by Catherine Haug, June 2, 2011
The battle over GMO (genetically modified organisms)/GE (genetically engineered) foods continues in federal courts and in the court of public opinion. Several crops and foods are at the forefront of this battle.
[See my post Health Hazards of GMO Foods & Crops for more on what GMO/GE means, and how it can be hazardous for your health and that of your family.]
by Catherine Haug, June 1, 2011
Dr. Mercola posted an article on his popular health site today about wasted food: 30% of All Food Produced in the World is Wasted (1):
“A full 30 percent of all food produced in the world each year is wasted or lost — about 1.3 billion tons of it. Europeans and North Americans waste between 95 and 115 kilograms of food apiece each year. Those living in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia waste much, much less — between 6 and 11 kilograms per person.
All in all, the developed world wastes 10 times more food than the developing one.”
He goes on to make the point that globally we have enough food to feed everyone on the planet, but we of western civilization have more food than we can consume, while other, less fortunate, peoples don’t have enough food. See my recent post Feeding your Family – Or the World for more on this.
Does this leave you feeling ashamed? Do you toss away food that you have been unable to eat before its ‘best by’ date? When you toss it, does it go out with the garbage? Or do you compost it?
Read on for some suggestions on reducing food waste. And share any of your ideas on avoiding wasted food by using the comment section to this post. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, May 31, 2011
Do you really know what GMO means? The acronym means Genetically Modified Organism. A related term, GE, means Genetically Engineered.
Do you think GMO & GE are just fancy terms for genetic breeding to perfect a desired trait in a plant or animal? If so, you’d be wrong. And it probably isn’t good for you or your family. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, August 29, 2010
One of the most prevalent arguments used by the biotech companies and mainstream agriculture to justify the use of GMO seeds, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is that such use is the only way to feed the world. They argue that organic methods cannot even come close. However, if GMO crops were safe, and they really want to feed the world, why have they made the seeds of GMO crops sterile, requiring farmers to buy more seeds for every crop?
On the other side of the debate are the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), and similar voices, who argue that the use of Organic methods is the only way to ensure the health of the soil and water through the generations, and can more than feed the world.
It is my understanding that we already have more than enough food to feed all people around the world. If this is true, and I believe it is, then why do so many go hungry?
For the answer to this conundrum, one has to go back in history, to the beginnings of colonization of primitive peoples by powerful, civilized Europe. (more…)
by Catherine Haug
Do you buy commercial canned tomatoes and canned tomato products? If so, you might want to rethink that plan, or at minimum, seek a different brand, to avoid BPA.
Several health problems associated with the BPA (Bisphnol-A) have made the news in recent years. BPA is used not only in plastic water bottles, but also to line cans for canned foods.
Tomatoes are especially problematic; they are quite acidic and readily leach the BPA from the lids and linings into the tomato product. Even Organic brands use BPA can & lid linings.
Back in 2007, one concerned homemaker contacted the companies that produced all the brands of canned foods she used, and found that only one, “Trader Joe’s, does not use epoxy liners containing BPA in its cans.” (1) But then, what DO they use to keep lead solder from leaching into the cans’ contents?
What’s a concerned homemaker to do? (more…)
by Catherine Haug, May 29, 2011
(photo by C. Haug)
This is just a short synopsis; you can find more detail in the complete, printable Gathering Summary: Sourdough, a Panel Presentation. See also related posts and handouts:
Cat's First Sourdough Loaf
Panel members Veronica (Ronny) Honthaas, Kathie Lapcevic and Fran Wade led discussion on the following topics: