Rethink the Food Label is a project by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism’s News21 program and Good Magazine.

Beeeerilliant idea. I've read a few of Michael Pollan's books (highly recommended) and have always had an interest in diet and it's affect on our body and mind, and it's about time we re-evaluate the American food system and our approach and perspective as a culture. 

Food labels need to be easier to read so people can be more aware of what exactly they are eating and make healthy decisions. 

I'm not saying we should all cut out ice cream and chocolate as I surely won't, but an informed public has a better chance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, thus being a more productive society, than an uninformed public... or worse yet, a misinformed public. 

Submissions are open until July 1st (tomrrow!) so all you designers out there please jump on it! :D 

 

Last week, the F.D.A. held a panel to review evidence suggesting a link between artificial food colorings and behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity, in children. 

I mean, America, do we REALLY even need to discuss this? Holy cow! What else would you expect when a child consumes Red No. 40- a highly likely carcinogen made from petroleum that is banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Sweden and Switerland, and of which the European Union requires a label for food containing this colorant (read: poison) to state: "may have an adverse effect on activity in children."

The problem with American kids is not "ADD" or "ADHD", but rather the oil-based food they are deceivingly served by greedy multinational corporations who value profit over people, AND the government has been watching this happen. 

And you don't have to look far. Red No. 40 is found in soft drinks, candy, children’s medications, cereal, beverages, snacks, gelatin desserts, baked goods and ice cream, amongst other "foods." Oh, and it's alternate names, in case these sound more appetizing, are Allura Red AC, FD&C Red. No. 40 Calcium Lake, and FD&C Red. No. 40 Aluminum Lake. YYYYYUUUUMMMYY!! 

The federal government has been cracking down on artificial food dyes for more than a century in part because some early ones were not only toxic but were also sometimes used to mask filth or rot.

To mask filth or rot?! Really America? Where have our primal priorities of fostering a healthy community, providing for our children and reproducing gone? 

In 1950, many children became ill after eating Halloween candy containing Orange No. 1 dye, and the F.D.A. banned it after more rigorous testing suggested that it was toxic. In 1976, the agency banned Red No. 2 because it was suspected to be carcinogenic. It was then replaced by Red No. 40.

Wait a second, this has been going on since 1950? I can't help but laugh as it seems too absurd that with our advanced 21st century technology, we have yet to believe that we are what we eat and that eating oil-based foods, like corn and highly processed flour and anything with food dyes or preservatives, inevitably leads to disease and death. Do we no longer care to preserve the American human race? 

Many of the artificial colorings used today were approved by the F.D.A. in 1931, including Blue No. 1, Yellow No. 5 and Red No. 3. Artificial dyes were developed — just as aspirin was — from coal tar, but are now made from petroleum products. 

Is it just me or is it beyond despressing that American children are being fed government approved poison dating back to 1931... ? 

In the 1970s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a pediatric allergist from California, had success treating the symptoms of hyperactivity in some children by prescribing a diet that, among other things, eliminated artificial colorings.

Dr. Feingold, I tip my hat to you and wish you weren't fighting a conglomerate of greed between the US government and multinational corporations. 

And America, please recognize the power of the dollar and the ability to vote more directly than ever by being more conscious of what you purchase and taking advantage of our purchasing power. 

If you need a quick tip, simply stay away from anything with high-fructose corn syrup or any ingredient you don't recognize. If you want more tips and knowledge, read anything by Michael Pollan or visit BeFoodSmart.

Thanks for reading :D 

Above quotes from NY Times article by Gardiner Harris, who I want to thank for shinning the light on such an important reality.  

(Above- Red No. 40 present in "strawberry" soft drink) 

 

The 1st time is an observation, the 2nd a coincidence and the 3rd time means listen up... in 2010 we are hopefully ready to embrace going SLOW. #1. Slow Food It seems like the benefits of this movement are finally receiving the very welcomed attention it deserves... 2009 even led to iphone apps dedicated to finding seasonal local produce. If you haven't already check out Michael Pollan's eye opening book, Omnivore's Dilemma, put it to the top of your list. My biggest take away (as far as nutrition is concerned): the only thing more important than what we eat is, in fact, what we eat eats. #2. Slow Fashion We recently had a chance to check out the Pratt Gallery's (free) exhibit on Ethics + Aesthetics = Sustainable Fashion. It displayed some of the pioneers in eco / slow fashion, including Bodkin, Loomstate, Uluru and of course, the innovative concepts of Sans. As Lika Volkova, founder of Sans contends - fashion technically cannot 'be eco' since it is continuously producing, but it is undeniable that this industry has tremendous opportunities for improvement. As an apparel line we are committed to the latter; from production, to materials, to packaging we make a point to consider all stake holders in each decision we make. #3. GOOD Going Slow When our quarterly issue of GOOD magazine arrived it was titled 'The Slow Issue'. In it were interviews with a myriad of forward thinking folks, each contributing to the issue's namesake in a unique way. Recent posts to the issue online include giving people incentive to opt for stairs over elevators, and an interview with the President of Slow Food USA, Joshua Viertel, among many others. Going slow can have implications for everything. To us, it means considering the big picture; thinking about the impact of our decisions, whether it is the food we eat, the products we buy, or the things we say. Here's to a happy, healthy... and slower 2010 for us all.