Earth Friendly Shopping

Waylon Lewis of Elephant Journal took me (and numerous others) to task for our criticism of Dean Food’s recent actions regarding Silk Soymilk and Horizon Dairy products (both owned by Dean Foods)   I, for one, will support Silk Soy Natural vs. Organic-for now.

Way (as he seems to like being called) makes a basic and valid point.  ”Natural” does have a meaning for Whitewave,  and isn’t it better to have transitional brands, in between conventional agriculture and organic, than not to have these brands?

Is offering a transitional, more affordable product, like Clean Coal vs. Dirty Coal (considering that coal isn’t going anywhere, fast, isn’t it better to clean the process as much as we can, in the meantime?)—actually a wonderful way to move the supply-and-demand process toward a green, sustainable, eco-responsible food system?

I think so. Count one for “natural” when said term does mean something, and count one against me and my idealistic, ignorant, righteous pre-judgement.

Now I have always advised that we don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “good”.   I am all for moving the supply and demand process toward a greener more responsible food system, and I understand that we can’t get there in one step.  But I think Way misses several points in his analysis.

Horizon Dairy and Silk Soymilk

First, he keeps mixing up Horizon and Silk.  They  are both owned by Dean Foods, but Horizon is exclusively dairy (milk eggs and cheese) and Silk is entirely Soy (mostly Soy milk)

Let’s start with Horizon.  Recently, Horizon introduced a line of “Natural”  dairy products, including a fruit and yoghurt product for toddlers and a single serving milk container.

…because there is not a regulated definition of natural yet, we have defined natural as:

Milk from cows not treated with added growth hormones (rBST)
No artificial preservatives
No artificial flavors
No artificial sweeteners, including high fructose corn syrup
No artificial colors
No milk from cloned animals

There are several problems that I have with this.

First, since the above is Horizon’s definition of Natural, there is nothing saying that they can’t change their definition tomorrow, and not tell anyone.

Second, Horizon Dairies are Confined Animal Feed Operation (CAFO) where cows are crowded together, barely able to move

What most consumers don’t know is that at Horizon’s big dairies, such as the one in Idaho, the cows are raised in a manner that most experts don’t consider organic. According to former Horizon Idaho dairy workers, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of jeopardizing their current jobs, Horizon cows graze for only four or five hours a day and during only three months in the summer. While Horizon claims the cows get plenty of fresh air, that’s because the barns are open structures. Their cows can see the fields but mostly aren’t walking around in them. “Most of the time, the cows are inside the barn,” says one former employee, who worked on the Idaho farm for eight years

But the thing that bugs me the most, is that this is a LOWERING of Horizon standards.  If Dean Foods were to introduce a new brand with their “Natural” standards, or if they were to take one of their conventional brands and introduce natural products, I would be applauding.  BUT, taking the Horizon brand, which has built a reputation of being  Organic and diluting the brand seems to me to be misleading at best, and outright decietful at worst.

Dean Foods is using the reputation of Horizon to introduce a higher priced product that does not deliver the Horizon promise.

SILK, even worse

But even worse than what they are doing to Horizon, is what they did to Silk.  Silk Soymilk had always been certified Organic.  When Dean foods bought the brand, the first thing they did was to change to Chinese grown organic soy beans.

Then, they simply removed the word Organic from the label.  It was the same UPC, and the packaging was exactly the same as before, EXCEPT for the lack of an organic label.  So, if you were used to Silk being an organic brand, and you just reached in to the case and grabbed a carton, you might not notice that it wasn’t organic anymore.

It is THIS type of misleading or deceptive marketing that I object to.

I also dislike the lowering of standards for organic brands.  Like I said earlier.  If Dean were to introduce new, transition brands, or take some of their conventional brands and move them in a greener direction, I would be applauding them.

Instead, I believe that they deserve our scorn.

CareerBuilder is launching a new site, specifically focused on green collar jobs.  The idea behind   http://www.goinggreenjobs.com/,  is to allow employers to post evironmentally focused positions, and to allow workers seeking employment in the green economy a focused resource.

GoingGreenJobs.com specializes in connecting job seekers interested in environmentally friendly jobs to quality employers. Whether you are looking for a specific green-collar job or a position with a company with sustainable business practices, GoingGreenJobs.com provides opportunities at all skill levels and varying industries.

While we think that this is a nice step, we are looking forward to the time when all jobs are green jobs

Summer is winding down, and Labor Day is just around the corner.  Here are some ec0-friendly tips for your Bar-B-Que or picnic

Reusables vs disposables

Any time you can,  reusables beat disposables.     For cutlery, we recommend the bamboo cutlery sets from TogoWare. The sets are available in a variety of holders, with different price points.

TogoWare also has great 2 tier stainless steel food carriers - Great for a salad and a sandwhich.  It even includes a sidekick for dressings

If it has to be disposables… use COMPOSTABLES

But let’s face it.  If you are hosting a whole bunch of people, you are going to want to clean up faster.  But don’t use styrofoam plates or plain plastic cutlery.  This stuff has one life, and then it is off to landfill.

Nat-Ur makes biodegradable forks, knives and spoons that GO INTO compost! These utensils are made from corn grown in the US, and fully biodegrade.

Earthshell Makes fully biodegradable plates and bowls. Again, these can go to compost, rather than landfill.

And finally, Biogroup makes 100% biodegradable trash bags.

So let’s Green up are Bar B Ques and have a happy,  Earth Friendly holiday

Disclosure  - Kate’s Caring Gifts owns both this site and Fremont Green Buyers.

From EcoPlum  – along with some great suggestions.  Read the whole thing – Our favorite

#10 Rob Dorfman of San Francisco: Trying to take the bus to the airport only to find out that the bus does not accept luggage! I’m not kidding! See the “luggage restriction” on the samTrans schedule. MY SUGGESTION: I got nothing.

“We exist in the bacterial world, not bacteria in ours,”

-Dr. Stuart B. Levy

Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Mother Nature Always Bats Last

-Author unknown

These two thoughts ran through my head as I read reports from Environmental Health News that anti-bacterial ingredient triclosan, widely used in soaps, kitchen products and a vast variety of other products, is showing up in dolphins at concentrations known to disrupt the growth and development of other animals.

According to a 2001 study, triclosan is an ingredient in 76% of liquid soaps, and 26% of bar soaps.  Triclosan is used in toothpastes,  deodorants and shaving cream.  Triclosan has been used in pillows, sheets, shoes, and toys.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 700 household products contain triclosan.  But, the value of triclosan in actually reducing disease transmission is questionable at best.  For one thing, overuse of anti-bacterials have been linked to the increase in resistant bacteria.

The data clearly suggest that antibacterial agents will have an impact on the environmental flora and on resistance emergence. For instance, use of triclosan could select bacteria which have intrinsic resistance to the chemical.

We could almost accept the risk if triclosan provided vital health benefits, but..

No current data demonstrate any health benefits from having antibacterial-containing cleansers in a healthy household. However, use of these products may change the environmental microbial flora.

Through mutation, some of their progeny emerge with resistance to the antibacterial agent aimed at it, and possibly to other antimicrobial agents as well.

Bacteria that are resistant to triclosan have tended to be resistant to

certain antibiotics, including a drug widely used for treatment of tuberculosis, an experimental antibiotic currently under development, and a number of other “clinically relevant” antibiotics

The over use of antibiotics has also been linked to increases in allergy and asthma.    Our immune systems need stimulation to develop properly, and to

achieve the right balance between the T-helper 1 (TH-1) cells providing cellular immunity and the TH-2 cells promoting antibody production.

In people with allergies, TH-2 and TH-1 responses were out of balance, with TH-2 dominating.

So, we have this stuff everywhere.  It is in all sorts of products, yet there is no evidence that it provides any real benefit, and it may be harmful.

AND… it is getting into our water systems, into marine life, building up in our bodies, and degrading into other potentially toxic compounds.

Given the nature of Triclosan use (shampoo, soap, toothpaste) it is mostly disposed of down the drain into waste water systems.    Most waste water systems are capable of removing 95-98% of the triclosan, but the sheer volume of its use almost guarantees that it will be discharged into lakes, streams, and rivers.

And it has.  The US Geological Survey found triclosan in more than half the streams they studied.   And,  triclosan bioaccumulates.  In one study of a Texas wastewater treatment plant feeding into the Pecan River, it was found that triclosan concentrations in the river were higher then in the effluent of the plant.

Triclosan is a relatively stable compound, and accumulates in fatty tissues, working its way up the food chain.

Three-quarters of people tested in the United States have triclosan in their urine, according to a 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also has been found in breast milk of Swedish women. The concentrations reported in humans are similar to those found in dolphins.

The concentrations found in dolphin blood 0.025 to 0.27 parts per billion.   This may not sound like much, but…

…it’s how triclosan behaves, not the amount, that is critical. As little as 0.03 parts per billion has disrupted the endocrine system of frogs in the laboratory.

“It sounds like a very, very little bit, but in biology that’s in the range that normal hormones work,” said Catherine Propper, an endocrinologist at the Northern Arizona University who studies amphibians exposed to chemicals in wastewater.

The levels found in the environment concern scientists because of triclosan’s remarkable biological structure. Triclosan is strikingly similar to thyroid hormone, so it might bind to hormone receptors, said Helbing, author of the frog study. Because frog and mammal endocrine systems are similar, triclosan can potentially “affect how hormones work in ways that aren’t intended” in dolphins, and maybe even humans, she said. Altering thyroid function in humans and animals might cause abnormal brain development and other developmental defects.

Now triclosan is probably not the worst pollutant we face, and there are applications where it is useful,  such as in hospitals,  so I certainly wouldn’t recommend banning it, but so much of the use of triclosan is just plain unnecessary, and provides no benefit.  Given the potential for harm,  why are we using so much?   Doesn’t it make total sense to cut down the use? Yes it does

What can you do?

This is one of those cases where choices we make can have an impact.  Only buy soaps, shampoos,  and toothpastes that do not contain triclosan.   Kate’s Caring Gifts is one source of all natural and organic body care,  All products are Triclosan free.  (disclosure – the author of this piece is a part owner of Kate’s Caring Gifts).  For soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste, triclosan is just plain unnecessary.

If you do need a sanitizer (let’s say you are in a place without good access to water) use a sanitizer that contains alcohol, such as EO.

And always, always read the labels.  Look at the ingredients, and simplify.

Fast Company reports on the first Eco-Themed Park, Environmentaland in Los Angeles.

Said to offer entertainment for adults, kids, students, artists, and
pets (organic taste tests for your pups), Environmentaland consists of  an energy playground (ride a see-saw to generate electricity), recycled  paper plane takeoff, mini-bin exhibit and design station, alternative  energy golf carts, a planetarium, and desert mini golf.

Admittedly, the “theme-park” title seems a little questionable–it’s
more like a museum inside a mall–but Environmentaland is the
brainchild of Global Inheritance, a non-profit that works to engage young people in bringing social and environmental change to their communities

Admission is free to students and to anyone taking public transport.   More info at Environmentaland,

This really sucks

Earlier this week, Monsanto and its partner, a division of the Dow Chemical Company, received registration from the EPA and regulatory authorization from CFIA. The decisions allow a reduction of structured farm refuge from 20 percent to 5 percent for SmartStax in the U.S. Corn Belt and in Canada. The refuge reduction in the U.S. Cotton Belt would drop from 50 percent to 20 percent.

We are disappointed that the Obama EPA has caved to industry pressure like this.   We think that Genetically Engineered foods are a threat to our health and environment.  While it is nice that Michelle Obama has planted an organic garden,  we really want to see more from the Obama administration in terms of food policy, and we think that this cave is a move in the wrong direction

To understand a little more about why this sucks, you need to understand what Genetically Modified, or (as we prefer to call them) Genetically Engineered foods are about, and what the dangers are.

What are Genetically Engineered Foods?

Genetically Engineered (GE) Foods, also known as Genetically Modified (GM) foods or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are plants that have been grown for human or animal consumption, that have been modified in a laboratory to enhance a desired trait.  The modification is usually performed by the insertion of a new gene into the target plant.   The new gene may come from an entirely different species.

The best known example of this is the use of B.t. genes in corn and other crops. B.t., or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. B.t. crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer.

Now the first thing to gather out of this, is that they have engineered a toxin INTO the corn.   So far, tests have not shown ill effects on humans from Bt toxins, but their pervasive use has shown the potential for disrupting ecosystems.

the EPA has found Bt safe enough that it has exempted Bt from food residue tolerances, groundwater restrictions, endangered species labeling and special review requirements. Bt is often used near lakes, rivers and dwellings

However, the tests used by the EPA to judge the safety of Bt toxins have been criticized as inadequate.

The manner in which mammalian toxicity and environmental impact of Bt crops is evaluated is spelt  (sic) out in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reports on the deregulation of GM crops that had been field tested. With both Bt insect resistant crops and herbicide tolerant crops, approval was not based on the Bt toxin proteins, nor on the bacterial enzymes providing herbicide tolerance in the crop, but on Bt toxin proteins or enzymes isolated from bacterial cultures.

The Bt toxins in bacterial cultures were produced using genes that differed from those used in the GM crops. The proteins were significantly altered in amino acid sequence from those in GM crops. The regulatory agencies and their advisory committees argued that so long as the bacterial products retained their active domains as toxins or enzymes and had similar immune profiles to the proteins produced in GM crops, they were “substantially equivalent” to the proteins produced in GM crops.

Get it?  The EPA tests toxins that are similar to those produced by the Genetically Engineered corn, decides that they are “close enough” and declares them safe.  Unfortunately in the in the regulatory confusion governing GE foods, this is all too common.

…safety assessment of GM foods has been based on the idea of “substantial equivalence” such that “if a new food is found to be substantially equivalent in composition and nutritional characteristics to an existing food, it can be regarded as safe as the conventional food.”⁴ However, several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food consumption including infertility, immune dysregulation, accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signaling, and protein formation, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and gastrointestinal system.

How Big is the problem?

BIG – According to the Center for Food Safety

The genetic engineering of plants and animals is looming as one of the greatest and most intractable environmental challenges of the 21st Century…

…Currently, up to 45 percent of U.S. corn is genetically engineered as is 85 percent of soybeans. It has been estimated
that 70-75 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves–from soda
to soup, crackers to condiments–contain genetically engineered
ingredients

And it isn’t just plants.  More and more genetically engineered animals are being released into the environment.  For example, tilapia have been extensively modified

Tilapia fish, native to Africa, are cultured world wide as “poor man’s food”, second only to carp as warm water food fish, and exceeding the production of Atlantic salmon (whose market value is twice that of
tilapia). Tilapia has been extensively genetically modified and promoted as a transgenic fish exclusive for isolated or contained production. Transgenic tilapia, modified with pig growth-hormone, were three times larger than their non transgenic siblings.

The salmon nearest to commercial release is the Atlantic salmon engineered with a pacific salmon
growth hormone driven by the arctic antifreeze promoter gene. The rapid growth of that transgenic salmon is achieved, not so much by the transgenic growth hormone as by the antifreeze gene promoter that functions in the cool water desirable for salmon flavor

The industry claims that the only sterile transgenic fish are used, and that there is no danger of transgenic fish breeding with wild fish, but

A number of studies indicate that salmon produced in sea pens escape and breed with native species, introducing new disease and spreading pollution from the culture pens. These problems will probably be amplified in the fast growing transgenic stocks.

And this leads us back to genetically modified corn and soy.   The reduction of the buffer zone increases the likelihood of Genetically engineered plants cross pollinating  native, heirloom, and organic strains.   In one case, Monsanto actually sued a farmer who did not plant their seeds, did not want their seeds, and received no benefit from the seeds.  Monsanto won the suit because their plants had pollinated his.

…like seeds being blown in by the wind or falling from farmers’ trucks. A two-mile stretch of my land runs along the main road that leads to the canola crushing plant and the gathering station. One farmer testified that he lost a lot of the GMO canola seed he was hauling when his tarpon broke in my area. He estimated he lost enough canola to seed 2,000 acres.

The farmer compared Monsanto’s actions to dumping your stuff on your neighbor’s property, then reporting him to the police for having stolen items.

There is huge money behind these engineered foods, and huge money, with the prospect of increased earnings per share can lead to long terms disasters.  Just look at the housing market.  We need to urge congress to take up the matter of revamping the regulatory regime for GE foods.   We need to slow down the introduction and do more, much more and more realistic, testing