The Illusion of Food Choice

The Disturbing Truth About The Food We Eat :

Did you know that:

1. Quaker Oats, which you may view as a healthy food, is produced by PepsiCo, a company which is known for its notorious production of junk food.
2. ​91% of the soda market is owned by only Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Group?
3. Nestle is the world’s largest food company and owns almost 8,000 brands?

Check out from the infographic below that it actually doesn't matter which brand we choose, because at the end, it all ends up for the same company.

Do you actually have a choice on choosing?

The solution usually lies in buying local, buying from the brand that a local food factory produces, buy the fruits and vegetables from the farmer market, buy from the food prepared by local women.

Localization is a key not just for securing your health but also for empowering local and small brands.

Source:

Alex Hillseberg analyzed food reports from US Department of Agriculture and other credible sources and gathered the findings in our newest infographic that paints a very grim picture of the food industry today: http://comparisons.financesonline.com/top-grocery-brands-comparison/.

Are you Label Literate?

I posted few minutes ago an article on twitter that talks about genetically modifying wheat to resist insects.( More from the Telegraph UK). Here is a snapshot of the discussion about how people percieve GMO:

It is true that this technology offers great solutions and here I quote from the article " "We don't believe there is an alternative, but we are providing a new way of controlling the pests that doesn't rely on toxic modes of action".
But are those scientists, that developed this technology, aware of the effect of genetic manipulation. I wont go into the endless debate of GMO's versus non GMO's. There are billion of articles that discuss it.( Read here : Non GMO project).
Setting aside my scientific arguments and background, I will merely discuss this as a normal being who wants to eat.  "Why eat something manipulated?  And why are GMO's banned in Europe if they are safe ? What's the matter of natural food? Our ancestors lived billion of years and nothing really happened. Why now? One has to be aware that there are no studies yet done on the effect of humans who have been consuming GMO's for a long term "

That's the continuation of the reply:

" @Pearlowa ic,we have to become scientists b4 buying food these days
— (@hatem_mawlawi) April 1, 2012"

This brought me to the subject of food awareness and "label literacy" that I will be posting each month about.

We really don't have to be scientists.  We just need to act like aware consumers. Do you buy a car that wastes alot of oil? Or do you buy a shoe that makes you uncomfortable?
While buying food from your grocery, be aware of the food that will make your body more comfortable, more healthy and more energy efficient. Choice is the key.
And do you buy a fake gold bracelet?  Then why do you buy fake food, food that is an imitation from the natural form.
So, read your label. Check the manufacturer. Check the country of production.
Remember it is your health and your children's health that will be affected. 

Check this quick and easy guide that you should know about your food label.
( CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Do you care more about the ingredients or calories?

Was Star Trek too optimistic for a future full of chocolate?

"I never met a chocolate I didn't like " Deanna Troi -  Star Trek ( The Next Generation) .
 That is probably one of the renowned quotes about chocolate . I am not that of a Star Trek fanatic , more of a Star Wars. But Star Wars doesn't mention anything about chocolate!
 Even in another Star Trek Episode   (Deep Space Nine) chocolate was a commodity on DS9 during the Bajor Occupation; Quark offered some to Odo to make up for their "rough start" back in 2363.
Does this  ingenious TV series that depicts life in the future , able to predict correctly that chocolate will still exist in the future? And that Chocolate will still be eaten in "rough times"?

Unfortunately, Cocoa and chocolate will be rare foods in the upcoming 10 years. Well that’s what the International Center for Tropical Agriculture ( more about CIAT)  in Columbia warns. So , perhaps teleportation machines and starships will be more realistic  than humans eating chocolate.

Coffee Drinks Illustrated-Infographic

The proportion of ingredients for popular coffee drinks and their pronunciation keys.

Taken from the web