5 Easy Ways to Avoid Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) at the Grocery Store

In this article I will show you 5 easy ways to avoid genetically modified organisms at the grocery store. When I first saw Food Inc. 4-5 years ago I was blown away by the idea that our food could have viruses and pathogens inserted into its DNA. It was also shocking to find out that this practice had not been well tested on humans. North Americans are actually the real time experimental guinea pigs for these unnatural food products. GMO’s were introduced into the general food supply without warning in the mid-1990′s which explains why there has been such a huge rise in food allergies and sensitivities over the past 20 years.

This issue of GMO foods makes me very upset and scared for future generations. I believe that the most important thing we can do is support organic farmers who refuse to participate in genetic modification. By voting with our pocketbook and boycotting GMO’s the food industry will hear our message and eventually stop producing these dangerous crops.

What is a GMO?

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Organisms that have been genetically modified include micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeast, insects, plants, fish, and mammals. GMOs are the source of genetically modified foods, and are also widely used in scientific research and to produce goods other than food. The term GMO is very close to the technical legal term, ‘living modified organism’ defined in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which regulates international trade in living GMOs (specifically, “any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology”).-From Wikepedia

Gmo’s were introduced by biotech companies as a way improve crop yields and “feed the world” because they will supposedly repel insect and plant diseases but what actually happens is more pesticides are needed for crops to have the same yield as before they were modified. Bugs and bacteria outsmart the GMO’s which increases the need for chemicals. That means that GMO crops become even more laden in pesticide residue that their conventional counterparts. There have been many reports of lower yields with GMO’s and farm workers experiencing dangerous side effects from using additional pesticides on the dangerous crops. (Source)

GMO’s are illegal in 26 countries including the EU and Australia which makes me think they know something we don’t seem to realize here in the USA.

5 Easy Ways to Avoid Genetically Modified Organisms



1. Buy Organic

I know this can seem daunting and expensive but if you choose organic whenever possible you will almost all GMO crops. Shopping can be made cheaper by buying in bulk, going to co-ops, getting a cow-share and frequenting farmer’s markets. Also it is important to re-prioritize and spend more money on food and maybe spend less at the Mall or on Starbucks. I have an great article about saving money on real food here.

2. Avoid Corn, Soy, and Canola

This step is really easy to avoid genetically modified organisms. About 90-95% of corn, soy and canola products are genetically modified and have major health impacts. These industrial crops especially affect digestion which is where many people notice a health breakdown first. So the main place to start to avoid these foods is bottled salad dressings, cooking oils and boxed or packaged foods.  I have a post about. It is possible to get organic corn, soy and canola but I have read that there is too much cross pollination with the genetically modified versions.  I choose to these avoid corn, soy, and canola altogether.

A note about wheat: Wheat is not technically GMO but it has been heavily hybridized over the past 20-30 years to increase yields. This change has dramatically increased the gluten content which causes many people to have a reaction. Also wheat is heavily sprayed with roundup which has many long term health consequences becasue it does not readily leave our bodies or the ground.

3. Learn Which Types of Produce are GMO

It can get a bit complicated and new fangled fruits and vegetables are being introduced everyday.  Beets, zucchini, papaya and tomatoes at the main ones to stay away from, and of course corn ( but I count corn as a grain). It is important to buy organic grass fed ruminants to avoid GMO alfalfa which is a common grass they eat. Don’t forget corn and soy are mostly genetically modified and are commonly fed to livestock.

 

4. Shop the Perimeter of the Store

Most packaged foods are in the middle of the store are heavily processed with added sugar beets, corn, soy and canola by-products such as cookies, cereal and salad dressings. Yes, there is milk and meat on the outside aisles of the grocery and the animals that eat GMO’s are there but then you have the choice to choose organic. It is important to pay attention to how the animal you eat eat’s becasue an unhealthy animal will not produce the most nourishing food.

5. Pay Attention to What you Eat Eats

A cow that eats corn and soy will most likely be very sick and need a lot of antibiotics. This cow will be lower in vitamins and minerals than a grass fed cow. Its fat will also store many contaminants that can affect your health. Also a cow that has been fed GMO’s and antibiotics is much more likely to have a bacterial imbalance that sets the stage for food borne illnesses in humans. It is a similar story with pigs, chickens and lamb so make sure to choose organic and pasture raised animals whenever possible.

I hope you have enjoyed reading: 5 easy ways to avoid genetically modified organism at the grocery store. Thanks to grassfedgirl.com.





Top 10 Dangerous Toothpaste Ingredients‏

 

 



Even though toothpaste (in some form or another) has been around as long as the Ancient Greeks have, the formula (as we know it) did not become popular until World War I. As soon as companies began manufacturing toothpaste, people began to purchase the magical concoction – guaranteed to produce glistening teeth! White teeth were all the rage after World War I had ended, and toothpaste quickly became a product that most people simply couldn’t live without.

 

Toothpaste is one item that nearly everyone uses today, but what makes this concoction so special? Whether you brush your teeth once per day or three times per day, chances are that you’ve never taken the time to read that ingredient list. Some believe that the ingredients contained in a standard package of toothpaste are essential – others believe that water may be just as effective. In the end, there’s a good reason why most toothpaste packages warn: “Do Not Ingest!”

 

10. Formaldehyde

 

That same ingredient that coroners can’t live without can be found inside of your toothpastse tube. Formaldehyde kills all of those small bacteria that climb onto your teeth after eating or sleeping. If a large amount of formaldehyde is accidentally ingested, the result could be fatal. Severe formaldehyde ingestion results in jaundice, kidney damage, liver damage, and death.

 

9. Detergent

 

 

Foam, suds, activation! What would toothpaste be without that satisfying soapy feeling? Manufacturers use regular detergent in order to appease the masses that prefer bubbly toothpaste. While bubbles may be fun, be careful if you accidentally ingest a large amount of this stuff – swallowing detergent can cause digestive tract burning.

 

8. Seaweed

 



 

Stretchy and slimy, seaweed holds that paste together. Without this green stuff, toothpaste would simply fall apart! The good news is that seaweed isn’t toxic. In fact, seaweed has a number of nutritional benefits, though hitting the sushi bar is a better way of gaining those benefits.

 

7. Peppermint Oil

 

Minty, minty, minty! Fresh breath can only be kept fresh with the help of peppermint oil! While refreshing when brushing your teeth, peppermint oil can cause a slow pulse, heartburn, and muscle tremors if it is consumed.

 

6. Paraffin

 

 

As slick as the petroleum that it is derived from, paraffin creates a smooth paste that oozes onto your toothbrush. As you might imagine, paraffin wasn’t meant to be eaten. If you happen to swallow this ingredient, you may end up with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and severe constipation.

 

5. Glycerine Glycol

 

Never heard of this ingredient before? Sure about that? Glycerin glycol is added to toothpaste in order to prevent the paste from becoming too dry – it’s also found in antifreeze. Even though glycerin is not toxic, this additive may cause nausea if swallowed.

4. Chalk

That’s right – chalk. Thanks to the fact that chalk is made from exoskeletons, it’s hard enough to remove all of that caked on gunk from your pearly whites. Chalk dust may cause lung problems if inhaled, and swallowing a bit of chalk could cause bleeding.

 

3. Titanium Dioxide

 

This is another common toothpaste ingredient, though it’s usually found in white paint. When added to toothpaste, titanium dioxide has the safe effect on your teeth as it does on walls – it keeps them nice and white (for a few hours, at least!). Ingesting titanium dioxide won’t hurt you, but it isn’t recommended either.

2. Saccharin

 

Something has to combat that terrible detergent taste! Saccharin is sweet, but not too sweet – just the way that most people like their toothpaste! Saccharin has been a hot topic of debate every since Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House. The USDA tried to ban the substance in 1972, though it is considered “safe” to ingest today.

1. Menthol

 

One last ingredient to add a minty note to your breath. Without menthol, toothpaste might taste like, well, chalk, glycerin, paraffin, detergent, titanium dioxide, and seaweed! Go ahead and ingest menthol if you like, but sipping some tea containing menthol is a far better idea than chewing on your tube of toothpaste.



 

 



Some Harmful Ingredients that are Commonly Found in 8 Beers

8 Beers That You Should Stop Drinking Immediately

 

 

Many of us choose what we eat very carefully, or at least dedicate our minimum attention to it. But when it comes to drinks, especially alcoholic beverages, we do little to make the best decisions for our health.

 

Here are some harmful ingredients that are commonly found in beer:

• GMO Corn Syrup
• GMO Corn
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Fish Bladder
• Propylene Glycol
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• Natural Flavors
• GMO Sugars
• Caramel Coloring
• Insect-Based Dyes
• Carrageenan
• BPA
• & lots more!

Here are the 8 beers that are commonly found in bars in United States that you should stop drinking immediately.

1. Newcastle Brown Ale

The Newcastle beer has been found to contain caramel coloring. Class 3 and 4 caramel coloring is made from ammonia, which is classified as a carcinogen. “The one and only” beer with cancer causing qualities.

2. Budweiser

 

One of the most popular beers, or most advertised is Budweiser. Budweiser contains genetically modified(GMO) corn. In 2007, Greenpeace discovered experimental GMO rice in Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) beer.

3. Corona Extra

 

I used to love Corona’s commercials. They were so peaceful and relaxing. That is until I found out that the beer contains GMO Corn Syrup and Propylene Glycol. Propylene Glycol is controversial, and is said to may be potentially harmful to your health.

4. Miller Lite



This is another very popular beer in America that contains GMOs. Miller Lite contains GMO corn and corn syrup. It’s “GMO time”.

 

5. Michelob Ultra

 

Less popular but still readily available Michelob beer, should be eliminated from your choices. This beer has been found to contain a genetically modified sweetener (GMO dextrose).

6. Guinness



 

Guinness is often praised for its smoothness.  However, several investigations proved that Guinness ingredients are quite disturbing. The beer  contains fish bladder and high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup has been long banned from many stores and drinks.

7. Coors Light

 

Coors light is a drink that is very popular at bars and among college students.  Mostly because it’s cheap. The beer contains GMO corn syrup.

8. Pabst Blue Ribbon



 

Pabst Blue Ribbon contains GMO corn and GMO corn syrup.

Healthy Beer Alternatives

So when it comes to beer you have to be very careful. Your best option is to find a microbrewery that you can trust. As with everything, try to avoid cheap, low-quality products. Bars may offer Coors Light, Miller Lite or Budweiser specials, but they are cheap for a reason. The rest of the world is banning GMOs everywhere, while USA is lagging years behind, and only several states offer GMO labeling laws. Try to stay away from any American beers. Choose organic beer. Beers that contain 100% organic labels, have to have ingredients that are all 100% organic. While an “organic” label just means 95% of it will be organic.  European beer is most likely to be safe from GMO ingredients but unfortunately, most other beer contains GMO artificial ingredients, stabilizers, grains and preservatives, plus, HFCS.

GMO Free Beers:

Organic Beers (Unpasteurized & Unfiltered)

• Wolaver’s – all beers
• Lamar Street – Whole Foods label (brewed by Goose Island)
• Bison – all beers
• Dogfish Head (organic when ingredients available)
• Fish Brewery Company – Fish Tale Ales
• Lakefront Brewery – Organic ESB
• Brooklyn – (organic when ingredients are available)
• Pinkus – all beers
• Samuel Smiths – Samuel Smiths Organic Ale
• Wychwood – Scarecrow Ale

Non-Organic Beers (Unpasteurized & Unfiltered)

• Sierra Nevada – all choices
• Duck Rabbit – Brown Ale, Porter, Amber Ale, Milk Stout
• Dogfish Head- 60 Minute IPA, Shelter Pale Ale, Chicory Stout
• Shipyard – Summer Brew
• Victory Brewery – Whirlwind
• North Coast – Blue Star
• Bridgeport – IPA (Bottle conditioned)
• Ayinger – all choices
• Royal Oak – Pale Ale
• Fraziskaner – Hefeweisse and Dunkel Weisse
• Weihenstephaner – Hefe Weissbier
• Maisel’s – Weisse
• Hoegaarden – Belgian Wit

Other

• Heineken
• Steamwhistle
• Amstel Light
• Duchy Original Ale Organic
• Mill Street Brewery
• Fuller’s Organic
• Nelson Organic Ale
• Natureland Organic

Via www.organics.org

Credits to ViralScape

Spread the word

It’s important to expose companies that use harmful ingredients in our products. This information is hidden from the public with millions of dollars of false advertising, laws, etc. You can always vote with your money. As this information about GMO beers spreads, we will see a decrease in production of these beers and the companies may eliminate the harmful ingredients altogether. Most importantly, when you hang out with your friends, you will be able to share beer that’s more delicious and healthier.

Share this story with fellow beer drinkers!






USDA to allow U.S. to be Overrun with Contaminated Chicken from China

The USDA has announced its intention to allow China-grown chicken meat to be imported into the USA. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that China is eligible to export processed, cooked chicken to the United States," says an official announcement on the USDA website.

The announcement goes on to ridiculously claim that the USDA "has determined that China’s poultry processing inspection system is equivalent to that of the United States, and cooked chicken imported from China would be processed under equivalent conditions as in the United States."

This statement holds about as much water as Obama's claim that "you can keep your health plan if you like it." It's a lie, in other words, and everybody knows it.

USDA to destroy the domestic poultry industry by selling out to China



It's also a disastrous policy. If put into action, it will not only further destroy the economic base of U.S. farmers and chicken growers, it will also wildly contaminate the chicken supply across the U.S. with China-grown chicken laced with arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium and toxic chemicals.

How do we know this? Because China is the most polluted industrial nation in the world, and it routinely and consistently produces the most heavily contaminated food products anywhere on the planet. It has already been caught killing babies with melamine in infant products, killing dogs with toxic dog treats, counterfeiting meat products and far worse. Natural News Forensic Food Lab tests have confirmed that food products produced in China are consistently the most polluted in the world.

We need to get toxic chemicals and heavy metals OUT of the U.S. food supply, not increase their prevalence in our foods. The FDA, after all, just recently pulled approval of the arsenic-based drug Roxarsone from agricultural use, finally eliminating one of the most prominent sources of toxic arsenic in commercial poultry. If the USDA turns arounds and opens up the U.S. food supply to China-grown chicken, we are all suddenly going to be inundated with cheap, contaminated chicken from China that will eventually bankrupt U.S. poultry producers who, believe it or not, actually produce cleaner chicken products.

USDA sticking head in the sand on food contamination epidemic



The problem with the USDA is that it pretends food is never contaminated with heavy metals. That's why the USDA "organic" certification program utterly ignores the presence of mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead in organic foods. Any food can contain unlimited quantities of these toxic elements and still be certified "organic" under the USDA.

Will contaminated chicken produced in China also be certified organic and sold at retailers like Whole Foods even though it might contain deadly concentrations of mercury or lead? That's the path the USDA sems to be laying out for America under its absurd "equivalence" policy.

And then there's the animal welfare angle. Although poultry production in the USA is far from what most people would consider "humane," the factory farming operations in China are nothing short of abhorrent. If you thought chickens were abused in domestic poultry operation, just wait until you see secret video one day of the disgusting and cruel chicken production operations in China.

You have to remember: China is a nation that has outlawed all religion, and with that has come the complete abandonment of any sense of wrong vs. right. China is a nation where the mistreatment of animals is not merely widespread but actually embraced by the culture. All across China, virtually all animals are assumed to have no feelings, no experience, no consciousness, no feelings of pain and so on. Thus, Chinese culture sees nothing wrong whatsoever with subjecting animals to extreme confinement or raising them under conditions that are outrageously cruel and painful to the animals.

If the USDA opens up the U.S. chicken market to poultry from China, it will unleash a wave of new animal cruelty and food contamination, all while destroying the U.S. economic activity currently association with domestic chicken production.

Chickens deserve better than to be raised under inhumane Chinese factory conditions



For the record, I raise chickens on a ranch in Texas. This means I have daily interactions with chickens, and I can attest without hesitation that although chickens are by no means highly intelligent creatures, they do have memories, experiences and even personalities. Chickens are not simply mechanical mindless biological robots. Like other animals, they have awareness, they engage in simple decision-making, they can experience fear, joy and a long list of other emotional states.

It is for these reasons that I don't eat the chickens I raise. I only harvest their eggs, not their flesh. On the rare occasions when I do eat meat of any kind, I make sure it comes from truly free-range animals who -- unlike confined animals mass-produced in meat factories -- at least got to experience something resembling a pleasant existence before being slaughtered. In my mind, this is important because what we eat determines the experiences of other conscious creatures. When we buy low-cost meat, we are voting for animal cruelty. When we instead choose truly free-range meats, we are voting for the more humane treatment of animals. And when we choose to eat more plants and less meat, we thereby spare many animals from the experience of being slaughtered altogether.

The USDA seems to have no recognition whatsoever that animals are conscious beings with memories, social lives, experiences and goal-oriented behavior. The agency simply pretends that "all animals are mindless animated matter" and every USDA policy and regulation flows from that delusion.

Why does the USDA embrace this delusion? Because, of course, the myth that animals are not conscious beings just happens to fit nicely with the profit motives of the meat-producing industries. And the USDA caters to the interests of those industries. In fact, the USDA is best described as the "marketing branch" of U.S. agricultural giants. That's why the USDA is pro-Monsanto and has actually conspired with the chemical company to run open-air GMO experiments. It's why there are no limits of heavy metals contamination for certified organic foods. It's also why the USDA is now looking to allow chicken to be imported from China -- because big business interests stand to make a fortune by mass-producing cheap, low-grade contaminated chicken meat which can be used in the U.S. marketplace as school food, prison food or even factory processed into chicken nuggets, dog food or other high-protein foods.

Billions to be made from poisoning Americans with low-grade contaminated food grown in China



Remember: There's always more money to be made from low-grade contaminated food produced in a way that utterly lacks any enforceable environmental standards, ethical standards, health standards or nutritional standards. In a nutshell, that's China!

Essentially, what the USDA is saying with this potential policy is that the American people should be fed worse than dogs. I wouldn't even feed my dog chicken meat from China, much less a fellow human being. Laboratory tests of chicken produced in China are likely to show alarming levels of contaminants, toxic elements, banned pesticides and toxic synthetic chemicals. Is this what the USDA wants Americans to be eating?

Well why not? The USDA already wants Americans to eat deadly GMOs that burn holes in stomach linings and may even cause toxic transgenic effects in humans. Why stop at merely one threshold of mad Frankensteinian food experimentation on the American people? Why not go all the way and allow the importation of Made-in-China Soylent Green produced from the bodies of former Falun-Gong members whose organs have been harvested for the global elite like Steve Jobs?

Some of you think I'm actually making that up, by the way. I'm not. Organ harvesting is routine in China. And where do you think the "waste bodies" are sent after the organs are taken from them? They are almost certainly processed into animal feed and fed to factory-produced hogs and chickens. So if we start importing chicken meat grown in China, don't be surprised if what you're actually eating is second-hand organ harvesting byproduct protein fed to the chickens along with toxic heavy metals, melamine, PCBs, DDT and every other deadly environmental chemical you can imagine.

Lick it up, America! The USDA is under orders to kill you all before you reach the age at which you might collect social security and therefore worsen the national debt. That's the new plan at the highest levels, no doubt: make sure nobody lives long enough to cost Medicare too much money, or to even figure out how to enroll in Obamacare at Healthcare.gov.



Are GMOs in Your Wine?

FDA GUIDE TO FOODS AND DRUGS WITH SULFITES 

 

The following foods and drugs MAY contain sulfites, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Remember to check the product label.

 

 

Food Category  Type of Food

Alcoholic Beverages Baked Goods Beverage Bases Condiments and Relishes Confections and Frostings Modified Dairy Products Drugs Fish and Shellfish Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Gelatins, Puddings, and Fillings Grain Products and Pastas Jams and Jellies Nuts and Nut Products Plant Protein Products Processed Vegetables Snack Foods Soups and Soup Mixes Sweet Sauces, Toppings Tea        Beer, cocktail mixes, wine, and wine coolers Cookies, crackers, mixes with dried fruits or vegetables, pie crust, pizza crust, quiche crust, and flour tortillas Dried citrus fruit beverage mixes Horseradish, onion and pickle relishes, pickles, olives, salad dressing mixes, and wine vinegar Brown, raw, powdered or white sugar derived from sugar beets Filled milk (a specially prepared skim milk in which vegetable oils, rather than animal fats, are added to increase its fat content) Antiemetics (taken to prevent nausea), cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics, tranquilizers, intravenous muscle relaxants, analgesics (painkillers), anesthetics, steroids and nebulized bronchodilator solutions (used for treatment of asthma) Canned clams; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried shrimp; frozen lobster; scallops; dried cod Sulfite use banned (except for fresh potatoes) Fruit fillings, flavored and unflavored gelatin, and pectin jelling agents Cornstarch, modified food starch, spinach pasta, gravies, hominy, breadings, batters, noodle/rice mixes Jams and jellies Shredded coconut Canned, bottled, or frozen fruit juices (including lemon, lime, grape, and apple); dried fruit; canned, bottled, or frozen dietetic fruit or fruit juices; maraschino cherries and glazed fruit Vegetable juice, canned vegetables (including potatoes), pickled vegetables (including sauerkraut), dried vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, frozen potatoes, potato salad Dried fruit snacks, trail mixes, filled crackers Canned seafood soups, dried soup mixes Corn syrup, maple syrup, fruit toppings, and high-fructose syrups such as corn syrup and pancake syrup Instant tea, liquid tea concentrates

 

Due to their history of use, sulfites have been generally regarded as safe, however there is also a small percentage of the population that is suspected of being sensitive to sulfites. This sensitivity can cause a wide range of reactions ranging from mild to severe; therefore the proper precautions should be taken.

 

SHOULD YOU AVOID WINE SULFITES?

 

 

Oldest organic vineyard in the country can best answer that question:

 

Frey Organic Wines – No Sulfites Added
Organic Wine is Wine Without Added Sulfites

Under the USDA National Organic Program, sulfites are a synthetic food additive. They are not allowed in organic wine or any other certified organic food products, such as dried fruits, jams, salad dressings or juices.

In over 30 years of organic wine making, we have never added sulfites or other synthetic additives to our wines. Sulfur is abundant in all life forms and takes many forms in living organisms. Small amounts of naturally occurring sulfites are present in wine and other foods.

Synthetic sulfites added to wine are used as a mild antioxidant preservative and stabilizer. Sulfites are added to wine in the form of sulfur salts, SO2 gas or sulfur dioxide solutions. They are commonly used at several stages in the winemaking process. They can be added at the crusher when the fruit enters the production stream and after primary alcoholic fermentation, final levels are adjusted before bottling.

Due to the reactive nature of free sulfites, most join with other substances in the wine, becoming “bound” sulfites. Once bound, sulfites can’t be tasted or smelled, except at high levels. Any added sulfite that does not react with the wine remains "free". It is these free, reactive molecules that can be smelled and tasted and react with sinus tissues to cause a sulfite reaction.Sulfites are measured in parts per million, or ppm. Following is a brief overview of maximum amounts of sulfites allowed in different classes of wines.

• Organic Wine: Under 10 ppm naturally occurring sulfite
• Biodynamic Wine: 100 ppm added sulfite
• “Made with Organic Grapes” wine: 150 ppm added sulfite
• All wine: 350 ppm added sulfite

Our wines usually range from 0 ppm to 5 ppm naturally occurring sulfites, though most measure 0 ppm. These levels are minimal when compared with an egg, which was shown to contain 6 ppm in independent laboratory testing.

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WHY ARE ORGANIC SPIRITS IMPORTANT?

 

Find out more about organic spirits by listening to our interview with Katrina Frey from Frey Vineyards, oldest organic vineyard in the country, and other makers of organic beer and hard liquor. Our experience is those sensitive to GMOs or chemicals will enjoy their drinks more if you choose all organic ingredients. For some could trigger severe case of alcohol poisoning, allergic reaction, or even a hangover from what is hidden (not on label) in those products. Many are not aware that GMO yeast is used in most all conventional wines. Have purchased a bottle of Frey Chardonnay at Whole Foods and after visiting the Cakebread Vineyard and drank many bottles, found the $18 bottle Frey even better tasting than the $100 bottle of Cakebread. They have won many awards for their taste and quality without the GMOs, pesticides, and sulfites.







High Levels of BPA Associated with Prostate Cancer (K-Cups: Are They Really Safe?)

More and more people are getting Keurig machines for the convenience of making one cup at a time at a push of a button.  However, do we really know how safe these machines are?

 

There are numerous Keurig fans that think this machine is easy and makes a fresh cup of coffee every time.  It may be easy to operate, however, it is far from fresh.  Fresh coffee is ground right before brewing.  Not ground and then nitrogen-flushed in plastic containers.

Additionally, when was the coffee roasted?  Did it have a shelf life prior to being ground?  If so, then how long was it sitting there before being used?  And then there is the question of how long the coffee has been packed in the K-cups?

My intent is not to ruffle anyone’s feathers in this blog post, but to simply share facts that I have found reading different articles.

When talking about K-Cups, the biggest debate is over the environmental impact.  I will touch on that later, but for now my biggest concern is the health risks that may come from using K-Cups.

Plastics are everywhere and some have been designated better for use in food packaging.  They have been documented and only small amounts of plastic chemicals leach into your food or beverages during common use.  However, when plastics are exposed to hot water or foods, acidic food ingredients, UV light, mechanical wear and tear, or any combination of these factors, the amount of leaching can increase by a thousand-fold or more per use.

Keurig’s website addresses the bisphenol A (BPA) concern with the following statement:

“K-Cup® and Vue® packs do not contain BPA and are constructed using FDA-approved food safe materials. We also use FDA-approved food safe materials in our K-Cup® and Vue® brewing systems, and neither system contains BPA within its water paths (as of January 1, 2010 for our K-Cup® system).”

What Keurig is not addressing are the effects of any plastic liner used under extensive heat, and which products they are using in replacement of a BPA plastic.

According to a study by “The Environmental Health Perspectives”, even BPA free products are not as safe as you might expect.  This study looked at over 455 common plastic products and they found that most plastic products, even those marked as BPA-free, leach chemicals that act like the sex hormone estrogen.

About 70% of the plastic items tested positive for estrogenic activity (EA), but the number increased to 95% when they were subjected to “real world” conditions such as microwaving and dishwashing, according to the study.  Such EA exposure has been shown to alter the structure of human cells, posing potential risks to infants and children.

“Although BPA is the most notorious chemical with estrogenic activity used in plastics, it is not the only one, nor does it have the highest biological effect,” the study co-author George D. Bittner, a neurobiologist at the University of Texas, Austin, told Chemical & Engineering News.

“Almost all commercially available plastic products we sampled, independent of the type of resin, product, or retail source, leached chemicals having reliably-detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA-free,” the study concludes.  “In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than BPA-containing products.”

One of the most well known chemicals, BPA, has become controversial.  The National Toxicology Program, a division of the National Institutes of Health, says it has “some concerns” about its potential effects on the brain development of fetuses, infants and children but did not say the chemical’s unsafe.

One woman points out that the combination of hot water temperatures and acidic ground coffee amplify the leaching effects to new heights and I would agree with her.  She goes on to say, “In studies, common plastic chemicals have been shown to interfere with animal metabolism, cause reproductive cancers and sterility, increase obesity, and other disturbing effects.”

Another study found that Americans have twice the amount of BPA in their bodies than Canadians, but it couldn’t figure out exactly why.

I know the studies are not directly about K-Cups, but to me that is enough information to get me scared about ever using the plastic pods.

Technically speaking, the plastic in the cups in #7, meaning it’s a mix of plastics.  This is what makes it a problem for recycling.

The Wall Street Journal reported that 9 billion K-Cups were sold in 2010.   Keurig said it does not make that information public, but they did say that sales of K-Cups doubled in 2011 from the numbers in 2010.  I wonder how many K-Cups have been sold in the last two years.

Cindy Luppi of Clean Water Action expressed, “Our concern is that they are not recyclable.  That means they end up in the landfills and incinerators and impact our health.  The emissions end up in the air we breathe, and the water we drink.”

“It’s hard to recycle because of the multiple materials,” explained Luppi.  First, there’s the plastic cup.  Then there is the aluminum foil top, which keeps the coffee “fresh”.  Inside there is a separate filter too.

Cost is another factor that people using the Keurig K-Cups do not think about.  According to a report from the New York Times java expert Oliver Strand, the coffee in the K-Cups comes out to be $51 per pound! Wow, that is a lot more than most of our organic and Fair-Trade coffees cost per pound.  Time magazine points out that prices are a little lower if you buy the K-Cups in bulk.  However, they are still much more expensive per pound than artisan roasting companies like us.

The question remains whether the convenience of the Keurig is worth the overall environmental impact and health risks.

Mike Dupee, vice president of sustainability for Green Mountain, even stated, “The trade-off that we need to consider is, for shaving a few seconds off the amount of time it takes me to make my coffee in the morning, what is it costing in terms of what’s going to the landfill, what kinds of non-renewable source materials like fossil fuel-derived plastics are being used, and what other environmental costs are associated with that.”

People love the convenience of the Keurig.  How quickly it brews, how there is no cleanup afterwards, and the endless variety of coffee blends and flavors available to brew.  However, no one should ingest coffee from flavored coffee beans. 

If you are looking for a machine like the Keurig that brews one cup at a time and has no cleanup, then I suggest looking at the Jura Capresso coffee makers.  They do everything that the Keurig does, but without the K-Cups.  You fill the machine with your favorite coffee beans and push one button, and it grinds the beans and brews a true FRESH cup of coffee.  There are also models that you can hook up to your milk container and make lattes and cappuccinos.

 

I know some of you are thinking of the Keurig reusable cup that can be used with ground coffee, which would eliminate using K-Cups.  However, the beans need to be ground in a separate grinder (to make the freshest cup), the reusable cup needs to be filled and then cleaned after using.  This does not sound as convenient as the Jura Capresso!

Jura Capresso coffee makers are a little more expensive upfront, however, overtime they end up being more cost effective than the Keurig.  Jura Capresso machines are environmentally friendly and there is no heating of plastic.  Therefore, landfills will not fill up anymore from the use of K-Cups and your health is not put at risk because no plastic cartridges are heated.   It is a win win with the Jura Capresso.





















Tell Starbucks To Stop Serving Monsanto: No More GMOs in our Lattes

When you buy a latte at Starbucks, you may be inadvertently funneling money into Monsanto's pockets, too. It turns out that the milk served in Starbucks products comes from cows raised on genetically modified animal feed such as GM corn and soy products. "These crops degrade the quality of our land and water, perpetuate corporate-controlled agriculture, and have potentially negative health impacts on livestock," says GMO Inside. "Additionally, the overuse of antibiotics in industrialized farming is contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, putting us all at risk."

Because of this, GMOInside.org launched a campaign to convince Starbucks to get the GMOs out of the dairy supply chain. .

Starbucks financially supports Monsanto

Starbucks serves GMO-fed dairy in most of its 20,000 stores around the world, and while Starbucks is already sourcing milk from rBGH-free cows, it still sources milk from cows raised on GMOs.

"Starbucks already serves soy milk that is organic and non-GMO. Consumers also deserve dairy milk held to the same standard and level of quality," said GMO Inside Campaign Director Nicole McCann.

John Roulac, founder of Nutiva (one of my favorite companies in the entire industry, by the way, with super clean hemp-based products), added, "The days when a global company like Starbucks can hide GMOs from the customer are over. The age of transparency is here and I expect Starbucks will shortly realize it’s in its best interest to eliminate GMOs from its supply chain."

Dave Murphy of Food Democracy Now also chimed in with, "Starbucks has helped bankroll efforts to defeat GMO labeling in the US for the past two years. It's time for Starbucks to commit to transparency and the highest quality ingredients for their customers."

Why the era of covert GMOs is fast coming to a close

To the great frustration of the biotech industry and all its hired guns, propagandists, negative P.R. trolls and intimidation operatives, the era of hidden GMOs is fast coming to a close. One by one, restaurants like Starbucks are going to be pressured into dumping genetically engineered ingredients from their entire supply chain... including animal feed given to animals that produce the products they sell.

Remember, it wasn't too long ago that Whole Foods was also pressured into announcing that everything they sell would be honestly labeled with GMO content by the year 2018. While that year still seems far off, the word from Whole Foods insiders who keep me posted on corporate activities is that Whole Foods is very, very serious about meeting this date and has been applying tremendous pressure behind the scenes to companies like PepsiCo to get their products labeled.

It's not difficult to imagine that if Starbucks says "no" to this effort, the entire blogosphere will eventually erupt into a massive consumer backlash that paints Starbucks as "being in bed with Monsanto" and "subjecting the entire world to runaway genetic pollution" caused by genetically engineered crops. (All GE crops planted in open fields result in genetic pollution, much of which now contaminates organic farms and has causes enormous financial losses for America's farmers.)

Take action now to tell Starbucks to stop serving Monsanto!

Everyone at Natural News openly endorse this consumer grassroots effort, and we encourage you to read this "Take Action" page at GMOinside.org and follow the simple steps. One of the steps involves downloading and printing a ticket that you simply hand to the Starbucks cashier on your next visit.

You can also call Starbucks at 800-782-7282 to let them know you want the company to ditch GMOs all the way up the supply line.

Also, chime in at the Starbucks Facebook page and tell 'em you want Monsanto out of your coffee cup!

Most Starbucks customers would no doubt agree that when they order a latte, they don't want to be served a product derived from Monsanto, the single most evil corporation on the planet today according to multiple web polls.

Natural News salutes GMOinside.org for taking this stand, and we encourage consumers everywhere to demand GMOs be removed from all the food and beverages you regularly consume.

Monsanto is at war with humanity, committing environmental violence against us all

I foresee a day when the selling of genetically engineered foods to the public is considered a felony crime, and when executives of biotechnology corporations are arrested and charged with crimes against nature.

Make no mistake that there will come a day when there is a popular revolt against GMOs and biotech companies, and I hope and pray that such a revolt will not turn violent. Yet what companies like Monsanto are doing right now to the entire world is a form of environmental violence committed against us all (and farmers in particular).

Monsanto is already waging a war against humanity and a war against life. It's only a matter of time before humanity revolts in the morally-justified act of self defense against ecocidal maniacs who run Monsanto and whose actions run the very real risk of destroying our natural world, according to many top scientists (the ones that haven't been bought off, intimidated or muzzled by the biotech mafia).

For their own selfish profits, biotechnology corporations put us all at risk of runaway genetic pollution and crop failures that could lead to mass starvation and irreversible, self-replicating pollution that permanently damages our world. That this predatory agricultural dominance is condoned by the self-deluded "business" community is an affront to fundamental human dignity and natural rights. When it all comes down, history will remember who fought for the preservation of life on our planet vs. who sold their souls for profit.

Sources for this article include:

http://gmoinside.org/gmo-inside-announces-ca...

http://gmoinside.org/starbucks/