Displaying episodes 1 - 30 of 672 in total
Henry Rowlands, Director of the Detox Project, discusses his latest report: “Glyphosate Contamination: The Poison in Our Daily Bread.”
Did you know that the American food supply is increasingly contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Henry Rowlands, journalist and Founder/Director of Sustainable Pulse and the Detox Project. Rowland dives into his latest report: “Glyphosate Contamination: The Poison in Our Daily Bread,” which reveals the glyphosate levels found in commonly purchased grocery store foods, and explains why such foods as bread, oats, barley, beans, peas and lentils are contaminated. See the report here: https://detoxproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Glyphosate_Contamination_Report_Final1.pdf Related website: www.detoxproject.org
Tom Pelton, discusses the Environmental Integrity Project’s report, “The Clean Water Act at 50: Promises Half Kept at the Half Century Mark.”
Did you know that almost four decades after the Clean Water Act’s deadline for all waters across the U.S. to be “fishable and swimmable,” 50 percent of assessed river and stream miles in the U.S. are so polluted they are classified as “impaired”? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Tom Pelton, Communications Director for the Environmental Integrity Project and lead author of EIP’s report, “The Clean Water Act at 50: Promises Half Kept at the Half Century Mark.” Learn if your elected officials vote in favor of environmental protection here: League of Conservation Voters: https://lcv.org/mission/ and listen to Pelton’s “Environment in Focus” interviews here: https://www.wypr.org/people/tom-pelton Related website: https://environmentalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CWA-report-3.23.22-FINAL.pdf
Alan Lewis, V.P. for Government Affairs, Stakeholder Relations, and Organic Compliance for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage discusses food labels and marketing.
Did you know that many “plant-based” foods are highly processed and not necessarily good for our health or the planet? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Alan Lewis, Vice President for Government Affairs, Stakeholder Relations and Organic Compliance for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. Lewis discusses the impact of industrial agriculture on our environment and health, pulls back the curtain on plant-based, yet highly processed foods, and helps us understand often confusing food labels, including: “bioengineered,” “natural,” and “non-GMO.” Follow Lewis’ astute observations of the food system on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanplewis/ Related website: TED Talk: “Food Betrayal – Don’t swallow the lies:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y81rCiw1LPY
Mick McDowell, grape grower/wine producer discusses herbicide damage to his crop.
Did you know that herbicide drift challenges the wine industry, especially in states largely dominated by chemical intensive industrial agriculture? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Mick McDowell, award-winning wine producer based in St. Paul, Nebraska. McDowell describes the land he loves, corn and livestock economics, and the challenges of growing grapes in a state dominated by crops that are routinely sprayed with a growing number of herbicides. Each year, McDowell explains, a significant percentage of his grapes are lost due to herbicide drift, with no significant means of compensation. Related website: www.milettavistawinery.com
Liz Carlisle, Ph.D, author of Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming
Did you know that regenerative farming methods are not “new,” but have been practiced by indigenous farmers for centuries? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Liz Carlisle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming. Carlisle discusses the powerful movement that’s happening in farming today, that reconnects farmers with their roots to fight climate change. Carlisle amplifies the voices of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors’ methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system. Listen to Dr. Carlisle’s Island Press webinar here: Island Press webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV7FFn3-IiA
Shana Klein, Ph.D., author of The Fruits of Empire: Art, Food, and the Politics of Race in the Age of American Expansion
Did you know that images are powerful influencers on how we think about food, people and national policies? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Shana Klein, Ph.D., art historian, assistant professor of art history at Kent State U. and author of The Fruits of Empire: Art, Food, and the Politics of Race in the Age of American Expansion. Klein discusses the role of visual imagery in the acceptance and promotion of fruit, national expansion, and racism focusing on five key fruits: grapes, oranges, bananas, watermelon and pineapple. Sales of her book are generously contributed to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. To see more of Klein’s deconstructed images of food: @thefruitsofempire Related website: https://sites.bu.edu/gastronomyblog/2022/01/25/spring-2022-pepin-lecture-series-in-food-studies-gastronomy/
Michael O’Donnell, farmer, discusses pesticide drift.
Did you know that pesticide drift interferes with the ability of rural farmers to feed their communities? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Michael O’Donnell, mechanical engineer, Indiana farmer, and sustainable agriculture educator. O’Donnell discusses the myth of biofuels, and describes his experience living in the path of pesticide drift, resulting in crop damage, reduced quality of life, and the inability to feed his community farm fresh, nourishing food. To learn more about biofuels, see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35165202/ For research on herbicide drift, see: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337288375_Investigations_of_the_Sensitivity_of_Ornamental_Fruit_and_Nut_Plant_Species_to_Driftable_Rates_of_24-D_and_Dicamba Related website: “Options for Dealing with a Pesticide Drift Incident:” https://edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=PPP-110
Danielle Reed, Ph.D. Associate Director, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, discusses smell and taste loss.
Did you know that smell and taste loss can affect our personal safety, mental and physical health, and overall quality of life? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Danielle Reed, Ph.D. Associate Director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, based in Philadelphia, PA. Reed shares insights from her research investigating differences in the loss of taste and smell as a result of COVID-19 infections and other conditions. Reed is a member of the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research. Related website: https://monell.org/smell-taste-loss/
Frank Baker, journalist and Media Education Consultant discusses media literacy education.
Did you know that the diet industry depends on a “media illiterate” audience? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Frank Baker, journalist and media education consultant. Baker has been recognized by UNESCO’s Global Alliance partnership for Media & Information Literacy. Baker pulls back the curtain on diet industry ads, discusses media literacy education in K-12 schools, and shares critical questions we can pose to navigate all media messages. https://namle.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Key-Questions.pdf Baker explains that propaganda is widely used in our society https://www.frankwbaker.com/mlc/propaganda/ and https://propaganda.mediaeducationlab.com/, but students are not taught to recognize persuasive techniques. He provides examples of carefully constructed media messages in the diet industry, and the power of testimonials and celebrity in selling products. Related website: www.frankwbaker.com
Jed Fahey, Ph.D., nutritional biochemist discusses the benefits of “phytochemicals.
Did you know that phytochemicals in plants deserve more of our attention for their role in protecting our healthspan? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fft2.81 Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Jed Fahey, Ph.D., nutritional biochemist and former Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School where he directed the Cullman Chemoprotection Center. Fahey shares his expertise of plant physiology and human nutrition, discusses the many benefits of “phytochemicals” in general and specifically sulforaphane found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts. He also explains how and why we get a greater phytochemical load from organically grown fruits and vegetables, and laments the loss of biodiversity in vegetable seeds, as depicted by National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/infographic-design/ Related website: www.jedfahey.com
Dorothy Sears, Ph.D., professor of Nutrition at Arizona State U.’s College of Health Solutions discusses intermittent fasting and research on standing/sitting.
Did you know that intermittent fasting can reduce breast cancer recurrence and improve overall metabolic health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Dorothy Sears, Ph.D., professor of Nutrition at Arizona State U.’s College of Health Solutions, and adjunct professor of medicine at the U. of CA – San Diego. Sears discusses her research on meal timing (intermittent fasting and circadian rhythm) and the benefits of standing during bouts of sitting to improve overall health. Related website: https://chs.asu.edu/dorothy-sears
Kristin Schafer, Former Executive Director, Pesticide Action Network of North America.
Did you know that pesticides are not necessary to “feed the world,” and that American taxpayers pay for pesticide-related harm to our environment and health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Kristin Schafer, Former Executive Director of the Pesticide Action Network of North America. Schafer discusses highlights of her 25-year career with PAN, summarizes the best farming methods for resilient agriculture; and, explains how policy must help protect children from pesticide harm. Read more about Schafer’s work experiences in her reflection series: https://www.panna.org/blogs/kristin-schafer, and learn about how the pesticide industry influences EPA in this Catalyst article: https://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/PANnews2021n03.pdf Learn about SB 3283 Protect America’s children from toxic pesticides act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3283 Related website: www.panna.org
Nancy Alderman, founder and President of Environment and Human Health, Inc.
Did you know that if pesticides are used anywhere in a community, those pesticides can end up in ground water shared by that community? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Nancy Alderman, Founder and President of Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of human health from environmental harms through research, education and the promotion of sound public policy. Alderman describes how well-meaning individuals can be fooled by pesticide and lawn care marketing. Tune in to find out how to best protect your family from a number of harmful environmental chemicals, and ask to receive EHHI’s daily education updates at: info@ehhi.org Related website: http://www.ehhi.org
Jeff Tkach, Chief Impact Officer at the Rodale Institute
Did you know that U.S. consumers spend more on health care than they do on food? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Jeff Tkach, Chief Impact Officer at the non-profit Rodale Institute. Tkach describes the Rodale Institute’s new free, on-demand consumer course on regenerative organic food and farming. He defines “regenerative organic agriculture,” and explains the multiple health benefits of organic food and farming for our environment and health. He also discusses hurdles or barriers to the adoption of organic practices, and the power of consumers in the marketplace. Related website: https://courses.rodaleinstitute.org/p/being-a-regenerative-consumer
Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Environmental Chemist, Yale University, author of “Plastics and Microplastics: A Threat to the Environment and Health”
Did you know that plastic breaks down in our environment and enters our water, air, food chain and bodies? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Environmental Chemist at Yale University, and author of “Plastics and Microplastics: A Threat to the Environment and Health.” Benoit discusses the fate of microplastics, potential adverse effects on soil and human health, and why it is critical to choose anything but plastic whenever possible. Related website: https://www.ehhi.org/plastics.php
Sherri Dugger, Executive Director of the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project
Did you know that industrial agriculture and factory farms negatively impact rural communities’ water, air and quality of life? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Sherri Dugger, Executive Director of the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. Dugger defines “socially responsible agriculture,” discusses industrial farming myths, and describes how SRAP works in partnership with rural communities to oppose concentrated animal feeding operations. To watch SRAP’s 2021 conference, “Building a Socially Responsible Food Future,” See: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ1v-GDXiO6jmll0RNj7MkrbsE_EJKnFZ For community assistance in opposing CAFOs, call: 844-367-7727. Related website: https://sraproject.org/
Dana Ellis Hunnes, R.D., MPH, Ph.D., author of Recipe for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life.
Did you know that what we eat can not only affect our own personal health, but that of our planet as well? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Dana Ellis Hunnes, R.D., MPH, Ph.D., dietitian and faculty member at UCLA https://ph.ucla.edu/faculty/hunnes who discusses her book: Recipe for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life. (Cambridge U. Press). Hunnes reflects on her dietetics profession, discusses the lack of “sustainability” guidance in our National Dietary Guidelines, and the relationship of food and farming to climate change. Related website: http://danaellishunnes.com
Frances Moore Lappé, activist and author of Diet for a Small Planet.
Did you know that 50 years have passed since the first edition of Diet for a Small Planet was published? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Frances Moore Lappé, activist and author of Diet for a Small Planet. Lappe discusses her life’s work; the connections between democracy, world hunger, and our environment, and shares insights gained during the fifty years since the first edition of her book reached more than 3 million readers and changed many lives. Lappe also discusses highlights from her 50th edition of Diet for a Small Planet. Related website: https://www.dietforasmallplanet.org/
Erica Cirino science writer, author and artist, discusses her book, Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis.
Did you know that less than 10% of all the plastic ever made has been recycled? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Erica Cirino, science writer, artist, and author of Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis (Island Press, 2021). Cirino describes her 24 day ocean voyage during which she witnessed extensive plastic pollution, the plastic crisis facing our planet, and the environmental and public health costs associated with its production and use. She encourages consumers to engage in policy (See: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/policy), and consider two questions: What do we need to live; and, what can we live without? Related website: http://www.ericacirino.com/
Anne Ross, attorney, discusses human trafficking and forced labor in food and agriculture industries.
Did you know that January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and in all likelihood, we consume the products of slavery every day? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Anne Ross, attorney with Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services, Charleston, S.C. Ross discusses human trafficking and forced labor in food and agriculture industries. Today’s globalized supply chains make it is almost impossible to avoid goods or services free of the fingerprints of slavery, including electronic gadgets, clothing, fish, cocoa and cane sugar. Ross describes how trafficking happens, and how we can help report and avoid such tainted products. For more information from the state department, see: https://www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month/ , and a toll-free number to report suspected trafficking or seek help: 888-373-7888. Related website: PBS/ Frontline investigation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp9E5nkr-wQ
Eva Greenthal, MS, MPH, Senior Science Policy Associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest discusses food labels.
Did you know that food labels can mislead us into thinking processed and packaged foods and beverages are healthier than they might appear? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Eva Greenthal, MS, MPH, Senior Science Policy Associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Greenthal discusses the Food Labeling Modernization Act and the food labeling confusion and loopholes it attempts to correct. Greenthal and Hemmelgarn expose misleading “natural” labels, and discuss potentially harmful ingredients, including phosphorus, caffeine, gluten, food dyes, sugar and more. Related website: CSPI food labeling webinar: https://cspinet.org/resource/2021-flma-webinar-recording
Laura Vandenberg, Ph.D., researcher and author of “The Science of Spin: Targeted Strategies to manufacture doubt with detrimental effects on environmental and public health
Did you know that industries use a variety of tactics to manipulate public opinion about products that can harm our health and environment? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Laura Vandenberg, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs within the School of Public Health & Health Sciences, and Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Vandenberg’s research has largely focused on endocrine disruptors – https://www.umass.edu/family/people/laura-vandenberg - chemicals found in plastics, pesticides and flame retardants, which at very low doses can lead to diseases such as cancer, obesity and infertility. However, her latest paper, titled: “The Science of Spin: Targeted Strategies to manufacture doubt with detrimental effects on environmental and public health,” identifies and explains a multitude of manipulative strategies used by industries to convince us that their products are safe. Related website: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12940-021-00723-0.pdf
Reshma Shah, MD, MPH, pediatrician and co-author of “Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families.”
Did you know that many physicians are joining with dietitians to help their patients eat well? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Dr. Reshma Shah, M.D., MPH, board-certified pediatrician, and co-author of the award-winning book, Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families, co-authored with Registered Dietitian, Brenda Davis. Shah has over two decades of experience caring for children and recognizes the many challenges busy working parents face when trying to feed their families well. In addition to her medical and public health degrees, Shah has additional training in plant-based nutrition and cooking. She believes cooking for our families is a powerful way to not only nourish our bodies but also to nourish our spirits and our connections to one another. Through her training and research, Shah has discovered that a plant-based diet is the foundation for good health, not only for ourselves and our families, but for the world at large. You can try some of her recipes here: https://reshmashahmd.com/recipes/ Related website: https://nourishthebook.com/
Alexis Goldsmith, National Organizing Director at Beyond Plastics
Did you know that less than 10% of plastic is recycled? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Alexis Goldsmith, National Organizing Director at Beyond Plastics. Goldsmith discusses the myths of plastic “recycling,” plastic’s connection to climate change and how plastic creates global environmental and public health disasters. Related website: https://www.beyondplastics.org/plastics-and-climate
Beth Hoffman, journalist and author of Bet the Farm: Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America.
Did you know that the majority of farmers struggle to make a living? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Beth Hoffman, journalist and author of Bet the Farm: Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America (Island Press, 2021). Hoffman describes the little known hard economic realities of farming and exposes myths we’ve been fed about American agriculture. Her book offers potential solutions to achieve truly resilient and sustainable farming. Related website: https://www.iowa-farm.com/
Edward Maltby, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.
Did you know that Danone North America, owner of Horizon Organic, dropped its contracts with 89 organic dairies in New England and Upstate New York? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Edward Maltby, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance. Maltby discusses the benefits of organic food and farming, the plight of dairy farmers, and the impact of lost contracts on farm families and regional economies. Related website: https://www.nodpa.com/
Melanie Joy, PhD, psychologist and author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows.
Did you know that our perceptions of how and what we eat are influenced by our culture? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Melanie Joy, PhD, psychologist and author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows. Joy specializes in the psychology of eating animals, social transformation, and relationships. She discusses her theory of carnism, and works to raise awareness of the brutality of factory farms. Related website: www.carnism.org ; www.melaniejoy.org/relational-literacy
Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands.
Did you know that child-targeted marketing and excessive screen time undermines kids’ health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Josh Golin, Executive Director of the non-profit, Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands (formerly the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood). Golin describes the mission and recent activities and concerns of Fairplay, and strategies to help children thrive despite our increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture. He discusses the impact of social media, branded food and toys and AI on children’s health.
Laura H. Kahn, M.D., MPH, M.P.P, co-founder of the One Health Initiative.
Did you know that human, animal, plant, environment and ecosystem health are all connected? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Laura Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, co-founder of the global One Health Initiative. Kahn is a physician and research scholar with experience in medicine, public health, and public policy. She fosters systems thinking, taking into account connections between agricultural practices, pandemics and climate change and impacts on civilization. She teaches a free course on One Health titled “Bats, Ducks, and Pandemics: An Introduction to One Health Policy." https://www.coursera.org/learn/onehealth?action=enroll Related website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771421000793?via%3Dihub
Shanna Farrell, author of A Good Drink, In Pursuit of Sustainable Spirits
Did you know that the stories behind our favorite distilled spirits are largely hidden, and rarely presented on bar menus? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Shanna Farrell, expert in “cocktail culture,” and author of A Good Drink, In Pursuit of Sustainable Spirits. Farrell delves into labeling, ingredients, production, and why and how eco-conscious consumers should include attention to both their food and drink. Her website also includes much needed resources for the service industry during COVID-19. Related website: https://shanna-farrell.com/a-good-drink-in-pursuit-of-sustainable-spirits