Last week was a full moon. In the crisp fall air, it cast a beautiful pale sheen across the not yet harvested fields of Indiana. It also brought out the nutcases and an avalanche of negative nonsense about agriculture.

The word “lunatic” comes from the Latin “lunacus” which, in turn, stems from “luna” (moon), which denotes the traditional link made in folklore between madness and the phases of the moon. In folklore, it was said that the full moon could drive people mad. It is a fact that, today, hospital emergency rooms are always busier on nights with a full moon.

While I could not find any scientific study to prove this, I think that during a full moon there is more stupid nonsense in the media than at other times. To prove my point, let me cite a few examples of some of the lunacy that made the news in the past week.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and, in a new Cancer Project public service announcement, Olympic figure skater and breast cancer survivor Dorothy Hamill encourages people to eat a plant-based diet to protect themselves from the deadly disease. The ad refers to findings in the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) which has shown that breast cancer survivors like Dorothy who cut their fat intake and increase their fruit and vegetable intake reduce their recurrence rate by 24 percent.

Yet, the bulk of the studies done on meat in a diet have yet to find a definitive link with cancer. This is another example of making a sweeping generalization from a very narrow and specific bit of research. Getting a celebrity to say it makes all the difference. Then you do not need facts.

Attacks on a whole host of food items took place last week. They came from The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a misnamed activist group if there ever was one. They rarely use science and self-interest and special interest seem to be their primary causes.

They published a list of the Ten Most Dangerous Foods. In order of danger, the list included: 1. Leafy Greens, 2. Eggs, 3. Tuna, 4. Oysters, 5. Potatoes, 6. Cheese, 7. Ice Cream, 8. Tomatoes, 9. Sprouts, and 10. Berries. Well, given that list, what is left we can safely eat?

Of course major news organizations picked up this story and ran with it. I mean, what could be better than a good food scare, especially one that impacted so many foods.

What is sad is that we have a very safe food supply and the number of people who get sick or die from food-related causes is minuscule. What is even sadder is that almost all food-related illness could be eliminated by the use of irradiation. While “science” has proven this technology perfect safe, the NRCD is still opposed to its use.

If all this negative nonsense makes you want to sit down and cry, here is something to lift your spirits. A video clip on the Internet will make you laugh out loud and point out the illogical arguments of those who want to regulate our food and control our diets.
Called Sorry, I don’t eat vegetarian, the video is part of a sketch from That Mitchell and Webb Look, an award-winning British television sketch show starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. With typical British understated satire, the skit looks at vegetarianism from the other side.

The premise of the sketch is that a meat-eating couple invites a vegetarian couple to dinner and fixes them a meatless meal. When the tables are turned and the vegetarians host a meal and refuse to serve meat, the humor begins.

The discussion that ensues points out some of the ludicrous arguments some vegetarians have. The skit ends with the vegetarians agreeing to serve … well, take a look for yourself. You can watch the video at www.youtube.com

This bit of levity will help keep all the negative press about agriculture in perspective. Their facts are often false, their rhetoric laughable, and their logic ludicrous. Just remember to laugh once and a while or you will go crazy.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt may write to him in care of this publication.