5 posts tagged “food”

Pancakes for Dinner

From a recent Feingold.org newsletter:

McDonald's has been in touch with the CSPI (Center for Science in
the Public Interest) and has told them that they really aren't sure that
Americans are concerned about the fact that their food contains synthetic
dyes.  McDonald's has asked their nutrition & labeling manager, Julia Braun,
to gather information on whether or not consumers have any interest in this
area.

Julia says that McDonald's rarely does anything unless they can document a
consumer demand, so she has invited parents to write to her and share their
feelings about food dyes, and she has provided information below on how to
reach her.

    Email:  julia.braun@us.mcd.com  

    Julia Braun, MPH, RD
    Nutrition & Labeling Manager
    2111 McDonald's Drive
    Oak Brook, IL  60523

Maybe you don't have any children who are as markedly affected by preservatives as mine, but are concerned about what you do put in your kids' bodies in terms of artificial colorings and preservatives. This is a good opportunity to let a major corporation know what you think of those booby traps in some of the food they sell! While I realize that fries aren't health food, it sure would be nice if we could let NM eat them as a treat and know he won't have any repercussions the next day. It seems that no preservatives in oil is such a small and doable step for a company that's trying to attract more clients, even those who may not normally consider McD's.

On to the guv'mint:

Feingold is also recommending we contact our good congress folk and encourage a ban on artificial colorings and preservatives in food being sold in the US by major corporations. There is a ban proposed in the UK currently; US companies with interests in the UK are voluntarily replacing artificial colorings with naturally derived ones.

I'm not opposed to companies doing this voluntarily but I'm not so sure about doing an across-the-board ban. But I'd much prefer the FDA a comprehensive listing of all ingredients because not everyone has the same issue with artificial preservatives we do. People should have a choice to partake or not. After all, to remove the iffy preservatives from our food would likely cause significant increases (been to a health food store lately?).

Currently, the loopholes allowed in the food label laws are huge, you can drive a Mac truck through them. Think your organic, non-fat milk is perfectly good for you? Well, they don't tell you that Vitamin A Palmitate is most likely preserved with BHT or one of its kin. Hardly organic stuff. But unless you have contacted the dairy to find out where it gets its source of Vitamin A is, and then checked out that source, you wouldn't know. The amounts are miniscule by legal standards so the preservative isn't listed.

But of course, if Snickers had to list everything it really has in it, the label probably wouldn't have much room for the logo! And what about Twinkies? Snoballs? DingDongs? PopTarts? Ok, no, they're not really healthy things but a surprising number of "health foods" do contain artificials in them but don't list them because they don't have to.

So, this rice shortfall and corn price issue, what do you think of it?

My little mind is reeling from the fact that our food is the result of a complex process of production, distribution and pricing. Was it that long ago that people would go to the market to buy seasonal fruits and veggies from their neighbors? Now we involve so much more in the seed-to-grocery-to-you process.

It's really weird to think that the Philippines, home of the International Rice Research Institute and once great grower of said crop is importing the vast majority of its rice supply.

I remember seeing rice fields on the route to Baguio or Tagaytay, carabaos with plows tilling fields, people in wide-brimmed hats planting seedlings in grey mud, stories of how to use the rice paddies to farm fish...is that all gone? Have I been away that long?

The oldest child is going through a growth spurt. The youngest is living up to the new pediatrician's, ah, warning? "This is the age where they get really picky about food."

We go out to eat at Olive Garden (I hear their macaroni and cheese is ok on our diet). They both have at their bowls. Or try, since it's really too hot. J takes tiny bites off his spoon after he blows on it a few times. Then, while neither parent was paying attention, he completely finishes his big glass of apple juice. To his credit, he tried the salad. Yay!

I had my pasta, hubby had his, NM devoured his bowl. J stared at his. Pretty soon we're winding dinner down and he's complaining that he's out of juice. We tell him we'll ask the waitress and then we notice the food is still sitting there.

NM asks for some of J's food. I have to watch that one since I think he's eating to compensate for a restricted diet (not that he needs to worry about that). So J's meal this evening was 16 oz. of apple juice, 3 or 4 pieces of shell pasta with cheese and a bread stick.

Guess what he says when we walk through the door after we got home? LOL.