Food Politics

Dr Nestle,

My boyfriend and I are huge fans of your work and we really trust your journalistic integrity and dedication. I have long fed my dog biologically appropriate kibble, but I’m starting to consider feeding him a homemade diet. I came across Dr. Pitcairn’s updated book on natural dog and cat health which has what looks to be some great advice. I’m not completely sold on it, however, as, from what I could tell, there were no references to studies or supportive research. If you ever have a moment, I would really appreciate your thoughts on the book and the credentials of its author.

Here’s the link to the book on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pitcairns-Complete-Guide-Natural-Health/dp/157954973X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279562277&sr=8-1

Again, thank you so much for your work. As someone who has been independently studying dog and cat nutrition for years, I am grateful that someone had the passion and courage to delve deep into the 2007 pet food travesty and connect it with government and consumer behavior.

Sincerely,

Jessica McDorman

Marion,

Thank you for your life work!

I own and operate the only organic feed mill in the state of Texas. Federal and state laws do more to inhibit my business than they do to support it. “Conventional” BigAg holds sway over our lives to a place of pure criminality.

How can I support your work? How can you help support our work in the southern U.S.?

I would like to see you have a newsletter so that I could more easily keep up with your work.

Warm regars,
Jerry Cunningham

Hi MArion,

I heard about you on KCRW and what I heard about how they make pet food was so interesting. I do take feeding my pets seriously. So much so that I wrote a song about teaching children how to do it. I’d like to share “Feed The Pet” with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4-TVr-dGww

Hope you like it and I can’t wait to read your book!

Deborah (didiPop)

Hello!

I am presently reading your book, What to Eat and I have to say that it is opening my eyes to so many food-related issues that I have either never heard of, or never fully understood, until now.

I am in Canada and I am wondering if you could suggest any books I could pick up after I finish What to Eat that deal with similar issues but from a Canadian perspective?

Cheers and thanks!

My husband read something yesterday (July 17) about President Obama’s quietly appointing another czar, a Food Czar who was the personal chef for the Obama family in Chicago and who is now working in some position preparing food for the Obamas in the White House. Apparently this man’s new salary as Food Czar does not have to be made public because he’s already on the White House staff? Or something like that? I expect my understanding of this is jumbled, and I’d like to know what’s true. THank you!

I am currently reading, “Feed Your Pet Right” and wanted say thank you! Not only has this book opened up my eyes but it has brought some of your other works to the top of my reading list. I am looking forward to learning much more from you. Is it silly to say keep up the good work?!

check out the newest post!
http://dropitandeat.blogspot.com/2010/07/dessert-is-right-lessons-for-vacation.html

Hi Marion,

I have recently acquired your “what to eat” book and I have to admit that I really enjoy reading it!

I have one important question for me:
At the notes section you wrote that in order “to easy access to URLs, there notes are posted at http://www.whattoeatbook.com and http://www.foodpolitics.com” Unfortunately I can’t find them on either of this sites – can you point out where can I find them?

Thanks,
Yefim.

Hi Marion,
I love your blog and everything that it stands for, just working my way through What To Eat and enjoying it thouroughly.

Thank you so much, Marion. Garlic is one of the things I have added on purpose for my companions but not so anymore. Thanks to your blog I will not take chances anymore.

Request for Interview (urgent, on deadline)
Writing about the closure of KFC’s “Buckets for the Cure” campaign, which raised $4.2 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Need to talk to you about the politics of KFC and Komen, health, cancer risk, and consumer appetites for fried, salty food.
Aiming to help readers make wise food choices and help them sort through rhetoric from both sides. Please wade into the bucket with me!
Please contact me should you have a moment or two.
Jere Downs
Business Writer, Louisville Courier-Journal
(502) 582-4669
cell (502) 376-2352
jdowns@courier-journal.com

Check out the most recent post at http://www.dropitandeat.blogspot.com!

Dear Marion,

Me thinks you have one of the most informative and important blogs of our time. I am late to ask the question regarding garlic and dogs. I have knows (from different books, studies and cultures) that onions, raisins, avocado and chocolate etc are bad for dogs but have never heard of garlic in a negative, only positive, light. Can you provide me with some sources, please. (I was unable to find references in Pet Food Policies but I am first to admit that I am a sloppy researcher at times).

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts regarding food with us on this blog. Yours,

Hugo

Hi Marion,

I recently discovered your blog and love what you do! Your blog,
displays your very interesting outlook on health.

I wanted to get in touch to see if you would be interested in
featuring your articles on Avacara, a new online community for healthand wellness and eco-friendly information, discussion, products and services launching this fall.

There is no cost to you (registration is free), you get free exposure
and also links back to your website, blog and products if you have
them. You would still own any work you choose to share with us.

Please let me know if interested, in the meantime you can get started
right now by taking a few minutes to register on our test site, just
click the “Login” buttom at the top right hand corner of the screen.

Attached please find a company summary for more information on Avacara
and what we’re working on!

I look forward to hearing from you,

Christina

I don’t know if this would really fall under your theme, but I was wondering if you might address the rising of Agave Nectar as a “natural sweetener.” I was just enlightened tonight to the disheartening fact that yet another product that is being touted as a healthy alternative to processed sugars, might actually be yet another processed sugar with a different name! I don’t know the validity of all the arguments for or against this new product, but would be interested in what you know and think about this new fad.

Marion – Book video trailers are a great way to share information more quickly and efficiently on your website and across the web. I would love to give you a quote to produce a book video trailer for each of your books. See the link above for examples.

I just spent about 15 minutes reading your CV, and I noticed a few items. One your association with the FDA, and the American Cancer Society. Two of my favorite organizations (sic). The FDA is probably the most corrupt federal agency, and the ACS is probably the worst charity in the world. However it does explain your antipathy to dietary supplements, and some of your misleading posts. For years the FDA has ignored scientific studies supporting the health benefits of supplements supported by research. Recently the FDA ordered a walnut grower to remove references to health benefits of Omega-3 oils or they would require them to apply for a drug license. The claims quoted by the grower were supported by 65 studies from the University of Maryland. Harvard Medical School published a paper Vitamin D: a bright spot in nutrtion research. Boston University after people with high blood pressure were exposed to to UVA and UVB rays for three months, their Vitamin D levels increased more than 100%, and more impressively their high blood pressure normalized. In a study published in the AMA more tha3,00 veterans who consumed 6445 IU of vitamin D a day along with 4 grams per day of cereal fiber has a 40% reduction in their risk of developing pre-canderous colon polyps.A study in the 2004 issue of Neurology women whot get dosed of Vitamin D that are found in multivitamin supplements of at least 400 IU are 40% less likely to develop multiple sclerosis compared to those not taking supplements. There are literally hundreds of research papers supporting the health benefits of Omega-3 oils. Maybe you should take a few moments to check out the Office of Dietary Supplements, and read what some of their research shows as to benefits of dietary supplements. Maybe you will stop spreading the FDA’s propaganda about expensive urine

Your a brilliant woman. I read the following quote and would love to use it in a book I’m writing that sharply criticizes the advertising industry as a whole. One of the main arguments I’m trying to point out is that American Obesity is greatly linked to advertisements used by companies to get people to eat calorie rich and sugar rich food in bigger portions. Please email me back if you’d allow me to use your quote.

“The most insidious purpose of marketing is to persuade children to eat foods made “just for them” — not what adults are eating. Some campaigns aim to convince children that they know more about what they are “supposed to” eat than their parents do. Marketers explicitly attempt to undermine family decisions about food choices by convincing children that they, not adults, should control those choices Indeed, children now routinely report that they, and not their parents, decide what to eat.”

I read it from businessweek, from the following link… http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2006/07/the_evils_of_advertising.html

@Van – p.s.

Check this out:

http://appetiteforprofit.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-did-pepsicos-ceo-inflitrate-robert.html#more

PepsiCo is going all out to “position” itself.

@Van

Wow, Feedback is where the action is today!

The comments are growing over at Scienceblogs and the Guardian (UK) has done a column on it.

I’m pretty sure Michelle Simon will be weighing in on this as well.
http://appetiteforprofit.blogspot.com/

She was pretty riled over Pepsi’s actions at Yale (her alma mater) a while back and has posted a number of other entries re Pepsi’s recent burst of similar activities.

The SB editors have posted a response that reads much like the response from Yale when they were bombarded with criticism after accepting a fellowship endowment from Pepsi–all about “partnerships” and “no interference from Pepsi” and other platitudes that try to justify these acts of craven commercialism.

@ Peter

I don’t know if Marion will respond to your quetion, but I will. Yes, it’s true and my view is that the article is ridiculous. It’s fine for the FDA to want accuracy in labeling (especially for people with allergies), and if people are “grossed out” by what they read, then they can pass on it (even though they’ve been eating it for years with no ill effects).

The part that is silly is the whole thrust of the article that implies that insects are somehow not fit for consumption. What people like to eat is learned through culture. Insects are perfectly nutritious and are delicacies in many cultures. I would much prefer that any coloring in my food come from an insect than from a laboratory. I’m not anti-synthetic coloring, per se, but would prefer the more “natural” source as long as the insect involved isn’t an endangered species. Using an insect in food preparation in a controlled manner is not the same as finding a fly in your soup!

@Raza

Drink Calories: 100
350 cups of this drink will gain you 10 pounds!!!
If you drink this every day you will gain 10.43 pounds over the course of a year.
——-

The above is what I got using your calculator for a 12 oz. nonfat latte. I already knew it’s about 100 calories, but the rest of what you say is nonsense. You will not gain any weight drinking one of these every day if you do not otherwise exceed the number of calories that your body can use. I have one or two lattes a day (made at home usually), which I simply subtract from my daily caloric allowance–If I gain weight, it’s from exceeding that allowance, be it from milk or too much of anything else I might consume.

Having said that, I agree that people who order the froo-froo drinks and eat the pastries are in serious danger of gaining weight. I often think that they should just have pulled in at the Dairy Queen instead of a coffee shop.

Also, Starbucks has a readily available brochure listing the calories of all their products. They have also started carrying mini-pastries, which I think are absolutely wonderful–not so much for their taste (they’re okay), but for their realistic portion size.