Union of concerned Scientists

I read this article on genetically engineered foods. It was mainly facts about the engineering of foods allowed here in america. Most produce, nuts, and grains are free from genetic engineering, and of the allowed engineered foods in grocery store only 2, papya and canola, are found in grocery stores. But years ago they made the first genetically modified corn, soy beans and cotton, which they immediately planted thousands of acres at a time. Because these 3 plants are used in processing food, most of the processed foods you buy will contain genetically modified products. The organisms in these foods will likely cause health problems for people. This site is trying to convince you of this, and gain your assistence in stopping this issue.

I agee fully this is a problem, and the more genetically engineered foods there are, the worse it will be for our world. It's unnatural and needlessly harmful. They even say that genetically engineered fish could possibly run wild spieces out of existence. I kind of like the world the way it is, and i wish large corporations who endorse this sort of thing felt the same.

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/genetic_engineering/

My environmental news article 3/15/07

The article I found was about buying local foods and organic foods. The article was found on treehugger.com, and talked about the cover of time magazine (march issue) which has an apple on it with a sticker that seays forget organic, eat local. The article also talked about local food getting more airtime over the last few years, as oppossed to organic foods. The article talks about the dillema between buying an organic apple from the other side of the country or buying an apple that has been sprayed with pesticedes. The article also states that food should be good for you, and also good for the environment. Organic food that is shipped halfway around the world might cause more harm than conventional local foods. This relates to the restaurant business because they have to decdide whether to buy locally or not. More info @ www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/time_magazine_i.php

Hooray Beer!

This article discusses a book written by Christopher Mark O'Brien, titled "Fermenting Revolution."

In the book, he discusses how we, as beer drinkers, can be something of activists while enjoying a frosty brew. He discusses that we could do such things as purchasing beer from local, organic, and/or free trade beers. We could also bring out own bags or containers to the store where we purchase our beer for a means of transport, and even brewing our own beer.

Doing these things we will do many things to make us called "activists." These things include support of our local community, encouragement of craft brewing, and allowing for sustainable agricultural practices.

Essentially, O'Brien is stating the fact that we don't need to give up our hobbies and loves to become activists. We can just use those hobbies as fuel for an activist MACHINE.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/fermenting_revo.php

How do we really feel about food?

In this article I have found that many people don't pay attention to where the food they eat comes from. A survey conducted by the NC University showed a generalization of what people have said...

Many dont consider where the food comes from beyond the grocery store.
Don't pay attention to how the food is processed and the quality of it.
Many people are concerned with only the cost.

Feel very positive about the quality of the food they eat, yet are concerned about chemical inputs, preservatives and other technologies used on food.

Believe that research relating to food and farming is very important.

believe that society should be concerned about the declining number of farms and farmers.
appreciate the importance of programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences that ensure safe, economical and nutritious food, a cleaner environment and strong agribusinesses.

There are a lot of people that don't look further into where their food comes from.
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/fft/feelfood.htm

Biodegradable Dinnerware

Every year there are more than 100 billion styrafoam cups thrown away that are building up in landfills as well as on the side of our roads and in our waterways. Instead of using these products that are non-biodegradeable that will continue to harm the enviroment, you could and should, check out and use products from one of many differant companies whom are currently making dinnerware that is safe to use and throw away. Companies are making these products out of sugar cane fibers and corn byproducts. You can use these dinnerware items and simply throw them in your backyard into a compost pile. They are all biodegradeable and some of the products can even be washed and reused. A couple companies making these products are Cereplast, Treecycle, Sinless Buying, and EarthShell. So tomorrow, when you're using that good 'ol styrafoam cup to have some of the good green drank in class, think about what the school should be doing and how they could be doing it. We could use biodegradable cups and put them in a compost heap, along with all the other food we throw away and start a nice garden for some fresh hebs. Anyway, the original article can be found at http://www.foodreference.com/html/a-eco-dinnerware-815.html.

Chicken-eating Cow

So, I mentioned this in class, but it's still kind of freaky. One hears of it and shudders at the thought of a normally benign bovine suddenly jumping trophic levels and tearing flesh from chicken bone. What's even more shudder-inducing, though, is when you realize that this is not, in fact, new... industrially farmed cattle are already fed all kinds of ground up animal meal, including chicken. What makes the CNN website is going on in CAFOs across the country.

Looking for an organization?

Dear class,

Some of you have asked if I know of any good organizations that you can volunteer for in order to complete the extra credit assignment. Well, there's been one of your best opportunities linked on the left side of the blog for awhile now. If you go to the Minnesota Environmental Partnership link, and click on the "Member Groups" button, you'll find links to a huge list of organizations in Minnesota. Good hunting. -Jay

Season Shot

This is not as much of a news topic and more of an interesting idea that helps people and the environment. As I was looking through a magazine, I saw an article talking about a product called 'Season Shot'. Out of curiosity I checked out the website. http://www.seasonshot.com The idea behind the product is this: pack herbs and spices tightly together into little pellets to simulate steel shot used in wild bird hunting. This product is enviromentally friendly because it is fully bio-degradable and people friendly because you don't have to worry about breaking any teeth or swollowing the shot.

fish contaminated with mecury and other pollutants

There are a number of people who love fish and hear thats it is good for you. Lately, according to the 2006 issues of JAMA people have heard that fish are offten contaminated with mercury and other pollutants that can and are very harmful to human beings. A study is being done that explains the benefits and health risks that follow when eating high amounts of fish. They have found that eating fish or fish oil that is normal can lead to better development in infants and lower deaths from heart attacks. They have also found that fish or fish oil that has high amounts of mercury in it can lead to 8 to 24 more deaths caused by cancer per 100,000 a year but more than 7,000 fewer cardiac deaths. They also say that women who are pregent should not eat fish with higher amounts of mercury because it can lead to neurodevelopmental problems. talk about a scary situation. If you want to learn more click here.

Union Of Concern Scientists

Union Of Concern Scientists -Second huge increase in drug producing crops near USDA approval.

Substainable agriculture for safe and affortable food. Removing pharmacuticals and industral chemicals from our food. Links to pharmacuticals crop approvals in the US. List of Genetically Engineered Foods and the feed allowed on the market. Also a video on how grass beef and milk contribute to healthy living.


For the whole story about this you can go to...
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/

Protecting the Resources of the Great Lakes

So its late Sunday morning and we stop at a local watering hole for a bloody mary brunch. We belly up, and my eyes fall on a copy of the Star Tribunes Opinion Exchange. I found my blog on the front page. While not directly related to the culinary industry I hope Jay will give me a break, without water there wont be much food around, will there? While reading the article I learned, just last month Minnesota became the first state to approve the "Great Lakes Water Resources Compact", an international agreement prohibiting the transfer of water out of the great lakes basin. This comes at a time when the water level of Lake Superior has dropped to within inches of the record low set in 1926. Over the past three decades there have been proposals to use water from the great lakes to feed a coal-slurry pipeline in Wyoming, to replenish the depleted Ogallala aquifier stretching from Texas to the Dakotas, and most ludacris of all, to ship 800 million gallons of Lake Superior water to Asia. These bodies of water are obviously feeling the stress of modern mans careless lifestyle. Hey Minnesota, thanks for leading the way.
To read the whole story visit startribune.com/water

Cloned Animals Products Labeled As "Novelty" In The UK

Cloned foods may be let into the UK now that they have fallen into the catagory of a novel food. They must be reviewed for safety under the EC Novel Foods Regulation and approved by 27 member states before being accepted.

Read all about it here.
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/jan/clonedoffspring

Feds won't list fish as endangered

this article stats that fish in cold water creeks and other fresh water fish should be on the endanger species list. if this would happen what would happen to the food industries. there are a lot of fish that we use in restaurants and yes most are farm raised but it would take a toll on the local market. what would most people do on their free time.

Cow "emissions" more damaging to planet than CO2 than cars and planes

I found this article about how the gas from cows can do more damage to the ozone layer and the plant itself the the CO2 from cars, planes or anything else that produces CO2. Its because the herds of cows are growing rapidly and they are responsible for 18 per cent of the worlds green house gases the cause global warming. The result of this is that with the CO2 being produced from the cars and planes and the gases that the cows are putting into the air there will not be enough plant life to get the CO2 out of the air. Water pollution is also a problem that is caused by this because the waste from feedlots and fertilisers used to produce their feed and then weeds choke all other plant life. And the antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides used to treat them get in to drinking water and threat human life. This relates to the culinary industry because the gas breaks down the ozone layer which means that it gets thin enough the sun wil get through and kill everything, and the water pollution will mean that we will get sick every time we need water, and the animals will die from it or get sick. No animals no food.

Screw the glass...Give me some cardboard.

A debate is going on arguing that glass bottles for wine use up more energy than what is used for boxed wines. They discuss three different types of containers for wine which include paperboard containers, glass bottles, and PET bottles. The paperboard containers that are being used are made by a company called Tetra Pak and have two different kinds called Tetra Brik and Tetra Prisma.

The following is a table of Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Multi-Serving Wine Conatiner Systems

Energy Solid Waste Greenhouse Gasses

Tetra Brik (1L) 3.26 MM Btu 143 lbs 333 lbs

Tetra Prisma (1L) 3.77 MM Btu 158 lbs 378 lbs

Tetra Prisma (500 mL) 4.84 MM Btu 196 lbs 484 lbs

Glass Bottle (750 mL) 10.8 MM Btu 1545 lbs 1916 lbs

PET Bottle (750 mL) 8.17 MM Btu 286 lbs 922 lbs

You can find the complete story at the following link and learn all about the energy sufficiency in using paperboard to contain wines:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/tetra_vs_glass_lca.php

Want to Change What Animals are Fed?

I came across this article about the diseases that animals have carried and we have heard of over the last few years. To me it was just a little interesting to see how it can be changed.
The article mentions...

The rise in animal factories over the last 50 years has led to a system that is out of control. Mad cow disease, increased liver abscesses, and the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are just some examples of the damage that comes from unwise and often inhumane approaches to raising food animals.

A few actions that you can do to prevent this is.....
Avoid factory farmed animal products altogether by choosing plant-based foods. Choose grass-fed and grass-finished beef and dairy products and pasture-raised pork, poultry, and egg products.

Biotech Crops In The US

There is still a big debate on biotech crops in the US. Even saying they can be safe, many are calling for an answer to who should be responsible for getting it off the test floor and onto grocery store shelves. Experts say that biotech foods could solve most of the world's hunger problems if properly managed, but "frankenfood" fears are preventing the go-ahead. The Canadian agriculture minister, Lyle Vanclief, has said biotech fears are drowning out the benefits.

Read the article here.
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/FOOD/news/01/24/biotech.hunger/index.html

Resources about "embodied energy" and "food miles"

Left: "The Urban Ecosystem" illustration from Mikey Tomkins's "Edible Urban Landscape" thesis paper (2006, London) Right: What Manhattan might look like if sea levels continue to rise. Photo illustration by John Blackford; original photograph by Cameron Davidson (featured in Vanity Fair)

Last week during class we talked about the "embodied energy" in products (like food). There was also mention of "food miles" in some of the presentations we watched in our Food, Ethics and Environment series. I wanted to give a few resources for these concepts from one of my favorite places to begin online research, Wikipedia. There are better places to find good sources of information, like your local library. But, since this is a blog, here's a few Wiki's for you to find out more about "food miles" and "embodied energy."

Also, I've found some more videos about "food miles" and links to great information. Take a look at some of the videos from Big Picture TV (online) about food miles.

I think it's important to understand that our relationship to food has changed faster than our psyche has been able to comprehend. Like Eric Schlosser said in his presentation, our food looks the same, but it's fundamentally different. We're faced with what Michael Pollan calls "the omnivore's delima." We'll talk more about that soon...

Find out more about:
Embodied energy
Food miles