Podcast 1 - What's Your Beef?

Get Podcast 1, "What's Your Beef," here! (ACC/Mp4 chaptered version)
Get Podcast 1, "What's Your Beef," here! (Mp3 non-chaptered version)

Ah, our first Food Fight Podcast. I can hear the angels singing and harps being strummed...so exciting! In Podcast #1, we discuss two current meat recalls and recap 2009’s recall-o-mania. We begin our discussion of genetic engineering and cover an article in the New York Times from February 19, 2010, called “Not Grass Fed but at Least Pain-Free” and what my thoughts are on that. Additionally, we begin our discussion of the Obama Administration’s major crush on Big Ag and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Why is the Administration so sweet on these nasty buggers? Must be all the high fructose corn syrup, you say? Maybe; that stuff is in EVERYTHING. We'll begin to explore that topic in detail as well. As promised, here are the links I mention arranged according to each of the three main topic areas covered in Podcast 1:

Meat Recalls
USDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service:Current recalls and Recall archive

Genetic Engineering
Want to get your very own copy of the "Non-GMO Shopping Guide"? I knew you did! Check out the Institute for Responsible Technology.

“Not Grass Fed but at Least Pain-Free”, New York Times, Feb. 19, 2010. Also check out the rebuttals to the article.

The Obama Administration *Hearts* Big Ag
Islam Siddiqui, nominated by President Obama for Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator. Why not nominate a Big Ag lobbyist for this position? If you haven't already figured it out, we recommend you review what the Pesticide Action Network and the Organic Consumer's Association have to say about it.

Challenge of the Day
Explore the grocery store aisles and shelves and see if you can find up to three processed, packaged "food" items that do NOT have a corn ingredient. Corn takes many forms in processed food, ranging from high fructose corn syrup (a.k.a. HFCS) to xanthan gum to maltodextrin. Also look out for corn oil, corm starch, corn gluten--anything with "corn," obviously. To view more corn ingredients, visit Corn Products US and Corn Allergens.

Hero of the Day
Kristen Kordet, a farmer just outside of Madison, WI, runs Blue Moon Community Farm, where they grow 40 different crops on four rented acres. They also have a pastured poultry business and do all sorts of ultra-cool stuff. If you live near there, give 'em a call and join their CSA. You'll be glad you did.

Additional Notes:

• FRESH the Movie

Food Fight has arrived!

The Food Fight Podcast has officially arrived! Yes, it's true and mighty exciting. Our first episode is ready and will be available for download by Sunday, March 28, 2010--WOO HOOO!--and subsequent episodes will be following on a bi-weekly basis. Our goal is to have a new episode for you each week; trust us, there's no shortage in food and farming news. Surprised? That's because the mainstream media rarely touches the subjects of food and farming, other than to extol the virtues of some agribusiness giant or instill massive fear and panic in the population when an enormous recall occurs. That's where we come in. Food Fight will educate you about the current goings-on in the world of food and farming, we'll inspire you to get involved, and we'll convince you to join the food revolution that's growing throughout the US and the world. The link to the first, fabulous show will be in the next post. And remember: Food Fight is here because you need to know what you're puttin' in your mouth!