The winner of the Blog Aid Recipes of Haiti cookbook, using Random.org number generator, is…
KALEENA!
Kaleena is a Maine girl, and she loves to cook. Her blog Top Notch Eats has so many great recipes and they are simple to make, which for me is key! Be sure to check them out. Kaleena, I hope you'll make your way through the cookbook and blog some of your favorites! That way I'll know which ones I should try!
Thanks so much to everyone who entered my first giveaway!
And now onto the Organic Industry Structure:
In my Food Therapy class this week, a couple of my classmates did a presentation on the current farm bill. They showed some information on the organic industry structure, reflecting increased consolidation in this area. Some of the information was pretty surprising to me, so I wanted to share it with you here. I have included the pictures because sometimes that is more familiar than the actual name.
Hershey Foods: Acquired Dagoba in 2006
Coca Cola: Acquired Honest Tea (2008) and Odwalla (2001)
Pepsi: Acquired Naked Juice (2006)
Cadbury: Acquired Green & Black’s in 2005
ConAgra: Acquired Alexia Foods (2007) and Lightlife (2000)
General Mills: Acquired LaraBar (2008), Cascadian Farms (1999) and Muir Glen (1998)
Kellogg: Acquired Bare Naked (2007), Kashi (2000) and Morningstar Farms (1999)
Heinz: Strategic Alliance with many companies including Rice Dream/Soy Dream (2002), MaraNatha (2008), Spectrum Organics (2005), Earth’s Best (1999), Garden of Eatin’ (1998), Arrowhead Mills (1998), and Westsoy (1997)
Do any of these surprise you? I was particularly surprised by LaraBar, Arrowhead Mills and Mara Natha. I am not trying to tell you to avoid these products just because they were acquired by non-organic companies. That would be ridiculous! I will continue to enjoy some of them on a regular basis. Like Lara Bars – they make a great snack! However, I do believe we need to educate ourselves about where our food comes from, and knowing who is behind the company is important information. Remember to always read labels carefully and don’t hesitate to research ingredients that you haven’t heard of. Be picky! A few days ago, my friend Sondra told me about an ingredient in a marinade she bought: titanium dioxide. She is a hair stylist and remembers seeing that ingredient in some of the styling products they used while she was in school. She immediately threw the marinade out! Who wants to eat something that is also used in hair products - gross!
Of course, buying something that was made locally, such as freshly ground wheat or honey from your local farmer’s market, is ideal. These things are more likely to be fresh and made with high quality ingredients. But this is not always possible, so just keep the above information in mind next time you pick up one of those brands!
Ann, this is an eye-opening post. I knew a couple of these products were acquired by large publicly traded companies, but not all of them. It always makes me antsy about how quality is maintained at such scale. Great post. Will be following this blog!
ReplyDeleteIf you like this post, you will also like the movie Food, Inc...
ReplyDeleteJust because these companies were acquired by large conglomerates doesn't mean quality is compromised.
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