| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Annika |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 10:19:14 AM
Something to really consider when buying food. I'm trying to stay away from the chemical drenched and gmo foods. It's truly appalling what we are being fed these days.
"Smoking was proven to be cancer-causing, tanning beds were shown to be on par with arsenic, but what about canned tomatoes, corn-fed beef, conventionally grown potatoes? What would it take to convince you to clean out your pantry and change your eating habits? Scientists, doctors, even farmers were asked what foods they refuse to eat. The responses had nothing to do with things like donuts due to fat content, or white bread because of the concentration of empty carbs. We're talking seemingly healthy things like tomatoes, beef, popcorn, potatoes, salmon, milk, and apples. For them, it's all about how they are produced and packaged.
7 experts in fields pertaining to both food and the environment answered one simple question: "What foods do you avoid?." Their answers, published in an article entitled "7 Foods the Experts Won't Eat" on Yahoo! Shine, will make you re-think food. When it comes to food and its affect on your health and the health of this planet, this is what they answered:
1. Canned Tomatoes
The Expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.
The Reason: Tin cans are lined with a resin that contains the synthetic estrogen bisphenol-A, which has been linked to a slew of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, reproductive problems, and obesity. But that's not the biggest problem. The acid in tomatoes breaks down that bisphenol-A, leaching it into the food, and not just in insignificant amounts. According to the article, Saal comments that "you can get 50 mcg of BCA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young." That's why he's not touching the stuff.
The Solution: If you lo0ve the taste of "canned" tomatoes but prefer to skip the bisphenol-A, select glass bottles instead.
2. Corn-Fed Beef
The Expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.
The Reason: Cattle are naturally grass eaters... not grain eaters. In order to fatten the animals (and profit margins), farmers feed them corn and soybeans. And while the farmers are beefing up their earnings, they are minimizing the nutritional benefits. The article mentions the findings from a recent USDA-conducted study comparing corn-fed beef and grass-fed beef showing that grass-fed beef is "higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease."
The Solution: Pretty straight forward: Opt for grass-fed beef instead.
3.Microwave Popcorn
The Expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.
The Reason: It's not the popcorn itself, but the chemically-saturated lining of the bag including a compound called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that, according to a recent study from UCLA, may be linked to infertility. Microwaving vaporizes the chemicals as they move from coating the bag to lining the popcorn. But it's not like this fact is un-acknowledged. In fact the article points out that DuPont, as well as other manufacturers, have "promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then."
The Solution: Pop your own popcorn the way they did it in the olden days--in a pot.
4. Conventionally Grown (Not Organic) Potatoes
The Expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board.
The Reason: Herbicides and pesticides may not be sprayed directly on root vegetables (since they're underground), but they absorb the chemicals through the soil and water. Because potatoes are considered the nation's most popular vegetable, producing a healthy crop is essential to keep up with demand. In order to maintain their health, the article exposes the scary fact that "they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting." But here's the scary thing, Moyer says that he's talked to potato growers "who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."
The Solution: Another no-brainer— Only buy organic potatoes.
5. Farmed Salmon
The Expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.
The Reason: When salmon is crammed into pens, fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers (obviously an unnatural environment for the up-stream swimmers), they're levels of healthy vitamin D lowers as the contaminants increases. Those contaminants include carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides (like DDT). The article points out that DDT has been linked to both diabetes and obesity, quoting Carpenter in saying that "You can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer... It's that bad."
The Solution: Avoid farmed salmon and instead select wild-caught Alaskan salmon. But make sure the packaging reads "wild." If it just says "fresh Atlantic," according to the article, "it's farmed."
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
The Expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.
The Reason: Unlike in the olden days when fresh milk was some of the purest nutrients you could get, dairy cows today are fed growth hormones like rBGH and rBST to increase milk production. Problem is, while they may be making more milk, they are also increasing their chances of udder infections (which can lead to pus in the milk). More than that, the article points out that high levels of IGF-1 from the rBGH may play a role in the development of breast, prostate, and colon cancers... which is why North says that "it's banned in most industrialized countries."
The Solution: Read the labels and be sure that your milk doesn't contain rBGH or rBST and that it is labeled organic or "produced without artificial hormones."
7. Conventional Apples
The Expert: Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness and co-director of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods
The Reason: Apples are the recipient of the most pesticides of all Fall fruits. Chemical producers swear that the residue is not harmful for human consumption, but the Yahoo! Article goes on to quote Kastel in saying that "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers."
The Solution: Buy organic apples where available or at least thoroughly wash and peel apples before eating them."
If you are what you eat, I really don't wish to be a bottle of Round Up 
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 08:44:47 AM
One other thing I would like to mention about commercial organic producers (vegs/fruits). In one of my local papers, it was stated that organic apple growers, even though they use organic sprays, have to use, at times, as much as 3 to 4 times more organic spray than conventional farmers, depending on what they're spraying 4, to get the same or similar results. Just because something is labled organic doesn't mean the fruits/veggies aren't sprayed for pests, fungus or blight. Also, bare in mind, with all farming, all farmers want to keep costs down. They don't want to spray anymore than they have to. There are also certain times when you cannot spray.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| Wildcrafter |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 06:27:47 AM
Cindy, if you have Costco, you can get organic butter there for quite a bit cheaper than other stores.
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| laurzgot |
Posted - Dec 06 2011 : 8:55:58 PM
Thank you Annika for the post. I try to grow alot of veggies,including tomatoes. With the drought this year it's been hard but I had some good crops. My winter garden seems to be ok. In a few months I'll plant potatoes. Have some fruit trees that should produce this season. I can't afford organic so I do the best I can.
Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart
http://www.etsy.com/people/lauriescott60
Aprons and More |
| texdane |
Posted - Dec 06 2011 : 07:43:23 AM
Annika,
Thanks for posting this. Items like this always make me feel that I AM doing the right thing eating organic. So, eating organic canned tomatoes doesn't help since they are in a can, but if anyone finds GLASS canned tomatoes, let us know!
On another note, love the quip, "If you are what you eat I don't wish to be a bottle of Roundup." Too cute.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| podsandpetals |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 7:48:47 PM
Thankyou for the post. I really am concerned for the health of kids. They are so much more vulnerable to food contaminants than adults. We have given up microwave popcorn, buy organic when we can and grow tons of veggies. Good meat is a tough one though- it is so so so expensive. My mother says non organic butter is really bad because it is full of all the bad pesticides and chemicals which the cows have been fed. I do love butter and again- organic is very expensive.
www.podsandpetals.etsy.com
ebay seller podsandpetals |
| meggy2 |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 6:15:43 PM
Annika:
Thanks a lot for this valuable info. I will try to stay away from these items
Barb |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 1:38:28 PM
Ok...I am not an organic farmer. I do not have time to pick potato bugs off my potatoes. Once an infestation occurs, it's rampant. There's no saving the plants which you need to produce the tubers. There is no known natural animal that will eat them. I've tried finding out if chickens will or won't eat them to no avail. Secondly, I can't afford conventionally grown meat at it is, let alone grass fed. Thirdly, there's absolutely no way to test to know if the milk comming from a dairy cow has growth hormone or not. The hormone does not show up on blood or milk samples. Even if a dairy farmer has signed the contract not to use hormone, that doesn't mean that he won't use it. The vials "disappear" when the inspector is due to arrive. Sorry, I've talked with dairy people. That's how I know. Lastly, regarding popcorn, I NEVER buy microwave popcorn. Standard, pop on the stove is in my house and that's the only kind I have. It tastes better. So, if you can afford it, buy organic. I can't afford it, but will have to try canning some of my own tomatoes.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 09:24:42 AM
My goal this year is to can tomatoes by the bucket load too. I've always wanted to do tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce etc., and salsa. Any good recipes/techniques?! :)
Playing in the Sonshine
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| msdoolittle |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 08:49:58 AM
I wondered that, too, Anna. We do can/freeze our own maters, but this year was horrible for them due to the extreme drought. I still have a gallon sack or 2 in the freezer and a few jars of them in the pantry. Tomatoes are my number one goal here...we go through soooo many of them. I also make my own pizza/Italian sauce, but I also buy that in glass jars when I run out.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| Annab |
Posted - Dec 04 2011 : 10:10:58 AM
Are there in fact any companies that can tomatoes in glass??
We grow plenty of tomatoes to can ourselves, but 2 years in a rnow have produces very poor and sporadic results -especially for Romas.
And sadly, my favorite spaghetti sauce imported only from Cincinnati does come in cans, BUT is also offerd in glass jars too. Sady, we have a year's supply to go through, and with a precious commodity such as this, I'm not about to throw them away.
We grow our own potatoes and luckily I don;t care for them anyway, and thank goodnness, the guy we buy our cow from is local and for sure pastures his beef up until it's time for slaughter.
Thanks for the article! |
| Lessie Louise |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 09:03:08 AM
That stuff is as scary as hell. I try and try to buy organic and grow what I can. I get so angry at "big brother" and what they are doing to all our food. It's just amazing what these companies can get away with.
....it's what's inside a women, when she's up against the land.
Farmgirl #680!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lessielouise22 |
| Catherine L |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 08:28:49 AM
Thanks for sharing this Annika. I try to buy as much organic as I can, but at the grocery stores in East Texas it is all about what the customer is willing to buy and very few want organic. I especially like the parts in the article about tomatoes and milk. These are two items I use quite often. I will be making some changes with those. Cathy
~Cathy~
Farmgirl 2428 http://www.my-fairhaven.blogspot.com/
http://adaywithnonnaandboompa.blogspot.com/ |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 07:05:09 AM
Great Post Annika! Fabulous!!! It's frustrating how so many of the "healthy" things we've always bought at the store are ending up to be "not so healthy" these days. It's enough to send you over the edge when thinking about grocery shopping. The other scary part is how many people aren't in the know about this or are choosing to not "know."
Our family has been slowly switching things over to organic for almost 11 years. It hasn't been easy, but we would just do without some things if we couldn't afford it. I've really learned how to truly make things from scratch and to make things stretch! If I had milk, eggs and flour, I could conquer the world! Lol!
I have been learning where to get things and not get things for the best prices. It varies so much around the US though. I know that it was much more difficult to find things when I was visiting my parents in Kansas. Up here in MN I find that I shop a lot at Costco, Trader Joes and our local grocery stores. I occasionally go to the Natural Food Coops, Whole Foods and Farmers Markets. We have had a CSA share the past 2 years that has been fabulous. We get our milk from a local dairy farmer and grass-fed beef from another farmer. I just recently started getting bulk grains from a farm family business here in MN as well.
I don't think I would believe you if you told me 11 years ago that I would be doing all this in the future! Now we are on some acreage and will be growing all our own produce out our back door. Not to mention...farm fresh eggs! Yippee!!! Can't wait to get my flock in the spring!
Playing in the Sonshine
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