Dedicated to informing and educating IN THIS ISSUE members and the public about food and agriculture, consumer food concerns, What do egg labels mean?, page 8 and the cooperative business model. PCC board of trustees election, page 9 No. 503 • May 2015 New grass-fed beef, page 12 SOUND CONSUMER Families Helping Families May 1 to May 31 THE FUTURE OF MEAT? PCC Healthy Kids is excited to once again join efforts with Seattle Children’s Hospital for our Fami- lies Helping Families program. All month long, PCC will donate 5 percent of PCC Kid Picks product sales, up to a total of $10,000, to support the Children’s Organic Garden at Seattle Chil- Made from dren’s Hospital. In spring 2013, the hospital launched the garden plants to teach patients and families how to develop and sustain healthy eating and lifestyle habits at home. The purpose of the garden is to provide a hands-on learning environment to help overcome barriers and promote sustainabil- ity of a healthy lifestyle, making Image credit: a lasting impact in the lives of Impossible Foods families. See pccnaturalmarkets. com/r/3260 for more. PCC’s top-rated canned tuna High-tech startups are aiming to revolutionize the food system by certain properties from the molecule found Greenpeace USA ranked 14 in plant hemoglobin that make blood red well-known canned tuna brands creating meat, egg and dairy substitutes derived from plant compounds and gives steak its flavor. It’s hard to tell found in grocery stores across or cultured animal tissue. They can expect legal and political obstacles. from the image above that Impossible Foods’ the United States based on how “cheeseburger” contains no beef or cheese. sustainable, ethical and fair The new science of food Depending on how the company positions their tuna products are for our by Michele Simon, JD, MPH its products, it could face challenges from the oceans, and for the workers who For now, most of these startups are meat industry claiming it is fooling consumers. get the products to store shelves. rowing more and more animals for focused on science, not politics, and they’re The startup Modern Meadow, which has The top-rated brand, Wild food is unsustainable. The World reinventing animal-based food. raised $10 million, is tackling the longer- Planet, is sold at PCC. All Wild Health Organization predicts that These companies aren’t using ingredients term challenge of cultured meat: creating Planet products are pole-and- global annual meat production previously used in meat and dairy substitutes meat from animal cells. So far, it’s avoiding line or troll-caught — fishing Gwill increase from 218 million tons in 1998 such as soy protein, wheat gluten and the complex regulatory hurdles for meat methods with minimal impacts to 376 million tons by 2030. That uptick vegetable starches. Some are using computer by starting with “cultured leather” to get on other marine life. The com- will bring with it numerous negative con- algorithms to analyze hundreds of thousands consumers on board. pany has vowed not to source sequences, including deforestation, manure of plant species to discover what compounds The big question these businesses face is, tuna from the proposed ocean contamination of air and water, and excessive can be extracted and recombined to make how will the U.S. Department of Agriculture sanctuaries in the Western and use of water and harmful energy sources, not what they say are more tasty and sustainable (USDA) or the Food and Drug Administration Central Pacific. to mention contributions to climate change. sources of protein. Other companies creating (FDA) handle animal-free meat? Will food Recognizing this problem, food startups cultured meat are using tissue engineering safety regulations associated with beef and backed by significant venture capital are technology developed for medical purposes, poultry production apply to cultured meat? Nutrition panel: less sugar hoping to create animal food products such as growing skin and organs. How will such products be labeled? The meat The Dietary Guidelines without animals. The goal: provide an One such company, with aspirations industry likely will lobby to see them rejected Advisory Committee, which helps of building a better burger, is Impossible alternative to the confined animal food altogether, or put up barriers that could delay shape the country’s official dietary Foods. Started by Patrick Brown, a Stanford production model — a model that wreaks or even halt getting them to market. guidelines, eased some of its University biologist, and backed by $75 havoc on the environment, public health Another huge challenge for cultured meat previous restrictions on fat and and animal welfare. million, Impossible Foods says it’s “develop- will be consumer perception. Modern Mead- cholesterol and has recommended As a new wave of products aiming to ing a new generation of meats and cheeses ow CEO, Andras Forgacs, told The Guardian, new limits on the amount of added mimic meat, eggs and dairy comes to main- made entirely from plants.” “People have really strong opinions about sugar Americans should consume. stream supermarkets, what started in the lab Brown, who calls conventional livestock The panel for the first time soon will make its way to the political arena. “an antiquated technology,” has unlocked CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 recommended that Americans limit added sugar to no more than 10 percent of daily calories PCC Natural Markets CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PRSRT STD — about 12 teaspoons a day for 4201 Roosevelt Way NE US POSTAGE many adults. It also dropped sug- PAID Seattle, WA 98105 SEATTLE, WA gestions from previous guidelines PERMIT NO. 401 that Americans restrict their total fat intake to 35 percent of their daily calories and that they restrict their intake of dietary cholesterol from foods such as eggs. YOUR CO-OP COMMUNITY Find out more about community events at pccnaturalmarkets.com/events Food bank packaging Kirkland Mother’s Day Half SALES & FUN EVENTS work parties Marathon and 5k Saturday, May 9 • All PCC locations Help our partnering food banks by Sunday, May 10, Juanita Beach Park donating your time to pack PCC’s bulk 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland Health and body care sale As we stride forward into full-blown foods into family-sized portions. Join us: Everything in our health and body PCC is the title sponsor of the Kids spring weather and all of the wonderful care department will be 25 percent • Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m., Dash. PCC Taste Mobile will be doing Kid outdoor distractions it brings, it can be easy off all day long! Kirkland Hopelink Food Bank Picks. PCC is also the official “fruit sponsor” to forget to take time for a healthy, home- • Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m., and Kirkland PCC staff will hand out fresh cooked meal. Get back on track with help fruit to race participants. Registration and Natural Beauty & Wellness event North Helpline Food Bank from PCC Cooks! You’ll find a bevy of topics packet pickup begin at 6 a.m. For more Demos: All stores will have demos of to choose from this month including Quick • Monday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m., skin and body care products and you info, visit kirklandhalfmarathon.com. Southern Italian Sauces, Moroccan Mezze, Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank can enter to win gift baskets. Spring Soups and Salads, Gluten-free, Dairy- • 10 a.m., All PCC locations • Monday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m., Celebration of Food Festival free Inspiration and more. Westgate Chapel Food Bank Sunday, May 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nutritionist Ami Karnosh has a gift for Samples: Enjoy free skin care consulta- exploring the science of the body through tions from experts and treat youself • Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m., Lynnwood Convention Center food, making eating for your health not only to a hand massage with our special Rainier Valley Food Bank 3711 196th St. SW accessible but enjoyable! Join her this month scrub. Lotions, creams and other body • Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m., This event brings together people care products will be available to for Boost Your Thyroid, where she’ll focus in Family Works Food Bank who are passionate about delicious, lo- sample and test. on foods that support a strong thyroid, the • Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m., cal, wholesome food. Farmers, ranchers, • Noon to 4 p.m., Fremont PCC gland in charge of regulating metabolism. University District Food Bank culinary professionals, youth, students and If you need some great ideas for your • 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Greenlake Village, business owners will offer activities for For more information, including midday meal, we have the answer. In Love Issaquah and Redmond PCCs your delight and inspiration. addresses and future dates, see: with Lunch: Plant-based Solutions offers There’ll be free samples, demos, pccnaturalmarkets.com/foodbank. beyond-the-basics options with five adapt- Mother’s Day kids craft event displays, items for purchase, gardening able plant-based, energy-maintaining lunch Join us for fun as kids create special demonstrations and activities by farm and ideas for a full day of work or play. Find gifts for Mother’s Day. PCC will supply Alaffia eyeglass drive garden professionals. Visit PCC’s booth to these classes and more at PccCooks.com or materials as well as delicious treats. All PCC stores except West Seattle try some tasty samples, build your own visit us at facebook.com/pcccooks. Free for kids 12 and younger. Now through June 30 trail mix and spin the color wheel to win • 9 a.m.