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Robyn O'Brien

About Robyn O'Brien

Robyn O’Brien is the co-founder of rePlant Capital, an impact investment firm, deploying integrated capital from soil to shelf in order to build soil health and financial resiliency for farmers. She is also the founder of Do Good, a strategic advisory firm, and the AllergyKids Foundation. Random House published Robyn’s book, The Unhealthy Truth, in 2009, and her TEDx talks have been translated into dozens of languages and viewed by millions around the world.

Posts by Robyn O'Brien:

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Food Allergies: The Hidden Truth About Peanuts

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Today is National Peanut Butter Day. Could there be a product that is both so loved and so feared?

And what do we actually know about it?

Most of the peanuts consumed in the U.S. are now one of the most pesticide-contaminated snacks we eat. The USDA Pesticide Data Program found 8 pesticides on peanut butter. Piperonyl butoxide was found 26.9% of the time.

We tend to only hear about the peanut allergy when it comes to peanuts in the news, but a deeper look into how we grow peanuts today unearths a lot of questions.

Since when did so many kids suddenly have a peanut allergy? The number of people with peanut allergy has quadrupled in the last thirteen years. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich hasn’t always been a loaded weapon on a lunchroom table.

From 1997-2002, the incidence of peanut allergy doubled. In the last thirteen years, it has quadrupled. In the last fifteen years, there has been a 50% increase in the number of children with food allergies. About 1 in 13 U.S. children have food allergies—a 50 percent increase from the late 1990s, according to a recent CDC survey.

But that’s not where it stops.

Children with food allergy are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma and other allergies, compared with children without food allergies.

In part, this is why this generation of children has earned the title of “Generation Rx.” They can’t go anywhere without an asthma inhaler or EpiPen, a life saving injection of epinephrine should an allergic reaction occur. In 2012, EpiPen sales were on track to bring in $640 million this year, a 76 percent increase over last year.

And when President Obama shared on CBS News a few years ago that his daughter has a peanut allergy and asthma, peanut allergies got even more serious, and the online world got fired up, as the President was signing a bipartisan bill that offers a financial incentive to states if schools stockpile epinephrine. Epinephrine, also known by the brand name, EpiPen, is considered the first-line treatment for people with severe allergies.

Online comments flooded in:

As a mother of two kids with severe peanut allergy, I think this is a GREAT idea! We are a military family and have had three addresses in the last few months. Each time my son had to be enrolled in school we need a form signed by our doctor for each the Benedryl and Epipen. Our doc no longer faxes these forms so there IS a waiting period while it goes through the mail!!! I can rest easy that our school has a few on hand until the paperwork gets signed and mailed to me and I can supply our own Rx epipens!!!

Epi-pens do expire but they likely are good for 2-3 years. They are ridiculously expensive. A 250ml bottle of generic epinephrine costs about $3, but an epi-pen containing 0.20ml of the same strength epinephrine costs about $300, probably due to the patent on the auto-injector.

25% of anaphylactic reactions happen in those with no known/diagnosed allergy. This can include food allergies and bee sting allergies. The risks of not administering epinephrine in an emergent situation far outweigh any risks of giving it. For example, anaphylaxis is often confused with severe asthma attacks but epinephrine was the first line treatment for severe asthma attacks for years.

Here’s an idea…lets have the PARENTS of the kid who has allergies send the EpiPens into school vs having the schools pay to stockpile them, when most will not be used and expire anyway. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize kids didn’t have all these “allergies” before chemicals were put into our food.

Others called this a “band aid” solution to a real problem: the skyrocketing rates of allergies in our children and how to get to the bottom of what is causing them. Some will talk about peanut oil used in vaccines and others will float the hygiene hypothesis, saying that we are no longer exposed to healthy bacteria because we no longer live on farms. The peanut allergy epidemic began fifteen years ago. We weren’t living on a farm when this took off. If we are going to talk about our overly Purell-ed environment, then we also need to talk about the fact that we are no longer exposed to healthy bacteria because how our food is now processed, treated with chlorine, preservatives, antibiotic, growth hormones and synthietc chemicals before it even hits our dinner plates.

It begs the question: Are we allergic to food? Or to what’s been done to it?  Are we allergic to peanuts or what’s been done to them?

And why all of a sudden do we have so many children with such severe food allergies that it requires the President to essentially write a prescription for kids around the country?

Well, a closer look at the mighty peanut might shed some light.

It’s interesting to note that the peanut is actually a bean. Its shape is similar to a soybean, and it is not a nut at all. It is part of the legume family but different to the soybean and other beans which grow in pods on vines. The peanut has its pod in the ground.

In other words, it’s buried in the soil. It has a soft skin that protects it (not a hard shell like a walnut). Put anything in that soil and you can imagine how it gets absorbed into the peanut. Put genetically engineered seeds in that soil and you get soil that is saturated with a controversial chemical, glyphosate, linked to everything from cancer to infertility.

Peanut crops are often rotated with cotton crops, and now that cotton has been genetically engineered to withstand increasing doses of crop chemicals, it’s anyone’s guess as to just how polluted that soil has become.

But it’s not a guess to the farmers.

According to farmers, “Peanuts are raised in the part of our country where peanuts are a rotation crop with cotton. Most of the cotton is glyphosate tolerant and receives numerous glyphosate applications per year. Glyphosate severely damages the beneficial microorganisms in the soil. This leads to an increase in the population of opportunistic or bad organisms in the soil. The bad organisms cause an increase in the number of diseases that will adversely effect the peanut crop. This leads to an increased use of insecticides and fungicides on the peanut crop. It is common to see a conventional peanut crop sprayed with some type of pesticide every 8-10 days during the growing season.”

“Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body,” the study says. The EPA is conducting a standard registration review of glyphosate and has set a deadline of 2015 for determining if glyphosate use should be limited. The study is among many comments submitted to the agency.

Peanuts tend to be grown in warm climates and as a result things can get pretty humid. Fungus can grow, and this results in increased use of fungicides being applied to non-organic peanut crops.

The fungus itself is not what we need to worry about (though the increasing levels of fungicides raises concern), but there is a poison that is released from the fungus known as “aflatoxin”. This cancer causing agent can attack the liver and is a deadly toxin. Scientists have expressed concern over low-level, long-term exposures to aflatoxin. According to Cornell University, studies have shown a correlation with liver cancer risk.

Because the peanut is also a big target for little pests, peanuts are also one of the crops most heavily routinely saturated with pesticides.

peanut butter pestcidesMost of the peanuts consumed in the U.S. are now one of the most pesticide-contaminated snacks we eat. The USDA Pesticide Data Program found 8 pesticides on peanut butter. Piperonyl butoxide was found 26.9% of the time.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, piperonyl butoxide is considered a possible human carcinogen based on limited evidence of cancer in laboratory animals. Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO), a highly toxic substance that causes a range of short- and long-term effects, includ- ing cancer and adverse impacts on liver function and the nervous system, is one of the most commonly used synergists in pesticide products. Synergists are chemicals added to pesticide formulations to enhance the toxicity of the active ingredients.

As it turns out, peanuts and these pesticides aren’t the only ingredients in peanut butter. Conventional peanut butters can contain hydrogenated oils, sugar, salt and other ingredients such as soy protein, corn syrup and stabilizers. Many of these ingredients can be genetically engineered to either produce their own insecticidal toxins or to withstand increasing doses of weed killer. In other words, you’re getting a whole suite of products along with that peanut.

Aflatoxins can be present in either conventional or organic making refrigeration of peanut butter so important, as it slows down the growth of aflatoxins. As you might imagine, all peanut butters must be tested for aflatoxins.

So what’s an eater to do?

Buy organic peanut butter if you eat peanut butter and refrigerate it. Why organic? You will be avoiding that added load of fertilizer, fungicides and pesticides that are applied to conventional peanuts, as well as any high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (possibly full of GMOs or genetically engineered ingredients and genetically engineered soy, which when introduced in the late 1990s resulted in a 50% increase in the number of people with soy allergies).

On top of that, there are no animal testing models for the allergenicity of genetically engineered ingredients, so we are just banking on the promises of the chemical companies that have introduced and patented these ingredients. The FDA has not conducted any independent, long-term, human health studies. They don’t have the resources or access since genetically engineered ingredients are protected as intellectual property under U.S. Patent law.

As a result, grocery store chains like Wegman’s state:

“Testing for GE ingredients is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to do. For example, there is no test available that can reliably determine the source of ingredients that have been highly processed, which is the case for corn syrup, soybean, canola, and corn oil. These are four of the most common ingredients made from GE crops.”

That’s enough to make any parent of a child with food allergies stop in her tracks.

If you head into the grocery store, you can see an expanding line of organic peanut butters. And if you are not peanut allergic, according to a 2002 Harvard School of Public Health study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, consuming one tablespoon of peanut butter five or more times a week can reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by 20%.

The mighty, unpolluted peanut is also a good source of fiber, vitamin E, potassium, folate, zinc and magnesium and contains resveratrol (also found in red wine), flavonoids, and antioxidants, all of whose health benefits are increasingly being proven to help you prevent a wide variety of diseases. Just remember to go organic to avoid that load of chemicals. Arrowhead Mills Organic Peanut Butter claims to be completely aflatoxin-free.

And lastly, it’s also really important for parents of children with peanut allergy to know that the peanut can be cross-reactive with soy. According to the Mayo Clinic and the Asthma and Allergy Resource Center, a person with a peanut allergy can have an allergic reaction after eating a food that contains soy (link to additional information here).

So what’s an American to do?

  1. If you have or suspect you have a peanut allergy, see a medical professional immediately to determine the best treatment and prevention plan.
  2. If you are a peanut butter lover, eat a clean peanut. Organic peanut butter does not allow genetically engineered ingredients and synthetic toxic chemicals to be used in its production.
  3. Refrigerate peanut butter to keep those aflatoxins away.
  4. Learn about options: almond butter, sunflower nut butter and other options are increasingly available as more and more people are impacted.
  5. Be compassionate for those that are affected by the peanut allergy. No one would choose to have it. Having a child whose life could depend on an epinephrine shot is not something any parent anywhere would choose. Work together. Parents of peanut allergy kids are probably really scared and that can present in a lot of different ways.
  6. Learn the signs (a detailed list is below). The landscape of childhood is changing.

Know the Signs of an Allergic Reaction

The Mayo Clinic is a trusted resource for food-allergic information and highlights the following:

The most common food allergy symptoms include:

  • Tingling or itching in the mouth
  • Hives, itching or eczema
  • Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other parts of the body
  • Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

Anaphylaxis

In some people, a food allergy can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can cause life-threatening symptoms, including:

  • Constriction and tightening of airways
  • A swollen throat or the sensation of a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe
  • Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
  • Rapid pulse
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness

Emergency treatment is critical for anaphylaxis.

Photo by JeepersMedia

Photo by Stephan Henning

2019 Trends that No One is Talking About

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There are some huge trends emerging in 2019. And I’m not talking about CBD, plant protein or mushrooms, as that would be a ‘year in review’. 

There are trends that are coming hard and fast at the food industry that few are discussing and that need to be addressed, so we are going to lay out all eight of them here:

  1. Racial Advertising: Our food system is not only loaded with artificial ingredients, but also systemic racism.  In no way is that more obvious than in the excessive advertising that targets people of color. In 2017, black teens saw more than twice as many ads for unhealthy food products as white teens, researchers found. Statistics show that growth in consumption of organic food by communities of color is outpacing that of the total population, so someone tell the ad agencies and marketing directors: targeting black teens with junk food has to stop.
  2. Whitewashed Venture Capital: Less than 1% of American venture capital-backed founders are black. Less than 1%. So venture capital is failing to invest in diversity of innovation, and it’s costing us: in 2016, the Center for Global Policy Solutions reported that due to discriminatory financing practices and a bias towards companies primarily operated by white males, America is losing out on over 1.1 million minority-owned businesses, and as a result, foregoing over 9 million potential jobs and $300 billion in collective national income, according to Forbes.
  3. B Corp: This certification is exploding. Danone officially became the world’s largest B corp in 2018, defying any and all excuses.  A challenge within the certification itself is that due to its costs, it inadvertently burdens minority groups who do not have the same access to capital, as discussed above. There has always been some backlash against the certification and the suggestion that it is yet another “Winner Take All” strategy. However, that can be addressed, and given the intent of the board of B Lab, I am certain that with increased noise and pressure, it will be.
  4. The Bullshit Factor: Consumers are calling out companies that fake authenticity. RXBar is the poster child for this one. For almost 18 months, consumers complained about reactions they were having to these products: from life-threatening allergic reactions, to GI upset, to vomiting to skin rashes. It took 18 months before a recall was issued. So if a company promises “No B.S.” in their products, chances are you want to take another look.
  5. Food Waste: It’s seismic in our food system, from soil to shelf. Imperfect produce is not accepted at the grocery store and antiquated “sell by” dates fill dumpsters with products fit for a kitchen. Almost 40% of the food that we produce is wasted. The bottom line is that we need it to feed the world. Around the country and world, we are now seeing everything from food recovery programs to zero food waste bloggers to ambitious European Union (EU) food waste reduction targets. Food policy in the U.S. needs to get with the 21st century. 
  6. Melatonin-infused Products: Anxiety and depression are impacting millions of Americans.  Is it any wonder? The steady stream of headlines put us into fight or flight mode, and stories of “climate grief” and the growing emotional toll of climate change are mounting. Climate grief is yet another reason why sleep is elusive to millions. What helps? Melatonin. So look for melatonin-infused supplements, teas and snacks to help pillow our heads and settle our minds.
  7. A New Labeling Debate: With lab grown and cell-based ‘milks’ and ‘meats‘ in production, the FDA and USDA are playing a game of “Who’s on First”? Nobody is quite sure by whom or how these products are going to be regulated. There are no long term testing models. On top of that, the meat industry is suddenly getting defensive about who can label what “milk” and “meat.” Is a tofu sausage really a sausage? Stay tuned.
  8. Climate Calories: Two-thirds of the U.S. military installations are threatened by flooding, drought and wildfires driven by climate change, the Defense Department said in a new report required by Congress. But it’s not just impacting the Department of Defense, climate change is a national security issue, a food security issue and so much more. It’s disrupting agriculture and farming. So put it on the balance sheet, measure the risk and mitigate it. We need to think about it this way: How many climate calories does your product consume? And what plans are you putting in place to mitigate climate risk? 

As BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink, wrote in his 2019 letter to CEOs:

“Unnerved by fundamental economic changes and the failure of government to provide lasting solutions, society is increasingly looking to companies, both public and private, to address pressing social and economic issues. These issues range from protecting the environment to retirement to gender and racial inequality, among others. Fueled in part by social media, public pressures on corporations build faster and reach further than ever before.”

Heading into 2019, make sure you are managing your business for purpose-driven profits that align with the values of 21st century consumers.

There is too much at stake, and the risk of obsolescence extends far beyond a company’s bottom line.

 

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Science for Sale: How the EPA Deliberately Ignored Glyphosate Toxicity

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A new analysis from the peer-reviewed scientific journal Environmental Sciences Europe documents the diametrically different approaches the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization took when determining the cancer risk from exposure to Monsanto’s weedkiller glyphosate.

A new analysis and report shows that the EPA ignored peer-reviewed independent studies that link glyphosate to cancer. The agency instead used research paid for by Monsanto to support the agency’s position that glyphosate is not carcinogenic.

Dr. Charles Benbrook, a longtime friend and ally in this work, recently shared the following information.

It shines a bright light on why, after reviewing extensive U.S., Canadian and Swedish epidemiological studies on glyphosate’s human health effects, as well as research on laboratory animals, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, classified the chemical as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

The concerns around this weedkiller have been ongoing for decades.  A recent ruling by a jury found Monsanto guilt in August 2018 and the company was ordered to pay over $250 million in damages.

There are over 9,000 other lawsuits pending. Since the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer, a German conglomerate, Bayer’s share price has plunged 30%.

As information continues to come out on the dishonest means by which this approval was sought, more lawsuits are sure to follow.

More from Dr. Benbrook below:

“How did the U.S. EPA and IARC reach diametrically opposed conclusions on the genotoxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides?“,  Environmental Sciences Europe, January 15, 2019, DOI: 10.1186/s12302-018-0184-7.

By: Charles Benbrook, PhD

Key Findings:

Genotoxicity studies cited in EPA’s 2016 “Glyphosate Issue Paper: Evaluation of Carcinogenic Potential” and in the glyphosate chapter of IARC’s 2017 carcinogenicity evaluation “Monograph 112: Some organophosphate insecticides and herbicides” are compared and contrasted.

Key findings are highlighted below. The graphics are available in different formats (see below).

Key Finding #1: 

While IARC referenced only peer-reviewed studies and reports available in the public literature, EPA relied heavily on unpublished regulatory studies commissioned by pesticide manufacturers. In fact, 95 of the 151 genotoxicity assays cited in EPA’s evaluation were from registrant studies (63%), while IARC cited 100% public literature sources.

There is also a stark difference in the outcomes of registrant-sponsored assays versus those in the public literature.  Of the 95 regulatory assays taken into account by EPA, only 1 reported a positive result, or just 1%.  Among the total 211 published studies (right circle in the graphic), 156 reported at least one positive result, or 74%!

Key Finding #2:

Another important difference is that EPA focused their analysis on glyphosate in its pure chemical form, or “glyphosate technical.”

IARC, on the other hand, placed considerable weight on 85 studies focused on formulated GBHs, the herbicide people actually use and are exposed to (“Glyphosate Herbicides” in the graphic). 79% of the GBH assays published in public literature reported one or more positive result.

While EPA did list studies on formulated glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) in an Appendix F of its report, EPA acknowledges it placed little to no weight on GBH assay results.

This difference is reflected in the overall percent of positive assays.  Just 24% of the 151 assays cited by EPA reported positive results, while 76% of those cited by IARC had at least one positive result.

Key Finding #3

EPA’s analysis was limited to typical dietary exposure to the general public as a result of  legal uses on food crops, and did not address occupational exposure and risks.

IARC’s assessment encompassed data from typical dietary, occupational, and elevated exposure scenarios.   Elevated exposure events caused by spills, a leaky hose or fitting, or wind are actually common for people who apply herbicides several days a week, for several hours, as part of their work. The highest exposures typically occur when herbicides are applied with a handheld or backpack sprayer, or an ATV or truck-mounted sprayer.

The equipment used to apply GBHs has a huge impact on applicator exposures, as does whether applicators use Personal Protective Equipment like gloves. The applicator driving the modern, large-scale sprayer pictured on the left might typically spray around 500 acres in an 8-hour day, apply 700 pounds of glyphosate technical, and be exposed to 3.5 milligrams (3,500 ug, or micrograms). The applicator using a backpack sprayer without gloves would apply only about 3 pounds of glyphosate in 8 hours, but would be exposed to around 175 milligrams of glyphosate, 50-times more than the driver of the spray rig. And that driver would spray more than 230-times more glyphosate in an 8 hour day. In virtually all high-exposure scenarios, wearing gloves makes a big difference, reducing exposures by around one-half to one-tenth of “no gloves” exposure levels. The estimated exposures in the scenarios in the graphic represent applications during which everything goes “by the book,” but in the real-world a variety of factors can, and frequently do dramatically increase exposure levels.

Key Finding #4 

A closer look at the assays referenced by EPA but not IARC, and by IARC but not EPA helps explain why EPA and IARC reached opposite conclusions.

EPA cited 109 total assays not included in the IARC report, 87% of which were regulatory studies commissioned by industry, and all but one was negative.

IARC included the results from 67 assays not included in EPA’s analysis, all of which were from peer-reviewed publications, and 82% of which had at least one positive result for genotoxicity.

Graphic Files:

Related EPA and IARC Resources:

EPA Documents:

IARC Documents:

Other Resources:

RXBar_HP

Whole Foods Posts RXBar Recall

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Whole Foods Market on Tuesday posted a recall announced by the maker of the RXBAR bar brand warning people who have peanut allergies of the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the snacks.

Back on September 5, 2017, I ran an article here titled “Does the RX Bar Require an RX for Epinephrine.” At that point, we’d had too many consumers contacting us to share their experiences, and in the last 17 months, they have continued. When Kellogg’s paid an eye-popping sum of $600 million for the RX Bar, again, we questioned whether or not these complaints, filed to the company, had been disclosed.

This week, the recall by Chicago Bar Company LLC dba RXBAR expands from two varieties in December to 12 varieties and three kids’ varieties.

“We are expanding the recall out of an abundance of caution, after recently receiving consumer contacts regarding allergic reactions to additional varieties,” said the company. “Our investigation concluded that the issue stems from a specific ingredient supplied by a third party. We immediately changed suppliers for this ingredient when the issue arose.”

Recalled products include:

  • Apple Cinnamon, single bar, UPC 57777 00417, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00424Best By Dates between 4/16/2019 – 5/12/2019 and 7/10/2019 – 7/11/2019
  • Blueberry, single bar, UPC 57777 00419, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00426 , 10-count carton, UPC 58030 00840, 5-count carton, UPC 58030 00843, 4-count carton, UPC 57777 00447Best By Dates between 3/21/2019 – 5/21/2019 and 7/7/2019 and 9/29/2019
  • Chocolate Chip, single bar, UPC 57777 00469, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00472, 5-count carton, UPC 58030 00845, 4-count carton, UPC 57777 00492Best by Dates between 3/24/2019 – 5/14/2019, 7/11/2019 – 9/8/2019 and 9/30/2019 – 10/1/2019
  • Chocolate Hazelnut, single bar, UPC 59162 00709, 12-count carton, UPC 59162 00710, 4-count carton, UPC 59162 00717, Best By Dates between 2/17/2019 – 10/18/2019
  • Chocolate Sea Salt, single bar, UPC 57777 00423, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00430, 10-count carton, UPC 59162 00720, 5-count carton, UPC 58030 00841, 4-count carton, UPC 57777 00448 Best By Dates between 3/4/2019 – 9/11/2019 and on 10/11/2019 only
  • Coconut Chocolate, single bar, UPC 57777 00421, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00428, 5-count carton, UPC 58030 00844, 4-count carton, UPC 57777 00491 Best By Dates between 3/1/2019 – 10/13/2019
  • Coffee Chocolate, single bar, UPC 57777 00422, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00429, Best By Dates between 4/13/2019 – 8/15/2019
  • Mango Pineapple, single bar, UPC 57777 00494, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00495, 4-count carton, UPC 59162 00718, Best By Dates between 2/16/2019 – 10/19/2019
  • Maple Sea Salt, single bar, UPC 57777 00441, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00440, 4-count carton, UPC 57777 00454 Best By Dates between 3/2/2019 – 5/23/2019, 7/18/2019 – 7/19/2019 and 9/9/2019 – 9/10/2019
  • Mint Chocolate, single bar, UPC 57777 00433, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00434, 4-count carton, UPC 57777 00449 Best By Dates between 3/2/2019 – 4/18/2019 and 7/26/2019 – 8/9/2019
  • Mixed Berry, single bar, UPC 57777 00467, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00470, 4-count carton, UPC 59162 00700 Best By Dates between 3/14/2019 – 5/6/2019 and 7/10/2019 – 8/30/2019
  • KIDS Apple Cinnamon Raisin, single bar, UPC 57777 00477, 16-count carton, UPC 57777 00479, 5-count carton, UPC 57777 00453 Best By Dates between 3/3/2019 – 4/16/2019 and 7/12/2019 only
  • KIDS Berry Blast, single bar, UPC 57777 00475, 16-count carton, UPC 57777 00478, 5-count carton, UPC 57777 00451 Best By Dates between 3/14/2019 – 4/26/2019 and 6/6/2019 – 8/5/2019
  • KIDS Chocolate Chip, single bar, UPC 57777 00476, 16-count carton, UPC 57777 00480, 5-count carton, UPC 57777 00452, Best By Dates between 3/15/2019 – 4/14/2019 and 7/17/2019 – 9/21/2019
  • Pumpkin Spice, single bar, UPC 57777 00418, 12-count carton, UPC 57777 00425, 4-count carton, UPC 59162 00719 Best By Dates between 5/9/2019 – 7/11/2019
  • 10-Bar Variety Pack (Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Coconut Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate), UPC 59162 00725, Best By Dates between 1/14/2019 – 10/16/2019
  • 12-Bar Variety Pack (Chocolate Sea Salt, Peanut Butter Chocolate), UPC 57777 00481Best By Dates between 1/14/2019 – 6/10/2019
  • 12-Bar Variety Pack (Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Mixed Berry, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate), UPC 57777 00435, See Best By Date on individual bars as noted in other 12-bar pack
  • 14-Bar Variety Pack (Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Sea Salt), UPC 58030 00821, Best By Dates between 9/20/2019 – 10/1/2019
  • 16-Bar Variety Pack (Chocolate Sea Salt, Peanut Butter Chocolate), UPC 59162 00784, Best By Dates between 7/18/2019 – 9/7/2019

RXBAR said the following bars are not included in the recall:

  • RXBAR: Gingerbread, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter & Berries, Peanut Butter Chocolate
  • RXBAR Kids: Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate and PB&J
  • All RX Nut Butter varieties
spinach

Less Than 1% of U.S. Farmland is Organic: A Growing Crisis

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With all of the talk about organic, few people realize that organic farming makes up a small share of U.S. farmland overall. There were 5 million certified organic acres of farmland in 2016, representing less than 1% of the 911 million acres of total farmland nationwide.

Less than 1%.

That’s a hard number to reconcile given all of the talk about organic. So what is happening?

It turns out that we import the organic food that we need, since we don’t grow enough of it here.

Imagine if any other booming industry acted this way—outsourced the economic upside to producers in other countries, rather than build out the capacity here.

But that is exactly what we have done.

Since we don’t grow enough organic food here in the U.S. to meet American demand, we import it. This is an expensive proposition, in so many ways, and further guts our farm economy which is already struggling due to low commodity prices, excessive debt, bankruptcies, farmer suicides and opioid addictions.

But what is interesting is where things are starting to change. According to a new report from Pew Research Center:

“Although Southern states do not have as many certified organic farms as other parts of the country, the South saw the most growth in organic farming since 2011. For example, Arkansas had just 10 organic farms in 2011. That number jumped to 64 five years later—an increase of 540%.

Alabama, South Carolina and Missouri all saw increases of more than 200% since 2011. And several other Southern states saw their certified organic farm count more than double in those five years.

Cow’s milk was the top food sold by U.S. certified organic farms in 2016, with a total sales value of $1.4 billion.

About four-in-ten U.S. adults (39%) say that most or some of the food they eat is organic, while 61% say not too much or none of their food is, according to a recent Pew Research Center report.

Americans are closely divided over whether organic fruits and vegetables are better for one’s health than conventionally grown foods. About half of U.S. adults (51%) say organic produce is neither better nor worse than non-organic produce, while 45% say organic is better. Younger Americans and those who report eating at least some organic food are more likely to believe organic produce provides health benefits.”

If Americans have proven anything when it comes to food, it is the fact that we don’t do anything in moderation. And yet here we are: almost invisible when it comes to organic food production.

It’s time for that to change, and that starts with the capital. It is time to offer loans and funding to farmers so that they can transition to organic. It takes three years, so the marketplace also has to offer a solution for these transition crops. We can all participate, from the venture capital firms to the consumers to the food companies.

Companies like Cargill and ADM are clamoring to make a deal, but the money needs to come without the baggage that brands like those bring. Otherwise, we are trying to solve the problem with the same companies that created it.

There are a lot of alternative sources of capital that have not yet been put into play. Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are one example, with $110 Billion available, according to the National Philanthropic Trust, and yet estimates run from only 10-17% of that being put to use.

Food security is national security, and right now, we don’t have either. Our farmers are in crisis, with rising bankruptcies, suicide rates and a growing opioid epidemic on the farm.  It’s time to secure our food system and deliver the products that a growing number of American families want, and that requires smart, value-aligned capital.

Otherwise, we will end up with an organic food system that is 1% for the 1%.

Woman reading food labels at grocery store

The Value of Trust and Transparency in Food

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I’ve been in a lot of conversations recently that revolve around trust. Our news cycle is constantly throwing trust into question, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to know whom to turn to when it comes to critical decisions.

In no way is this more apparent than in the food industry. For years, the industry was able to operate from a dictatorial position: we will tell you what you need to know. Fat content? Sure. Calories? You bet. Sodium? OK.

But we quickly yearned for more.

So what changed? Our access to information. It democratized the process, taking power from the all-powerful and redistributing it into the hands of the people.

Suddenly, consumers could see a side by side comparison of two products that carry the same name, made by the same company—one sold here in the U.S., the other sold overseas. And they could see how differently the products were formulated. The products sold overseas, use real ingredients that have been found in our food supply for generations, while the products sold here in the U.S. are far more likely to include cheaper, artificial ingredients developed in labs and designed to preserve shelf life and drive greater margins and profitability.

And American families couldn’t stomach that double standard. A lot of us woke up to the fact that we were being sold the cheaper products, full of artificial ingredients, while these same companies formulated their products differently, full of real ingredients, for consumers overseas. A food awakening occurred, which I share in my book The Unhealthy Truth (Random House 2009).

And while correlation is not causation, at the same time, our families were getting sicker. It didn’t matter if it was something like asthma or allergies, or something like cancer and diabetes, no family was immune. We were suddenly saddled with managing conditions that changed the way we lived our lives. No longer could a mom go out without both an epinephrine device and allergen free snacks. No longer could someone eat out in a restaurant without first understanding the sugar content, or salt content, or allergen content. What was first incredibly annoying became the norm, and restaurants began to cater to these changing needs, and so did some of our favorite brands. Thank goodness, because American families simply wanted to eat real food.

The companies who have embraced radical transparency are the ones who will survive. The information flow isn’t stopping, and it is bringing a swift and profound conversion to our food system, from blockchain to B Corporation and beyond. No longer are consumers willing to blindly swallow what is put in front of them (or at least most aren’t). Today, we are questioning how products are made, where they are made and why certain processes are employed: from farm to table, to genetic engineering to keto, paleo, gluten-free and so much more. On top of that, an entire new industry is forming around blockchain and the ability to have access to data ledgers that provide the exact level of detail anyone is looking for at anytime.

It can be intimidating to those who have dictated food standards for the last several years and for those who have something to hide, but it can be liberating to those who embrace the standards of transparency.

It’s not unprecedented; we’ve seen this movie before. Think about Intel Inside, you probably knew more about what was inside your computer before you knew what was inside your food. Once that shift happened, the need to know, the companies that got on board with it first earned the trust of the consumer. The same thing is happening in the food industry. This is why companies like MegaFood are true trusted partners of mine. The company has gone above and beyond time and time again. From getting certified as a B corporation, to being totally transparent in their partnerships with farmers who support organic and regenerative agriculture to create the real food ingredients inside each tablet, powder and gummy vitamin, and advocating for regenerative practices worldwide, to being the first supplement brand to have its entire line of products certified glyphosate-residue free. MegaFood has even gone so far as to help petition the EPA to ban the use of glyphosate in the desiccant phase. MegaFood is a true leader when it comes to complete transparency with its consumers, retailers and even its own team of dedicated and motivated employees who all value its mission – to create a healthy, sustainable future for all. You can read more about MegaFood’s outstanding Big T Transparency proposition here.

The reality is, the upfront work to be this radically transparent is not always easy, but doing it certainly makes it easier in the long run. But MegaFood consumers will always know exactly where they stand – right beside the brand, shoulder to shoulder, on a mission to nourish our world and create the healthiest products possible. And for that transparency and so much more, they have earned my trust and I hope many more brands follow suit so that we can normalize transparency in this space.

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign the petition to ban glyphosate! Let’s ban together for the good of our food, for the good of our planet and the good of our health!

 

This post was created in partnership with MegaFood®. I’m proud to work with brands that care about the health of its consumers and the planet. As always, all opinions and text are my own.

 

 

greta thunberg

15 Year Old at the U.N.: “You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to us children.”

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15-year-old activist Greta Thunberg of Sweden delivered an incredibly direct speech to U.N. climate negotiators in Poland.

“You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to us children.”

She is calling out older generations, knowing that this is happening on our watch, as if we have to wait for permission from the government to act.

We don’t. We can drive massive change at the individual and corporate levels.

So, listen to this amazing teenager, her call to action is strong: Do something, participate, this can not happen on our watch, and it does not have to.

Please watch and share this powerful, short speech.

Here is a full transcript of Greta’s speech:

“My name is Greta Thunberg. I am 15 years old. I am from Sweden.

I speak on behalf of Climate Justice Now.

Many people say that Sweden is just a small country and it doesn’t matter what we do.

But I’ve learned you are never too small to make a difference. And if a few children can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school, then imagine what we could all do together if we really wanted to.

But to do that, we have to speak clearly, no matter how uncomfortable that may be.

You only speak of green eternal economic growth because you are too scared of being unpopular. You only talk about moving forward with the same bad ideas that got us into this mess, even when the only sensible thing to do is pull the emergency brake.

You are not mature enough to tell it like is. Even that burden you leave to us children.

But I don’t care about being popular. I care about climate justice and the living planet.

Our civilization is being sacrificed for the opportunity of a very small number of people to continue making enormous amounts of money. Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich people in countries like mine can live in luxury.

It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the luxuries of the few.

The year 2078, I will celebrate my 75th birthday.

If I have children maybe they will spend that day with me. Maybe they will ask me about you. Maybe they will ask why you didn’t do anything while there still was time to act.

You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.

Until you start focusing on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope. We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis. We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground, and we need to focus on equity.

And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, maybe we should change the system itself.

We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again.

We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time.

We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not.

The real power belongs to the people.

Thank you.”

happy gut dance

What Your Gut Has to Do with Your Happiness

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There is a lot of talk about the microbiome, so what is it exactly, and how does it impact us?

The microbiome is essentially the lining in our gut. And as you can imagine, it’s taken a lot of abuse over the last few decades, with escalating amounts of additives, preservatives, GMOs and things like artificial colors and weed killers like glyphosate added to our food supply. Any one of these issues impact us – in fact, studies are done  on their individual impact. But it’s the collective impact that has a lot of doctors, from pediatricians to those who specialize in women’s health, scientists and researchers standing up and taking notice.

The best way to think about all of this is to think of your digestive tract like a series of pipes. When real food flows through those pipes, they run smoothly. Add things like glyphosate , preservatives, artificial colors and ingredients, artificial growth hormones and antibiotics used on the animals we eat….then, all of a sudden, the stuff flowing through our digestive pipes is full of a lot of non-food substances.

And the microbiome takes the abuse. It does its best to process it all for us, but all of that extra unnatural “stuff” really messes with the lining of the digestive tract.  Think of our digestive system as the foundation for our health and wellness – a happy gut, means all of our bodies’ systems are happy too. In other words, if our microbiome gets abused, our health tends to suffer.

It’s so important to be mindful of what is going through your digestive pipes. For some, that means staying away from a lot of artificial and processed foods, others add organic and whole foods into their diets and even more (yes, I am now one of them, given all that I’ve learned!) add probiotics and supplements designed especially for your gut.

There is no magic pill, and as much as we want to control everything in order to protect our health, that isn’t always possible. So I always say, “don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good” and do what you can where you are with what you have. And for me, that starts with the little things, like MegaFood® MegaFlora®. This is MegaFood’s signature probiotic, designed to support intestinal health, immunity and bowel regularity.* It includes a blend of 14 unique strains of probiotics to provide 20 billion active bacteria that help restore and maintain the balance of healthy intestinal probiotics.* This works wonders on your digestive tract!* Plus, it is tested free from gluten, dairy and soy.

I’ve been a fan of MegaFlora for years, but I am so excited to share that MegaFood is actually launching a complete Shelf-Stable Probiotic very soon! In addition to a Digestive Health*, there will be four new probiotics within this line: Women’s Health*, Mood*, Energy* and Immune Defense*. The strains found in these formulas have been chosen based on their resistance to stomach acids as well as their role in gut health.

The Shelf-Stable Probiotic collection includes:

  • MegaFood Digestive Health* —Provides a balance of healthy microflora to support daily digestive health*
  • MegaFood Mood* —Helps support gut health and reduce stress and fatigue*
  • MegaFood Women’s Health* —Helps support gut microflora and urinary tract health*
  • MegaFood Energy* —Helps support healthy energy production and intestinal microflora*
  • MegaFood Immune Defense* —Helps support a healthy immune function*

They’re calling it “probiotics with a twist” and I’m certainly excited to explore these incredible new products, made with real, whole foods in true MegaFood fashion. Especially because so many of us are on-the-go, with the new Shelf Stable Probiotics line you can travel with them and use them anywhere.

While we wait for MegaFood’s exciting innovation in probiotics, focus on progress instead of perfection.  Don’t beat yourself up when you slip up, just support yourself as much as you can.  And remember, little healthy changes, when done repeatedly, can have a big impact! Your gut will thank you!

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This post was created in partnership with MegaFood®. I’m proud to work with brands that care about the health of its consumers and the planet. As always, all opinions and text are my own.

Photo by Juan Camilo Navia via UnSplash

corntrailer1

The Seed: How Monsanto Pitted Farmers Against Each Other

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I often am approached by movie producers who are working on films, either a feature film, short film or documentary. I have become very good at saying “no.” More often than not, the film sensationalizes a very serious subject. As a result, I review every project and endorse few.

The Seed is a film project that I have known about for a few years, so when the producer reached out earlier this week to share the trailer, I took a look.

And now you get to, too.

The Seed is currently in production. It tells the story of the operating system that Monsanto introduced when they introduced their genetically engineered seeds into commodity crop agriculture back in the 1990s. These seeds had never before existed in our food supply and fundamentally changed farming in America.

With the release of these patented seeds, farming and the autonomy farmers had over their land and operations changed dramatically. Farmers entered into technology stewardship agreements, committing them not only to the purchase of these patented seeds and the trait, technology and licensing fees required to use them, but also with these contracts, farmers had to use Monsanto’s signature sides – herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and other weed killers. It was a brilliant new business model for a company that sold chemicals up until the mid 1990s that was built on the backs of our farmers. All of our farmers.

And because these new ingredients weren’t labeled in our food supply, we didn’t know and couldn’t help. We had no idea what was going on on the farm.

And now, the system is broken, pitting farmers against each other.

In no way is this more telling than with what is happening to farmers: the opioid epidemic in farm counties is jaw dropping, according the Farm Bureau, farmers debt is increasing, net farm income is declining, average farm debt is over $1.3 million in farm states like Nebraska, and farmer suicides are becoming all too common, as the Guardian recently reported in the gut wrenching piece, “Why Are American Farmers Killing Themselves in Record Numbers“. As a result of all of this and more, succession plans for farms are failing.  Young farmers do not want to step into these broken business models.

In a conversation with a commodities trader who recently moved to Denver from Omaha, I learned that farmers are telling younger generations: don’t go into commodity crops like genetically engineered corn and soy, go into specialty crops or organic.

This film gives a glimpse into why. If you want to learn more, please contact us.

And please share the clip below, so that we can get our farmers out of debt and back on track.

Written in memory of Scottie McAllister of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

women's health giveaway

Giveaway! Women’s Health Essentials

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Super excited about this giveaway from my friends and partners at MegaFood!

21st century women have a lot coming at us – from balancing family with career, to enjoying the company of others and to carving out essential alone time, it takes quite a bit of effort and strategy to keep us running at our highest capacity. So how do we avoid the burn-out, maintain good health and feel like we’re accomplishing our goals? Women today have unprecedented opportunities, but that also brings unprecedented responsibilities. Taking care of you in the middle of all of that can be tough, and can sometimes feel impossible.

I’ve learned not to make “perfect” the enemy of “good”; to focus on progress not perfection. We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded by what most would consider “perfect” on social media. It’s hard to justify what’s real and what is happening in real life. I’ve learned to control what I can, and for me, that has everything to do with how I show up in the world and in my day to day.

It starts with simple things, like managing stress. As a working mom of four (all teenagers), that is no small feat. Things like sleep and hydration are critical. And while I can not always control the amount of sleep that I get, I can control when to rest my body when I know I need it most. Furthermore, I monitor my water intake and what I choose to consume every day. I pay attention to the thoughts and media I put into my head, as closely as I pay attention to my food and supplements.

That’s why I am so grateful for my MegaFood friends. Women’s health essentials are a key part of my routine and I certainly love their vitamins and supplements made with whole foods and oftentimes, tailored specifically to what a woman’s body needs.* Here is just a sampling of my favorite women’s health products from MegaFood:

  • Daily Multi Powder for Women—I am a huge advocate for multivitamins and their ability to fill the holes in our nutrition intake. The new line of Multi Powders from MegaFood make it easy to get your multi boost in your favorite smoothies or juice. This made-just-for-women formulation supports you through normal hormone fluctuations* to replenish the iron lost during your menstrual cycle.* Vitamin D supports your mood and bone health too.*
  • Blood Builder—A long-time favorite of mine, MegaFood Blood Builder is clinically proven to increase iron levels and reduce fatigue without common gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or constipation.[1] Proper iron levels are essential for women’s health and this product, made with nourishing beets, oranges and more, is the product for you.*
  • New Women’s Health* Shelf-Stable Probiotics—You’ve heard me talk about the importance of gut health…it’s key to optimal wellness!* Now, we women have the opportunity to support a healthy gut and other needs specific to a woman’s body.*

I’m thrilled to be giving away 1 of each of the products listed above to one of you this month! Taking care of ourselves so that we can show up in our fullest capacity and take care of those around us is a serious commitment. MegaFood shares the seriousness of that commitment, taking care of the little things – premium ingredients from trusted farm partners devoted to organic or regenerative farming methods, B Corp certification, Glyphosate Residue Free Certification and so much more. They do that, so that we, as women, can take care of all that is happening in our lives – from the tiny little things to the big ones.

Head over to my Facebook page to enter to win!

This post was created in partnership with MegaFood®. I’m proud to work with brands that care about the health of its consumers and the planet. As always, all opinions and text are my own.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[1] †Christopher R. D’Adamo; James S. Novick , MD; Termeh M. Feinberg , PhD, MPH; Valerie J. Dawson , BS; Larry E. Miller , PhD (2018). A Food-Derived Dietary Supplement Containing a Low Dose of Iron Improved Markers of Iron Status Among Nonanemic Iron-Deficient Women. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Pages 342-349. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07315724.2018.1427158?scroll=top&needAccess=true&. |

 

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