Food Politics

Dr. Nestle,

I just finished your book, What to Eat, and can’t tell you how much I have learned! And shared with others! We are looking forward to your visit to the Chautauqua Institute this summer!

Sally

Regarding the problem of veggies spoiling, its sad that our lives are so busy that gone are the days when people had the time to visit the grocery store every couple of days to stock up on fresh fruit/veggies/meat etc. The other alternative, of course, is frozen veggies. I’ve discovered a great Canadian brand, called ” Europe’s Best” that make some different combinations of mixed veg. Their website is: http://www.europesbest.com/ Seems that in Canada they have more products than what they sell in the US, but its worth looking for them anyways. Enjoy!

In regards to a recent MIT study published: where would you find uridine monophosphate other than from beets?

The study I’m referring to is: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702150706.htm

News to me. Uridine monophosphate is a normal component of all living cells (it’s part of RNA), which means it should be present in all foods. Beets might have a bit more than some other root vegetables but I haven’t seen comparative studies. I’m skeptical that beets are significantly better for you than any other vegetable. They all have good things in them. So eat your veggies!

Hear, hear for your letter published in today’s NYTimes about the calorie count of the chocolate chip cookies.

Dear Dr.Nestle,

Just a quick note to thank you – from a student perspective – for demonstrating that the arts and sciences can, do and must intersect! After a few years of grappling with my background in the social sciences and my desire to pursue nutrition sciences, your work has inspired me to follow through! In particular, I am inspired by the discussions you consider and your courage to venture to the periphery of your vocation.

Indeed, it seems that the periphery of one sphere inevitably forms the new mantle of another.

Best to you…great blog, too!

Hello,
I got a new topic for you about the food industry. How the food industry gets people to commit child abuse as defined in case law. I was fired from Safeway because I know child abuse laws and spoke out against Safeway’s policies concerning food information. If one follows what the company states one would violate CPA laws. Fact not fiction. Also you might want to write about how Safeway and other food companies lie in court in order to sell food.
MARCUS HORTON
PO BOX 84
SALINAS, CA 93902
A father of an abused child.

Dear Marion,

here’s an article published today (Aug. 19th.) on CNN. com, which I thought you would find interesting. I wonder which corporations paid for this particular study…

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/19/organic.cooking.pv/index.html

You folks might be interested in this interview of Marion that I did for my site, Wasted Food.

http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/26/marion-nestle-q-a/

Thanks, Marion!

Dear Dr. Nestle, your books have impacted my views and buying habits dramatically. After dealing with obesity my entire adult life, I am now a certified personal trainer trying to help others live a healthier lifestyle through informed choices and exercise.

My certification does not allow me to give nutritional advice, just guidance. I recommend your books to clients, but most people won’t take the time to read a book.

I would love to see your books developed into one day seminars, made available throughout the U.S. Are there any plans for something like this to happen? Can you make any suggestions on how the information can be used for those who can’t take the time to read your books?

Many of the questions I receive from clients are easily answered in “What To Eat” and “Food Politics”.

Keep up the great work – you are the best!

I see that the UN has a new strategy, “People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world’s leading authority on global warming has told The Observer.”

It looks like a good topic for some discussion!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink

Marion: Why do some companies use, for e.g., red 40 as a dye and not a natural alternative such as red cabbage color? Is it due to cost? Or some other factor?

It seems to be a bit like the choice of a preservative compound. Some companies use BHT while others use tocopherol.

Are both cases related to cost? Personally, I’d rather not use a substance found in lighter fluid nor a substance linked to causing neural disruption(red 40).

Dear Dr. Nestle,

I recently read “What to Eat”, and I think it is a wonderful book. I would love to see a children’s version, similar to the book “The Story of Salt”, which is a simplified (but not dumbed down) version of Mark Kurlanksky’s “Salt: A world History”, aimed at kids in grades 3-6. This could be a great resource for kids who are learning to make food choices of their own.

Keep up the good work!
Thanks!

A children’s version of “What to Eat” Great idea, THenry. It would be great if more children knew where their foods came from. That lettuce didn’t come from a factory ,or the store origially, it came from the earth/a farm!

Thanks for the suggestion about a kids’ book. I will put it on the project list.
To RJ Marsh #72: companies use these things because they work better. Synthetic dyes are more stable than vegetable dyes and BHT is a more effective antioxidant than tocopherols. Their purpose, after all, is to make processed foods look pretty and stay on the shelf longer. But that doesn’t make them better.

interesting article +1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/21/AR2008092102352.html?hpid=topnews

“EPA Unlikely to Limit Perchlorate in Tap Water”

The Bush administration won’t let the EPA do their job and keep our drinking water safe? That is just very sad.

Hi Marion,

I’m almost done with your book, and I’m just smittened.
As someone who has been heavily enveloped with advertisements and trends all thoughout my 23 years (I too was born and raised in NYC) I feel so much closer to understanding what it means to be a consumer as well as how I’m aproached because I am one. And I want to know more!
Have you ever considered using your extraordinary abilities towards delving into the politics of other industries ? Any reading materials you recommend?

Also, if I could pick your brain, I’d like to know what comes to your mind when you come across “natural flavorings” on an ingredients list. I see it often and am not quite sure what to make of it.

“Natural” is one of those words that means whatever someone wants it to. I like Robert Wolke’s discussion of natural flavorings in the Washington Post a few years ago. It’s as good an explanation as any, alas.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17036-2004May11.html

“California First State in Nation to Pass Menu Labeling Law

Schwarzenegger Signs Historic Measure Putting Calories on Menu Boards

WASHINGTON�California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed landmark legislation that will put calorie counts on chain restaurant menus and menu boards. Though enacted in New York City, Seattle, and several other jurisdictions, California is the first state in the country to pass such a measure. ”
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200809301.html
actual bill: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1401-1450/sb_1420_bill_20080903_enrolled.html

Are you ever curious how many calories are in your favorite (or new items) on the menus at chain restaurants in your state?
Tell someone who can help you! Your Governor!
http://takeaction.cspinet.org/campaign/CA_menulabeling_law?rk=ipMoLVSq7iofE

Marion, I love the book, thank you for your efforts in putting it together. I look forward to following your writings.

One omission was commentary on beer, wine and spirits. I imagine they open quite a few health and political issued, but I would have liked to read your sorting through them as you did with so many other edibles in the book.

Any hope we will get a blog post on this?

Marion, are there any conclusive studies on urushiol and negative effects on humans? Specifically, among other plant based food, it is found in the skins of mangos. I’m curious as to whether or not the toxin, in the quantities that exist in mango skins, is enough to be deleterious to one’s health.

Eeks! Yes! I am so allergic to urushiol and, alas, mangos. I was once at a mango festival in Hawaii and casually asked if it was possible to be allergic to mangos. People told me they couldn’t even be in the same room with them. I am VERY careful to avoid the skin and pit and feel the same way about them as I do about poison ivy, poison oak, English ivy, Schefflera, and other urushiol-containing plants. Avoid!

I didn’t learn about that until recently and prior to then, I would eat mango skin(along with the mango) in protein shakes. The skin was blended up quite well but I didn’t observe any physical reactions. However, that says nothing about how it may have affected me metabolically. Do you know of any particular studies that outlined the metabolic effects of urushiol?

Marion,
I have yet to read What To Eat but that is because I am finishing up Food Politics, which by the way, has completely changed my view on food. I will certainly read What To Eat next.
I was wondering what your thoughts are on the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending double the amount of vitamin D for infants, children, and adolescents. I first heard this from a teacher, then saw it on the local news, and after searching, found articles online about it. I don’t have any children – I am just curious (and skeptical) as to why they recently came up with this recommendation. I suspect the dairy industry had a hand in this. I tried researching it myself online but didn’t come up with anything. Any idea where I could find out the truth? Doubling the amount of vitamin D by drinking milk will also obviously double the amount of everything else that is in milk (which I wouldn’t think is a good thing). So again, I can’t see how suggesting double the amount of vitamin D (by drinking double the amount of milk) would be a healthy recommendation.

I too am puzzled. I don’t know the answer but will try to find out. Thanks for asking.

Dear Ms Nestle,

Like the previous poster I have not yet read “What to Eat” as I am still reading “Food Politics”. Your books were recommended to me by Michael Pollan. I wrote to him after reading his wonderful books “Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food”.

I am very interested in the connection between TV advertising and the growing epidemic of obesity (and all its health ramifications) in this country. It seems to me there is an unholy alliance between the networks; the fast-food industry; snack food industry; dieting industry (food, pills, exercise equipment); and the neutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Half these companies sell us products that make us fat and unhealthy, the other half sell us the remedies. It’s a symbiosis – the pharmaceutical companies need the fast food companies to maintain sales of statins, and the fast food companies need the pharmaceutical companies to keep their customers alive long enough to eat more Big Macs. And the television networks are in the middle taking ad dollars from everyone.

This is why I wanted to take this opportunity to share with your readers a new and very powerful diet that I have been working on. Being the modest fellow that I am, I call it “The Nathan Diet”. Now, I was planning on coming out with a book of my own, doing a DVD, infomercials, etc. However, considering the seriousness and urgency of the problem (and considering the entire diet consists of just seven words) I have decided to reveal this amazing diet to your readers now.

Here it is:

“Don’t eat ANYTHING advertised on national television.”

If you follow this diet, I promise you will lose weight, become healthier, happier and live longer.

Why avoid “food” advertised on national television? Because all of these products are -necessarily – mass-produced, have long shelf-lives, and are cosmetically perfect. These are all things that militate against freshness, wholesomeness, naturalness. Let TV ads be your guide in what NOT to eat.

If you like this diet and it works for you, please send $5 to your local PBS station.

Sincerely,
Nathan Sato

Marion,

With regards to the above post #85, the response might be related to the following study:
Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Healthy Infants and Toddlers
Gordon et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2008; 162: 505-512.

Dr. Nestle,

I couldn’t find a way to email you this link, but there’s an article in the LA Times 3 November 2008 about how calorie choices are affected by food prices.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-cheapfood3-2008nov03,0,5913354.story

Thanks for all your good work,

Diana Foss

I have a little dog of three month, just give it pet food is better?