What’s In That Eggnog?
Despite the tradition of having a hot cup of eggnog at a Christmas party, or perhaps at the hearth of a roaring fire, this rich and creamy wintertime beverage is in fact seasonally out of place.
Sustainable, Local, Humane Food
From Market
Los Angeles Saturday Farmers Markets: Marina del Rey
When you think of Los Angeles beaches, the first things that come to mind are probably Instagram sunsets and surfers. But LA is also home to some fantastic local food and food makers. From small urban farmers growing organic microgreens to raw local honey to CBD treats for dogs — there’s a lot to discover at the Marina del Rey farmers market on Saturdays.
What You Need To Know About Citric Acid Added to Food | Is Citric Acid Bad For You?
Citric acid is one of the most common food additives in use today. You may think it is a harmless derivative of lemons, and that used to be so. Today’s citric acid is a whole different story. Here’s what you need to know about this pervasive ingredient. Among the peculiar names that you will find…
Raw vs Pasteurized Milk
Enthusiasts claim that raw milk is a nutritious food that even lactose intolerant people can enjoy.
Community Supported Agriculture
If you’re looking for the freshest local food on a budget, CSA and subscription schemes save time and money.
11 Ways To Eat More Local Foods In Season
Here are some pros and cons of eating local and tips on how to include more local foods in season in your diet. Most supermarket shoppers find themselves chained to the same short list of produce all year. We have mistakenly come to believe that having the same standardized foods delivered to us year around…
Alternative Pastas: Vegan, Gluten Free, Wheat Free
Tolerant Foods Red Lentil or Black Bean Pasta Single ingredient pasta shapes made from either certified organic, non-GMO black bean or red lentil, which contains around 6 times more protein than wheat pasta. The pasta holds its shape really nicely, has a robust flavor and looks attractive on the plate. Higher in protein Single ingredient…
Is Organic Baby Food Worth The Cost?
A closer look at what’s in the jar The Alternative Health Journal studied over 100 baby foods and found that many contain ingredients that are not necessary to a baby’s diet, let alone health. Results concluded that many commercial baby foods contain high quantities of sugar. Even organic brands are not exempt from this, as…
Breaking The Link Between Dairy And Veal
Many exclude veal from their diet on principle. And vegetarians avoid meat altogether. Yet anyone consuming dairy products may still inadvertently be supporting the production of veal. Aside from a very few farmers who eschew it, veal production is, after all, a by-product of the dairy industry. Dairy cows must give birth once a year…
How to Buy Fresh, Organic, Sustainably Grown Local Produce
The best fruit and veg is local, seasonal and organically grown…but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be sporting an organic label.
Sustainable, Organic Food on a Budget: 7 Ways to Save Money
How to save money in the kitchen that you can use towards buying clean, sustainably produced foods. On our Ethical Foods on a Budget page we list numerous ways in which you can lower your grocery bill. Often, however, it isn’t very easy to get around the expense of buying sustainably produced foods. For instance I am an…
Are You Ready for Cricket Flour Cookies?
If you’re not ready to eat insects whole, try baking with cricket flour Sustainable Food | Clean Eating | Alternative Protein A stroll down your local health food store’s baking section will confirm that flours for baking and cooking are becoming increasingly diverse. If you’re avoiding gluten, flour or all grains, there are now many…
Good Eggs NOLA: New Orleans Gets Artisinal Local Food Online
Caroline Gray is a New Orleans native and local food activist who wholeheartedly believes that “a better world can be delicious.” In under 2 years, she has helped Good Eggs more than double its operations, connecting over 200 local food producers to communities through its online green market, or “foodhub”. We talk with her about…
Ractopamine in Pork: What Is It?
What is ractopamine? Ractopamine is a beta-agonist, a class of agents acting in an opposite way to beta-blockers widely used in blood pressure medication. Ractopamine is not considered safe for humans and is not an approved drug for humans. It is approved by the FDA for use in animals. Why is ractopamine fed to pigs?…
Reading Labels: Sugar Where it Doesn’t Belong
You may think you know how much sugar you are eating, but if you buy ready made foods, even in so called health-food stores, you may be consuming more sugar than you ever imagined. Why wait for dessert when you can have sugar at every course? Buying processed foods may mean you are bathing your…
What’s In Your Processed Food? Sugar.
When you see the label All Natural on a package of processed food, it doesn’t mean much. Another day of supermarket sleuthing yields yet more sugar in the form of a double hit of maltodextrin. Yum! So, how many of you actually keep maltodextrin stocked in your pantry? It’s highly processed, but not synthetic, so…
The Importance of Choosing Humanely Raised High Welfare Pork
Although the United Kingdom has established some of the highest animal welfare standards in Europe, meat produced under far less humane conditions continues to flood the market. In response to this proliferation of low quality meat – and the subsequent social and environmental abuses required to produce it – filmmaker and activist Tracy Worcester founded…
Panettone: Read the Label
Do cage-free eggs make up for mono and diglycerides in your baked goods? Panettone is a Milanese specialty that’s enjoyed throughout Italy as a Christmas treat. Making it takes a long time, and it’s expensive, since it’s enriched with egg yolks and butter. Needless to say, the resulting tall, round and flavorful bread is well…
Why Choose Heritage Breed Turkey
When holidays draw near, one thing that is at the root of most people’s thoughts is holiday dinner preparations for friends and family. Of course, the centerpiece of many holiday tables includes a roasted turkey surrounded by herbs, vegetables, and an abundance of tempting treats. In fact, it is said that Americans purchase 267 million…
What you need to know about chemicals sprayed on produce after harvest
Are chemicals added to fresh fruits and vegetables after harvest? We know that processed foods often contain a host of unhealthy additives, from fake flavors and colors to chemical preservatives. What you don’t know is that sometimes chemicals are added to fresh produce after it’s picked and before it gets to the grocery store. When…
Humane and Sustainably Farmed Hot Dogs and Deli Meats
Pasture raised beef. Heritage breed pork. Free range turkey.
These sound like menu items in an upscale restaurant, but they are what Fork in the Road is using to make the next generation of hot dogs, sausages and deli meats.
EBT At Your Local Farmers Market: Getting Organically Grown Foods To Those In Need
While EBT is widely accepted at supermarkets, families relying on EBT have not been able to buy local, sustainably grown food at farmers markets, since the markets have had no way to accept them. That is beginning to change.
Humanely Raised Eggs & Enriched Colony Housing
People pay a premium for eggs with a Humane certification, yet different certifiers have differing definitions of what constitutes a humanely raised hen. Until there is some clarity on this issue, we will be treated to more opaque, nuanced labels that may or may not represent what you think is humane.
The Scandalous Honey Trade
Known as “honey laundering,” one of the most pervasive international food scandals of our time is centered on illegal honey trading. Chinese honey tainted with heavy metals or banned antibiotics is flooding the global markets. Find out how to avoid buying fake or tainted bootleg honey.
Natural vs Organic Meat
When it comes to meat labeling, nothing is as confusing as understanding the difference between Natural and Organic meat. Here’s what you need to know about the Natural label.
Organic, Natural, and Biodynamic Wine
Author Eden Canon walks us through the confusing and sometimes contentious world of wine labels in search of a perfect glass of vino.
Reading The Leaves: Organic Tea
Buying organic is a first step in ensuring the quality of your daily cuppa. But issues of ethics in this ancient trade are being addressed outside the world of organic certification.
Organic Kerala
Alongside China, India is quickly taking the lead in the global movement to convert farmland to certified organic crops.One Indian state implements sweeping change in a move to shifting to 100% organic production.
What Is Organic Meat?
What does the certified organic label on meat actually mean? Some consumers mistakenly assume it represents the highest standard of nutrition, humane treatment of animals and sound ecological practices.
Choosing Chicken: The Label Game
What’s with all these labels? Organic, free range, cage free—find out how to buy the best chicken and why it matters. I’m looking for a real chicken. It used to be a simple affair—picking out a chicken at the market to bring home for dinner. Now I am confronted with a raft of labels to…
The Future Of Organic Beer
On New Year’s Day 2013, Certified Organic beer becomes more organic. Read how changes in labeling could affect your favorite brew.
How Pet Food Is Made
Pet food has become a convenient market for waste from meat and grain producers which are deemed inedible to humans. But what are these ingredients?
How To Choose The Best Eggs
Certified organic, free range, cage free. There are so many options when buying eggs, but what do they mean, other than a steep price premium? Author Eden Canon takes a closer look at labels, in search of a healthy, ethically produced egg.
Organic Certification: Farmers Weigh The Costs
Some farmers who practice organic farming, and even those whose methods achieve a higher level of environmental and ethical cultivation, have decided against getting certified organic. Farmers share their thoughts about the pros and cons of certification.
Where Does Milk Come From?
Over the past 50 years the answer to a simple question—where does milk come from?—has changed. We look at where most milk comes from, and then explore organic and pasture based alternatives.
Humanely Raised Meat: How to Buy Pork
Many avoid pork because of the lurid abuses endemic in conventional pig rearing. But, with a little research, conscientious carnivores can still delight in bacon and porchetta. Ethically raised pork is becoming easier to find as small scale local producers embrace pasture-based farming.
Demystifying Coffee Labels: Organic, Fair Trade & Shade Grown
When it comes to your health, the ethical treatment of farmers or the global impact of deforestation on climate change, how coffee is grown matters.
The Secret Language Of Pet Food Labels
What’s in a name? A lot, apparently. Names like ‘chicken formula for cats’ and ‘beef flavored dog food’ are actually regulated to mean very specific things in the US. Understanding the code can help you select the best product for your pet.
Quick Facts About Egg Cleaning
Beyond nutritional content and animal welfare, you should also be aware of what happens to your eggs between the hen house and the marketplace.
Panda Poo Tea
At around $200 per cup, Panda Ecological Tea is perhaps the most costly in the world. But does the essential ingredient—panda manure—justify the price?
Sustainable Local Food On A Budget: CSA
Buying organic, local and sustainably raised food can wreck your grocery budget. Joining a Community Supported Agriculture scheme can help keep costs down, while providing you with an abundance of clean, locally produced food.