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Cows Eat Candy Too

YumSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:58:04 -0700

Turns out that while corn-based ethanol fuel might be a good fuel alternative, it's actually causing candy to be a good livestock feed alternative. Due to the recent demand of ethanol, corn prices have gone up, forcing farmers to find an alternative source of food for their livestock.

Dwight Hess, a cattle feedlot operator in Marietta, Pa., is located in the heart of snack country, near Hershey and Herr Foods Inc., a maker of potato chips, pretzels and snack mixes. His cattle ration consists of about 17% "candy meal," a blend of chocolate bars and large chunks of chocolate; 3% of what he calls "party mix," a blend of popcorn, pretzels, potato chips and cheese curls; 8% corn gluten; and the remainder corn and barley he grows.

I guess we're not the only ones enjoying National Candy Month?

Also, I wonder how it affects the flavor of the meat. Do you think things would have sweeter or saltier undertones?

Via: Amazon al Dente

Consumers Warm Up to Humanely Raised Veal

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:50:04 -0700

While the vegetarian trend has continued to rise, a meat movement is also gaining popularity. The latest subject in sustainable agriculture? Pasture-raised veal. Compared to conventionally raised veal, rose veal, as it's been dubbed, is leaner, with a blush color.

Eating veal has long been an animal-welfare issue, with opponents pointing to calves confined in stalls so tiny that livestock are unable to move. But producers of pasture-raised veal argue that the meat comes from hormone- and antibiotic-free calves who drink their mother's milk, consume pasture grass, and freely roam pastures.

Animal-rights activists are against the slaughter of young animals who have strong maternal bonds - yet according to veal proponents, calves are the same age as lamb and older than pigs when they're slaughtered. Where do you stand? Would you be more likely to eat pasture raised veal?

Food Section Sampler - June 17, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:50:17 -0700

Why is America fascinated with everything the first family eats? - Chicago Tribune
Ranchers that have eliminated antibiotics may still be feeding livestock antimicrobial compounds. - San Francisco Chronicle
Mississippi catfish farms are being cannibalized by Vietnam's fish supply. - Los Angeles Times
Down-home wedding food is a sure sign of the times. - New York Times
The brothers behind the site Beer Advocate gear up for the American Craft Beer Festival. - Boston Globe
A strawberry-lime granita dessert doubles as a daiquiri, too.- Washington Post
Does a new group of fortified Frankenfoods sound too good to be true? - Wall Street Journal

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Paul McCartney and Friends Launch "Meat Free Mondays"

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:06:21 -0700

For those of you who haven't become recession flexitarians just yet, Sir Paul McCartney and friends want you to start somewhere. That's why today the Beatle and other celebs launched the UK version of "Meat Free Mondays," a campaign that already exists in the US and Australia to convince consumers to forgo meat one day a week. To check out which celebrities were in attendance, read more.

At the UK party, McCartney - along with fellow conservationists Stella McCartney, Yoko Ono, Kate Bosworth, Moby, and Kelly Osborne - walked the green carpet in London's St. James's Park to draw attention to climate change issues. There, the singer emphasized that going meatless even once a week means fewer greenhouse gas emissions from the world's livestock population. "I thought this was a great idea," McCartney told reporters. "To just reduce your meat intake maybe by one day a week and this would seriously benefit the planet . . . You've had too much over the weekend anyway and you're all running down to the gym to try and work it off, so just have a meat-free Monday."

With increased concern over greenhouse gases and more of a focus on affordable and healthy options, meatless eating has become a popular concept, even taking flight in the progressive town of Ghent, Belgium. Although I've already had a couple of meaty bites today, I'd consider implementing this beginning next week.

What about you: do you think you could go meatless one day a week?

View 6 Photos ›

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Niman Ranch Founder Denounces Company's New Owners

YumSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:50:24 -0800

Bill Niman created the Niman Ranch meat empire with his progressive farming techniques. Today, he won't even eat the company's products. The sustainable agriculture pioneer, who spearheaded the food movement to raise livestock sustainably, humanely, and naturally, is speaking out against the new owners of Niman Ranch, the brand he founded more than 30 years ago. Last month, the company was bought out by Natural Food Holdings, its chief investor since 2006 - and, according to The San Francisco Chronicle, its founder believes that its meat program has already changed in fundamental ways.When he first founded Niman Ranch in 1977, Niman set the bar for ethical ranching standards by raising cattle on grass in a free-range setting, forbidding growth hormones, and using antibiotics only if animals grew sick. He now opposes many of the company's modifications, including use of antimicrobials, the closing of company-owned cattle feedlots, and the treatment of cattle in their journey to slaughter. In response, Niman Ranch's current CEO Jeff Swain defended his company's integrity:

I think idealism . . . has to be couched with practicality . . . The company-owned feedlot was sold in 2008 because it was not financially viable . . . We believe that our protocols are stronger, the auditing of the protocols more rigorous, and the current business model is more financially viable.

He also claims the company has turned its profitability around: the company is now making $7,000 a week, rather than losing $10,000. The article raises an even bigger question: whether sustainable agriculture - and brands founded on idealism in general - can sustain a profit themselves.

What do you think? Do you stand with Bill Niman, or Niman Ranch?

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:30 -0800

With Mardi Gras parades and festivals going on today across the country and a handful of restaurant weeks still going strong, this week's a great time to pay a visit to your favorite food events: If you live anywhere nearby, celebrate dungeness crab season in Northern California, as well as the beginning of Florida's strawberry season. And if you're attending the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, perhaps I'll see you there!

Got any fine food events that you see left off this list? If so, chime in below. Will you be going to any of this week's events?

New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
New York, NY: NYC Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Chicago, IL: Chicago Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Orange County, CA: Orange County Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-28
San Francisco, CA: Dungeness Crab Week - Feb. 24-Mar. 1
Houston, TX: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Championship Bar-B-Que Contest - Feb. 26-28
Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience - Feb. 26-Mar. 1

To see the rest, read more.

Plant City, FL: Florida Strawberry Festival - Feb. 26-Mar. 8
Albuquerque, NM: Fiery Foods & BBQ Show - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
New York, NY: New York Wine Expo - Feb. 27-28
Boca Raton, FL: Boca Bacchanal - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Feb. 28
San Francisco, CA: 7th Annual Celebrity Crab Fest - Feb. 28
Comstock Park, MI: Winter Beer Festival - Feb. 28
Grant, FL: Grant Seafood Festival - Feb. 28-Mar. 1
New Orleans, LA: Culinary Inspired Seasonal Mixology - Mar. 2

Labeling Won't Be Required For Genetically Engineered Animals

YumSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Last Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration issued its long-awaited regulations on genetically engineered animals. Its conclusion, after considering genetically altered animals? Consumer labeling will not be required for genetically engineered food.Currently, genetically engineered animals are being developed for the market, but so far none of the animals have been approved by the agency for marketing. Prior to entering the marketplace, the animals themselves will need to receive FDA approval, and be labeled as genetically altered. In contrast, food products derived from these animals will not need to be labeled.

Proponents of the practice argue that it will create livestock that grow faster, produce less toxic waste, are resistant to disease, and are generally healthier to eat. But opponents argue that messing with Mother Nature could have unintended consequences, such as altering the genetic structures of animals.

What do you think of this ruling? Do you think the Food and Drug Administration has made the right decision?

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Organics Industry Plagued by Recession and Scandal

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:30:45 -0800

It's only January, and the organic industry is already having a bad year. Not only have producers been losing consumers due to the hefty price tag of organic food, but the industry has struggled to maintain its integrity.

With organic feed prices at an all-time high, farmers in the UK are lobbying the government to temporarily relax organic feed standards to assist livestock producers who are currently paying twice as much for organic feed as they would conventional. In California, state investigators have discovered that California Liquid Fertilizer, an organic farming treatment, had been spiking its fertilizer with a synthetic product banned from organic farms. The tainted fertilizer infiltrated up to a third of the organic market, including produce giants such as Earthbound Farms, for up to seven years. Following the incident, investigations have begun into other organic fertilizer distributors in different states.

With these issues now in the spotlight, it's my feeling that consumers will be left confused about organic standards of quality, and distrustful of industry practices. Does this affect your preferences about shopping organic?

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How Do You Shop?

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 05:58:39 -0700

Yesterday, I mentioned how Wolfgang Puck is putting a nine-point program in place in hopes of raising the bar on farm animal treatment. And in general, I agree with these policies (I don't know many die-hard foodlovers who really don't). I've read all the "required" reading (Fast Food Nation, Omnivore's Dilemma and The Way We Eat), and understand that the way we produce our food is neither nice to think about, nor necessarily good for us. Livestock is treated poorly in order to seek maximum efficiency and higher yields, and taste and quality are often thrown out the window - not to mention the suffering the animals go through along the way to becoming food. Range-free chickens don't necessarily get to go outside (although you would think they would) and breeding sows are stuck in gestation crates for three years, crates that they can't even turn around in. The livestock industry has some terrible practices, and I'm nowhere near an expert, just a knowledge-seeking layman - however, here thinking about it gets me all torn up. I like to eat my animal products. I love me a hamburger and really believe that almost everything tastes better with a fried egg on it - I mean, ultimately these animals are part of the food chain. And yes, we can make it so they don't suffer along the way, I'm all for that, especially because it means it's probably going to taste better if the animals can go out and behave like real animals.

So here's where I have the problem. I like the idea of cruelty-free livestock, I really do. I like the little piggies and cows and don't want to see them suffer. I think our food industry has gotten a bit too bottom dollar heavy, but at the same time, I understand the need for people to feed their families at a low cost. Not everyone can afford free-range, grass-fed and so on. Also, I do love the foie gras (so smooth and tasty) and the fresh lobster (come on, how is boiling alive or being split in half while alive anywhere near humane?), and can't see why we have to give these up. There's a reason we're at the top of the food chain (for now anyways...).

So I'm torn. I'd like to do the right thing, but the wrong thing tastes so damn good. How about you guys, what do you think about all of this? Do you go out of your way to purchase specialized cruelty-free, environmentally friendly foods? Or do you purchase what you need to? How Do You Shop?

Would You Eat Dogmeat?

YumSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:43:31 -0700

I'm a huge pet lover and even though I'll eat just about anything, I'm pretty positive I couldn't knowingly order up dog. However if the Seoul city government has its way, dogmeat could be reclassified as livestock and will legally appear on menus in South Korea. Right now it appears illegally and there are no hygiene regulations regarding slaughter. So tell me, could you ever order dog?

To see the graphic photo the comments are referring to - and warning, you probably won't want to do this near lunch time, or if you're a huge pet lover - click here.

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