HOUSE MEMORIAL 37

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

J. Paul Taylor

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO STUDY FOOD QUALITY, THE EFFECT OF FOOD ADDITIVES LIKE ASPARTAME AND TOXIC CHEMICAL PRODUCTS, MEASURES TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF NEW MEXICO'S FOOD PRODUCTION PROCESSES, HARMFUL PROCESSES APPLIED TO FOOD, METHODS TO CURB THE CONSUMPTION OF UNHEALTHY FOOD AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO LIMITING OR LABELING FOOD ADDITIVES.

     WHEREAS, the need to study the medical and biochemical issues pertaining to nutrition has ongoing and vital relevancy for all New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, a systematic examination of the epidemiological effects of additives like aspartame, ingredients like phosphoric acid and toxic chemical products like herbicides on the health of hundreds of New Mexicans who felt these substances were "safe", but have been shown to have deleterious effects on New Mexicans, is important; and

     WHEREAS, improving the quality of food grown in, produced in or imported into New Mexico is necessary to improve the basic nutritional needs for all New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need to review the serious control and manipulation of the approval processes of the United States food and drug administration in relation to the development of standards as they apply to the food supply; and

     WHEREAS, limiting or labeling additives to food that are carcinogenic, neurotoxic or otherwise deleterious will improve the quality of food available to New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to investigate and identify processes that, when applied to foods, are harmful to human health; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to curb the consumption of unhealthy food and to promote good nutrition among New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans are in need of information about food quality, food additives and potentially harmful processes to make good nutritional choices;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to appoint a task force comprised of representatives from the department of health, the department of environment, the public education department, the university of New Mexico health sciences center, the New Mexico department of agriculture, the organic commodity commission, the New Mexico livestock board, the office of the attorney general and the chair of the nutrition and dietetics practice board; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to appoint to the task force, in his discretion, other representatives of the public, such as internists, family practitioners, pediatricians, cardiologists, toxicologists, ranchers, farmers, biochemists and nutritionists; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor request the task force to study the quality of the food grown in, produced in and imported into New Mexico, measures to be taken to protect the integrity and success of New Mexico's food production processes, methods to curb the consumption of unhealthy foods and the possibility of increasing the standards that apply to limiting or labeling food additives that are carcinogenic, neurotoxic or otherwise deleterious; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor request the task force to investigate and identify processes that, when applied to foods, are harmful to human health; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor request the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature by January 1, 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.

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