Health

Ontario to increase COVID inspections of greenhouses

Elsewhere — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 21:30:01 +0000

Ontario to increase COVID inspections of greenhouses Elsewhere 2021-Feb-01 Mon 13:30

Ontario to increase COVID inspections of greenhouses

2021-Feb-01 Mon 13:30

2869

The Ontario government is taking additional measures to protect farmworkers during the pandemic by expanding provincewide inspections to farms, greenhouses and other agricultural operations to ensure health and safety measures are being followed. "Our government is taking action to protect essential…

Questions Remain about Big Food’s Influence on the New Dietary Guidelines

Elsewhere — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:00:01 +0000

Questions Remain about Big Food’s Influence on the New Dietary Guidelines Elsewhere 2021-Jan-28 Thu 10:00

Questions Remain about Big Food’s Influence on the New Dietary Guidelines

2021-Jan-28 Thu 10:00

Health

Nutrition

Labels

2842

When the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Agriculture (USDA), released new Dietary Guidelines for Americans on December 29, 2020, they looked almost identical to the ones released five years earlier. There were new guidelines related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and children under two, but to those who’d been paying attention to the process, what stood out was what had not changed.

Most glaringly, the guidelines failed to take up key recommendations from the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, the group of experts responsible for preparing a detailed report intended to inform the final guidelines. This year, that document was 835 pages long and included recommendations for lowering the amount of recommended daily sugar from 10 percent of one’s daily calories to 6 percent, as well as limiting alcohol consumption to one drink a day for both men and women.

There is an Alarming Amount of Microplastics in Farm Soil—and Our Food Supply

Elsewhere — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 22:45:01 +0000

There is an Alarming Amount of Microplastics in Farm Soil—and Our Food Supply Elsewhere 2021-Jan-27 Wed 14:45

There is an Alarming Amount of Microplastics in Farm Soil—and Our Food Supply

2021-Jan-27 Wed 14:45

Health

Food Safety

Sustainability

2828

Mary Beth Kirkham hadn’t studied microplastics when she was invited to co-edit a new book about microplastics in the environment—but something stood out to her about the existing research.

“I had read in the literature that . . . cadmium and other toxic trace elements [are] increased when we have these particulate plastics in the soil. So, that was of concern to me,” said Kirkham, a plant physiologist and distinguished professor of agronomy at Kansas State University.

Kirkham’s expertise is in water and plant relations and heavy metal uptake, so she decided to conduct her own research in which she cultivated wheat plants exposed to microplastics, cadmium, and both microplastics and cadmium. Then she compared these plants to those grown without either additive. She chose cadmium because it’s poisonous, carcinogenic, and ubiquitous in the environment due to human activity—it’s shed from batteries and car tires, and is naturally found in the phosphate rock used to make agricultural fertilizers.

How to Reduce the Winter Blues With Plant-Based Food

Elsewhere — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 22:45:02 +0000

How to Reduce the Winter Blues With Plant-Based Food Elsewhere 2020-Dec-16 Wed 14:45

How to Reduce the Winter Blues With Plant-Based Food

2020-Dec-16 Wed 14:45

Health

General Interest

2524

What's the best food for the winter blues? Adding these plant-based foods to your diet can help make seasonal affective disorder feel a little more manageable.

The post How to Reduce the Winter Blues With Plant-Based Food appeared first on LIVEKINDLY.

Food Insecurity Is Rising in Detroit. So Is the Number of People Fighting It.

Elsewhere — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 18:59:20 +0000

Food Insecurity Is Rising in Detroit. So Is the Number of People Fighting It. Elsewhere 2020-Nov-13 Fri 10:59

Food Insecurity Is Rising in Detroit. So Is the Number of People Fighting It.

2020-Nov-13 Fri 10:59

Food Security

2137

Sedans, trucks, SUVs, and minivans idling in two lines down both West Vernor Highway and 25th Street, meeting in a fork where vehicles take turns edging forward. Masked drivers unlatching trunks as someone scribbles the number of children in their home on the windshield. Grab-and-go meals at elementary schools handed out for students who take classes virtually at home, while others eat in a cafeteria.

“We wouldn’t be able to make it work without them,” a woman said of the free meals provided by Gleaners Community Food Bank. Sandy, who declined to give her full name, awaited food pickup at St. Anthony’s in a blue minivan in the Tuesday morning line on West Vernor in September. She said the food was for her niece who was supervising virtual school at home for her three children and couldn’t come herself. “It probably saves us $50 to $60.”

Each person is given 30 pounds of food, including produce and milk. “It’s real milk,” Sandy said. “What’s good is the stuff they’re giving is stuff they’re actually eating.”

This is the new picture of food insecurity in Detroit, where the coronavirus pandemic has made hunger more visible. In the last six months, food banks, schools, and social service providers have made a tremendous pivot to make sure people are able to eat.

Rural North Carolinia residents will soon get their meds delivered by drone

Elsewhere — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:41:43 +0000

Rural North Carolinia residents will soon get their meds delivered by drone Elsewhere 2020-Oct-20 Tue 09:41

Rural North Carolinia residents will soon get their meds delivered by drone

2020-Oct-20 Tue 09:41

Drones

Delivery

Retail

1858

Drones have already shown that they can reliably deliver vital shipments of blood across Rwanda, drop off prescriptions to senior citizens in Florida, and help quarantining families stay safe with contactless deliveries. Now they’re going to be buzzi...

Massachusetts Man Dies from Eating Too Much Black Licorice

Elsewhere — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 17:40:08 +0000

Massachusetts Man Dies from Eating Too Much Black Licorice Elsewhere 2020-Sep-25 Fri 10:40

Massachusetts Man Dies from Eating Too Much Black Licorice

2020-Sep-25 Fri 10:40

Health

General Interest

1548

A 54-year-old construction worker died after eating black licorice for weeks on end caused his heart to stop.

More than 100 more salmonella illnesses in Canada linked to onion recall

Elsewhere — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 23:51:18 +0000

More than 100 more salmonella illnesses in Canada linked to onion recall Elsewhere 2020-Aug-07 Fri 16:51

More than 100 more salmonella illnesses in Canada linked to onion recall

2020-Aug-07 Fri 16:51

909

The Public Health Agency of Canada says there are now 239 confirmed cases of salmonella infections linked to red onions imported from the United States.