Dedicated to informing and educating In this issue members and the public about food and agriculture, consumer food concerns, Sweet on honey, page 7 and the cooperative business model. Honey fraud, page 8 No. 476 • February 2013 GE salmon, page 12
Sound consumer
Sign up for PCC Advocates Once in a while there’s breaking news about something in the world of food and agricul- ture that compels us consumers to take action right away to stand up for safe, sustainable food. Sometimes the monthly Sound Consumer can’t get you the infor- mation quickly enough. That’s why we have PCC Advocates, PCC’s e-mail newslet- ter that keeps you informed about food and agriculture controversies as they happen. Over the past four years, as events warrant, we’ve sent alerts by Joel Preston Smith WISErganic’s on issues ranging from genetic en- organic fertilizer gineering and organic standards to “Go outside and turn on your car. is sold at PCC. food safety. We recently sent one Don’t ask questions, just do it. Now walk about the Food and Drug Admin- away. You heard me, just leave it running. istration’s (FDA) recommendation Set your watch for 30 minutes. When that to approve genetically engineered PCC is trying to dam its waste stream as host of a pilot project for food recycling. A proof of concept salmon. (There’s still time to time is up, you can turn off your car. “Harvester” from the WISErg Corporation, installed at the Issaquah store, is an enzyme-driven digester. comment to FDA! See page 12 for “While no sane person would let their It processes the store’s food scraps into an organic liquid fertilizer sold at PCC stores and to farmers. car idle for a half hour, it burns through the more on this transgenic fish and same amount of money we squander each according to Jonathan Bloom in “American “That’s pretty staggering,” she says, what you can do.) You can sign up to receive day in wasted food ...” Wasteland.” He spells out the ironies “when you think that we send more and frustration you have to swallow if food to landfills and incinerators than we our e-mail alerts online at — Jonathan Bloom, in “American you look, on one hand, at the enormous do cardboard and paper … that’s a large pccnaturalmarkets.com/enews. Wasteland: How America Throws output of American farms and food pro- volume of landfill space to take up. But Away Nearly Half of Its Food” ducers, and on the other, at how much is it’s a bio-material. There’s no reason for GMO labeling updates abandoned or treated as garbage. it to go to a landfill.” At press time, Washington’s PCC shoppers are a conscientious Bloom describes touring the Crazy U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria bunch. We care about food and its impact Horse Canyon Landfill, in Monterey County, Food waste and methane Cantwell had just announced on the environment. When we worry, it’s Calif., where “an inch of shredded lettuce EPA’s biggest worry is that wasted they’re sponsoring federal about the pesticides used to grow apples, [obscures] the ground like a dusting of green food is wanton pollution. Landfills, Schwab legislation to label genetically or whether hormones or antibiotics were snow.” The landfill’s owner tells Bloom that explains, are the third-largest producers of engineered (GE) salmon and used to hasten production of the meat or every day, 200 tons of “excess, rejected or methane gas in the United States. Molecule dairy. We’re concerned about how food misbagged produce” is offloaded at the site for molecule, methane packs 23 times the other GE foods. is produced, and don’t often give much by garbage trucks. Crazy Horse shut down in global-warming impact of carbon dioxide. Their announcement followed thought to what happens once it is. 2009, partly due to the surfeit of wasted food. Only the mining industry and agriculture gen- the Food and Drug Administra- So consider this: an estimated 15,988,480 On average, Bloom writes, every erate more of the threatening greenhouse gas. tion’s (FDA) recommendation to acres of crops were left unharvested in American throws away about 197 pounds Dana Gunders, a food-waste expert for approve genetically engineered the United States in 2007, according to the of food each year — at a cost of roughly the Natural Resources Defense Council, salmon for sale in grocery Environmental and Energy Study Institute, $1,600 for a family of four. It’s an outrage, notes methane is just the terminal link in stores, without labeling. FDA is a nonprofit sustainability center in Wash- not solely because 50 million Americans a chain of waste that begins the moment a recommending approval of the ington, D.C. Imagine all of Massachusetts, (including 17 million children) are food seed is planted. She recently authored the GE salmon engineered with eel New Hampshire, Delaware and Rhode insecure, according to U.S. Department of report, “Wasted: How America Is Losing genes as a “new animal drug.” Island, every square inch of it edible, ripe Agriculture 2011 data. It’s an outrage also Up to 40 Percent of its Food from Farm to That means it was subjected to for harvest. Now plow it under, and that still because of the enormous environmental Fork to Landfill.” less rigorous safety standards doesn’t cover the square miles of crops fed cost of scrapping food. Some of her key arguments: agriculture than food additives. to the dirt that year. Food waste is the single largest com- consumes 10 percent of the U.S. energy Meanwhile, Washington’s As rotten as those stats may seem, they ponent — 20.5 percent — of waste at U.S. supply, 80 percent of all fresh water, and 50 I-522 is expected to be heard rankle alongside another figure: roughly landfills, according to Jean Schwab, a senior percent of land resources — while infusing by state House and Senate com- 40-50 percent of all food that reaches the soil with pesticides and other chemicals program analyst for the Environmental mittee members sometime this some “point of sale” ends up as garbage, Protection Agency (EPA). Continued on page 4 month or next. The legislature may adopt it as law, or amend it, but is expected to refer I-522 PCC Natural Markets CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PRSRT STD directly to the ballot for a vote 4201 Roosevelt Way NE US POSTAGE by the people. PAID Seattle, WA 98105 If you want to be notified SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 401 when the hearings in Olympia will be, or help with the I-522 campaign as the year goes along, sign up for PCC Advo- cates (as above) and you’ll get pertinent advisories. your co-op community Find out more about community events at pccnaturalmarkets.com/events
Kindiependent kids rock series Hiawatha Pancake Breakfast Mount Baker Community Club Sunday, February 10, 8 a.m. to noon Mini-spa day 2811 Mount Rainier Drive, Seattle Hiawatha Community Center 2700 California Ave. SW, Seattle Still in the throes of winter, we cozy at Issaquah PCC Kindiependent is “Seattle’s independent up to delicious, healthy, hearty meals at Friday, February 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. kids and family music scene” and features Come in and enjoy all-you-can-eat this time of year. Learn to make a variety Issaquah PCC classroom some of the best, local children’s entertain- pancakes with warm maple syrup and melted of foods in hands-on classes by our ment groups. Join us for this fun series from butter as you dine with your neighbors! There Enjoy hand treatments, Val- experienced instructors with varied menus. now until April. PCC will be in attendance also will be sausage, bagels and fruit available entine’s Day aromas and other Hands-on classes give you experience in the on the following dates to help kids put in limited portions. Your PCC Healthy Kids refreshing experiences as you classroom so you can reproduce recipes together cool, take-home treats. Learn more team will be on site to help kiddos make at home. Learn all about yeasted whole- learn about natural body care about Kindiependent and check out the full a fun, take-home treat. All proceeds will wheat breads, vegan weekday meals, products. The classroom will concert lineup at kindiependent.com. support the community center’s scholarship quick braising techniques and much more. be redolent with the romantic fund. Cost: $6 (ages 13+), $5 (ages 3 to 12), In a demonstration class, “Shellfish scents of essential oils and salt • Recess Monkey $4 (ages 65+), Free (2 and under). Secrets,” instructor Kari Brunson reveals scrubs. Feel relaxed as your Saturday, February 9, 10:30 a.m. all you need to know about cooking hands are massaged, make Val- Recess Monkey is partnering with delicate shellfish, with recipes such as entine’s Day room sprays, and Kid Picks at the Zoo the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Please Grilled Shrimp Salad and Steamed Clams enter to win baskets of healthy Wednesday, February 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. consider bringing along a can of food with Salsa Verde. “Simply Elegant” by products we’ll be giving away. Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle to donate to your neighbors in need! Yary Oslund features delectably ap- Yes, it’s all free, but we happily Join us for a day at the zoo and some healthy proachable dishes such as Roast Duck will accept donations for the • The Board of Education taste-testing! Find the PCC Kid Picks Mobile Breast with Shallot Wine Sauce, and PCC Farmland Trust. Saturday, February 23, 10:30 a.m. near the penguins at the west entrance. Lemon-Almond Tart for dessert. The Board of Education is partnering For details on all classes, visit Valentine’s Day Dash with Zeno (formerly Explorations in Heart-healthy eating on PccCooks.com or the print catalog, avail- Math), a nonprofit organization helping able in stores. Register for classes online, Saturday, February 9, 9 a.m. a budget for seniors families experience math in unique and by mail or call 206-545-7112. Greenlake Park unexpected ways. Friday, February 22, 1 to 3 p.m. 7201 E. Greenlake Drive N., Seattle Calvin Presbyterian Church Sign your kids up for the 18826 3rd Ave N.W., Shoreline PCC Healthy Kids Happy Heart If you're a senior living on a fixed European food tours with Beet Run; it’s free! This is a income, a trip to market can be very stressful. non-competitive run and kids With the cost of food rising, it's difficult to PCC Cooks chefs will receive a prize from PCC for find healthy and affordable food. Or is it? Space is limited. Visit online at Through Saturday, February 9 making the effort to participate. Hear PCC nutrition educator Nick Rose earthboundexpeditions.com to reserve. PCC also is the official fruit Help neighbors in need stay warm this discuss how to eat seasonal, sustainable sponsor of this race so stop by winter by donating new or gently worn and delicious food throughout the year on • Gourmet paris May 4 to 11 the PCC tent for a pre- or post- sweaters, coats and cold-weather gear during a shoestring budget. For questions about with PCC chef Lynne Vea race fuel up. The kids run begins KCTS 9’s annual drive. Collection bins will be the event contact Lisa at Mud Puddle at 9:10 a.m. For more info and to located at all PCC store locations or drop off Fitness at 206-524-6788 or CoachLisa@ Sample the best pastries, bread, choco- register, visit promotionevents. your items at KCTS 9’s Seattle Center Studio. MudPuddleFitness.com. lates, cheeses and wines that Paris has com/valentines. Donations will be distributed to Wellspring to offer. Enjoy fine multicourse bistro Family Services and Northwest Center, serv- dining, visit bustling produce markets and enjoy a private cooking class with ing Seattle and King County. Be Mine, Valentine February customer service star a local expert chef. Saturday, February 9 Thanks for donating in 2012! • Flv a ors of Italy (Rome, Orvieto, 9 a.m. to noon Tuscany, Bologna and Venice) Thanks to your generous support, we Edmonds, Greenlake, Issaquah, September 5 to 15 raised an additional $41,825 for the PCC Redmond and West Seattle PCC with chef Iole Aguero Food Bank Program during our two food Join us for this fun event drives in 2012 — enough to purchase the Highlights of this culinary adventure where kids can create special equivalent of 460,080 servings of black include private cooking classes, out- ings to Tuscan hill towns, tastings valentine cards for their beans. In total, the food bank program with the producers of balsamic vin- friends and family. PCC will raised $99,828 in 2012, which was used to supply materials as well as egar, fine Chianti wines, and Parmi- purchase 57,345 pounds of bulk food for our giano-Reggiano and Pecorino cheese. delicious treats. 10 partner food banks. To learn more, visit In produce at Greenlake, Terry Richburg builds genuine relationships with customers! The adventure begins in Rome and pccnaturalmarkets.com/foodbank. culminates in Venice.
Become a PCC member and join a Great foods. community of shoppers who value fresh, locally grown food — plus get shopping discounts every month! Healthy To become a member, just stop by any PCC store and ask a cashier. Or, join online at neighborhoods. www.pccnaturalmarkets.com.
2 PCC sound consumer February 2013 SOUND CONSUMER
Published monthly by PCC Natural Markets, 4201 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105, letters to the editor 206-547-1222, Fax 206-545-7131. [ ]
The Sound Consumer is dedicated to informing and educating members and the public about food and agriculture, consumer concerns and co-op principles. Letters must be 250 words or less and include agricultural lands. The environmental im- and several PCC partners donated to make a name, address and daytime phone number. pacts alone should alarm all of us and make sure it would get enough signatures to Sound Consumer: circulation: 51,000. Copyright 2013: All rights reserved including the right to reproduce. PCC We reserve the right to edit. Please e-mail us question whether GMOs are the solution qualify for the ballot, including Organic endorses neither the services nor products of any paid letters to [email protected]. to our current food dilemma. Consumers Association, Nature’s Path, advertiser. Opinions expressed in the paper are the writ- I-522 offers an opportunity for us to show Earthbound Farm, Udi’s, Tofurkey/Turtle er’s own and do not necessarily reflect co-op policy. the rest of the country we’re serious about Island, Natural Products Association, and Editor Eli Penberthy Farmers support GMO labeling the health of our soil, food and bodies. Organically Grown Company. Art Director Sue Aho As small farm owners in the Snoqualmie — Matt Tregoning, Sol to Seed Farm Graphic Design & Production Kathy Moore Valley (we grow for CSA and farmers Carnation, Wash. PCC donation advertising Melissa Watson, Fran McDonald markets on 2 acres), the initiative to require This is very late and slow in coming but PROOFREADER Hana Rubin labeling genetically modified organisms Support Non-GMO Verified we need to thank Raymond Glandon and MARKETING DIRECTOR Laurie Albrecht (GMOs) in Washington state, I-522, means The call to boycott brands owned by very the deli staff at the Fremont store for the Chief Executive Officer Tracy Wolpert more than just labeling the food you see at large food corporations that made substantial most wonderful generosity. Raymond and Board Administrator Janice Parker your local co-op. It’s also about the oppor- contributions to defeat Prop 37 in California the deli staff donated a variety of nutritious Board of Trustees tunity to make more acreage a viable source possibly is on the right track. If nothing else, and delightful platters for the potluck fol- Katrina Basic Carol Binder Julianne Lamsek of sustainable, non-GMO-infiltrated land. it’s important that we, as consumers, realize lowing “The Build” at the resident-initiated Maggie Lucas Bryan Pearce John Sheller The importance of this cannot be understat- the full extent of ownership of our food Schwabacher Just Garden. Stephen Tan Sandy Voit Bruce Williams ed. The more farmers willing to farm using sources. We can be sure that I-522 will be up The residents of Schwabacher House organic methods, the fewer opportunities for against the same deep-pocketed foes. in Ballard initiated and received a $7,000 PCC neighborhood locations: biotech to remain a ubiquitous source for Wouldn’t it be equally instructive, and grant from Just Garden and the P-Patch Levy Edmonds Daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. agriculture, on any scale. more affirming, to research the companies, Program, City of Seattle, in November 2012 to 9803 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA 98020 Many farmers in the Snoqualmie install four raised garden beds so that those 425-275-9036 organizations and individuals who sup- Valley worry about the possibility of cross- ported Prop 37 and are supporting I-522? with mobility problems could garden and be- Fremont Daily 6 a.m. to midnight contamination. Genetically engineered (GE) come more organic food self-sufficient. While 600 N. 34th St., Seattle, WA 98103 I would like to know what food producers the grant covered materials and supplies for 206-632-6811 seed varieties easily can cross with plants cared enough to donate to the cause for in the same family. One way to ensure our garden, it did not cover installation labor. Greenlake Daily 7 a.m. to midnight labeling GMO foods. We were so lucky to have about 40 7504 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 cross-contamination won’t occur is to tell I only am aware that the Organic 206-525-3586 to 50 dedicated volunteers over two days your lawmakers that you want GMO food Consumers Association (OCA) donated come and install four garden beds for us. Issaquah Daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. labeled. Also, vote with your wallets — more than a million dollars in support of at Pickering Place don’t buy foods that support the production They needed to be thanked and we needed 1810 12th Ave. N.W., Issaquah, WA 98027 Prop 37. Does PCC know who the other big to celebrate with them the success of this 425-369-1222 of GMO food. That’s the quickest way to financial supporters were? Shouldn’t we be change poor farming practices. project! Donations were requested to pro- Kirkland Daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. making an effort to give those companies vide food and coffee/tea for a celebratory 10718 N.E. 68th St., Kirkland, WA 98033 Another equally, if not more important, and nonprofits our support? If we focus on 425-828-4622 potluck. Schwabacher is a low-income se- reason to reject GE food production is the that favorable step, I think it could be even nior residence and no funds were available Redmond Daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. use of synthetic herbicides and pesticides. more influential toward positive change. 11435 Avondale Rd. N.E., Redmond, WA 98052 The biotech industry likes to talk about how to help. Fortunately, PCC Fremont, along 425-285-1400 — M. Harding the use of these chemicals has decreased with others, generously donated to the Seward Park Daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. potluck that followed the successful instal- 5041 Wilson Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118 from supposed advantages of GE crops, but PCC replies: We agree we should make 206-723-2720 we now know through comprehensive stud- a special effort to support companies that lation of our raised garden beds. It was a great celebration! View Ridge Daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ies that this is not the case. Twenty-three have donated to and/or endorsed labeling. 6514 40th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 weeds and insects with resistance to the Perhaps you missed our December Sound Now come spring, we will begin grow- 206-526-7661 chemicals are well documented. Consumer cover story, thanking the compa- ing our organic vegetables and flowers and West Seattle Daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Even if you’re not certain what impact nies that donated early for I-522? Read it PCC played a big part in the success of this 2749 California Ave. S.W., Seattle, WA 98116 project. Some of our residents have been 206-937-8481 GMOs have on your health, it’s indisputable at pccnaturalmarkets.com/sc/1212/i522_ pccnaturalmarkets.com that more chemicals are being used and this supporters.html. More than 150 companies
is causing catastrophic soil degradation on and organizations have endorsed I-522, Letters continued on page 5
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PCC sound consumer February 2013 3 Americans waste 40% of food continued from page 1
— for what? To let it rot? Or load 40 percent Don’t toss that! percent of Seattle’s municipal solid waste Every American throws of it in a truck and drive it to a distant land- Consider the waste attributable to con- would be recycled by the year 2025. The fill, where it further pollutes the planet? fusing food labels: a 2009 U.K. study found figure was 53.7 percent in 2010. Seattle away 197 pounds of food British consumers threw away as much as 20 Public Utilities just launched a project to Large-scale change percent of food purchases after misreading find out how much food waste residents a year — at a cost of $1,600 It was this insanity that drove Bloom to (or misunderstanding) the “best if used by” generate, in hopes of using the data to brand himself as a food-waste warrior. He or “sell-by” date on the package. There’s no structure a 2013 food-waste reduction plan. for a family of four. said the precipitating event was working in reason to believe U.S. or other consumers Seattle Tilth offers an online resource a grocery store in Carrboro, N.C., where he around the globe are behaving differently. guide to making food waste “fun” (meaning was a witness, and sometimes a party, to “‘Use-by’ dates are completely arbitrary,” creative, guiltless solutions to what to do with throwing away hundreds of pounds of edible explains Jennifer Erickson, a senior resource your food waste): http://seattletilth.org/learn/ food each day. “Being part of that waste was planner in Portland, Ore., “but people look resources-1/almanac/october/food-waste-fun. Food waste by the numbers enlightening. It really stuck in my craw.” at them like they’re written in stone.” Back in California, Hidden Harvest’s He says for a while he stacked the Portland metro taxpayers spend about trucks are burning up the asphalt. There’s • In 2010 single-family throwaways beside the grocery’s dumpster, $2.2 million a year on date dyslexia (not more wasting in the fields than the nonprofit households in Seattle hoping someone would collect them, then including the purchase price of the ditched can collect, refrigerate and redistribute. The generated 216,484 tons of hooked the store up with a local food- food itself). first week of last December, a farmer offered solid waste — and 64,309 recovery group. The only federally mandated “use-by” Hidden Harvest 88,000 pounds of eggplant, tons of it were incinerated The same insanity compelled Christy dates are those on infant formula. For all but it couldn’t take more than 8,000. It had or landfilled. Porter to launch Hidden Harvest, a non- other products, Gunders explains, the sell-by just accepted 65,000 pounds of lettuce. • An estimated 14 percent of profit that gleans crops from the California date is a message to the retailer from the the world’s CO2 emissions fields that otherwise would be interred. In manufacturer, intended to protect the manu- How to help are caused by food waste. its first year, 2001, Hidden Harvest collected facturer’s reputation, not the consumer’s Gleaning operations and food banks, • The irrigation water used 75,000 pounds of food, much of it hauled in safety. Neither the “sell-by” nor “best if including PCC partner food banks, always globally to grow food that the hatchback of her old Subaru. By 2008, used by” dates have anything to do with can use help. But you can start from home. is wasted would be enough the agency topped 5 million pounds of res- consumer safety, and are not required by the Give what you can’t use to your local pan- for the domestic needs of 9 cued food, all of it gleaned from local farms Food and Drug Administration. try or food bank. Visit pccnaturalmarkets.com/ billion people — the num- by staff, contract workers and volunteers. Gunders says the labels are so broadly community/foodbank to learn more about ber expected on the planet “Nothing ever just comes to us,” she says. misinterpreted that store managers some- PCC’s food bank program. Read Bloom’s and by 2050. “We have to go get it.” times order shelves cleared of any food Gunders’ books and blogs for tips on how Hidden Harvest hires as many as 25 set to “expire” two or three days later. See to save money and cut food losses. • If we planted trees on land farmworkers a day and pays them a minimum pccnaturalmarkets.com/basics/safety/ for Read those labels, but no need to call currently used to grow un- of $12 an hour to keep what the farmworkers more info about safe food storage. the Poison Control Center if you see one necessary surplus and wast- had been growing from being plowed under. PCC is trying to dam its own waste stream stamped for yesterday. Or maybe even the ed food, this would offset a Hidden Harvest now ships its pickings to 65 by hosting a pilot project for food recycling. month before. It depends. theoretical maximum of 100 relief agencies, Porter says, and has an ongo- The WISErg Corporation’s “Harvester” was At restaurants, tell the waiter you percent of greenhouse gas ing commitment to supply Feeding America installed at the Issaquah PCC in March 2012. It want a human-sized portion. emissions from fossil fuel pantries with a minimum of 1 million pounds processes the store’s food scraps into a liquid Don’t overshop. Make a menu for combustion. a few days at a time and build your of food annually. The Subaru is long gone, that WISErg then refines into an organic liquid • Many fisheries around the shopping list from that. When trimming but seven cargo trucks replaced it. fertilizer sold at PCC stores and to farmers. world throw away more vegetables, try to make it look like your It’s a world of good in a community Seattle is making strides toward reduc- fish than they keep. Some paring knife wasn’t a chainsaw. Porter says was ranked second poorest in ing waste: the city’s curbside collection ser- of the biggest offenders are Eat the middle of broccoli stems. They’re the nation in the 2000 U.S. Census. But vice for food waste collected almost 35,000 shrimp fisheries. Bloom, Gunders and a host of others argue tons in 2010, up from 11,200 tons in 2009. soft in there, once you carefully peel off the we can do better. In 2007 the City Council resolved that 70 woody skin. It’s not garbage.
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Drought tolerant and native plantings Backyard wildlife habitat Rockeries & stone patios Edible landscapes Garden and play structures Design, installation and maintenance WK$YH6:6HDWWOH:$ ENVIROSTARS RATING &DOO8V VZHGLVKDXWRFRP 4 PCC sound consumer February 2013 [ letters to the editor ] continued from page 3 longtime PCC members and were proud to DHA in baby food product? Is hexane used in the extraction Regarding the hexane issue, when the acknowledge how great PCC is! We invite In doing some research on baby formula, process? If the answer is yes, please ask NOSB approved DHA and ARA oils last all to drop by this summer when the fruits I was saddened to read many articles stating Earth’s Best to change its formulation, or year, the annotation stated it had to be “not of our labor start appearing! that Life’s DHA is a GMO supplement being offer a product without the DHA/ARA. hexane extracted.” But that annotation has Thank you so much! added to Earth’s Best, which is stocked on — Paul Erikson, Kirkland not been adopted by the U.S. Department of — Schwabacher House Just Garden gardeners the shelf at PCC (naturalnews.com/034364_ Agriculture, which is allowing companies to infant_formula_DHA_genetically_modified. PCC replies: The DHA/ARA controversy keep adding the synthetic nutrients that they html). After a bit of further research, I also is one we’ve been following and have taken have been adding. Fluoridated water on farms? learned that hexane is used to extract oils a public stance on. At the National Organic The good news: We have an organic I want to know if the farms PCC from algae, which is then processed into Standards Board meeting in April 2011, we formula without DHA/ARA. It›s Baby’s Only utilizes for our food use well water or mu- the supplement. testified that we felt manufacturers using Organic for toddlers, manufactured by nicipal water to water their crops? If they From the article, it appears that Martek, Martek Biosciences’ DHA algal oil and ARA use municipal water that has fluoride in Nature’s One. the manufacturer, held political sway over fungal oil in organic products were in con- it, then the plants will absorb the fluoride the National Organic Standards Board flict with organic standards. and we’ll ingest it. GMO corn (NOSB) in gaining approval for organic cer- To answer your question about whether The farm even can be certified organic How does one know if corn is truly tification. It appears this certification may be DHA/ARA are GMO, we have no evidence and still use fluoridated water. There is no GMO-free? I’ve heard people say there’s no in question, as they are now in an 18-month the microorganisms used in infant formula standard on this dangerous chemical. In fact, GMO-free corn in the United States. industry comment period before a decision are genetically engineered. (The algal micro- many processed foods, even organic, have While I have faith and some trust in on the organic certification will be made. organisms used in foods other than infant fluoride in them because they use municipal organic standards, I wonder if we are testing When I look at the Life’s DHA website, formula are produced from mutagenesis: water to make their product. Most people get organic corn to ensure that it is GMO-free? they state that the product comes from a blasting organisms with radiation or harsh more fluoride in their diet than they know. — Rachel Newman “source” that is not genetically modified, but chemicals to induce mutations, until a favor- I personally do not eat processed foods I am not convinced the final product is not able mutation is identified.) PCC replies: The U.S. Department of but I want my produce to be fluoride-free. genetically modified (http://store.martek.com/ That doesn’t mean there are no concerns Agriculture says 88 percent of the U.S. crop Does PCC check and know what water about-us.aspx). Since I’m unable to determine about GMOs with the DHA/ARA oils. The corn is genetically engineered. If you don’t buy sources their farms use? Are all your produce whether I would be feeding hexane-extracted byproducts used to ferment the microorganisms organic or Non-GMO Project Verified products, fluoride-free by using fluoride-free water? GMOs to my infant son by using Earth’s Best, I (essentially, their “feed”) is likely from GMO odds are you’re eating GMO corn — including — Mark Brubaker have found an alternative product in Europe. corn. Martek has admitted it does not source derivative ingredients in many processed foods. PCC replies: Our produce manager My concern is that the formula non-GMO corn for its fermentation process. Organic standards prohibit genetic and primary produce supplier, Organically manufacturer and the NOSB are complicit There are several other ingredients used engineering and we know the overwhelming Grown Company, say they have never been in this deception, so I am losing faith in the mixture that becomes “DHA oil” and majority of contaminations occur at the seed on an Oregon or Washington farm that uses in the organics standards and in the “ARA oil,” some of which may be derived level. Since testing is not required on organics, municipal water in the fields. It’s too expen- products you carry. Please clear this up: from corn. So, it’s reasonable to question the many brands have enrolled in the Non-GMO sive for the volumes that farms use. is the Earth’s Best infant formula a GMO non-GMO status of the final product. Project to incorporate testing for validation. 0_RNaV[T ORNbaVSbY TN_QR[` &VIEXLI(IIT7XERH8EPP N[Q \baQ\\_ `]NPR` %&4*(/t*/45"--"5*0/t."*/5&/"/$& -RXIKVEXIHFSH][SVO áZFBSTFYQFSJFODF JSVMRGVIEWIHZMXEPMX] á1MBOU"NOFTUZBOE8"-1SFGFSSBMT ERHPEWXMRKTEMRVIPMIJ Bill Bowlus 425-882-2930 .EWSR6YQSLV014',4 LivingEarthLandscapes.com 6SSWIZIPX;E]2)7IEXXPI [[[NEWSRVYQSLVGSQ )DPLO\2ZQHGDQG2SHUDWHG Affordable Organic for all budgets. We’ll help you find the best sleeping environment for your body. The largest selection of Organic Mattresses, Toppers, Eco Memory Foam, Pillows & Bedding on the Eastside. 10623 N.E. 8th St., Downtown Bellevue (425) 454-8727• TheSleepStoreUSA.com PCC sound consumer February 2013 5 in the aisles [ what’s in store ] The buzz on honey Honey has been used as a food and medicine and revered for its health- ful properties for thousands of years. Pythagoras called it “the nectar of the Gods” — and for good reason. It’s believed to ease coughs, promote digestion and have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. It’s a delicious, versatile sweetener, too. Add a small spoonful to tea, enrich a mari- nade or glaze for meat or fish, drizzle a bit over pancakes, or use in place of white sugar for baking. It adds rich flavor and moisture, so your baked goods stay fresh longer. Organic Honeygold grapefruit • Cherimoyas — also called “Custard Ap- Local or or ganic? PCC carries numerous local honeys. High Country Honey, Craic This mild heirloom variety of grapefruit ples” because of their smooth, creamy Honey and Guilmette’s Busy Bees honeys are from Washington. GloryBee honeys come from has a pale golden-yellow flesh and ex- texture, cherimoyas have a flavor that Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Oregon Growers honey comes from Oregon. ceptionally sweet flavor, and comes from resembles pineapple, strawberry and Dennis and Lynda Holbrook’s farm, South banana. From George Cunningham’s We also offer GloryBee’s honey from two cooperatives in Brazil because it’s certified organic Texas Organics. orchard in Fallbrook, Calif. (as well as fairly traded and truly raw). Brazil is one of the few countries with areas that are • Kishu Mandarin tangerines — smaller certifiable. Honey bees forage for miles around and for that reason, there’s no certifiably also this month look for: than a golf ball, easy to peel, tender, organic honey from any source in Washington state or any other source in the continental • Lady Alice Apples — a new variety juicy and sweet. United States that we know of. of Washington apple with crunchy, • Red Fortune Plums — large, “meaty” fragrant flesh that’s similar to Fuji plums with amber flesh and bright What is raw honey? Truly raw honey isn’t heated at all or filtered, and contains with a hint of tartness. jewel-red skin. more than 75 different compounds, including enzymes, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and organic acids. The enzymes in particular may help with digestion and reduce demands on the pancreas and other digestive organs. Honey for allergies? Honey often is touted as a natural way to treat hay fever symptoms. The theory is that by eating raw, unfiltered, unstrained honey that has been collected locally during the allergy season, you’ll be exposed to the culprit pollens in small doses and build immunity. But there’s no documented medical study that verifies the claim. Baking Tips • When measuring honey, first coat the • Honey tends to keep foods moist and tender. measuring utensil with a small amount That’s why it’s great for baking cookies and of oil so the honey won’t stick. cakes that need to stay fresh for several days. • Store honey at room temperature rather than in a refrigerator. Keep it tightly cov- Fishpeople seafood Puregranate juice Silver Hills • When baking with honey, lower the oven ered and in a dry place. Ready-to-eat, wild-caught Not from concentrate, gluten-free bread temperature by 25° to 30° F to prevent • If honey granulates, place its container in seafood entrées in shelf- with no added sugar or Vegan, organic, Non-GMO over-browning. hot water until the honey re-liquefies. stable poaching pouches. preservatives. Just pure Project Verified, certified All the seafood and most of pomegranate juice. gluten-free breads high in Substituting honey for sugar Less honey is needed because it’s sweeter the ingredients are caught or Grocery aisle fiber and protein. Choose 3 than white sugar. Replace 1 cup of sugar with ⁄4 cup of honey and reduce the liquid in the harvested in Oregon. Omega Flax or Chia Chia. recipe by ¼ cup. Add a pinch of baking soda to recipes that do not call for sour cream or sour milk, to reduce the acidity of the honey. Honey at P CC Guilmette’s Busy Bees — Skip Guil- Honey Gardens Apiaries — “Our mette has been selling honey from raw honey has little flecks of pollen, his hives in Everson, Wash. (near Bellingham) for years. Choose wild- which help build immunity to get over flower or creamed honey. Grind your own Macrobars B orrOUGHS Family allergies,” says Honey Gardens’ Todd Hardie. “It contains propolis, a natural CB’s peanut butter Organic, macrobiotic, Farms raw almonds Craic Honey — Raw honey in pint jars vegan, gluten-free en- antibiotic that studies show has anti- Grind your own creamy PCC bought the entire almond from a small, family operation near Ya- ergy and protein bars in oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer peanut butter made with crop of this California family kima, Wash. Mint and raspberries are the flavors such as Cashew Valencia peanuts craft- farm, which is transitioning and liver-protecting properties.” Caramel, Cherries + Ber- floral sources, rendering a honey that’s roasted in small batches in to organic. In bulk. ries, Granola + Coconut fairly dark with a full, robust flavor. Washington. Do it yourself GloryBee Honey — GloryBee makes and more. in the bulk section. light-colored, raw honeys in blueberry High Country Honey — This honey and blackberry patches in the North- from Mount Vernon, Wash. is strained, west, as well as Mountain Wildflower not filtered, leaving all the pollen intact. honey, which is dark and rich and be- Choose blackberry or wildflower, in 16- loved by bakers for its distinctive flavor or 44-ounce jars. and aroma. GloryBee’s raw buckwheat Negrar Pugliano honey is exceptionally dark and robust Valpo- Poggio Oregon Growers & Shippers — Raw in flavor. It’s often used medicinally, to licella Vignoso wildflower honey made from the nectar warm and soothe a dry, scratchy throat. Classico Chianti collected from wild blossoms in the Co- A classic Organically lumbia River Gorge. Pri Manuka Honey — Produced in from Italy’s grown Nourish organic food Veneto The real deal, New Zealand and Australia from the Honey in bulk — Need just a half a region, of- a fabulous for healthy skin nectar of the manuka tree, this strongly cup of honey for a recipe? PCC sells fering bright expression of USDA-certified organic beauty flavored honey is said to have antibac- GloryBee’s Northwest clover honey in red berry the Chianti products made with only terial and healing properties. Use as a bulk, so you can get just as little or as region, with lively, dry fruits, vegetables and plant flavors with spread or add to tea, or take a couple much as you need. It’s a light honey notes of spice and juicy cherry fruit and layers extracts. In scents such as teaspoonfuls before meals to aid the good for everyday use and is much wild plum. A wine for all and layers of earth spice Almond Vanilla, Fresh Fig seasons. $11 and complexity. $14 and Wild Berries. digestive system. more economical than buying a jar. 6 PCC sound consumer February 2013 natural kitchen Combine chops with marinade ingredients. Refrigerate 4 to 24 hours. Heat a covered grill to medium heat. Remove chops from marinade (discard mari- nade). Grill chops over direct heat for 12 to Sweet on honey 15 minutes, turning occasionally. Whether you’re trying to avoid refined — Recipe by Karrie Klingeman, sugar or just like experimenting with alter- Pure Country Pork native sweeteners, honey’s sultry richness e ach serving: 220 cal, 9g fat (3g sat), 55mg chol, 500mg sodium, 19g carb, 0g fiber, 17g protein adds flavor to a range of dishes — both sweet and savory. Use it to balance the C oconut S’Macaroons tartness in vinaigrettes or marinades, or in Makes 36 cookies glazes for meat or fish. Craving something 2 cups dried, finely shredded coconut 1 healthy but sweet? We’ve got a couple ⁄3 cup light honey recipes starring honey we promise will 3 egg whites (or powdered Ener-G Egg Replacer, according to package instructions) hit the spot, plus more on our website at 1 ⁄2 teaspoon each vanilla and almond extract 1 pccnaturalmarkets.com/r/1815. ⁄8 teaspoon salt (optional) Preheat oven to 325° F. Combine coconut Homemade Whole Grain, Nuts, Seeds and honey in a bowl. Add unbeaten egg and Fruits Granola whites (or substitute), extracts and salt. Drop Makes 8 cups by teaspoonful into tiny haystack shapes onto 1 a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 3 ⁄2 cups rolled oats (or other rolled grain) 1 to 22 minutes or until golden. Remove from ⁄2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1 baking sheets and place on wire racks to cool. ⁄4 cup flax seeds 1 — Recipe by Goldie Caughlan ⁄2 cup nuts in any combination (almonds, walnut, pecans, pistachios, etc.) e ach serving: 45 cal, 3.5g fat (3g sat), 0mg 1 ⁄4 cup sesame seeds chol, 15mg sodium, 4g carb, 1g fiber, 1g protein 1 ⁄4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds 1 teaspoon sea salt Honey-Poached Pears 1 ⁄4 cup canola oil with Crème Fraîche 1 ⁄2 cup honey, or more to taste Serves 6 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups dried fruit in any combination 1 cup honey 5 whole star anise (in bulk at PCC) Preheat oven to 375° F. Combine all of 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice the ingredients except the fruit. Spread the Pinch of fine sea salt 1 mixture out in a thin layer on a parchment- Preheat oven to 350° F. In a bowl, whisk Toasted salted pumpkin seeds 6 medium-firm but ripe pears (about 2 ⁄2 lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, together goat cheese and half-and-half or Toasted salted sunflower seeds pounds), peeled, quartered and cored 1 stirring 3 times during the cooking process. whole milk until smooth. Spoon into a small, ⁄2 cup crème fraîche, sour cream Place zest and lemon juice in a small The granola should be deep golden brown. shallow gratin dish. Spread level. Bake until or Greek yogurt bowl. Whisk in the honey, then olive oil, and Allow to cool then stir in the dried fruit. Store cheese is hot in center and beginning to firm 1 season with salt and pepper. Dress the greens Combine 2 ⁄2 cups water, honey, star anise, in an airtight container in the refrigerator. up at edges, about 15 minutes. and let sit for 2 hours in the refrigerator. Top lemon juice and sea salt in a large saucepan. — Recipe by Lynne Vea, PCC Chef Drizzle cheese with honey and sprin- with pumpkin and sunflower seeds and serve. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring 1 kle with pistachios. Serve immediately. e ach ⁄2 cup serving: 250 cal, 11g fat (1.5g — Recipe by Blake Caldwell, PCC Deli Chef occasionally. Add pears; reduce heat and sim- sat), 0mg chol, 160mg sodium, 34g carb, 5g fiber, e ach serving: 200 cal, 13g fat (8g sat), 25mg mer until tender, turning occasionally, 4 to 6 6g protein e ach serving: 120 cal, 10g fat (1.5g sat), 0mg chol, 210mg sodium, 10g carb, 0g fiber, 11g protein minutes, depending on ripeness. Using slotted chol, 40mg sodium, 8g carb, 1g fiber, 1g protein spoon, transfer pears to a medium bowl. Boil Chèvre with Pistachios and Honey Marinated Kale Salad liquid and star anise until reduced to 1 cup Honey-Garlic Grilled Pork Chops Serves 6 Serves 4 to 6 syrup, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup with star Serves 4 anise over pears. Cover and chill until cold. 11 to 12 ounces fresh chèvre (goat cheese), 1 lemon (zest plus 3 tablespoons fresh Note: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. at room temperature lemon juice) 4 boneless pork chops, 1-inch thick 1 Remove star anise from syrup. Divide 2 tablespoons half-and-half or whole milk 2 tablespoons honey ⁄4 cup lemon juice 1 pears and syrup among 6 bowls. Top each 1 ⁄4 cup honey 3 tablespoons honey ⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 with a dollop of crème fraîche and serve. ⁄3 cup coarsely chopped, salted, roasted Salt and pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons soy sauce/tamari pistachios 1 1 tablespoon dry sherry ⁄2 head green kale, thinly sliced e ach serving: 290 cal, 0.5g fat (0g sat), 0mg Sesame crackers or flatbread, for serving 1 2 cloves garlic, minced chol, 105mg sodium, 72g carb, 5g fiber, 2g protein ⁄2 head red kale, thinly sliced Soil & S ea: reports from our producers The amount of land needed to grow be an “inside job.” This wasn’t the first sig- ly due to drought in the Midwest. Even crops worldwide is at a peak and an nificant maple syrup theft in the province: in corn and soybeans grown for human area more than twice the size of France can 2006, thieves took about $1.3 million worth. consumption are being sold as cattle return to nature by 2060 due to rising yields feed at very high costs. and slower population growth, according to The exploding popularity of white a new report in the journal “Population and and black organic chia seeds means U.S. catfish production has been Development Review.” If correct, the land demand is outstripping supply and shortag- dropping for more than 10 years and freed up from crop farming would be some es in the coming year are possible. Chia is in 2010 alone some 20 percent of the farm- 10 percent of what currently is in use. The re- showing up in beverages, enhanced waters, ers either gave up or switched to farming corn or soybeans. The shortage of fish in port conflicts with U.N. studies that say more protein bars, salad and grain mixes, and as 2011 caused desperate processors to bid cropland will be needed in coming decades an ingredient in recipes. Chia seeds are a exorbitant prices in order to get fish. They to avert hunger and price spikes. nutty-tasting whole grain, rich in omega-3 fats, fiber, calcium and magnesium. figured they could pass the costs on to loy- Thieves in Canada made off with $18 al buyers of American catfish, but buyers million (6 million pounds) of maple Popcorn and tofu lovers may be in switched to Vietnamese catfish and Chi- syrup, which they stole over time from what for sticker shock this year: prices for nese tilapia, which were less than half the is essentially a syrup cartel. It’s suspected to corn and soybeans have increased sharp- price of American catfish. PCC sound consumer February 2013 7 Honey laundering: fraud on the shelves? While most of those arrested, indicted Ultra-filtration or removal of “The sobering reality,” he says, “is that and convicted for the sweet smuggling in the every safeguard in place in our global mul- all pollen from honey is a sign last few years were foreign honey importers tibillion-dollar food industry is null and void and U.S. brokers, federal criminal investiga- that it has been adulterated. if one cannot confirm the authenticity of the tors say it could not be happening without food ingredients that make up a product. In the knowledge and participation of major U.S. Another favorite sweetener that is fre- an industry that touches us all, with so much packers and distributors. quently adulterated is maple syrup. Vermont to lose, that simply cannot suffice.” and New Hampshire consumer experts say In November 2011, Seattle-based “Food Andrew Schneider is a two-time Pulitzer that because of bizarre weather conditions, Safety News” published the results of its Prize-winning investigative journalist. laboratory analysis of 60 jars, jugs and plastic less actual syrup has been harvested and the bears of honey purchased in 10 states and market price for the real stuff is going up. Bo- the District of Columbia. gus product is popping up in many markets. The honey was examined by Vaughn Editor’s note New products, new fraud Bryant, considered by many to be the “Food Safety News” published a country’s top melissopalynologist, or pollen In April 2012, the Institute of Food Tech- report in November 2011 showing that investigator. Identifying the source of pollen nologists’ “Journal of Food Science” reported more than 75 percent of honey tested by Andrew Schneider is the only precise, scientifically accepted on what may be the first public database on from stores in 10 states (including Safe- method to identify the origin of a honey. bogus food and intentional adulteration in way, QFC, Costco, Walgreen’s, Walmart, The benign memory of Winnie the Pooh Although the U.S. Honey Board disputes our food supply. To compile it, researchers and Sam’s Club) was not what it said. shoving his paw into the honey jar has just from U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) reviewed it, the World Health Organization, the It also found that every sample about faded as federal investigators and 1,305 records from 677 scientific, profession- European Commission, and dozens of other bought at co-ops (including PCC) and the Department of Justice continue to crack al and scholarly manuscripts. Besides honey, standard-setting agencies say that the ultra- farmers markets “… had the full, antici- down on an almost worldwide network the most reported targets for adulteration filtration or removal of all pollen from honey pated amount of pollen.” (FSN tested of smuggled, mislabeled and adulterated were olive oil, milk, saffron, orange juice, is a sign that it has been adulterated, most only two of the seven brands sold at honey into the United States. likely to conceal its origin. coffee and apple juice, according to Markus PCC and has not identified them.) Chinese honey makers became zealous in After repeated testing in his Texas A&M Lipp, USP’s director for food standards. The report notes, “… odds are their efforts to conceal where their honey was University Palynology Research Laboratory, The United States is importing more of somewhat better of getting honey that being sold about 11 years ago. That’s when Bryant reported that depending on what our food and China is becoming a larger wasn’t ultra-filtered if you buy brands the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed a type of store the honey was purchased from, provider, FDA says. The Food Marketing labeled as organic. Out of seven stiff tariff on government-subsidized Chinese between 76 percent and 100 percent of the Institute says at least 20,000 new products samples tested, five (71 percent) were honey to stem the massive dumping of the samples tested were ultra-filtered. are offered up to grocery shelves each heavy with pollen.” underpriced nectar on the U.S. market. Several states are in the process of pass- year. Experts say there is no doubt some Read the entire report, including Now, a decade later, shoppers still can’t be ing laws or regulations establishing a legal of them will have ingredients added, a list of honeys that tested deficient sure what they’re buying off most U.S. grocery definition of honey because the Food and removed or concealed. in pollen, at www.foodsafetynews. shelves. Testing in Europe showed honey was Drug Administration (FDA) has ignored re- USP’s Lipp says consumers should not com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store- contaminated with heavy metals and illegal peated requests to do so. A legal definition forget that economically motivated adultera- honey-isnt-honey/. animal antibiotics, including chloramphenicol. could result in a ban on the sale of honey tion poses a host of risks to businesses from The same suppliers are bringing honey here. where the pollen has been removed. legal and public health perspectives. 8 PCC sound consumer February 2013 board of trustees | report Pre-election activity update talk with them in person. We’ll also help members get to know the candidates by hosting informal store visits by the candidates in April and May at two of our stores — one on the east side and another on the west. All of the candidates will participate, along with several current board members. We’ll announce the dates and times of the visits in the March Sound Consumer so members may make plans to attend. Actually seeing and hearing the candidates really does help members John Sheller Carlos Herrera Taso Lagos Karen May Art Scheunemann feel more connected to the process and confident about voting. So, do try to at- he 2013 board election dates • Julianne Lamsek: Director of Information consider the candidates. To that end, tend the annual meeting or the candidate store visits and check out the election are April 23 through May 16 Technology at KCTS 9 Public Television. our candidates will videotape interviews Eligible for renomination in 2014. materials on our website after March 30. with five PCC members vying in early March. The interviews are T designed to give our members an early Then VOTE! All members who are active • Maggie Lucas: Parent, community for three open seats: as of March 31, 2013 will be eligible to advocate, attorney. Eligible for re- chance to think about what candidates vote in the 2013 board election. • John Sheller (managing librarian), nomination in 2015. should get their votes. incumbent • Sandy Voit: Owner, Tangible Solutions • Carlos Herrera (environmental engineer, (personal finances counseling). Eligible Board report What would you ask if you university professor) for renomination in 2015. There was no board meeting in De- were interviewing the candidates? • Taso Lagos (university professor) • Stephen Tan: Managering Partner at cember and the January 29 meeting report E-mail your questions by February • Karen May (retired engineering manager) Cascadia Law Group, specializing in en- will be published in March. The next 22 to [email protected] and we’ll regularly scheduled board meeting will be • Art Scheunemann (business executive) vironmental and natural resources law. Eligible for renomination in 2015. try to pose them to the candidates. Tuesday, March 26 at 5 p.m. at the co-op office. Members are welcome at all public • Bruce Williams: Retired CEO of Home Who’s on the board now? sessions of the board meeting. Member Street Bank, serves on the boards of Cas- You may want to remind yourself of comment period is at 7 p.m. cadia Land Conservancy and Home Street The video interviews will be posted who the new trustees will be joining on The board will meet in retreat on Bank. Eligible for renomination in 2014. on PCC’s website no later than March 30. the board. We encourage members to spend some February 9-10. The retreat agenda includes • Carol Binder: Retired executive Our members have told us they time getting familiar with the candidates. a review of our Ends policies and a pre- director at Pike Place Market. 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Deadline for the next issue is the 10th of this month at 5 p.m. for 20 yrs. $675K call 206-790-8460. tractors must submit a current copy hospice specialty, licensed CNA. Brad Justin 206-527-5053. Long time PCC member. of their Washington state license Payment must accompany ad copy! number with ad. Mental health care Dental Benefits for Everyone. All indi- viduals, couples, families, just dependents Ever thought of working for PCC? practitioners, counselors and hypno- Name phone ( ) — and any size of group or business. For a free Positions open regularly at all nine of therapists must submit a current copy brochure call Stan at 206-244-4040, www. our locations. If you would like more Address of their Washington state registration SmartSmileDentalPlan.com. information about jobs at PCC, visit our website at pccnaturalmarkets.com or certification number with ad. classification total enclosed Susan Gins, Voted Best Nutritionist Registration, certification and/or in Seattle, creates personalized nutrition or call our office at 206-547-1222. plans for success. Can chocolate be a part of license numbers need not appear in Number of issues to run ad a healthy plan? Reach your health and weight ad (except for construction contrac- goals. Seattle & Issaquah. 206-795-8892. tors and massage practitioners) but Bring your ad in person or mail to: PCC Classified Ads • 4201 Roosevelt Way N.E., www.nourish.net. must be on file at PCC. Seattle, WA 98105. Questions? Call 206-547-1222. Clinical Herbalist Danielle McCutcheon AHG, NZAMH 206-462-0835 stringthyme.com. Dz dzǫ Ȉ͔͗ǯ Ǧǡ Ȉ ǡ ȋ Ȍ Ȉǡ ȈǦ Ǥǡ ͔͛͗͗͝ǤǤ͖͔͙Ȉǡ͕͕͙͜͝ ǡ ǤǤ Ȉǣ͖͔͚Ǥ͚͗͛Ǥ͕͖͛͘ 10 PCC sound consumer February 2013 news bites Four states consider GE labels Diabetes linked to HFCS base of the Gulf’s food web often used to that Oceana has conducted in Miami (31 In addition to Washington, three other Type 2 diabetes occurs 20 percent assess toxicity in marine waters. The find- percent), Boston (48 percent) and Los states are considering measures to label more often in countries where high-fruc- ings indicate it may be best to allow oil to Angeles (55 percent). (Oceana) genetically engineered (GE) foods. In tose corn syrup (HFCS) is in common use, disperse naturally in future oil spills, even New Mexico, an amendment to the state’s according to a new study in the journal though it will take longer. (Environmen- Supreme Court to hear seed case Food Act would mandate GE labeling. “Global Public Health.” The study analyzed tal Research Web/Georgia Tech) The Center for Food Safety and Save In Vermont and Connecticut, legislation data from 43 countries where the avail- our Seeds have challenged the agro- is proposed to be presented in the state ability of HFCS ranged from zero pounds DOJ drops Monsanto investigation chemical giant Monsanto and its restrictive assembly. (FoodNavigator.com) per capita (India and 13 other countries) The Department of Justice (DOJ) “seed saving” policies via a brief filed in to 54.6 pounds per capita (United States). unceremoniously has ended its antitrust the forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court case, Acidification harming local shellfish The study’s authors say the findings don’t investigation into possible anticompetitive Bowman v. Monsanto, to be heard in early Rescuing shellfish from rising acidity in prove HFCS causes diabetes but add to the practices in the U.S. seed market, which spring. The case involves Monsanto’s pros- Puget Sound will require a wide-ranging re- growing body of evidence supporting a it began in 2010. News the investigation ecution of Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman sponse — everything from curbing green- correlation between the sweetener and the had ended emerged not from the DOJ but for alleged patent infringement because house gases and controlling water pollution disease. (The New York Times) from a brief Monsanto issued in November, he saved and replanted his soybean to growing more seaweed and putting res- declaring it had “received written notifica- seeds rather than purchasing new seeds taurant-discarded oyster shells into shallow Kenya bans GE imports tion” from the DOJ that it had ended its for planting. The filing lays out a legal bays. Those are among the recommendations Kenya’s cabinet has decided to ban investigation “without taking any enforce- framework for why the Supreme Court in a report on ocean acidification delivered the importation of GE foods due to inad- ment action.” The seed trade is dominated should safeguard seeds as a public good. to former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire equate research on their human health by five companies: Monsanto, DuPont, (Center for Food Safety) last year. Gregoire announced she would put impacts. Public health minister Beth Mugo Syngenta, Bayer and Dow. (Tom Philpott/ $3.3 million toward the creation of a new threatened legal action against stakehold- Mother Jones) Pesticides linked to food allergies center at the University of Washington to ers and government regulators who do Food allergies are on the rise, affect- study ocean acidification. (Earthfix) not comply. (Nation of Change) More seafood fraud ing 15 million Americans, and pesticides Another major study of fish fraud, this used for farming and in consumer insect Antibiotic-resistant pork Toxic oil spill “clean-up” one conducted in New York City, shows 39 and weed control products, as well as Testing and analysis of pork chops and The 4.9 million barrels of oil that percent of the 142 seafood samples tested to chlorinate tap water, could partially ground pork samples from six U.S. cities spilled into the Gulf of Mexico during the were not what they were said to be. There be to blame. That’s according to a new has revealed high rates of a bacterium that 2010 Deep Water Horizon spill was an were mislabeled fish in all 16 sushi res- study published in the “Annals of Allergy, can cause food poisoning and bacteria ecological disaster, but the 2 million gal- taurants visited, 40 percent of fish markets Asthma and Immunology,” which reports resistant to medically important antibiotics. lons of dispersant used to clean it up ap- and 12 percent of major grocery chains. No high levels of the chemical class, dichloro- “Consumer Reports” says consumers can parently made it much worse — 52 times seafood was mislabeled more frequently phenols, are associated with food allergies minimize risks by choosing pork and other more toxic, according to new research than “white tuna,” a staple on many sushi when found in the human body. The meats raised without drugs, such as those in the journal “Environmental Pollution.” menus, which was found to be escolar, study’s lead author says pesticide-treated labeled certified organic. The complete re- In toxicity tests, the effects of mixing a fish known to cause gastrointestinal fruits and vegetables may play a greater port and analysis is in the January issue of oil with dispersant increased mortality problems in eaters. The New York results role in causing food allergies than drink- “Consumer Reports.” (The Huffington Post) of rotifers, a microscopic animal at the are consistent with those of similar studies ing tap water. (Science Daily) The School of Intuitive Insight “Know Yourself” Intuitive Readings • Spiritual Healings Clairvoyant Training Ginna Lee Phone: 206-760-9519 • email: [email protected] “go braless & be modest” micro thin quilted panels keep 100% nipples comfy undercover cotton to atwear.com wear over “I’ll never wear a bra again!” or under +DQGFUDIWHG RUJDQLFPDWWUHVVHV DQGEHGGLQJ ZZZVRDULQJKHDUWFRP1LFNHUVRQ6XLWH6HDWWOH:$ 2SHQ DPWR SPGDLO\ PCC sound consumer February 2013 11 Tell FDA not to approve GE salmon! The first genetically engineered takes 4 pounds of wild fish to feed a pound of farmed fish, and the salmon could be in grocery stores GE salmon’s growth rate likely will and restaurants in 2014. require more, placing more strain on overfished oceans. Please take a few minutes to write to the Food and Drug Administration Economic concerns (FDA) about its recommendation “FDA has said it didn’t consider to approve genetically engineered any kind of economic impacts when (GE) salmon — the first genetically reviewing this fish,” says Colin O’Neil engineered animal meant for human at the Center for Food Safety. consumption. Alaska’s House and Senate unani- At this point, it appears FDA is mously passed a law in 2005 requir- likely to approve engineered salmon ing labels on engineered salmon, after the comment period ends. FDA to protect its wild salmon industry is taking public comments through worth hundreds of millions of dol- February 25. lars and thousands of jobs. Cheaper FDA’s recommendation to approve engineered, farmed fish would harm the so-called “Frankenfish” is opposite small, independent fishers and coastal to what more than 40 members of fishing community economies. Congress asked FDA to do: stop the ap- PCC opposes FDA’s plan to ap- proval process until concerns over risks, hormone called IGF-1, which in high Escaped GE salmon pose an ad- prove AquaBounty’s GE salmon and transparency and oversight are satisfied. levels in humans is linked to prostate, ditional threat — genetic pollution. we support mandatory labels on such FDA’s Center for Veterinary breast and colon cancers. Research in the “Proceedings of the engineered fish, just like labels tell Medicine recommended approving the FDA is moving forward with ap- National Academy of Sciences” notes us whether our salmon is King or GE salmon as a “new animal drug,” proval based on tests with only six the escape of just 60 GE salmon into a Sockeye, farmed or wild. If FDA ap- meaning the GE salmon is subjected to GE fish for allergenicity. According to wild population of 60,000 would lead proves the fish despite overwhelming a less rigorous safety review than if it Michael Hansen, Ph.D., senior scientist to the extinction of the wild popula- opposition, clear labeling must be were classified as a food additive. at Consumers Union (CU), even this tion in less than 40 fish generations. mandatory so consumers can make FDA received nearly 400,000 limited testing showed an increase in GE salmon could become the final informed decisions. public comments demanding rejec- allergy-causing potential. blow to wild salmon stocks. Washington’s initiative I-522 to tion of AquaBounty’s application for What’s more, the few studies that AquaBounty says it will raise its label GE foods in Washington state approval of the fish. More than 300 have been done show GE salmon GE fish only in land-based facilities would require labels on GE salmon. environmental, consumer, health and contain lower levels of heart- and and market the eggs, not the fish. animal welfare organizations, salmon brain-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than AquaBounty also claims it will pro- and fishing associations, food compa- wild or farmed salmon. duce only sterile females. But fish nies, chefs and restaurants filed a joint Critics say FDA’s Environmental As- are known to change sex and the Send your comment to FDA statement opposing approval. sessment is “flawed and inadequate.” company’s own documents show 5 Visit the Center for Food percent of its GE fish could be fertile Safety’s website, GE-Fish.org, Health concerns Environmental concerns and could reproduce. to sign a petition asking FDA There’s little data on the hu- GE fish would pose serious risks A new strain of Infectious Salmon not to approve GE salmon. man health impacts of GE fish, but to the marine environment and wild Anaemia, the deadly fish flu that has To submit your own comment some recent studies give cause for populations of salmon. Many wild devastated fish stocks around the to FDA, go to regulations.gov concern. Scientists say foreign growth salmon populations already are suf- world, contaminated AquaBounty’s Ca- and type in “Docket No. FDA– hormones forced into the fish may fering severe declines due to impacts nadian production site. This informa- 2011-N-0899.” The deadline for cause increased production of other from salmon farms. Millions of farmed tion was not included in FDA’s review. compounds, such as insulin. Studies salmon escape every year, outcompet- Engineered salmon also are comments is February 25. already have found the GE salmon ing wild populations for resources genetically engineered to grow contain elevated levels of a growth and straining ecosystems. faster than real salmon. It already 0_RNaV[T ORNbaVSbY TN_QR[` :/0-;/(77,5: N[Q \baQ\\_ `]NPR` Access peace, personal power, health & prosperity. Let go of anger, judgement, %&4*(/t*/45"--"5*0/t."*/5&/"/$& negativity, confusion, being stuck. 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