Food and Health

Exporters, livestock feeders and ethanol makers are going through the U.S. corn stockpile faster than farmers can grow the crops, the government said on Friday. Despite record crops in two of the past three years and another record within reach this year, the Agriculture Department estimated the corn carryover will shrink to the lowest level since 2006/07. In a monthly look at crop supply and usage, USDA estimated 1.478 billion bushels of corn will be in U.S. bins on August 31, when this marketing year ends, and 1.373 billion bushels will be on hand at the end of 2010/11. The carryover figures are sharply lower from USDA's previous estimates -- down 8 percent for this year and down 12 percent for next year -- but slightly larger than traders expected.

Native woods and trees in urban areas, including gardens, provide haven for wildlife, reduce air pollution, surface run-off and flooding Reversing the declining numbers of native trees and woods in cities would provide numerous benefits at 'relatively little cost', says a report from the Woodland Trust. As well as access to green space, the report, 'Greening the Concrete Jungle', says trees provide a wide range of free ecosystem services including reducing the risk of surface water flooding and improving air quality that could save millions in flood defence and healthcare costs.

WASHINGTON, DC – - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would require the domestic use of 800 million gallons of biodiesel in 2011. This is consistent with the renewable goals established in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) and specifically requires a renewable component in U.S. diesel fuel.

by Bonnie Azab Powell.

It’s the height of summer, and the tables of farmers markets around the country are overflowing with firm-fleshed, scarlet tomatoes; bunches of fragrant basil; and—depending on where you live—juicy stone fruits, avocados, and more. Such bounty makes it easy to celebrate National Farmers Market Week August 1-7 by visiting a market near you (you can find one via the Eat Well Guide, LocalHarvest, or USDA). And there almost definitely is one near you, as there are now more than 5,000 around the country, up an astonishing 13 percent from the previous year.

I’m lucky enough—or cursed, depending how you see it—to live in Oakland, Calif., where every day I have several farmers markets within 20 miles to choose from, all the way through the winter. And I love them. I’ve been doing the bulk of my produce shopping at them for five years now, trying varieties of apples I never see in the grocery store, and practicing seasonal martyrdom by forswearing strawberries and tomatoes until they reappear in the spring and summer, respectively.

Whichever market I go to, I always run into several friends, either shopping or selling, and I come home in a better mood than when I left—something I cannot say about supermarket shopping.

I’m in a rut, though, with my farmers market routine. I know what I like, who I like to buy it from, and I head straight for those stands. So this year, I’m going to celebrate National Farmers Market Week by forcing myself out of my vegetable comfort zone. I’ll be picking up whatever looks weirdest or most unfamiliar to me—kohlrabi, say, or Romanesco broccoli—and figuring out how to cook it. I’ll share the results right here with you guys. They probably won’t be fancy, but when food is this fresh—as Grist’s Jennifer Prediger keeps marveling—you don’t need no stinkin’ fancy.

Care to join me?

Related Links:

Urbivore’s Dilemma, Week 7: Cooking with the ones you love

Urbivore’s Dilemma, Week 6: How I turned vegetables into a time machine

N.C. chef Vimala Rajendran tells how cooking can save a family—and build a food ecosystem

by Grist.

Using meat as “buns.” Adding an extra sandwich—or two. Making anything a “footlong.”

What results from these tricks of the fast food world aren’t examples of food; they’re freak gimmicks of a cheap’n'easy system of calorie production. But that doesn’t stop hoards of people from gobbling them up with glee and extra “special sauce” dribbling down their chins.

Chain restaurants usually offer their Frankenfood inventions for “a limited time only,” but the effects on people’s health and on the health of the planet stick around for a lot longer. Feast your eyes on some of the most recent food bastards and let us know in the comments area below what creations we might have missed.

KFC Double Down

In the run-up to its much-rumored release, the Double Down was hailed with the words: “It’s real.” While this legendary, lard-laden fast food creation needs no explaining, we still feel a little upchuck coming on every time we run across it.

Some cheeky vegans got a hold of the Double Down and turned it into an animal-free meal with a much more apt tagline: “It’s fake.”

 

 

The bastard child of Krispy Kreme and KFC

Imitation my be the sincerest form of flattery, but when it means squeezing a Double Down between two Krispy Kreme doughnuts, it’s the sincerest form of fattery. A commentator on The Consumerist recently featured this creation: a Double Down sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme Cheerwine doughnuts. It’s the perfect culinary combination of sugar, fried dough, fried chicken, bacon, and cheese.

 

 

Friendly’s Grilled Cheese Burger Melt

Recently featured on Grist’s WTFood, Friendly’s Grilled Cheeseburger Melt may be one of the most heart-stopping fast food industry hybrids yet. Taking a cue from KFC, Friendly’s opted to ditch the traditional burger buns in favor of two whole grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s like a future heart attack sandwiched between memories of a chubby childhood.

 

 

 

IHOP Pancake Stackers

The battle royale continues as IHOP—not to be outdone by KFC or Friendly’s—throws their Pancake Stackers into the chunking-out-America challenge. This, okay, disgusting delicacy starts with the breakfast house’s popular pancakes, then adds cheesecake, whipped cream, and strawberry compote on top.

What would a well-rounded breakfast be if it didn’t make you, well ... rounded?

 

 

SONIC Introduces New Footlong Quarter Pound Coney

Dear SONIC,

My lifelong dream of eating a quarter-pound foot-long chili-topped hot dog can now become reality thanks to your new Footlong Quarter Pound Coney.

Now, anyone can go to SONIC and buy this beef and pork monstrosity topped with chili and melty, melty cheese for a mere $2.99! My heart will beat for you until the day it stops (because you clogged my arteries), Footlong Quarter Pound Coney.

Love,
America

 

Carl’s Jr. Footlong cheeseburger

Not to be out-grossed by SONIC, Carl’s Jr. has come out with its own super-sized feature: the Carl’s Jr. Footlong cheeseburger. Although the meat is not actually one foot-long, but rather two smaller patties set side by side in the special long buns, we’re still mesmerized by this greasy burger-sub sandwich hybrid.

 

Salad undressing

We know what you’re thinking: you’ll avoid the bigger, fatter, longer drive-thru fare by ordering a salad instead, an option now in most fast food shops. But buyers beware—even seemingly low-cal salads can be waist-wideners. As it turns out, some of these token “healthy options” can actually be much worse for you and your ticker.

Take Wendy’s Chicken BLT Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing. It packs a whopping 720 calories, 51 grams of fat, and 1,540 milligrams of sodium. That’s almost enough to make the Double Down look like the smarter choice. Toss those salads ... while trying not to toss your cookies.

Our advice? Stay far, far away from the drive-thru universe if you can—no one is safe in a world where footlong cheeseburgers and thousand-calorie salads grace the menus.

WTFood! Check out more disgusting food slideshows and fast-food facts.

Related Links:

Chefs and parents plot a lunch revolution at one D.C. public school

Six drinks to avoid slipping down your gullet [SLIDESHOW]

Are kickbacks from Kellogg and others driving school-food purchasing?

by David Gumpert.

For two months earlier this year, Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger let the proposed contract sit unsigned on his desk.

The agreement specified that a nonprofit organization known as Right to Choose Healthy Food, and headed by raw food advocate Aajonus Vonderplanitz, would lease his farm’s 50 cows and dozens of chickens—“the works,” says Hershberger. In exchange, the organization would have access to all the food from the animals: milk, eggs, and meat.

Then, on June 2, agents from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection raided his Grazin’ Acres farm near Madison, and placed seals on the refrigerators in his small store. He was operating without a retailer license and a dairy license, the regulators said. The fact that he wasn’t open to the general public, but was selling direct to “members” of his farm, didn’t matter.

The day after the raid, Hershberger cut the DATCP seals and defiantly re-opened for business. His confidence was buttressed by the fact that he decided that day to sign the contract with Right to Choose Healthy Food.

The deal is “simple,” says Hershberger, and besides, “I think Aajonus knows what he’s doing.”

The wizard of raws

Vonderplanitz followed up by sending a letter to Wisconsin’s DATCP explaining that Hershberger

... is not engaged in commerce. His farm animals are leased to Right To Choose Healthy Food’s Grazin’ Acres Farm Coop Club who owns them. Vernon Hershberger is the boarder, caretaker, milker, packager, and deliverer of our animals’ products. Since the private club owns dairy, egg, and meat production, there is no commerce involved. Since no commerce of buying or selling raw milk and our other products to the public is involved, or distributed in public places, government agencies have NO JURISDICTION over the production, labeling and use of the club’s products consumed by its members, nor is any permit required ... It is shameful for (DATCP) to try to prevent us from producing and distributing our health-giving raw milk and other farm products to our members by threatening and imposing false warrants, seizures, and arrests of our property. Since you were duly warned that this was a private club and you had no jurisdiction over it, your actions were criminal stealing, kidnap, and trespass.

Though DATCP agents have since been back to his farm twice more with search warrants, the last time taking Hershberger’s computer, checkbook, and other records, there has been no sign of any criminal or other charges being filed against the farmer.

If the experiences of other farmers like Hershberger are any indication, there’s a good chance no charges will come. Over the last eight years, Vonderplanitz has put together lease agreements giving Right to Choose Healthy Food, and its hundreds of consumer members around the country, the rights to the land and produce of about 40 small farms.

While there have been a number of raids, especially in recent months, as I described previously for Grist, there have yet to be any legal challenges brought against the lease arrangements, he says. “If they had jurisdiction, they would have busted us a long time ago,” he told me.

Not only is Vonderplanitz not afraid of a legal challenge, he welcomes one. “I hope they file charges against us,” he says. While the distribution centers in major urban areas, like the one raided in Venice, must comply with fire codes and zoning regulations, they need not comply with food licensing or labeling laws required of foods sold to the public, he argues. Nor must they comply with the federal prohibition on interstate sales of raw milk. There can’t be such a prohibition for member leaseholders, he maintains, since they own the farm products when they are produced.

“If you take your property from Pennsylvania to California, there is no federal jurisdiction,” he says. Vonderplanitz likens the farm lease agreements to automobile leases. “In lease agreements, you have total ownership of the contract and responsibility for the items leased. If you wreck a leased car, you are totally responsible.”

The analogy is important, he says, since lease-related law has a 75-year history of recognition by our legal system. “Herdshare” and “cowshare” agreements, used in many states to give raw-milk drinkers shares in cows and goats, are less legally secure, he says. He likens the rights of a herdshare owner to those of an owner of stock in a major corporation, where shareholders have certain financial rights, but don’t necessarily have right to the corporation’s products, or responsibility for the products. (Though herdshare rights were upheld by an Ohio court in 2006, and the state didn’t appeal the case.)

Vonderplanitz maintains that the lease agreements aren’t just devices to enable foodies to avoid complying with food licensing rules and the federal interstate raw milk prohibition, and has successfully persuaded farmers who’ve considered backing out of the agreements to stand firm.

In a case last winter, a Midwest farmer in the midst of a two-year lease agreement with Right to Choose considered shutting down his raw milk production after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sought to enforce warning letters maintaining the farmer was violating the federal prohibition on raw-milk sales across state lines. Vonderplanitz says he told the farmer that his group would enforce its lease agreement by taking over the farm and cows to continue producing milk for members. The farmer, encouraged by Vonderplanitz’s commitment, decided to fire his lawyers, who’d encouraged him to accept the FDA mandate, and continue with the Vonderplanitz organization. Vonderplanitz says he notified the FDA, much the same as he did Wisconsin DATCP in the Hershberger case, that the farm was under a lease agreement, and says the farm continues to provide his members with raw milk.

Another farmer who signed on with RTCHF was Daniel Allgyer. He made his decision shortly after agents from the FDA showed up at his Pennsylvania farm last April with a search warrant and a letter alleging he was involved in interstate sale of raw milk. Allgyer continues to supply RTCHF with milk.

Vonderplanitz sees himself as having “rescued” these and other farmers from possibly being thrown out of business by FDA and state agriculture authority actions against private food organizations. “They have left all the people alone since I notified the authorities.”

The raid on the RTCHF warehouse in Venice, Calif., three weeks ago, along with that on Sharon Palmer’s farm in nearby Ventura County, whose goats are under lease to RTCHF, represent payback in Vanderplanitz’s view.

“They are looking for any way they can to break us,” he says. “They’re not going to get away from it.”

He says a number of prominent Los Angeles lawyers have offered legal services, and RTCHF plans to sue the government agencies involved in the raids against Rawesome and Sharon Palmer’s farm for $1 million apiece, for false arrest.

Crackdown habit

It’s hard to know what the government agencies will do. While they have clearly shied away thus far from a legal confrontation over the leasing matter, the various searches suggest officials are seriously considering legal action, such as charges of violating the ban on interstate sale of raw milk. Or else they could continue their harassment actions in hopes of intimidating consumers and farmers, and scaring them away from the increasingly popular leasing arrangement.

Even without government legal action against RTCHF, there is the pending suit against the FDA by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund challenging the federal prohibition on interstate commerce of raw milk.

Clearly, we are moving closer to judicial consideration of how far consumer rights extend when it comes to consumers opting out of the factory food system and arranging for private access to the nutritionally-dense foods of their choice.

Related Links:

Sports stadiums rack up gag-worthy food violations (especially Florida’s)

Prairie Crossing in Illinois: The ‘urban’ farm of the future?

Part 1 of interview with local-food economist Ken Meter [PODCAST]