Food Politics

My wife is a dietitian and noticed that the big coffee chains are making people so fat, especially with their line up of iced, sugary, chocolaty, creamy drinks.

That’s why I created this: http://bit.ly/dlt4hr

It should help people make more informed decisions when they’re at the coffee shop.

Your readers will probably find it entertaining… it’s 100% accurate though.

Pepsico enters the science blogosphere

http://scienceblogs.com/foodfrontiers/?utm_source=bloglist&utm_medium=dropdown

Hello Professor Nestle,

Pepsico has begun a blog on scienceblogs, and there are a range of reactions from science bloggers.
http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/2010/07/so_were_all_mad_over_pepsico_a.php
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/07/sucking_corporate_dick.php

I would be interested to hear what you think.

Regards,

Paula.

Dear Marion Nestle,

Picture a 1,000 square foot backyard. Now picture a homeowner turning his backyard into a $50,000 a year business, producing hundreds of pounds of gourmet, organic produce. SPIN Farming (www.spinfarming.com) makes it possible.

SPIN is a small plot farming system that has been adopted by more than 500 people across the US and Canada, and this new farmer community is growing rapidly. There are many advantages to the SPIN system; most notably, it requires minimal infrastructure and uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. SPIN provides a unique opportunity for a person with no previous agriculture experience to generate significant income and to create a source of farm-fresh local produce for the community.

SPIN is very well known by its practitioners, but most media outlets dismiss backyard/urban farming as a novelty or as something that will have an impact in the distant future. The truth is, it’s happening now, in places like New Jersey, Colorado and Massachusetts. This is an interesting new story, just waiting to be told.

You can get a quick read on SPIN-Farming at our website, and if you would like further information, please contact me. Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Emilia Petrucci
NewSeed Advisors / SPIN Farming
333 Hudson Street, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10013
(646) 837-6393 land
(646) 349-3353 fax
emilia@newseedadvisors.com
http://www.newseedadvisors.com
http://www.spinfarming.com

Hello Marion,

I really enjoyed “Feed Your Pet Right.” The history of the industry was fascinating. I also thank you for opening my eyes to the efficiency and positive environmental impact of commercial pet foods using nutritious parts of animals that people won’t eat. That said, I am too particular about the sourcing of my dogs’ food to feed a commercial pet food to my dogs. I have chosen the raw lifestyle.

I understand the concerns of some, regarding the questionable quality of some raw meat suppliers. I am lucky to belong to a buying group where knowledgable members are charged with evaluating sources of meat for safety and quality. I’ve been feeding my dogs a raw diet obtained for this group for about 4 years. Their health is readily apparent: clean teeth, great muscle tone, healthy coat, a sparkle in their eyes, and a spring in their step!

If a dog is eating a diet that includes a variety of properly balanced ground raw meat and bone, with small amounts of ground fruit and vegetables (and, perhaps, salmon oil and glucosamine/MSM), why would the dog require a human multivitamin, as you recommend in your prepared-at-home chapter? Isn’t the necessary Vitamin D, amino acid arganine and potassium chloride, which you refer to as essential, contained in the diet I’ve described?

Loretta

Could you comment on CA prop 2 “egg bill” regarding transitioning away from battery cages? Do you suppose the industry adapt or move to a less regulated state?

Is this true? http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/foodwine/2012260271_ingredients05.html?syndication=rss

Marion -

You may have seen this already, but if not it seems right in your wheel house. Someone over at ScienceBlogs thought it would be a good idea to give PepsiCo a food and nutrition blog called FoodFrontiers in which “we’ll hear from a wide range of experts on how the company is developing products rooted in rigorous, science-based nutrition standards to offer consumers more wholesome and enjoyable foods and beverages. The focus will be on innovations in science, nutrition and health policy.” Sure this is the internet but the lines are so blurry on this one that it’s making me dizzy. The comments so far are, to put it mildly, not very welcoming.

Here’s the link: http://scienceblogs.com/foodfrontiers/

I am publishing a book for nurses about nutrition, health and advocating for a healthier world for all. It is called Your Care Plan, an nurse’s guide to healthy living.
Do you have suggestions for how to get nurses more involved in food politics? I believe they have lots of potential to help ensure the health needs of the nation are met. Thanks Julia

For the past month I’ve been following a (sensible) weight-loss diet based on good selection of regular foods. Among other things, I have cut down substantially on the use of salt, and now generally don’t add it to foods I cook.

Last night I made a spinach recipe, which called for sautéing the spinach in sesame oil, adding some salt, and also some soy sauce.

I tasted the result, and with my month of low-salt foods, this tasted terribly salty (salt plus soy sauce), though delicious. I slurped up the last of the juice from the spinach—wowsa! salty—and then had a drink of iced tea.

I don’t sweeten my iced tea at all, and I immediately felt a strong sense that the drink I had should have been sweet—very sweet.

It struck me as odd, and I wondered whether the high-salt diet of the average American has subtly encouraged the high-sugar part of the diet. That is, when one has something salty, does one typically then want something sweet?

Marion:

Let’s make July Write-to-Your-Elected-Officials Month. It’s important.
This week I’m highlighting things that kids are doing to raise their food awareness: websites, films, video games. Amazing things that put adults to shame. What’s On Your Plate? and Fast Food Free for starters. Check them out.

Wondering whether or not you’d seen this on HuffPo and if you have any thoughts: What’s the FBI Doing in My Milk? http://ow.ly/26xEb

I love your blog and found it specifically because I wanted more of something like your book, Food Politics — so glad you are still doing this important work.

I am very curious as to whether you’ve taken a recent look at the inclusion of Acesulfame Potassium in EVERYTHING we eat. I am hardly ever shocked when I see it show up in artificially sweetened food; a little more so in “naturally” sweetened (stevia-derived) products; VERY shocked when it shows up with sugar, as I am now noticing it doing. It shows up even in full-sugar chewing gum! Why? Is it sweeter? Cheaper? Does it have more lasting power? I’m scared of the stuff.

Hi Marion,

I am working with a fabulous new organization that you need to know about. ‘Share Your Lunch Projects’ has created an organic, reusable lunch box. 100% of the profits from the sale of the lunch box are donated to our partner ‘Friends of the World Food Program’ to give children in the developing world a nutritious meal at school.

Every 6 seconds a child dies from hunger and hunger related causes. ‘Share Your Lunch Projects’ founder, 21 year old Olivia Marjoram wants to make a difference; her reason for taking action: “Children should only be hungry for an education.”

It would be great to have your support with this.

All my best,

Gabrielle

Dear Marion Nestle,
My name is Joseph Camerota, I am the producer of a University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts Documentary Film entitled “The Raw Truth.” We are looking to document the newly popular cultural eating phenomenon known as the “The Raw Food Diet.” We are attempting to interview believers and skeptics alike in order to create an informative documentary about the movement. We hope to bring fuller awareness and understanding to what the “The Raw Food Diet” is.
Our Director and Creator of this project, Jin Yoo-kim, is a foodie and a huge fan of yours. We feel that with your expert knowledge of food and the politics revolved around consuming it, you would be able to help shed some light on the successes and dangers of “The Raw Food Diet”.
We were wondering if you would possibly be interested in giving an interview and/or writing an excerpt for the documentary. Please contact myself and/or my Co-Producer Jess Dang and we will be able to explain ourselves further.
Thank you so much.
Joseph Camerota, 860-670-8947, jcamerot@usc.edu
Jess Dang, 818-679-9226, thejessdang@gmail.com
USC Graduate Film Students, Producers, “The Raw Truth”

Hi,
As a long time employee of Wholefoods I have seen from the inside how hard we work to bring good food to people and the struggle we make it into to balancing money and nutrition and quality products from local farms. I get frustrated by seeing welchs grape jelly on the shelves, along with products that are much better. We need to make a real commitment to our food and families and take these things off the shelf. This is just my opinion, and I wonder why it is so hard. I also know money speaks very loudly in this business. There is a better way and we need to find it.

Great sight, Marion! I’ve add your blog as a link on my newly created blog. Please feel free to do the same!

Thanks for a fantastic website and blog.
I am wondering about your views on the new recommendations for US nutritional guidelines and environmental sustainability. One of the recommendations is to increase seafood consumption. Are there any considerations for what the environmental consequences of this might be, given that fish stocks are under heavy stress? Do environmental concerns figure at all into the committee’s recommendations? If not, at what cost to our planet?

Hi Marion,

I would like to contact you about linking sites, but I could not find your e-mail address.

Thanks.

Hello Marion! I hope your doing well. I was wondering what you thought about the recent Supreme Court Ruling on GE/GMO alfalfa. Also, is there anything ordinary citizens can do in opposition to it?
Thanks and best wishes!
Stephanie

Hi there Professor,

I’m writing to ask if you could do a post over the next few weeks about what you expect the impact of the Gulf spill will be on America’s seafood industry. GQ has an amazing piece about fishermen and rigmen affected by the Deepwater Horizon, and the information about the fishing industry is pretty frightening.

The GQ piece:
http://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/201007/oil-spill-rig-workers-coast-guard-crewmen?printable=true

Thanks so much, and I look forward to reading your thoughts.

I love your blog. Question: How much did or is America spending on nutrition education and anti-obesity efforts? Bush’s White House boasted in a response to a Trust for America’s Health petiton I signed about the millions of dollars President Bush was spending in anti-obesity efforts. I figured it out to be $8.57 per obese person per year.
How are we doing now under Obama? It is better than $8.57? Compare the $8.57 to the amount the food industry spends advertising? I think I read somewhere the 2006 total was $1.6 billion ad dollars were aimed at youth alone. How can we few health advocates fight obesity with a huge ratio difference in spending? Better message? How do you doctor the truth, science and facts? We have the science to stop the epidemic!

@Marion and Chandra

After reading your posts, I went to the Mars site, and while they provide a lot of information and seem sincere, it is all incredibly superficial and vague. Here is one such example from their “five principles”–a sort of code of ethics:

“Mars, Incorporated leads in creating a healthier environment

At Mars we believe that taking pleasure in food is part of a rich and enjoyable life. Chocolate and other food – enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle – bring pleasure to people’s lives. Lifestyles have changed, and some aspects irreversibly. Social and environmental changes as much as food have been contributing to a series of public health concerns.

As a global food manufacturer, Mars aspires to be a leader in creating a healthier environment, making a significant contribution to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through our products – both existing and new- and our business behavior which aims to ensure responsible consumption of our brands.

Three core tenets support our aspirations: information, responsibility and innovation.
Information

Our Consumers want to make informed choices. We are committed to providing clear information regarding our products’ nutritional values and ingredients.
Responsibility

We are committed to marketing our products responsibly. For example, we were the first food company to globally commit to not advertising to children under 12 and we have now produced our own internal code of practice which covers all marketing techniques.
Innovation

Our innovation efforts aim to deliver the consumer with choices for their lifestyle and needs ranging from an occasional indulgent treat, to a great tasting snack that can contribute to a healthy diet, to a science-based, clinically tested food that targets specific health needs.

Food manufacturers have a role to play in creating a healthier environment and promoting healthy lifestyles and we are committed to doing our part.”

Every bit of this is typical corporate doublespeak. If they aren’t advertising to under 12′s, what’s that little M&M character all about? What part of a “healthy diet” is a Milky Way or packet of M&M’s? What, specifically are they doing as “our part” in “creating a healthier environment and promoting healthy lifestyles”?

I’m not saying they don’t have good intentions, but who can tell from this? Secretive, indeed!

Hi Marion,

Firstly let me commend you for a fantastic blog – you have some really great content and it has been incredibly interesting reading it.

I’d like to contact you about something, but can’t find your e-mail address. If you get a moment could you contact me back please.

Thank you so much!

Ashley

Hello Dr. Nestle,

I hope all is well!

I thoroughly enjoyed your talk at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health several months ago.

At the end of the month, I will have the opportunity to meet with the Chief Scientist of the Mars Corporation, and am very interested to know what questions YOU would ask him if you were sitting next to him at a dinner table [especially, in light of the new health food line (e.g. CocaVia) that they are promoting]?

Thank you for your time,

Chandra
PhD Candidate in Epidemiology