GIANT STANDS UP FOR ORGANIC MILK!

13 February 2002

Organic dairy farmers are today calling for a reduction in the use of pesticides and have recruited the well-endowed landmark, the Cerne Abbas Giant, to support their campaign. The Giant is a 180ft high chalk outline of a naked man, famous for his manhood, which is carved into the chalk landscape of Dorset. Since the early hours of this morning, this ancient fertility symbol has been holding a 30ft high glass of organic milk.

The organic farmers are calling on the agricultural industry to treat pesticides with greater caution until the effects on public health and the environment are more fully understood. While many conventional dairy farmers keep pesticide use to a minimum, current rules allow some farmers to rely heavily on synthetic chemicals.

According to Dr Vyvyan Howard, leader of the Development Toxic-Pathology Research Group, University of Liverpool, there is reason to be concerned about the widespread use of agri-chemicals since the Second World War. "We have traces of 300 to 500 potentially harmful chemicals in our bodies which are completely novel and have only been around for the last 50 years and which we primarily ingest through our food.

"At present official safety limits are based on studies of these agri-chemicals acting alone - there are virtually no toxicological tests of chemical combinations, despite the fact that studies have suggested that their combined impact, or 'cocktail effect' can make their effect more powerful. Eating organically grown food is a common sense way for people to minimise their exposure to these chemicals and therefore exercise the precautionary principle in their own lives."

An increasing number of reports suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by industrial agricultural practices, may be responsible for plummeting sperm counts which have been falling since the 1950s(1).

Scientific studies have already shown that high occupational exposure of men working with pesticides can mean they have less chance of fathering children - and that they are less likely to have sons.(2,3)

David Whiting, Marketing Director of organic dairy farmers co-op, OMSCo, explains: "Milk is an important part of a healthy diet, but 25,000 tonnes of pesticide are sprayed over the British countryside each year, including on some conventional dairy farms. Traces found in the last few years have been within official safety limits, but many consumers want to avoid pesticides altogether. The only way to do this is to choose organic food whenever possible."

"We strongly believe that we need to raise awareness of the issues and enlisting the help of the Cerne Abbas Giant, in the heart of dairy country, seemed an obvious way to do it. If you are concerned, the only way to minimise the risk of pesticide traces in dairy products at the moment is to eat and drink organically - we believe it's better to be safe than sorry. 2

Milk is an important part of a healthy diet, providing calcium to build strong bones and teeth, protein to build and repair muscle tissue, and vitamins including vitamin B12 to build red blood cells and carry oxygen from the lungs to working muscles. British organic dairy farmers say they do not want to take risks with their own or anyone else's health, so British organic milk comes from cows that are not fed GM-feed, are not given antibiotics unless actually ill, and are not grazed on land treated with artificial insecticides, herbicides or fungicides.

OMSCo are keen to confirm that the giant's glass of milk is a temporary publicity stunt and will not harm the landmark or the environment.

ENDS

For more information, photography, interviews and further research please contact the ?Drink Organic? press team on 0117 922 7799.

Editors Notes:
Photography is available showing aerial photography of the Cerne Abbas Giant holding the glass of milk.

A full copy of the report by the Government?s Pesticide Residues Committee can be found at www.pesticides.gov.uk

There are around 500 powerful chemicals licensed for use on conventional dairy farms and 1,550 which can be used on conventional mixed farms
A copy of the report by the Food Standards Agency into aflatoxins can be found at: www.food.gov.uk/science/surveillance/info2001/milk-myco?version=1

The Royal Society has stated that with regard to Endochrine (Hormone) Disrupting Chemicals or EDCs: "Regulations cannot be 'put on hold' until all the evidence has been collected."

References:
Irvine, S, E Cawood, D Richardson, E MacDonald and J Aitken. 1996. Evidence of deteriorating semen quality in the United Kingdom: birth cohort study in 577 men in Scotland over 11 years. British Medical Journal 312: 467-471.

E. Tieleans, R. van Kooji, ER te Velde, A Burdorf, D Heederik "Pesticide Exposure and decreased fertilisation rates in vitro" The Lancet 7 Aug 1999

JS de Cock "Exposure to pesticides of fruit growers and effects on reproduction: an epidemiological approach" Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands 1995
ENDS