Check out this article found in Men’s Health by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding (the authors of “Eat This, Not That!) They share the nutritional info on America’s worst french fries and provide a bit healthier alternatives if you must eat there.
America’s Worst French Fries (and What You Should Eat Instead!)
Industrial Agriculture is as outdated as the Model T. You’ll probably read statements (including some by people who should know better) that millions of people would starve if it weren’t for pesticide, irrigation, and fertilizer-dependent agriculture. (Funny how they don’t care about hungry people until their industries are threatened). True, we can’t eliminate it all at once, but the world need small organic growers. One reason is that they restore soil fertility, rather than depleting it with chemicals. “Organic farming contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions because it reduces the consumption of fossil fuels (notably those used in fertilizer manufacturing), and reduces emissions of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide. It also reduces vulnerability of soils to erosion, while at the same time increasing carbon stocks in the soil. Consequently, conversion to organic farming is believed to be a viable way of reducing GHG emissions.” Introduction to Organic Agriculture and Climate Change Conference, September 28-29, 2009, Sofia, Bulgaria
1. The cow moved from a Texas range to a Colorado feedlot to be fattened.
2. Corn from Nebraska goes to the feedlot to feed the cow.
3. Water from the Ogalalla aquifer is used to water the cow.
4. The cow is slaughtered and the parts shipped to Seattle.
5. Milk from a dairy in Washington is turned into cheese.
6. Tomatoes and lettuce from California become garnish.
7. Wheat from Idaho becomes the hamburger bun.
8. Potatoes from Idaho become the fries.
9. Corn oil from Nebraska is used to fry the French fries.
10. Salt from Louisiana is added.
11. Florida tomatoes are shipped to Pittsburgh to make ketchup.
12. Ketchup is shipped to Ohio, where ketchup pouches are made.
13. Ketchup is shipped from Ohio to Seattle.
14. The box of fries is made of pulp from an Arkansas mill.
15. Bauxite from Australia is imported to make aluminum.
16. Calcium oxide from Japan is used to process the bauxite.
17. Aluminum goes from smelter to canner to make cans.
18. Corn from Iowa becomes the corn syrup to sweeten the coal.
Source: Stuff: The Secret Life of Everyday Things by John Ryan and Alan Durning
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In California, college and high school students got together over a February weekend to further their goals of making their schools’ food services more sustainable and just. Over 200 young people gathered for workshops, presentations, earth-friendly food, and fun. Good networking was had by all. Their mission is “To unite and empower the California community of higher education to collaboratively and nonviolently transform our selves and our institutions based on our inherent social, economic, and ecological responsibilities.” To find out more information click here.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has a useful newsletter, Food and Environment Electronic Digest (FEED). The latest issue has a story about a giant corporation’s attempt to corner the market. Here’s the story from FEED: “An Associated Press (AP) investigation has detailed practices by seed giant Monsanto that allow it to control access to its seeds and stifle competition. For example, Monsanto licensing agreements bar independent biotechnology companies from breeding plants that include both genes from Monsanto and genes from any of its rivals. Since 95 percent of the soybeans and 80 percent of the corn grown in the United States are Monsanto products, these agreements hobble the improvement of competitors’ products and put Monsanto in a position to dominate the U.S. grain supply, which could pave the way for increases in food prices. Read more about the AP investigation. The Department of Justice is investigating Monsanto for anticompetitive practices.”
In case you needed another reason to embrace organic food, research has found links between exposure to pesticides and the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. One study examined over 700 residents of California’s agricultural region the Central Valley, and found that people living within 500 meters of fields sprayed with the fungicide maneb and the herbicide paraquat from 1974-1989 were more likely than comparable people to develop Parkinson’s — 75% more likely. I don’t know about you, but that scares me! And let’s not forget that people most likely to be heavily exposed are the farm workers who produce the food we eat. Pesticides and other poisons are, in my opinion, dangerous double-edged swords. Remember too that not all chemicals poured into our environment have been tested for safety — either alone or in combination. So next time you shop, buying organic food is one way you can help preserve the health of the planet and yourself.
