Research put out by the journal of Environmental Science and Technology shed some light on the environmental impact of the food we eat. With everyone trying to decrease their "carbon footprint" and go "green" I wonder how many people would jump on the bandwagon if they knew that cutting their beef intake would make all the difference.
Abstract:
Despite significant recent public concern and media attention to the environmental impacts of food, few studies in the United States have systematically compared the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with food production against long-distance distribution, aka “food-miles.” We find that although food is transported long distances in general (1640 km delivery and 6760 km life-cycle supply chain on average) the GHG emissions associated with food are dominated by the production phase, contributing 83% of the average U.S. household’s 8.1 t CO2e/yr footprint for food consumption. Transportation as a whole represents only 11% of life-cycle GHG emissions, and final delivery from producer to retail contributes only 4%.
Different food groups exhibit a large range in GHG-intensity; on average, red meat is around 150% more GHG-intensive than chicken or fish. Thus, we suggest that dietary shift can be a more effective means of lowering an average household’s food-related climate footprint than “buying local.” Shifting less than one day per week’s worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more GHG reduction than buying all locally sourced food.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i10/abs/es702969f.html
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Stevia hits shelves
Stevia will be sold on the shelfs with the other sweeteners even though they have not received GRAS(generally recognized as safe)approval from FDA.
What is interesting to me in this article is the amount of time this particular company Wisdon Natural Brands has waited to get approval from FDA, while Coca Cola can propose their own research to push it through to market.
"Coca-Cola and Cargill recently published science backing their ingredient Truvia but have yet to bring it to market although a launch looks imminent."
See the complete article @
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=85710-wisdom-natural-brands-cargill-stevia-natural-sweeteners
What is interesting to me in this article is the amount of time this particular company Wisdon Natural Brands has waited to get approval from FDA, while Coca Cola can propose their own research to push it through to market.
"Coca-Cola and Cargill recently published science backing their ingredient Truvia but have yet to bring it to market although a launch looks imminent."
See the complete article @
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=85710-wisdom-natural-brands-cargill-stevia-natural-sweeteners
Urban Roots
A friend asked me to post this to the listserve:
Urban Roots is a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture as means to effect lasting change for youth participants, and to nourish East Austin residents who currently have limited access to healthy foods.
I had the pleasure of meeting some of the kids involved in this program at the Farmers Market in Austin last night. The kids are so excited about this project and proud of their new found skills.
I thanked greatly them because they have partnered with Meals on Wheels and More and have been able to provide our clients with fresh onions and lettuce from their harvest this year. An amazing community partnership I thought you would appreciate. The video is done by Alanna Jones a Journalism Graduate Student at the University of Texas at Austin alannajones.aj@gmail.com.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqcjXnfUTPs
About the program:
http://www.youthlaunch.org/programs/seeds.php
Another approach:
http://www.edibleaustin.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=131
Urban Roots is a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture as means to effect lasting change for youth participants, and to nourish East Austin residents who currently have limited access to healthy foods.
I had the pleasure of meeting some of the kids involved in this program at the Farmers Market in Austin last night. The kids are so excited about this project and proud of their new found skills.
I thanked greatly them because they have partnered with Meals on Wheels and More and have been able to provide our clients with fresh onions and lettuce from their harvest this year. An amazing community partnership I thought you would appreciate. The video is done by Alanna Jones a Journalism Graduate Student at the University of Texas at Austin alannajones.aj@gmail.com.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqcjXnfUTPs
About the program:
http://www.youthlaunch.org/programs/seeds.php
Another approach:
http://www.edibleaustin.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=131
Praise the Lord!
Thanks to my good friend Chris McCullem for sending me this. Now that's the Christian way!
Pope urges countries to combat causes of hunger, malnutrition
More than 250 faith-based organizations called on summit leaders to eliminate the root causes of hunger such as poverty and unjust social structures. In a statement released to journalists, the faith-based coalition, which includes dozens of Catholic religious orders and nonprofit organizations, echoed the concern the pope expressed in his message for the protection of small farmers. Family farms play a key role in building food self-sufficiency for local communities, the statement said. It also called for more simple, sustainable lifestyles in wealthy countries, cautioned against genetically modified foods and urged further review of biofuel production. [...]
Catholic News Service, by Carol Glatz, 06.03.2008
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802959.htm
Pope urges countries to combat causes of hunger, malnutrition
More than 250 faith-based organizations called on summit leaders to eliminate the root causes of hunger such as poverty and unjust social structures. In a statement released to journalists, the faith-based coalition, which includes dozens of Catholic religious orders and nonprofit organizations, echoed the concern the pope expressed in his message for the protection of small farmers. Family farms play a key role in building food self-sufficiency for local communities, the statement said. It also called for more simple, sustainable lifestyles in wealthy countries, cautioned against genetically modified foods and urged further review of biofuel production. [...]
Catholic News Service, by Carol Glatz, 06.03.2008
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802959.htm
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Yippee!
This may not be food related, but its good news to me!
Now what are jerks going to drive?
End of The Road For Hummer After Sales of ‘World’s Most Anti-Environmental Car’ Dive
by Andrew Clark
Loathed by environmentalists, military-style Hummers have survived years of vandalism, arson and abuse. But the lumbering American gas-guzzling vehicles have met their match in the rocketing cost of filling a tank with petrol.
Alarmed by a slump in demand for vehicles that consume vast quantities of fuel, Hummer’s owner, General Motors, is reviewing the future of the Hummer brand which was originally a civilian version of the US military’s armoured Humvee. The struggling Detroit-based carmaker said it was considering off-loading the business - and with US sales plunging, its prospects are cloudy.
Texas Tomatoe Recall over Salmonella
One more reason to eat organic, homegrown, and local tomatoes:
State health officials Tuesday warned consumers to avoid eating uncooked tomatoes believed linked to an outbreak of potentially deadly salmonella poisoning in Texas and eight other states.
The state health department warned against eating uncooked Roma tomatoes and larger round tomatoes. Smaller round tomatoes sold attached to the vine and homegrown tomatoes were exempted from the alert.
Not to mention, does anyone notice how nasty tomatoes taste these days?
Homegrown is the way to go, if they make it through the Texas heat.
State health officials Tuesday warned consumers to avoid eating uncooked tomatoes believed linked to an outbreak of potentially deadly salmonella poisoning in Texas and eight other states.
The state health department warned against eating uncooked Roma tomatoes and larger round tomatoes. Smaller round tomatoes sold attached to the vine and homegrown tomatoes were exempted from the alert.
Not to mention, does anyone notice how nasty tomatoes taste these days?
Homegrown is the way to go, if they make it through the Texas heat.
UN Food Summit Menu
In 2002 the UN Food Summit menu was a topic that received much criticism, and rightfully so. Starving people in developing countries wait for decisions to be made, while heads of states(the decision makers) enjoy lavish meals....seems a bit strange to me.
2002 menu
Foie gras and toast with kiwi fruit
Lobster in vinaigrette
Fillet of goose with olives
Seasonal vegetables
Compote of fruit with vanilla
Vins multiple fine wines
I guess they wised up for this years summit.
2008 menu
Vol au vent with sweetcorn and mozzarella
Pasta with cream of pumpkin and shrimps
Veal olives with cherry tomatoes and basil
Fruit salad with vanilla ice cream
Vin Orvieto Classico Poggio Calvelli 2005
2002 menu
Foie gras and toast with kiwi fruit
Lobster in vinaigrette
Fillet of goose with olives
Seasonal vegetables
Compote of fruit with vanilla
Vins multiple fine wines
I guess they wised up for this years summit.
2008 menu
Vol au vent with sweetcorn and mozzarella
Pasta with cream of pumpkin and shrimps
Veal olives with cherry tomatoes and basil
Fruit salad with vanilla ice cream
Vin Orvieto Classico Poggio Calvelli 2005
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