Page 70 - Winter2008

Soy Alert!

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA
From Sally Fallon, President, the Weston A. Price Foundation

November 16, 2008 The change from a diet based largely on beef to
one based on soy occurred in 2003, when Mr.
Dear Mr. Obama, Blagojevich began his first term as governor.
The national office of the Weston A. Price
Congratulations on your recent victory Foundation has heard from dozens of inmates
in the American presidential elections. As the begging for help. Almost all suffer from serious
president-elect, you have many issues to consider digestive disorders, such as diarrhea or painful
as you prepare to take office. constipation, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome
One issue I would urge you to focus on con- and sharp pains in the digestive tract. One reason
cerns a grave injustice taking place in the prisons for these problems is the high oxalic acid content
of your home state, namely, a prison diet that is of soy—no food is higher in oxalic acid than
slowly killing the inmates assigned to the Illinois soy protein isolate, which can contain up to 630
Department of Corrections. This is a diet based milligrams per serving, at least six times higher
largely on soy protein powder and soy flour. As than the amount found in typical diets.
you stated on last night’s 60 Minutes program, Oxalic acid is associated with kidney stones,
America does not condone torture. I think you but the sharp crystal deposits can form in almost
would agree that what is happening in the Illinois every tissue in the body—in the heart where they
The national prisons is a form of torture. can stop electrical signals; in the bones where
office of the Soy protein and soy flour are toxic, espe- they can displace bone marrow cells, leading to

Weston A. cially in large amounts. The US Food and Drug anemia or immune deficiency; in the brain where
Administration lists 288 studies on its database they can impair the transmission of signals; and
Price demonstrating the toxicity of soy. Numerous in the skin where they can cause fibromyalgia.
Foundation studies show that soy consumption leads to nutri- Other problems reported by the inmates
has heard ent deficiencies, digestive disorders, endocrine include acne, hair loss, depression, lethargy, al-
disruption and thyroid problems.
lergies, heart arrhythmias, passing out after soy
from dozens Even the most ardent supporters of soy, such consumption, frequent infections and constant
of inmates as Dr. Mark Messina, warn against consuming feeling of cold. Many of these conditions are
begging for more than about 20 grams of soy protein per day. symptoms of low thyroid function. The estro-
But the inmates in Illinois are getting upwards of gen-like compounds in soy are known to depress
help. Almost 100 grams per day—beef and chicken by-prod- thyroid function.

all suffer from uct mixtures containing 60-70 percent soy, fake When the prisoners seek medical treatment,
serious soy meats and cheese, even soy added to baked they are told that soy does not cause the problems
goods. The soy products are produced by Archer they are experiencing. Even those who vomit or
digestive Daniels Midland, which contributed heavily to pass out immediately after eating soy cannot
disorders. the campaign of Governor Rod Blagojevich. get an order for a soy-free diet. They are told:

Thanks to Kimberly Hartke, Media Relations, the Weston A. Price Foundation for distributing the above letter to
the media and every single lawmaker in the state of Illinois. We encourage our readers to distribute this letter, posted in
electronic format at westonaprice.org, to local newpapers and other media. Then contact Kimberly at (703) 860-2711 or
cell (703) 675-5557, kimberly@hartkeonline.com, to follow up with a phone call.
The Weston A. Price Foundation has engaged the services of attorney Gary Cox to file for a permanent injunction
against the serving of soy products in the Illinois prisons.

70 Wise Traditions WINTER 2008