It’s not a secret I have been somewhat against authority in my past. As I have aged, maybe I have lost my cool. Perhaps I see there are two sides to the fence. Whichever it is, there is an argument going around lately I find to be pretty interesting. You don’t have to pick sides, but you do need to think about both sides logically.
What is this argument?
The argument is about – Regulated distribution of organic and raw foods. This also includes supplements in general.
In a perfect world, there would be no fear of shady dealings, mislabeling or apples with razorblades. In a perfect world, you could trust the stranger, get your supplements from a low hanging tree, and never think twice about what is in your water. This is not a perfect world. It is a overpopulated and at times, insane. The insane part has always been there. Roman Empire? What about about the French Revolution? People are outraged at video game violence, when it use to be popcorn time at the stocks not a few centuries ago. But, I digress.
My point is, as long as there are humans, they are going to do stupid s**t. I don’t mince words.
It’s All About The Benjamins
Currently the organic industry is a $1.1 billion dollar industry. The dietary supplement industry is 24. 5 billion dollars deep. These are the few industries to see a dramatic increase during tough economic times. Let’s leave aside the argument for (or against) organics. Let’s not get into a debate over raw foods or local farm economics. Let’s cut to the chase.
As long as there are humans, they are going to do stupid s**t. I don’t mince words.
When this much money is involved, you better believe we are going to do things wrong. Here is a very short look at recent acts of fraud around the world based on making a buck under the guise of organic or free range.
Fake Organics In Aussie
Fake In China
Farmer Market Fraud In Cali
Supplements Too…
I am a member of ConsumerLabs.com and check the quality and legitimacy of the supplement companies I use. Ever want to know about something, let me know. Still, ConsumerLabs can’t begin to test all brands. I pay attention to what they do test. Here is an example of what they found in a recent report of Fish Oil. This is for NOW Neptune Krill Oil. What it claims, versus what it is.
Test: NOW Neptune Krill Oil (75 mg EPA and 45 mg DHA per softgel, 2 per day)
Ingredients Mfd. by NOW Foods
EPA: 150 mg DHA: 90 mgResult: NOT APPROVED – Found only 79.1% of claimed EPA and 76.7% of claimed DHA. Also found only 78.4% of claimed total omega-3 fatty acids and spoilage (TOTOX value = 57.4)
What is my point?
Just, be careful.
You have no idea who the man or woman selling you your organic or local food is. This is not to make you paranoid because if you stop and think about where you are vulnerable, it’s panic attack worthy. At a point you have to live and let live hoping you do the best you can. Sadly, you can’t have your cake and eat it to. You can’t have 100% freedom with no regulations. You have to pick your battles. While it would be great if everything were being watched and protected by a independent group – it isn’t possible. Someone, somewhere, always has a motive – even if it is a good one.
I always tell people who get up in arms about government food conspiracy – they shop at the same supermarkets you do. There is not a “senator grocery store.” Some of them get just as paranoid and scared as you (I know from personal experience and consults). Some of them are clueless and and others are greedy. After all, they are human. We take the good with the bad.
Make your voice heard with elections, how you spend your money, and intelligent debate. At the same time, protect yourself where you can and choose something verified as much as possible. While I don’t believe in organic foods being healthier in the since of nutrients, there is something to be said about an anal company that cares about it’s brand and product. Still, remember most of those companies are ran under the names of bugger companies.
Stoneyfield => Danone
Burt’s Bees => Clorox
Naked Juice => Pepsi Co.
Horizon Dairy=> Dean Foods
Seeds of Change=> M & M/Mars
After The Fall => Smuckers
R.W. Knudsen=> Smuckers
Kashi=> Kellogg’s
Garden Burger =>Kellogg’s
Back to Nature, Boca => Kraft
Cascadian Farms => General Mills
Health Valley => Hain Celestial/Heinz
Arrowhead Mills => Hain Celestial/Heinz
Tom’s of Maine =>Colgate-Palmolive
Dagoba Chocolate => Hershey’s
Body Shop => L’Oreal
It is never going to be perfect, but not having any regulation isn’t the answer nor is screaming about conspiracy. Instead, watch regulation, stay involved in local voting, really read the bills (don’t just reads people’s hype about them) and the more certified, usually the better.
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I’d add one more thing to your ending paragraph Leigh. Shop Locally and get to know who you’re buying your food from. I know the people that I buy my milk, my eggs, my meat, and when I need to, my veggies from. I rarely step into a grocery store any more. Farmer’s markets are not any pricier to shop at than Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s and the money you spend with local farmers and ranchers will stay in your community instead of going somewhere else.
Indeed. Watching the video now, I always enjoy bananas with machine guns.
That is a good point Paula. I have a mix between shopping locally and at stores. To be honest this year I would like to grow a garden to save money and know were my food is coming from.
Gretchen, I’ve had a garden for two years now. Probably one of the best things I ever did. Nothing tastes better than a tomato fresh from the garden. Not to mention the added workout from weeding, hoeing and double digging.
Come on, the government is running the food industry. I will take my chances with local over monsanto.
Yes, because I said to never question government practices…
Maybe, what I did say was to not blindly trust local or organic practices just because they were not government run or heavily monitored. That could be more what I said there, you think?
But if you don’t eat 100% clean and every 2.58992765281 hours, your muscles’ll fall off and if you eat anything processed, at all, you’ll balloon up with fat. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. A bro told me.
Leigh… you haven’t created the magic food pill yet? Very easy… Organic, local, and affordable. It would be perfect c’mon!
It is sad when some of the smaller ‘do right, good for the world’ companies get bought out by the bigger ones, at the same time I think that is how they survive.
So you gave us some in on supplements… What about everything else? Most of the groups above are food companies, however Tom’s falls in line with personal products… that seems to enter into a completely different area… no?
Question the questions and the answers and the source… But where do we go to get the low down?
Are you trying to say that organic is bad! Read the link http://naturalbias.com/7-major-reasons-to-go-organic/. You are sooo off.
“My point is, as long as there are humans, they are going to do stupid s**t. I don’t mince words.”
So true!
That is just sad! I personally just buy things from the store because it is easier for me, but I can’t believe the lengths some will go through.
Good rant. It is a shame that people who are trying to do right by buying organic aren’t necessarily getting what they have paid a premium for. I haven’t trusted any food produced in China since the babies were dying there because the milk was adulterated with melamine.
Wow I didn’t realize all of those company’s were owned by the others, that is kind of backward if you think about it.
Really enjoyed the article Leigh. You should do more “personal rants”
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I haven’t shopped at the Body Shop since the founder sold it to L’Oreal. It went against all the principals and reasons she had stated before of why she had founded it to begin with and the reasons why it became so popular. For me she was a sell out if there ever was any. Not that I’m highly ethical in my shopping in general, I gave up on that a long time ago. This just pissed me off.
Wow, didn’t know all those companies were linked together like that. I was also skeptical of NOW foods because of their prices.
I was wondering do their other fish oils (DHA-250 and 500) measure up to par?