Food safety and 100% Beef "Scraps"

Curious if any of the “ground beef patties” in the following USDA recall (over one million pounds) had the 100% beef bi product (aka LFTB) in it?

WASHINGTON, August 6, 2010 – Valley Meat Company, a Modesto, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately one million pounds of frozen ground beef patties and bulk ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Was your child's 100% ground "beef" on the recall list?
Was it just the flu or...food poisoining.

Certainly appears that cheap food can be very expensive!

Letting Things Slide: A Slacker Mom’s Manifesto

Letting Things Slide: A Slacker Mom’s Manifesto

Excerpt from article: (and it's hysterical):

  

There’s lots of parenting stuff floating around in the world telling you how to be awesome. Cheery websites, books, glossy magazines, people who Tweet like rabid gerbils offering well-meaning (or snotty!) advice on how to be a loving, healthy, functional parent. Today I’m here to tell you how to be a crappy one. Moreover, I’m here to tell you that every once in awhile, it’s OK to be one. It’s natural. Some days, you just need to give yourself a big fat F. For furry. Like my legs.

  

A Slacker Mom's Manifesto

8 Simple Ways You Can Avoid Chemicals in Cans

Thank you Robyn for your intelligent and thoughtful insight in to America's highly processed fake food supply. (It's so strange - America and her children have never been fatter, sicker or malnourished and we can't seem to figure out why.)

Hope you don't mind if I also comment on how much I enjoyed your book: "The Unhealthy Truth." I discovered what dangers are lurking in our cereal bowls, yogurt containers and milk cartons when I was treated for breast cancer over 11 years ago and have never looked back. It's nuts how most of Europe bans the import of our chemically manufactured, highly processed fake food and we need a "debate". Your chapter on unlabeled food additives (i.e. cocktail of chemicals) is chilling.

Campbell's Soup removes hormone-disrupting chemical from their soup cans. 

Let's have Congress and the USDA be the test kitchens - and, if our dogs won't eat the leftovers - we can't feed it to America's school children.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. - Ben Franklin

An "organic" apple a day helps keep the doctor away.

Always best health to you and your family,
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

'Pink Slime' Beef Manufacturer Suspends Production At 3 Of 4 Plants Amid Outcry

Dog food?

"Sound nutritional science?"

Dear Mr. Carpenter,

Since when do I need a lab coat, a PhD in chemistry and a "scientific" study to make my kid's a truly "healthy" and "nutritional" lunch for less than $3 bucks?

With all do respect, of course it's 100% beef - so are the eyes, ears and tail - and I don't want it in my 100% ground beef. Isn't that what you feed the family dog....not my children? After I had cancer 11 years ago - at my house - we focus on the quality of food and not the quantity so that means no more highly processed, nutritionally void, genetically engineered, steroid injected, antibiotic fed 100% beef that eats genetically modified corn for me or my family. (And our youngest can tell the difference - big time!)

Who knows - maybe America will shed a few pounds when instead of a quarter pounder with cheese they eat an 1/8 of a pound with veggies.

Cheap food can be very expensive!

Best health always...
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Vintage Weight Loss Ads: A Look At The Health Advice Of Yesteryear

Not my intent to insult. I have worked within the medical community and it was another medical professional that pointed it out to me. To the post below - it's not genes. My mom had it twice and was tested for the BRCA gene.

Many of the nurses I know personally have touched my life and countless others as medical angels for their kindness, compassion, knowledge and expertise. My point was related to the BIG white elephant in the room for health and that's diet and disease in America. (Just like the doctor was smoking when my dad had a bad cough.)

Yes, I thought it very peculiar that a woman that had to weigh at least 400 pounds counsel me on my health, all the material in the waiting room was infomercials from the food and beverage industry, and I was facing a fourth surgery for a disease that affects 1 in 8 women in America...and all the pink ribbons still haven't found a cure. Thankfully (for me) I changed my diet and have been healthy ever since.

Wishing you and your patients best health always!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Vintage Weight Loss Ads: A Look At The Health Advice Of Yesteryear

These ads are awesome! The baby with 7-Up is classic.

My dad was telling the story just the other night (and he was a smoker at the time) that years ago he went to the doctors for a really bad cough and the doctor became indignant when my dad asked him if he would take the cigarette out of his mouth while he was listening to his lungs.

In my opinion, it's similar to today's medical professionals and obesity. Is it me or are most of the medical staff (I'd say 2/3s easy) are extremely overweight? I found it so peculiar when I was facing yet another surgery for breast cancer and the pre-op nurse was morbidly obese. I've never had a weight issue (thank goodness) in my life and every magazine in the waiting area is saying that excess weight can be a factor.

Thank goodness that I discovered the true connection between diet and diseases in America and have been healthy ever since.

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. - Hippocrates

Best health to everyone!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Who is behind this "latest research suggests?"

Don't usually watch TV besides American Idol with the children - yes, I admit it and it's fun.  Although, truthfully, they record it and we watch it usually without commercials.  But, when we do happen to watch it with commercials, I enjoy playing the game:  guess what they're trying to sell you?

The adult version for print media: "latest research suggests".  How many clicks through the "article" below will it will take you to discover which industries are behind this (ahem) infomercial.

Latest research suggests...

p.s. Notice how strangely vague it is.  No discussion or insight in to the "quality" of the food - just a quantity.

FDA To Address Antibiotic Overuse In Livestock, Protect Public Health

Sorry Angrykitteh that argument doesn't fly - suggest America focus on the quality of it's food not the quantity. Don't you think it's strange that America (and her children) have never been fatter, sicker or malnourished and we can't seem to figure out why.

Had cancer 11 years ago and had no idea about America's highly processed, genetically engineered, hormone and antibiotic-laced, fake food supply until then. You can feed a family of five "real" food for about $10 bucks using 1 pound of ground beef without pink slime or antibiotics.

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. - Hippocrates (the founder of Western Medicine)
About NRDC
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Some pink slime with your burger?

The power of consumer demand - Some pink slime with your burger?

The power of consumer demand

"Are you and dad green?"

"Are you and dad green?" is a question our youngest asked a few months ago.  Now, I'd never really thought about it.  We don't intentionally purchase products because of the carbon footprint, or do we?  After the longer than usual delay that most parents provide when we're thinking long and hard about a question but pretending we're preoccupied with something else, I answered, "ummm....not necessarily." 

"I'd call us more Yankee frugal which is actually the same thing but with a different name."  How's that for confusing a simple question!

Seriously, "turn off  the water and don't leave it running, close the refridgerator door, turn down the heat, run errands in the same area, turn of the lights, eat leftovers or make soup with them..." I suddenly realized...I'd become my dad.

Favorite radio station since forever is The River and every morning they provide a "green tip"from the Green Alliance - this morning's tip: the definition of "carbon footprint."

Don't cry because it's over.
Smile because it happened. - Dr. Seuss

On a lighter note and in honor of St. Patrick's Day

The first time I had a pint of Guinness is over 12 years ago when I was in Ireland with my husband at a pub that is near-and-dear to him and his family.  I also happened to be three months pregnant.  Now, before you start with the sticks and stones - here's the story:

With less than a week to go on my first trip to Europe (in my mid-30s) I discovered I was pregnant.  The first night we met up with family and friends in the local pub and as the stories and pints flowed - I placed my American brewed pint on the drink rail behind me - it smelled like a bottle of chemicals. (Ask any pregnant woman if she has any food or drink aversions.)  Not even 15 minutes later, the farmers' practical and frugal wives all wanted to know, "whose pint is on the rail?"  I sheepishly smiled and they all congratulated me and told me I have to have a glass of Guinness with a shot of black currant.

"It's full of vita-mins," they all encouraged.

I leaned over to my husband and whispered in his ear, "do you think it's okay to drink a glass of Guinness with a shot of black currant?"

He smiled and whispered back, "this is the most fertile land in the world."
It was delicious.  And when I returned to the states - the #1 ingredient in my liquid multi-vitamin for anemia that's manufactured in West Germany: Black Currant.  And also discovered that Guinness is actually a stout - less alcohol.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

'Pink Slime' Controversy: Schools Will Be Able To Opt Out Of Ammonia-Treated Ground Beef Filler

Wow! This is frightening. Mind if I post to my blog?*

My idea is to use Congressional cafeterias as the test kitchens for all the genetically modified, highly processed, hormone/antibiotic fed, fake food in America's food supply that has been "scientifically" proven to be nutritionally void AND "healthy."

Come to think of it - the USDA's commissaries should be included too! So, just like a church potluck - if the food is still in the dish - uneaten two hours latter - the USDA can't "sell it" to orphans, widows, school children...or feed it to the dog.

My question to NIFA: since when do I need a PhD in chemistry, a white lab coat and a scientific study to make my children a "healthy and nutritious" lunch?

Best health always!
About Food
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

*USDA------ Roger Beachy, (long-time president of the Danforth Plant Science Center Monsanto'ss nonprofit arm) was appointed by Pres. Obama as chief of the USDA's newly created National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). As the director of NIFA (a nomination that doesn't require congressional approval), Beachy will oversee the distribution of nearly $500 million in grants and other research funding. Sustainable agriculture initiatives are likely to suffer, as research dollars are awarded to projects that promote Beachy's vested interests in biotechnology.  

'Pink Slime' For Lunch: Schools Can Opt Out Of Ammonia-Treated Ground Beef Filler

Dog food?
Only the manufacturer can make pink slime look...appetizing?

Terrific article! In my humble opinion there's a simple way to test whether the highly processed, growth hormone-steroid -antibiotic fed, genetically engineered, fake food products that we are serving our children should be served at all:

Have the test kitchen be Congress and only serve the same foods in the government cafeterias as in America's lunch rooms.

I doubt very much that the USDA cafeterias serve pink slime. Heard they have a lovely array of fresh produce...

And, to those individuals that may have (ahem) ties to the food and beverage industry that are posting comments: since when do I need a masters in chemistry, white lab coat and "scientifically proven" study to make my children a "safe and healthy" lunch?

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Don't forget about mechanically separated chicken

p.s. Additional comment posted: TRUE! Pink slime (a "food product" with zero nutritional value and serious safety concerns because it is not edible - in it's "natural" state) is simply a bi-product of factory farmed beef and a "food" manufacturer (most definitively with government ties) has found a way to make a bundle using our tax dollars.

It should be on the menus of Congress (and the USDA) - Congress controls the wallet.

Check out the SuperMom-in-training behind "Pink Slime"

Well this is one "Pink" issue I can get behind.  Check out the informative website The Lunch Tray and follow the breaking news as one SuperMom-in-training changes the "Pink Slime" that's on America's plates.

Pink Slime....What's on Your Child's School Lunch Plate?

(My comment to another terrific post on Fooducate:)

Fooducate rocks!  My question to those that may comment here [Fooducate] that have (ahem) possible industry ties: since when do I need a PhD in chemistry, a lab coat, and an industry funded study to make my kid's lunch?

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire

Here's an excerpt from the Fooducate Blog:

How’s this for taking care of our kids? McDonald’s refuses to put a dubious meat by product into its burgers, but the government orders 7 million  pounds of “Pink Slime” for its school lunch program.

The pink slime is a mix of fat trimmings and ammonia-hydroxide that is added to ground beef to fatten it up, and make it cheaper. It’s manufacturer is Beef Products Incorporated (BPI), which claimed in 2010 that its product could be found in 70% of the ground beef in America! From BPI’s web site:

Beef Products, Inc. is the world’s leading producer of lean beef processed from fresh beef trimmings… Our lean beef is an important part of many common foods; from fresh retail ground beef, to foodservice beef patties, hamburgers, cooked meats, and processed luncheon meats to name a few. BPI’s lean beef is a part of nearly 20 billion meals per year, with an unsurpassed food safety record, adding over $250 Million in value to the U.S. beef industry annually… We use a natural compound – called ammonium hydroxide, which is widely used in the processing of numerous foods, such as baked goods, cheeses, gelatins, chocolate, caramels, and puddings – to slightly increase the pH level in beef and improve its safety.

What you need to know:

OK, so these guys figured out a way to take unused scraps of meat and connective tissue and turn it into a profitable business. They should be commended, not chastised right?

WRONG! Turns out these scraps, in the past relegated to pet food, have a high tendency for contamination with e-coli and salmonella. Ammonium Hydroxide – ammonium in water – is an ingredient in many household cleaning products. It kills bacteria. The FDA considers it safe.

So what’s the problem?

Read the entire Fooducate Blog Article here: Pink Slime, Rejected by McDonald's, Goes to School Lunches Instead.