Jakob's Bowl

A Voice Lowing In The Wilderness

Before we all go hailing the recent decisions by McDonald’s, Burger King, et al for removing the ammonia treated slaughterhouse scraps normally unfit for human consumption, aka "pink slime," from their burgers, tacos, and god knows what- as reported on the Huffington Post this past week, let us remember that the New York Times reported on the existence of this execrable substance, and its presence in fast food burgers as well as burgers being offered in school lunch programs over two years ago!!! (See my January 2010 post Kitchen Cleaners Anyone?)

While I am aghast that it took a documentary, the public attention of a celebrity chef, and over two years time to move BIG FOOD to action, I am even more disturbed by the fact that the USDA approved the use of this 'Soylant Pink.' in 2001...10 years ago. When I think of how many millions, or billions, of these burgers were consumed over the decade my head sets to spinning...what will they think of next.

Buyrony & The Biggest Locovore

The newest Seattle Whole Foods is just a couple of miles from my home, and ever since it opened, they have tried to stress how much they support local producers - and if you believe that one, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. The large parking lot out front has 18 tall light poles, and attached to each pole are two large banners (approx 4-feet by 15-inches each) with the word LOCAL in large letters and the name of a local producer next to it. As I drove to the Whole Foods yesterday, I noticed some a number of new signs placed along the curb as I approached the parking lot, and they all read: "Icelandic Lamb Is Here". I suppose it’s all just "blackwhite" to them.

The Misplaced Farmer's Market Tote

I'm not sure if it's simply carelessness or rapidly approaching senility, but over the last twelve months my supply of canvas Farmer’s Market totes has dwindled by two-thirds. Last August I managed to drop my bright yellow Ayer's Creek Farm tote during a visit to the Sunday Farmer’s Market on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, and about six weeks ago, I noticed that my Portland Farmer’s Market (PFM) canvas tote was missing...oh, bother. On my last trip to Portland as I waited for the bell to ring to open the market, I decided it was time to replace the latter. They had replaced their previous tote with a version that folded up into a neat bundle when not in use. I was ready to plunk down my $$$, when I read the inner tag: "Made In China." I passed on the tote.

Upon reflection, I find it very, very odd, downright offensive actually, that the PFM would source its promotional merchandise from thousands of miles away, especially given their "Mission" statement (as stated on the PFM "About Us" page):

PFM operates vibrant farmers markets that contribute to the success of local food growers and producers, strengthen our food economy and serve as community gathering places.

What’s wrong with this picture!!! Could it be that there is something fundamentally at odds between the high-minded façade and the economic realities of the current incantation of many of the Farmers Market organizations in this country…a few words to follow on Seattle’s Farmers Market turf wars.

Run Away, Run Away

If you didn't care what happened to me,
And I didn't care for you,
We would zig zag our way through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain.
Wondering which of the buggars to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing.

Pigs On The Wing, 1976
Roger Waters

Well, there he goes again. Just as suddenly as he left Clarklewis in 2006, and Café 401 in 2009, Morgan Brownlow has departed Tails & Trotters. The announcement was made on Brownlow's facebook page on Monday. The collaboration between Aaron Silverman and Morgan Brownlow has produced some of the most amazing cuts of pork and charcuterie that the Pacific Northwest has ever tasted. Plans are for T&T to continue producing bistro cuts of fresh hazelnut-finished pork and cured pork products of every denomination for sale at area Farmers' Markets and their impending storefront. I certainly hope they don't miss a beat!!!

The Value Of Organic Certification?

What A Difference A Year Makes! It was about a year ago that I posted about the USDA Inspector General's audit of the USDA’s enforcement of the National Organic Program (NOP) (Certified Organic: Whom Can You Trust?). The results while shocking to some, were not unexpected by those who followed the letter of the law in growing and producing their organic products. Real organic producers had been paying the price for lax and even non-enforcement by not being able to compete on an even playing field with those who gamed and cheated the system. My main concern at the time was the lack of inspection of food products labeled "organic" coming from China. I assumed that the 'organic' risk in this country was a lot lower, and I was apparently wrong.

On March 2nd, the USDA took some long overdue steps to actually enforce the National Organic Program and in the process increase the value of 'real' organic certification...they revoked the accreditation of two - now formerly - organic certifying agencies, Certified Organic, Inc. (COI) and Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency (GOCA) for failing to comply with the National Organic Program regulations, including a failure to "ensure adequate training for employees about the regulations." Hopefully, this is just the first step in reversing the effects of Gresham's Law on 'real' organic food products and reestablishing their true value in the marketplace, as well as allowing the consumer to have more faith in the stamp on the back of the package.

 

Just Greasing The Pole

No, I haven’t disappeared…I’ve just been preoccupied. But earlier this week just as I was about to return to my examination of fish sauces, I received an email with the subject line "Hi From Frito-Lay." I assumed it was some sort of response to my post, The Slippery Slope, from a few weeks ago. Sure enough, it was:

Hi Michael-

I wanted to reach out to you because I recently read your article, "The Slippery Slope". I work at Ketchum PR and Frito-Lay is one my clients. I saw that you had some questions and concerns about the natural ingredients found in our snack chips.

I wanted to let you know that currently, Tostitos are made with only three ingredients - corn, healthier oils such as corn and sunflower and salt. In addition, what you mentioned about Frito-Lay announcing that approximately 50% of their products are being made with all natural ingredients is actually completely correct. And this includes three of their biggest brands- Lay's® potato chips, Tostitos® tortilla chips and SunChips® multigrain snacks. These products will not contain any artificial or synthetic ingredients, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives, or ingredients such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).

If you have any additional questions about Frito-Lay or its products and all natural portfolio, or would even like to sample them, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Jessica Defilippo
Senior Account Executive

Ketchum. Passion and Precision in Communication.
A proud partner of Room to Read; World Change Starts with Educated Children®
Our goal is to reach more than 10 million children by 2015.

Given the fact that she did not provide any information that wasn’t in the press release referenced in my post or address any of my sarcasm tinged comments about the value of the Frito-Lay announcement, I am not quite sure why she took the time to send me the e-mail!!! However, I am grateful she did, since her corporate signature just serves, ironically, to add more fuel to the fire.

This PR firm seems to have a noble goal, but I wonder how many of those 10 million children that they hope to reach by 2015 will be taught how to read and understand the nutritional labels and the ingredients lists of those bags in the well stocked vending machines into which they keep pumping their dollars. How many of those children will be able to understand the relative and absolute nutritional merits of a bag of Tostitos versus a bag of Doritos, and why the latter are even being offered for sale???

Tostitos Ingredients: Whole White Corn, Vegetable Oil (Corn, Soybean, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil), and Salt.

Doritos (Nacho Cheese) Ingredients: Whole Corn, Vegetable Oil (Contains One or More of the Following: Corn, Soybean and/or Sunflower Oil), Salt, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Maltodexrin, Wheat Flour, Whey, Monosodium Glutamate, Buttermilk Solids, Romano Cheese From Cow’s Milk, Cheese (Part-Skim Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey Protein Concentrate, Onion Powder, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil, Corn Flour, Disodium Phosphate, Lactose, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Dextrose, Tomato Powder, Spices, Lactic Acid, Artificial Color (Including Yellow 6, Yellow5, Red 40), Citric Acid, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Red and Green Bell Pepper Powder, Sodium Caseinate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Non-Fat Milk Solids, Whey Protein Isolate, and Corn Syrup Solids. (emphasis added)