended CCNFSDU before. He was
therefore not prepared for the proceedings which Dr. Grossklaus presides over.
We discussed that and we discussed options for better, more consumer- protective function in Codex and he seemed to be listening hard. It was a good meeting. We will see what comes of it, of course, but change is made out of such meetings.

Once the report was available, delegates read it carefully and the fun began: what gets into the report is really all that counts since nothing else is an official record of a Codex meeting. You can guess the outcome: what the Chairman wanted in got in. What he did not want in did not get recorded or included in many, many circumstances. And Dr. G. exercises absolute and autocratic power.

Let’s revisit the fluoride issue: you recall that South Africa, using our data, was able to get fluoride banned as an added ingredient in formula for normal infants. You will also recall that the US did not like that very much and opposed that decision. In the report of the CCNFSDU, therefore, the US insisted on undercutting SA by noting that the studies and information which SA cited were not part of the conclusions of a relevant study and therefore were not worth very much. So the issue is not dead, by any means! You can see why it is so important to continue to put information out, to meet with countries and to move the items forward one by one by one by one. And your support is essential to help us keep these world food standards pressing forward toward your health and mine.
Every one of the Codex decisions is part of a fabric which either supports the health of consumers or damages it.  Increased pressure, lobbying and country visitation is necessary not only to protect them, but to protect you as well.  The US, you remember, has announced its decision to “HARMonize” with Codex (October 11, 1995, Federal Register).  Therefore, whatever Codex ultimately says is what the US will try to do.  And there is a great deal of Codex that you do not want on your fork, I can assure you.

So making sure that foreign countries reshape Codex (the way South Africa did here) is very important to YOUR health.

But it is also very expensive.  If you haven’t signed the Citizens Petition, now would be a very good time.  If you haven’t made a tax deductible donation, or if you have but know that now is another good time to give, NOW is the operative word!

We are making great headway.  Your signatures help spread the word and your tax deductible donations provides the wind in our sails.

You may have noticed the funding thermometer has topped $155K out of $200K.  You have been wonderful, just wonderful.  But now we need some more help.  You know what and you know why.  You also know that there is no time to loose.  We are on the ground making things happen like no one else.   If you don’t think Codex is fighting back, guess again.  But we are not just passive targets.  Forewarned is forearmed.  And we have scientists, lawyers, educators, nurses, Nurse Practitioners, etc. who want to be part of OUR Codex process.  Reaching out to them is useful and effective.  It is also expensive.

We know you will do the right thing.  Your health freedom is too important to throw it away!