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GreenEarthAl
01-29-2005, 05:19 PM
Organic Bytes #49
Food and Consumer News Tidbits with an Edge!
1/28/2005

NEW OPTION: Change your subscription settings to receive Organic Bytes as plain text (instead of html) here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/campaign.cfm

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ALERT: NEW EPA DEAL LETS FACTORY FARMS POLLUTE AIR WITHOUT RESTRICTION
The day after the inauguration, January 21, the Bush Administration signed an agreement that allows factory farms to freely violate any and all clean air standards for the next two years, and forgives these same companies from paying fines for past air pollution violations. In exchange for the freedom to pollute without any restrictions, the deal "requests" that factory farms agree to monitor their air pollution and provide that data to the government. Bush's "Dirty Air" agreement is outrageous, given that the Clean Air Act already requires factory farms to provide air pollution data, while also requiring facilities to adhere to clean air standards. One of the companies that will benefit the most from this arrangement with the Bush Administration is Tyson Foods, who also happened to be one of the largest donors to the Bush inaugural festivities. Fortunately there is a 30 day public comment period. Please make your voice heard. Take action here. http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa3.htm

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A QUICK LOOK AT HOW SOME COUNTRIES ADVERTISE FOOD TO KIDS

Ireland: All television commercials for fast food and candy are banned.
Sweden/Norway/Austria/Luxembourg: All television advertising to children is banned.
Belgium/France/Portugal/Vietnam: All marketing is banned in schools.
United States: Spending more per child than any other nation in the world, the U.S. plugs $15 billion per year into marketing food to kids, which is more than what it would cost to provide health insurance for all uninsured children.

Sources: New York Times 1/12/2005, Children's Defense Fund 5/14/2003 press release, USgovinfo SCHIP Program
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INDUSTRY LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE "HEALTHIER" JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS
In response to efforts to rid schools of junk food, the Vending Association has launched a new marketing campaign using color-coded stickers to indicate to children the relative "healthiness" of the vending machine snack. A red sticker indicates the snack should only be chosen rarely, yellow is "choose occasionally," and green means the snack is healthy and should be chosen frequently. An example of a snack that will receive a green sticker is Teddy Grahams, a product that comes in varieties such as sugared cinnamon, chocolate, and creme-filled. The Vending Association announced this new campaign with a press conference, urging parents and children to exercise more frequently by doing sit-ups and push-ups during TV commercials. Learn more...

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THICKBURGERS, WAL-MART, & COKE: THE 10 WORST CORPORATIONS OF 2004
The Multinational Monitor has released its annual list of the "10 Worst Corporations of 2004." Among the "winners" of this prestigious award are Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart and Hardees. Coca-Cola made the list when documentation surfaced revealing the company was involved in 179 human rights violations at its bottling plants in Columbia, including allegations of involvement in nine murders of union leaders. Wal-Mart was caught manipulating the tax system in order maximize profits at the expense of taxpayers. In fact, it turns out that each of Wal-Mart's 1000+ stores are costing taxpayers nearly half a million dollars per year. Hardees made its debut on the "Worst Corporations" list for its overtly aggressive advertising of its new product, the "Monster Thickburger." The 2/3 pound sandwich is 1,420 calories and equivalent to eating five standard sized hamburgers. Learn more...

Rosie Cotton
01-29-2005, 09:17 PM
The 2/3 pound sandwich is 1,420 calories and equivalent to eating five standard sized hamburgers.
Barf. I think I'll stick with veggie burgers.

cosmo105
01-29-2005, 09:26 PM
jesus christ. do the restaurants (though it's a stretch calling them that) have defilibrators?

Rosie Cotton
01-29-2005, 09:34 PM
They certainly need them with a menu like that. I think I'm gonna vomit up my chicken taco after reading that.

cosmo105
01-29-2005, 09:57 PM
that shit has almost 1000 calories from fat, 45 grams of saturated fat, and over two grams of sodium. that's more than enough to induce a heart attack. the sodium alone would send your blood pressure through the roof.

Rosie Cotton
01-29-2005, 09:59 PM
Now I think my blueberry muffin is going to come back up. Blech. :(

cosmo105
01-29-2005, 09:59 PM
don't worry! blueberries are full of antioxidants! STAY DOWN, MUFFIN!

yeahwho
01-30-2005, 12:13 PM
That is a fantastic newsletter. (y) Thanks for the link. They've done a real good job of compiling everything in an easy to read format.

We are all part of a grand experiment in food processing. The food is changed to meet the machines that produce it, rather than protect the people who eat it.

A good friend of mine was diagnosed with diabetes 2 weeks ago. He has been involved heavily in sports, athletics, daily running his whole life. Just married and starting a job as a teacher. Nobody else in his family (4 brothers and sisters on up to great grandparents) has a history of diabetes. He is 24.

The food we are bombarded with daily in the U.S. is toxic as all hell.

D_Raay
01-30-2005, 01:10 PM
You know, until we decide to do something about it as a people, it will continue unabated. Viva la capitalism!!

infidel
01-30-2005, 03:48 PM
I've come to the conclusion that if you eat a diet strictly from the supermarket you can get fat and die of starvation at the same time.
Fast food is even faster.

ASsman
01-30-2005, 06:37 PM
More likely to die from cancer too (I'm willing to bet).

YoungRemy
01-30-2005, 06:47 PM
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the Vending Association has launched a new marketing campaign using color-coded stickers to indicate to children the relative "healthiness" of the vending machine snack. A red sticker indicates the snack should only be chosen rarely, yellow is "choose occasionally," and green means the snack is healthy and should be chosen frequently.
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the junk food terror threat system

nines
02-01-2005, 12:46 AM
I had heard most of those savory news morsels from other sources already, but I think this Organic Bytes is worth a looksee, thanks, Al, you big sugar.
P.S. The idea of consuming almost 1500 calories at one time made me hungry. :o
However, I am now 6 months pregnant so forgive me. ;)

Also-

green means the snack is healthy and should be chosen frequently. An example of a snack that will receive a green sticker is Teddy Grahams, a product that comes in varieties such as sugared cinnamon, chocolate, and creme-filled.
I laughed at that. HARD.