This is the remarkable and courageous story of the late Shiv Chopra, who dared to confront the Canadian establishment in the 1980s in defence of public health and food safety.
Dr. Chopra was a government scientist with Health Canada who warned that certain drugs used in animals could endanger the safety and integrity of Canada’s food system. At a time when silence would have protected his career, he chose instead to speak out.
In 1989, Dr. Chopra ignited a national debate over Canada’s veterinary drug approval process after he and fellow scientist Margaret Haydon testified before a Senate committee. They revealed that they were being pressured to approve bovine growth hormone (BGH), a synthetic product designed to increase milk production in dairy cows.
Their testimony raised serious concerns about consumer safety, scientific independence, and corporate influence over public policy. Dr. Chopra believed that science should serve the public interest, not commercial pressure.
Because of the determination and integrity of Dr. Chopra and his colleagues, BGH was never approved in Canada. He went on to lead a national campaign opposing the BGH patent approval process, a battle that was ultimately won when the measure was blocked in the Senate.
If Canadians today drink milk free from BGH, a measure of gratitude belongs to Dr. Shiv Chopra, a man who placed principle above position and public welfare above personal security. He risked his career, reputation, and future for what he believed was right.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Chopra when he visited Vancouver in the 1980s. He later passed away in Ottawa at the age of 84, leaving behind the legacy of a scientist who proved that one determined voice can protect a nation’s health.
by Promod Puri
promodpuri.com
Promod Puri.com 