New Mexico: Historic Bill Emphasizes Nutrition in Education, Health Care
In what seems to be a clear break with the treatment-based medical approach to health, a bill was introduced in New Mecico's State Senate that would emphasize nutrition education in schools and the use of nutrition-based prevention in health care. Information courtesy of Stephen Fox.
Historic New Mexico legislation was introduced today, January 31, 2005, in the New Mexico Senate, to create a new, powerful Advisory Council for Nutrition, comprised of physicians (including a toxicologist, a cardiologist, a pediatrician, and an internist), a dentist, educators, a biochemist, a certified nutritionist, representatives of the environment, health, and education departments and from the office of the New Mexico Attorney General's office.The Nutrition Advisory Council will advise various branches of state government, with the hope and intent that New Mexico can create a higher standard of nutrition and health for its citizens than is possible through the presently corporate-controlled United States Food and Drug Administration. Language in the bill clearly states that the federal government has not entirely pre-empted regulation of food quality, and that there is plenty of room for states to create the highest possible nutritional standards in order to protect the health of citizens.
The bill will require a course in Nutrition and Health in order to graduate from High School in New Mexico, as well as nutrition course requirements for health practicioners, including the University of New Mexico Medical School.
The legislation was introduced by the President Pro-Tempore of the NM Senate, Ben D. Altamirano, Democrat of Silver City, New Mexico, and will be introduced February 1 in the NM House of Representatives by Rep. Irvin Harrison Democrat of Gallup, NM.
NM Senate Bill 525 represents a quantum leap as consumer protection, and an enormous revitalization of consumer protection laws.
This is landmark legislation which recognizes the medical effects of carcinogens and neurotoxins, particularly excitotoxins, so rampant as industrial additives to the human diet, which can be easily adapted by concerned citizens and legislators in any state in the USA, or by any nation in the world.
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Meanwhile, healthcare reform is on the agenda. See what Steven Perlstein of the Washington Post says in his article "What 'Dr. Bush' Ought to Prescribe":
"... we can only imagine what would happen if doctors would agree to be paid according to whether they delivered good outcomes at a reasonable cost, rather than according to how many procedures they performed."
Now that would be a novel thought. Perhaps, if outcome mattered, doctors would more willingly embrace nutition-based prevention or even non-toxic healing modalities that rely on providing metabolic substances the body needs to defend against illness.
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-- CALL TO ACTION --
In order to further this legislation, Senate Bill 525 (2005), please write to and telephone the office of New Mexico's Governor, with your encouragement that he do everything possible to enact this vital and long over due legislation:
Honorable Bill Richardson
Governor of New Mexico
4th Floor, The Capitol
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501(505) 827-3000
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For Media Questions, and for persons wishing to congratulate and commend the Bill's sponsors, contact the Office of the Senate President Pro-Tempore, Senator Altamirano, at (505) 986-4633, and Representative Harrison, (505) 986-4464.
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Stephen Fox
New Millennium Fine Art
217 W. Water
Santa Fe, NM 87501stephen@santafefineart.com (505) 983-2002
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SENATE BILL 525
47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005INTRODUCED BY
Ben D. Altamirano
AN ACTRELATING TO NUTRITION; CREATING A NUTRITION COUNCIL; PROVIDING DUTIES; CREATING A FUND; REQUIRING NUTRITION AND HEALTH COURSES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR CERTAIN LICENSED PRACTITIONERS; REQUIRING STUDIES; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1 through 7 of this act may be cited as the "Nutrition Council Act".
Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.--
A. The legislature finds that federal authorities have not intended to or expressed an intention to occupy and preempt the areas of nutrition addressed in the Nutrition Council Act and, therefore, the legislature may create a nutrition council to make recommendations to protect and ensure public health and safety for all New Mexicans.
B. The purpose of the Nutrition Council Act is to improve the quality of food grown in, produced in or imported into New Mexico or exported from New Mexico and to educate New Mexico citizens in good nutritional choices.
Section 3. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Nutrition Council Act:
A. "council" means the nutrition council; and
B. "director" means the director of the council.
Section 4. [NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION COUNCIL--CREATED--MEMBERSHIP.--
A. The "nutrition council" is created, composed of the following members:
(1) the assistant attorney general for consumer protection or the assistant attorney general's designee;
(2) the secretary of public education or the secretary's designee;
(3) the secretary of health or the secretary's designee; and
(4) the following members appointed by the governor, who serves at the pleasure of the governor:
(a) one pediatrician;
(b) one internist or family practitioner;
(c) one cardiologist;
(d) one toxicologist;
(e) one doctorate-level biochemist;
(f) one licensed nutritionist;
(g) one farmer;
(h) one rancher;
(i) one faculty member of the university of New Mexico school of medicine;
(j) one dentist; and
(k) one public member who is appointed on the basis of active involvement in the area of nutrition.
B. Members of the council who are not paid by taxpayer funds may receive per diem and mileage expenses pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act, but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.
C. The council shall annually elect a chair and vice chair. The council shall meet at the call of the chair, a majority of the members or the director. The director shall serve as staff to the council.
D. The council is administratively attached to the department of health.
Section 5. [NEW MATERIAL] COUNCIL--DUTIES.--The council shall:
A. study ways to improve the operations of state government relating to nutrition programs and to the provision of nutrition services to the residents of the state;
B. recommend courses of instruction and practical training for employees of departments and other persons involved in the administration of state nutrition programs with the objective of improving the operations and efficiency of the administration;
C. develop nutrition education programs for food stamp recipients;
D. in consultation with nutrition experts and the appropriate state agencies, recommend nutrition programs, public education programs and campaigns on health, nutrition and ideal weight maintenance for all state institutions and public schools, colleges and universities;
E. consult with the university of New Mexico school of medicine to ensure that its nutrition curricula train medical students in basic nutrition and how to prevent and treat nutritional diseases;
F. recommend the development and implementation of nutrition and food safety programs to ensure the nutritional health of New Mexico residents and the safety of their food;
G. advise the appropriate departments, including the office of the attorney general, on areas of concern such as:
(1) the effect of food additives, specifically carcinogens and neurotoxins, on the health of all New Mexicans, particularly on pregnant women, neonates and preschool-age children;
(2) the incidence of diabetes on Indian pueblos and reservations;
(3) the effects of food-induced hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders in children resulting from their ingestion of monosodium glutamate and excitotoxins;
(4) obesity in all age groups; and
(5) other areas deemed important by the council;
H. make recommendations on ways to improve nutrition in New Mexico;
I. assist the appropriate agencies in developing educational materials on nutrition and on toxic or potentially toxic additives to foods and processes that result in food toxicity;
J. through the public education department, advise public school districts on the development of nutrition courses that are grade specific and that use texts in the field of nutrition, preventive cardiology, preventive oncology and preventive toxicology for New Mexico secondary school students;
K. develop a nutrition questionnaire to be sent to every student in New Mexico that will be used to build a statewide nutrition database;
L. review the quality of public school lunch programs and make recommendation to the secretary of public education to improve the sources of food for the school lunch program; and
M. within available appropriations, hire an executive director and such other employees as are necessary to carry out the provisions of the Nutrition Council Act.
Section 6. [NEW MATERIAL] DIRECTOR OF COUNCIL--DUTIES.--
A. The director shall, at the direction of the council:
(1) review and report on state agency efforts to improve nutrition and food safety; and
(2) serve as a liaison with other state agencies, including the department of health, the children, youth and families department and the public education department, in recommending the development and implementation of nutrition and food safety programs.
B. The director shall recommend to the council a list of foods, food additives or food processes that the council should consider to determine if additional labeling should be required because of carcinogens, neurotoxins or other deleterious compounds. If the council determines additional labeling should be required, it shall recommend the appropriate labeling and recommend that such labeling be reflected in the nutrition and food safety standards.
C. The director shall recommend to the council the appointment and compensation of such employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Nutrition Council Act within the appropriations made by the legislature.
Section 7. [NEW MATERIAL] FUND CREATED.--The "nutrition fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and bequests. Money in the fund shall not be transferred to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year. Money in the fund is appropriated to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for the school of medicine for nutrition and health-related research and education. Expenditures shall be made on warrant of the secretary of finance and administration on vouchers signed by the dean of the university of New Mexico school of medicine.
Section 8. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION AND HEALTH COURSES.--The secretary shall adopt and promulgate minimum standards and benchmarks for grade-specific nutrition and health courses."
Section 9. Section 22-13-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 57) is amended to read:
"22-13-1. SUBJECT AREAS--MINIMUM INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS REQUIRED--ACCREDITATION.--
A. The [state board] department shall require public schools to address [state board-approved] department-approved academic content and performance standards when instructing in specific [state board-required] department-required subject areas as provided in this section. A public school or school district failing to meet these minimum requirements shall not be accredited by the [state board] department.
B. All first, second and third grade classes shall provide daily instruction in reading and language arts skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics and comprehension, and in mathematics.
C. All first, second and third grade classes shall provide instruction in art, music and a language other than English.
D. In fourth through eighth grades, instruction that meets academic content and performance standards shall be provided in the following subject areas:
(1) reading and language arts skills, with an emphasis on writing and editing for at least one year and an emphasis on grammar and writing for at least one year;
(2) mathematics;
(3) language other than English;
(4) communication skills;
(5) science;
(6) art;
(7) music;
(8) social studies;
(9) New Mexico history;
(10) United States history;
(11) geography; [and]
(12) physical fitness; and
(13) nutrition and health.
E. In fourth through eighth grades, school districts shall offer electives that contribute to academic growth and skill development and provide career and technical education."
Section 10. Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-13-1.1. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.--
A. At the end of grades eight through eleven, each student shall prepare an interim next-step plan that sets forth the coursework for the grades remaining until high school graduation. Each year's plan shall explain any differences from previous interim next-step plans, shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent [or guardian] and the student's guidance counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.
B. Each student must complete a final next-step plan during the senior year and prior to graduation. The plan shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent [or guardian] and the student's guidance counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.
C. An individualized education program that meets the requirements of Subsections A and B of this section and that meets all applicable transition and procedural requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for a student with a disability shall satisfy the next-step plan requirements of this section for that student.
D. A local school board shall ensure that each high school student has the opportunity to develop a next-step plan and is reasonably informed about:
(1) curricular and course options;
(2) opportunities available that lead to different post-high-school options; and
(3) alternative opportunities available if the student does not finish a planned curriculum.
E. The secretary [of public education] shall:
(1) establish specific accountability standards for administrators, counselors, teachers and school district staff to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop a next-step plan;
(2) promulgate rules for accredited private schools in order to ensure substantial compliance with the provisions of this section;
(3) monitor compliance with the requirements of this section; and
(4) compile such information as is necessary to evaluate the success of next-step plans and report annually, by December 15, to the legislative education study committee and the governor.
F. Successful completion of a minimum of [twenty-three] twenty-four units aligned to the state academic content and performance standards shall be required for graduation. These units shall be as follows:
(1) four units in English, with major emphasis on grammar and literature;
(2) three units in mathematics, at least one of which is equivalent to the algebra 1 level or higher;
(3) two units in science, one of which shall have a laboratory component; provided, however, that with students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, three units in science shall be required, one of which shall have a laboratory component;
(4) three units in social science, which shall include United States history and geography, world history and geography and government and economics;
(5) one unit in physical education or other physical activity;
(6) one unit in communication skills or business education, with a major emphasis on writing and speaking and that may include a language other than English; [and](7) one unit in nutrition and health; and
[(7)] (8) nine elective units and eight elective units for students entering the ninth grade in the 2005-2006 school year that meet [state board] department content and performance standards. Student service learning shall be offered as an elective.
G. The department shall establish a procedure for students to be awarded credit through completion of specified career technical education courses for certain graduation requirements.
H. Final examinations shall be administered to all students in all classes offered for credit.
I. A student shall not receive a high school diploma who has not passed a state graduation examination in the subject areas of reading, English, [math] mathematics, writing, science and social science. The state graduation examination on social science shall include a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New Mexico. If a student exits from the school system at the end of grade twelve without having passed a state graduation examination, [he] the student shall receive an appropriate state certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the grade completed. If within five years after a student exits from the school system [he] the student takes and passes the state graduation examination, [he] the student may receive a high school diploma.
J. As used in this section:
(1) "final next-step plan" means a next-step plan that shows that the student has committed or intends to commit in the near future to a four-year college or university, a two-year college, a trade or vocational program, an internship or apprenticeship, military service or a job;
(2) "interim next-step plan" means an annual next-step plan in which the student specifies post-high-school goals and sets forth the coursework that will allow the student to achieve those goals; and
(3) "next-step plan" means an annual personal written plan of studies developed by a student in a public school or other state-supported school or institution in consultation with the student's parent [or guardian] and school counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.
K. The secretary [of public education] may establish a policy to provide for administrative interpretations to clarify curricular and testing provisions of the Public School Code."
Section 11. A new section of the Nursing Practice Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION EDUCATION MANDATORY.--The board shall establish by rule requirements for mandatory nutrition education for certified nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists."
Section 12. A new section of the Dental Health Care Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION EDUCATION MANDATORY.--The board shall establish by rule requirements for mandatory nutrition education for dentists."
Section 13. A new section of the Medical Practice Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION EDUCATION MANDATORY.--The board shall establish by rule requirements for mandatory nutrition education for physicians and physician assistants."
Section 14. A new section of the Professional Psychologist Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION EDUCATION MANDATORY.--The board shall establish by rule requirements for mandatory nutrition education for psychologists."
Section 15. A new section of the Counseling and Therapy Practice Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION EDUCATION MANDATORY.--The board shall establish by rule requirements for mandatory nutrition education for counselors and therapists."
Section 16. A new section of Chapter 61, Article 10 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION EDUCATION MANDATORY.--The board of osteopathic medical examiners shall establish by rule requirements for mandatory nutrition education for osteopathic physicians."
Section 17. TEMPORARY PROVISION--UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FOOD ADDITIVES AND PESTICIDES STUDIES.--The obstetrics, neonatology and pediatrics departments of the university of New Mexico school of medicine shall conduct a study on the precise medical effects of food additives on pregnant women, fetuses and children under the age of five and a study on the medical effects of living near or working in fields of farms spraying pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.
Section 18. APPROPRIATIONS.--
A. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the nutrition council for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 for staff, equipment, furnishings and other expenses to implement the Nutrition Council Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the nutrition fund.
B. Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to employ nutritionists to assist school districts in the public schools and to carry out the provisions of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the nutrition fund.
C. Two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 through 2008 to perform the studies provided for in Section 17 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the nutrition fund.
Update April 2005:
MSG & Aspartame Legislative Report
From: "Stephen Fox"
To: "Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum."Ethical Abrogations lead to Dysfunction in the New Mexico Legislature
Every legislature in the world is cluttered and made dysfunctional by the log jam of special interests, corporate lobbyists, and legislators who are beholden to their campaign contributors. Legislators everywhere have tricks up their sleeve, within [or without] the law, delaying tactics which kill bills, procedural tactics to alter and eviscerate the intent of any bill.
Although we see more of this recently in Washington with pharmaceutical corporations manipulating the regulatory processes in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Republicans and Democrats alike have contributed to the demise of governments' need to function free from corporate manipulation, which is serious, egregious, has resulted in a mild to major breakdown of the so-called 'democratic process.' Maybe the dysfunction is repairable, perhaps it is not.
I wrote two identical bills in the 2005 New Mexico Legislature, to create a Nutrition Advisory Council with the express powers to create a higher standard for food quality than is possible through the present F.D.A. and its list of so-called 'generally recognized as safe' food additives. It is true consumer protection legislation; it was sponsored by the President Pro Tempore of the New Mexico Senate, Ben Altamirano (D-Silver City) and Rep. Irvin Harrison (D-Gallup).
SB525 passed the Senate 32-1 and HB 721 passed the House 41-19. Everything looked like both bills would end up happily on the Governor's desk, and the beneficiaries would be all 1.8 million New Mexicans, in terms of health and improved food quality standards, due to a statutory move away from neurotoxins and carcinogens in most junk food and fast food.
Then two corporate lobbyists got involved, representing Altria Corporate Services (the parent company for Kraft and Phillip Morris) and the Glutamate Association (the representatives of the chemical manufacturers which add monosodium glutamate to thousands of food products, and tell you that is just as harmless as salt and pepper, that you are just imagining headaches from MSG). These lobbyists pressured the Chairman of the House Business and Industry Committee to introduce amendments ostensibly from the New Mexico Grocer's Association, whose only lobbyist was completely unaware of these amendments attributed to his association. When the Pro Tem's real amendments were presented in the committee hearing, the committee chairman's amendments were withdrawn, but still in the hearing attributed to the NM Grocer's Association by the assistant to the Chairman (who is considered to run the committee in his absence due to receiving kidney dialysis). As if this weren't horrifying and grisly enough, what comes next?
The bills approval by the committee was delayed by 48 hours in being reported out of the committee by unnamed persons, thus resulting in delaying the bill's being voted on the House floor till the last day, when SB525 died along with about 50 other Senate Bills, thanks to an absurd and destructive two hours filibuster by a Republican Representative from Roswell, which served no apparent purpose whatsoever.
The House bill in the Senate faired differently. Its hearing in Senate Corporations was interminably delayed, probably by the Chairman. Finally, on the Wednesday before the Saturday adjournment, it had a final hearing in Senate Corporations Committee, but only a subcommittee of four was present, who gave it a do-pass recommendation, although none of the Republicans had shown up. Normally what happens in that case is that the full committee either accepts the recommendation for a do-pass or tables it or gives it a no-pass recommendation, which still allows it to come to the Senate floor, if the sponsor has the votes to override the negative committee report.
However, this Chairman of Corporations took it upon himself to do something outside of the ethical procedures of the Senate: he made a substitute motion to table it, and then convinced the Republican Minority Leader to second his motion. Who knows what he said to get this result [or why], because the Republican Minority leader had only two weeks earlier spoke in favor of the identical bill as the Pro Tempore Senate President's bill, and voted for it in the 32-1 Senate passage of the bill. But on that last Thursday of the session, perhaps the bill was misrepresented to him ˜ he seconded the motion to table the bill.
The Corporations Chairman then collected votes against it all from Republicans, and ignored one Democrat and one Republican who had voted for the identical bill two weeks earlier, marked down that they were absent, and one was most certainly present in the Chambers; she was just ignored and her vote not taken in this so-called "floor poll." However, no floor polls are included in the Rules of the Senate, and even the Corporations Vice Chairman, who had duly voted for it in the sub-committee, had not been asked nor consulted as to her vote, nor even about the substitute motion to table the bill! The Corporations Chairman declined to give the committee report to the House Sponsor, Irvin Harrison. The report was handed over only after he was informed that Senator Altamirano wanted the report to examine.
These shenanigans are perhaps amusing bizarre warped parliamentary games to the average person. However, for the 1.8 million New Mexican beneficiaries of the bills, they were catastrophic and deadly tactics to kill the bills, which is precisely what happened.
How much of this calamity was the result of corporate lobbyists? Did they pay for these results, or buy some dinners for legislators? Did they promise campaign contributions? Was it just plain old "good old boy" pressure? The most baffling question of all: how could the Minority Leader, a member of the rarely convened Senate Ethics Committee, be pressured to do a total about-face on legislation he had spoken for and voted for two weeks earlier?
There are many honorable legislators in both parties who would never ever think of doing anything like this, who play the game fairly, honestly, and ethically, regardless of who has contributed to their campaigns and which lobbyists are leaning on them to do this or that. These honorable legislators will vote for these bills next year, and they are by far in the majority. We will try again next year, with the Honorable Ben Altamirano and the Honorable Irvin Harrison as the sponsors for these same bills again.
There will be several more bills which will be sponsored by other sponsors, due to the staggering amount of work to get them through, even under normal circumstances, including one to interdict/prohibit/ban ASPARTAME, a proven neurotoxin used as an artificial sweetener in hundreds of products, including diet cokes, chewing gum, and yogurt, which, because it breaks down into formaldehyde and a brain tumor causing agent, diketopiperazine, is neurotoxic to every man, woman, and child who ingests it.
There will be a re-introduction of a bill to create a Health Report Card for every child. There will be a bill with funds asking for adding one course requirement for High School graduation in New Mexico, a course in Health and Nutrition.
No doubt, in 2006, there will be 50 lobbyists fighting these bills, instead of two. Some may come out from Washington and from corporate headquarters, who reason that it would be cheaper in the long run to pay to kill these bills, instead of more money later, should the Attorney General of New Mexico join in suits against aspartame manufacturers similar to the $235 billion Big Tobacco suits of the 1990s.
However, by 2006, both houses will be educated more about the medical need for all of these bills, and even if no ethical complaints are filed about these procedures, and no action is taken by the legislature about these corporate lobbying abuses, we will still win the next battle.
The 2005 Legislative Session was just a skirmish for improved food quality and real consumer protection. The 2006 session will be more like a battle within the context of the larger war, the war between gigantic corporations which lie horribly about the toxicity of their products, and their opponents: ordinary people trying to protect and improve their health and the health of their children.
At your earliest convenience, please write to Governor Richardson and to Attorney General Madrid with your views on these matters. They need to hear from you. 2006 is the governor's short session: all bills have a fiscal component and must be part of the Governor's Call and have an Executive Message from the Governor. Please send your own Executive Message to Governor Richardson.
More information on aspartame on www.wnho.net, www.mpwhi.com/main.htm, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame and www.aspartamekills.com
See the movie some of those in the legislature saw that gave them the facts on aspartame (contact cori@soundandfuryproductions.com
- in the UK, contact Carl Sims at Namaste Publishing at info@namastepublishing.co.uk)
The aspartame documentary is "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World"JUNE 7 MEETING OF THE NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD REGARDING THE NEUROTOXICITY OF ASPARTAME.
The neurotoxicity of aspartame, the artificial sweetener which breaks down into formaldehyde and causes profound neurodegenerative afflictions in humans, will be the subject of a presentation to the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board on June 7 at 9:30 A.M. in Room 321 of the New Mexico State Capitol. The Environmental Improvement Board has the statutory power to regulate and maintain the standards for food quality in New Mexico
See also:New Mexico Sets Hearing To Ban Aspartame
Date: 10/14/05 Source: The Idaho Observer
SANTA FE, New Mexico -- The Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) voted 4-2 October 4, 2005, to proceed with hearings that could lead to a ban of aspartame in New Mexico. Before the board was the question, "Did the EIB have the authority to hold a hearing to determine whether or not to ban for sale in the state of New Mexico a federally-approved food additive?"- - -
January 2008: The sponsor of this bill and ProTem President of the NM Senate has recently passed away. Here is a Stephen Fox article:Reminiscence on the passing of Senate President Ben Altamirano
posted by Sepp Hasslberger on Wednesday February 2 2005
updated on Thursday December 16 2010URL of this article:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2005/02/02/new_mexico_historic_bill_emphasizes_nutrition_in_education_health_care.htm
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