Food Wise

Now Showing King Corn

Ana-Anita Simpson — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:38:20 +0000

Now showing on PBS. This documentary, made by two fresh from college graduates, tells the story of mass corn production here in the US. Released in 2007, the story line follows the two graduates on a journey to grow an acre of corn of their own, and then follow it through food production channels until it reaches consumers.

What makes this documentary worth mentioning is historical information provided on corn and the telling of the story of monster corn we have all bought into today. Mass corn production, from how it came to be such a large industry to the end result of corn syrup being used in millions of food products is told in this film.

Farm subsidies, genetically tasteless corn, health effects and pesticides are all there set against a backdrop of the tale of the filmmakers genealogy. The genealogy adds the element of a vested interest in corn production from the filmmakers. Knowing the way corn is farmed, processed and marketed is very important for healthwise consumers. Definitely a tale worth telling, and seeing!

PBS has a alot of info on their website right now about the movie. Here is the link: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/kingcorn/

EATING LOCALLY-Its community wisdom in action

Ana-Anita Simpson — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:18:55 +0000

Now is the time to sign up for a CSA program! Community Supported Agriculture, known as CSA, is a dual blessing for your community and your family. You and your family will get fresh healthy food grown locally-so your body is more familiar to what is in the food. The local farms that supply the food are making money and providing local jobs. It’s a win/win situation.

How does a CSA work, you ask? Well, you sign up for a certain number of weeks and receive a box of fresh vegetables and fruits, all grown locally. You do have to pick it up yourself (this is usually at a prearranged place in your area). The price is very cost effective when compared to store bought goods.

Call your local county extension office, ask around at your local farmers market or do an internet search on your official state site for CSA programs. You will eventually find one.

Good day and Good eating!

Federal meat inspection rules upgrades meat safety, in food supply.

Ana-Anita Simpson — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:04:57 +0000

From the USDA:
A new ruling has banned “downer” cows from entering the food supply. “Downer” cows are cows that are non-ambulatory before slaughter. The old ruling allowed “downer” cows to be slaughtered and their meat sold into the food supply.

Under the old rules-If cows went down after the initial inspection by the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Services) they could still be slaughtered and their meat sold. The new rulings make all non-ambulatory cattle unsuitable for entry into the human food supply, here in the US. This lowers the chance of sick cows entering the beef supply here in the US.

To whom this affects:
US. Farmers, US meat producers, Consumers that buy and eat beef in the US.

Why this important:
Sick cattle run the risk of having a variety of diseases-including Mad Cow Disease (in humans it becomes a form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease {vCJD}). The Mad Cow disease can cross species and has an estimated 4-10 year incubation period.

Great Britain had an epidemic outbreak of mad cows disease in the late 1990’s-early 2000‘s. More than 170,000 cows were destroyed with the disease and farmers suffered enormous financial loses. More than 150 people died, during this time, in Great Britain from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Most vCJD deaths occurred in younger people- scientists have not figured out why younger people were more affected.

Relevant info:
Cruel treatment has been an issue for years when it comes to “downer” cattle at auctions -making the “downer” cows unusable for sale. This may mean less sick and injured cows end up at action and quicker/humane deaths for some cows.