Which is more absurd?
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Cytomax Sport Energy Drink
I have now switched to the Cool Citrus flavor Cytomax Sport Energy Drink and like it very much. It doesn't seem as sweet or salty as Endurance Formula Gatorade (but then, I'm mixing less of it than recommended), and does have more ingredients with no artificial colors. For my first two 24 oz. bottles, I only use one scoop per bottle, where they recommend one scoop per 16 oz. Then I increase the amount on subsequent bottles. This is the Supplement Facts panel from the Cytomax website. Note that they recommend one to one and a half scoops per 16 oz. of water.I still eat a couple of bananas and drink a 11.5 oz. can of Low Sodium V8 after every ride.
Another good article on our food supply.
The San Jose Mercury News reports on the growing problem with what is becoming our practically unregulated food supply.
Some salient excerpts:
Food labels don't tell the whole inside story
By Brandon Bailey
Mercury News
Article Launched: 07/22/2007 01:44:16 AM PDT
That loaf of Sara Lee bread on the grocery shelf in San Jose was made with flour from U.S. wheat. But the Illinois-based food giant uses honey and vitamin supplements from China.
While Paul Newman's daughter uses California figs in cookies made by her Aptos organic food company, she turns to Mexico and Austria for other ingredients.
And even though a Procter & Gamble spokeswoman described Crest toothpaste "as a truly American product," it uses additives from China and Finland.
Recent reports of tainted imports from China have focused new attention on a little-known trend: In today's global economy, more food items are being produced in this country with some ingredients from other lands. But the FDA inspects less than 1 percent of all food imports - and that means consumers must trust food makers to guarantee the safety of their products.
"It's not just the stuff that says `Made in China.' It's the stuff in the stuff that says `Made in the USA,' " said Elisa Odabashian of Consumers Union, a non-profit consumer advocacy group that publishes Consumer Reports magazine. "We're importing more and more of our food and we're inspecting almost none of it."
(cont.)
Some salient excerpts:
- (Those) familiar with the Chinese economy describe it as vast, loosely regulated and often corrupt.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture visits other countries to certify that meat-packing plants and local inspectors are operating under acceptable standards, before allowing those products into this country. But the FDA doesn't have the budget or legal authority to do the same for most other types of food.
- (A) consultant, thinks the United States should require domestic manufacturers to keep records detailing where their ingredients come from, as the European Union does. The rules are intended to rein in unscrupulous distributors who might otherwise try to hide the source of suspect goods.
- The United States relies too heavily on the food industry to police itself, agreed Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit research and advocacy group in Washington, D.C.
Food labels don't tell the whole inside story
By Brandon Bailey
Mercury News
Article Launched: 07/22/2007 01:44:16 AM PDT
That loaf of Sara Lee bread on the grocery shelf in San Jose was made with flour from U.S. wheat. But the Illinois-based food giant uses honey and vitamin supplements from China.
While Paul Newman's daughter uses California figs in cookies made by her Aptos organic food company, she turns to Mexico and Austria for other ingredients.
And even though a Procter & Gamble spokeswoman described Crest toothpaste "as a truly American product," it uses additives from China and Finland.
Recent reports of tainted imports from China have focused new attention on a little-known trend: In today's global economy, more food items are being produced in this country with some ingredients from other lands. But the FDA inspects less than 1 percent of all food imports - and that means consumers must trust food makers to guarantee the safety of their products.
"It's not just the stuff that says `Made in China.' It's the stuff in the stuff that says `Made in the USA,' " said Elisa Odabashian of Consumers Union, a non-profit consumer advocacy group that publishes Consumer Reports magazine. "We're importing more and more of our food and we're inspecting almost none of it."
(cont.)
Seems to be Sewage Sunday for posts!
It's not just developing nations that are worrisome when it comes to raw sewage in the waterways.
About Act for Healthy Rivers:
Act for Healthy Rivers is a broad-based coalition led by American Rivers that is fighting against the rising tide of sewage pollution. The coalition consists of groups representing paddlers, anglers, watershed associations, surfers and conservationists from around the country who are fighting sewage pollution in their communities. www.HealthyRivers.org.
About American Rivers:
American Rivers is the only national organization standing up for healthy rivers so our communities can thrive. Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and growing network of strategic partners, we protect and promote our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to the health, safety, and quality of life of every community in America. www.AmericanRivers.org
About Act for Healthy Rivers:
Act for Healthy Rivers is a broad-based coalition led by American Rivers that is fighting against the rising tide of sewage pollution. The coalition consists of groups representing paddlers, anglers, watershed associations, surfers and conservationists from around the country who are fighting sewage pollution in their communities. www.HealthyRivers.org.
About American Rivers:
American Rivers is the only national organization standing up for healthy rivers so our communities can thrive. Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and growing network of strategic partners, we protect and promote our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to the health, safety, and quality of life of every community in America. www.AmericanRivers.org
Bon Appétit!
Maybe Bush will establish a Sewage Food Czar. That will be cheaper than fully funding the FDA.
Some Mexican food products raise safety concerns
* Story Highlights
* FDA rejected 1,560 shipments of food, cosmetics from Mexico within last year
* Candy makers big violators, making up at least 15 percent of June FDA rejections
* U.S. official says Mexico has come a long way in protecting its food exports
* Safety issues small amid $10.3 billion in food Mexico exported to U.S. in '06
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Mexican cantaloupe irrigated with water from sewage-tainted rivers. Candy laced with lead. Chinese toothpaste is not the only concern for U.S. consumers wary of the health risks posed by imported goods.
Producers in other developing nations are big violators of basic food safety standards, even as they woo consumers with a growing appetite for foods such as pickled mangoes from India and winter-season fruits and vegetables from Mexico.
On Wednesday, President Bush established a high-level government panel to recommend steps to guarantee the safety of food shipped into the U.S. and to improve policing of those imports.
(cont.)
Some Mexican food products raise safety concerns
* Story Highlights
* FDA rejected 1,560 shipments of food, cosmetics from Mexico within last year
* Candy makers big violators, making up at least 15 percent of June FDA rejections
* U.S. official says Mexico has come a long way in protecting its food exports
* Safety issues small amid $10.3 billion in food Mexico exported to U.S. in '06
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Mexican cantaloupe irrigated with water from sewage-tainted rivers. Candy laced with lead. Chinese toothpaste is not the only concern for U.S. consumers wary of the health risks posed by imported goods.
Producers in other developing nations are big violators of basic food safety standards, even as they woo consumers with a growing appetite for foods such as pickled mangoes from India and winter-season fruits and vegetables from Mexico.
On Wednesday, President Bush established a high-level government panel to recommend steps to guarantee the safety of food shipped into the U.S. and to improve policing of those imports.
(cont.)
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Yellow Labrador goes down in Tour de France!
Poor fellow. Of course you have to blame the idiot owner not having his dog on a leash for the couple of minutes it takes for the peloton to go through a town. But, since the dog (unnamed, but we'll call him Ginger of Val d'Isere—he's French, what does he know?) and racer (Marcus Burghardt of Germany) are reported to both be o.k., you have to love the hang-dog look on his face. I've seen that same look on my past Ginger dog friend. He knows he's done something bad, but unsure as to what. Precious. Love those Labs.
Here's a link of the stills of the incident.
Here's a link of the stills of the incident.
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