Eideard

Several varieties of lettuce
 

Our inevitable onion patch

Doing some grillin’ and chillin’ today – some of the Italian sausage I talk the butchers at Whole Foods into making for me – ready in a few minutes to toss with home-made basil pesto and rigatoni. And I noticed the garden is getting to just about peak productivity and took a few photos to send on to family members who aren’t visiting, right now. To let them know what they’re missing.

Har.

After staunchly defending the safety of artificial food colorings [for decades], the federal government is for the first time publicly reassessing whether foods like Jell-O, Lucky Charms cereal and Minute Maid Lemonade should carry warnings that the bright artificial colorings in them worsen behavior problems like hyperactivity in some children.

The Food and Drug Administration concluded long ago that there was no definitive link between the colorings and behavior or health problems, and the agency is unlikely to change its mind any time soon. But on Wednesday and Thursday, the F.D.A. will ask a panel of experts to review the evidence and advise on possible policy changes, which could include warning labels on food.

The hearings signal that the growing list of studies suggesting a link between artificial colorings and behavioral changes in children has at least gotten regulators’ attention — and, for consumer advocates, that in itself is a victory…

There is no debate about the safety of natural food colorings, and manufacturers have long defended the safety of artificial ones as well. In a statement, the Grocery Manufacturers Association said, “All of the major safety bodies globally have reviewed the available science and have determined that there is no demonstrable link between artificial food colors and hyperactivity among children…”

The F.D.A. scientists suggest that problems associated with artificial coloring might be akin to a peanut allergy, or “a unique intolerance to these substances and not to any inherent neurotoxic properties” of the dyes themselves. As it does for peanuts and other foods that can cause reactions, the F.D.A. already requires manufacturers to disclose on food labels the presence of artificial colorings…

The panel will almost certainly ask that more research on the subject be conducted, but such calls are routinely ignored. Research on pediatric behaviors can be difficult and expensive to conduct since it often involves regular and subjective assessments of children by parents and teachers who should be kept in the dark about the specifics of the test. And since the patents on the dyes expired long ago, manufacturers have little incentive to finance such research themselves.

… Some grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s, refuse to sell foods with artificial coloring.

Since we do 99% of our food shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s – I guess this is a moot point in our family. Still, the FDA is missing an important point – one that consumer groups might pursue. How long ago were the tests devised that provided assurance for the FDA? Are they out-of-date?

There is no shortage of ailments previously not tracked to a point source – which have been revised over time as newer and more accurate testing technologies have been discovered. Maybe it’s time for the FDA to update their knowledge base, eh?

About the only item I see on a more regular basis – selling into stupid fads based more on hype than substance – is “No Fat Half-and-half”.

How the frack can they call these things “Saltines” if there’s no salt on them?

I probably could post a photo like this every Saturday – from the morning’s grocery shopping. Santa Fe – like most northern New Mexico towns and villages – ain’t very strong on skills like spelling.

You can see why I took the snap of this “sale” sign. I didn’t even notice till I was home and uploading the shot to my desktop that the “special” price was a reduction of exactly $0.00.

Lucky us!

I just noticed that my end of the clothesline makes it clear I’m both a foodie and a geek.

The amount of forest and farmland certified by Rainforest Alliance will continue to soar along with demand for products that meet standards for social and environmental sustainability.

“The amount of Rainforest Alliance certified farmland will increase dramatically over the next few years because it has to. We already have the demand so that sets everything in motion,” said Chris Wille, Rainforest Alliance chief of Sustainable Agriculture…

In 2008, farm and forest land certified by Rainforest Alliance grew by 23 percent to more than 131 million acres (52 million hectares), from 107 million acres in 2007, Rainforest said last month.

“The drive is coming from all along the value chain and especially companies. We’ve never seen more interest from companies, from consumers and from producers,” Wille said, adding this was a welcome move amid the current global financial crisis…

“So now farmers are lining up outside the doors of our partner NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and eager to get involved,” Wille said.

For years, Rainforest Alliance has certified farms that produce coffee, bananas, tea and cocoa. Recent additions include grapes, acai, chestnuts, apples and pears.

Our weekly grocery run to town always includes a measure of food that embraces one or another environmentally-friendly certification. It makes good sense for the future of this planet and our species.

Har!