Sugar beet farmers in the U.S. will soon decide whether to plant genetically engineered sugar beets. A new genetically engineered strain of sugar beet created by Monsanto and designed to resist Roundup, an herbicide also created by Monsanto, is the latest available option approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2005. The final decision will be largely determined the type of sugar food manufacturers such as McDonald's, Campbell Soup, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, Sara Lee, PepsiCo and Hershey's commit to buying for use in their production of foods in 2009. Sugar is added to most processed foods, including candy, cereals, health bars, beverages, juices, bread, candy bars, frozen foods, dressings, fast foods, etc. It might be difficult to find items to which sugar isn't added. It's commonly known that high intake of sugar is unhealthy but unless we eat mostly homemade meals from scratch, we end up consuming large quantities of sugar whether we want to or not. Take a moment to keep GM sugar off our food.

This week's recipe: Scrumptious Seitan with Peppers and Tomatoes Stew, a delicious, Latin-inspired and -- as always -- vegan dish. It's simple and quick to make, and high in protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, B complex vitamins, lycopene, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron. Plus, how to take your health to the next level, how to avoid food coloring made from beetles, and more!! Click here to read it online. Go here to subscribe FREE!

Just another Blog post for Burma.

Vote for your favorite green business from among the ten most popular by October 15, 2007. The winner of the 2007 Co-op America People's Choice Award will be announced at the Green Festival in San Francisco November 10.

If you live in California and want to protect your right to know what's in the food you buy to eat, urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the SB 63 bill requiring clear labeling of meat and dairy products from cloned animals or their offspring. The bill is currently awaiting Governor's Schwarzenegger's signature "who has until October 15 to sign or veto the bill."

To submit comments, you must use the Governor's web form by following these steps provided by the Center for Food Safety:

Step 1: Copy any of the following sample text to paste into the comment box on the Governor's website, or be prepared to write your own:

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

I am writing to urge you to sign S.B. 63 into law, a bill by Senator Migden to label any foods from animal clones or their offspring in the event FDA approves such products for sale.

Cloning carries unknown food safety risks, increases animal cruelty, and threatens the image of California dairy and meat products. Many Americans object to animal cloning on moral or ethical grounds, and there is no need for cloned foods.

Studies have shown the American public actively opposes cloning. Gallup Polls report more than 65 percent of Americans think it is immoral to clone animals and the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology found that a similar percentage say that, despite FDA approval, they would not buy cloned milk. In fact, FDA received over 150,000 comments opposing its proposal to introduce cloned animals unlabeled into the food supply. Californians deserve to decide for themselves whether or not to purchase such food, even if the FDA deems it "safe," yet FDA has failed to require labeling.

Given the many concerns and uncertainties around food from cloned animals and their offspring, it is essential that these foods be labeled as such so Californians have the right to choose what we feed ourselves and our families. California has always been a leader in consumer protection, and I hope we continue to lead on this issue. As a leading dairy state, California can not afford to ignore consumer demand. I urge you to sign Senate bill 63 into law and protect Californians’ right to know what it is our food.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
City, State Zip

Step 2: Go to the Governor's website, make sure the "have a comment" radio button is selected, enter your information in the fields (First Name, Last Name, Email), then choose "Food and Agriculture" as the subject. Click "submit" to be taken to the page to leave your comment. Paste or type your comment urging the Governor to sign SB 63. I'm ready to go to the Governor's web site. Clicking on this link will open a new window, so you can keep this alert open in order to copy the text again if you need to.

You can also call the Governor at (916) 445-2841.

The USDA has extended the deadline for public comment on whether or not to amend the National Organic Program to include another 38 Non-Organic (allowed and prohibited) ingredients in the production of organic food. All these ingredients, which include animal intestines for sausage casings, fish oil, gelatin and food colorants from fruits and vegetables, would be conventionally produced with pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and genetically modified feed. If such ingredients can be used in the production of organic food then what's the point of organic food standards?

All comments must be received by August 27, 2007. Obviously, these changes would only reduce the quality of organic food production benefiting manufacturers at the expense of unsuspecting consumers.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), a membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America is heavily lobbying to allow those additional 38 substances in the production of organic food in the interest of manufacturers and with no regard for consumers.

I have been a member of the OTA for many years, but will not renew my membership. I refuse to provide support, financial or otherwise, to an organization that is betraying the principles it was founded upon (to be the leader in advocating and protecting organic standards so that consumers can have confidence in certified organic production) by trampoling on those same organic standards.

It's important that everyone who believes that current organic standards should not be amended to include 38 more non-organic additives takes action. Write to the USDA to let them know that you are AGAINST allowing additional substances in organic food production that do not meet current organic standards.

To submit comments via the Internet click here. Be sure to select Federal and Department of Agriculture for the last two fill-in boxes, respectively.

To write a letter and send it via snail mail, here is the contact information:

Comments may be submitted by mail to Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/ TMP/NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250.

All comments on this interim final rule must include the following:

1. Docket number: AMS-TM-07-0062

2. Topic: National Organic Program (NOP) - Proposed Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Processing)

3. Section number referred to: AMS-TM-07-0062-1225

4. Clearly indicate if you are for or against the interim final rule or some portion of it and your reason for it.

The holiday season is traditionally about thankfulness and the celebration of life, unity, love, peace and harmony in the company of family and friends.

Unfortunately, holiday celebrations and food -- usually too much food -- go hand-in-hand. Not just any food, but traditional holiday fare rich in butter, cream and sugar -- mostly unhealthy empty calories -- that rob you of nutrition and can make you gain more than ten pounds in just a few weeks. Between office parties, family gatherings and the fatty, sugary nature of holiday foods, you may find yourself challenged by constant temptation.

But you don't have to fall victim to this annual assault on your health. Nor do you have to deprive yourself of the enjoyment of your favorite holiday foods. The key is to have a plan and eat with strategy.

Here are seven tips to help you both enjoy holiday food -- and stay healthy all the while:

1. Never arrive at a holiday get-together hungry. Before a family visit or company office party, eat some fresh fruit, a few raw nuts, a light sandwich or a fruit smoothie -- and drink lots of water. That way, you can enjoy the food without wanting to gorge yourself.

2. Make exercise part of your annual holiday traditions. A recent study found that regular exercise is more effective for weight management than calorie restriction. When visiting others, think about whether the trip could be made on foot, rather than in the car. Take the whole family on walks through the town to see Christmas decorations, or holiday events. Instead of sitting there watching football, why not also play the game? Do your shopping on foot, and use stairs instead of escalators when possible. Start a tradition of outdoor winter activity, such as building snowmen, inner-tubing, cross country skiing -- whatever is possible in your area. No snow? Go on family bike rides, or hiking. Choose a healthy activity everyone enjoys, and do lots of it every year as part of your tradition.

3. When it comes to portions, think small and healthy! Studies show that people are satisfied with less if they start out with less on their plates to begin with. Use the smallest plate possible, then fill it with half of what you think you want.

4. Favor healthier options. Think about the relative healthiness of what's on the table, and serve yourself accordingly, and the healthiest options first. Always start with salads, fruits and vegetables, and then move on to other richer and heartier foods. By the time you get to the truly toxic fare, you won't want to overdo it.

5. Just say no to unhealthy gifts. Candy canes, conventional chocolates -- don't even get me started on fruitcake -- so many traditional holiday gifts are bad for you. What kind of gift is that? The holidays are an opportunity for you to share with loved ones just how delicious healthy foods can be. There are healthier, organic alternatives to just about every holiday gift, from food gift baskets to traditional cakes. The best food gift, however, is one you've made yourself. And if you receive an unhealthy gift, you don't have to eat it. Remember: It's the thought that counts.

6. Don't count on dieting later. Too many of us throw our knowledge about health -- and our resolve to stay healthy -- out the window just because it's the holidays. Part of that tradition is making a New Year's resolution to diet and lose the holiday pounds "next year." Unfortunately, both the gorging and the dieting are unhealthy. It's better not to go off the deep end in the first place. Don't use some future diet as a reason why you can stuff yourself during the holidays. If you know you're not going to diet later, you'll be less likely to lose control now.

7. Drink smart. Take it easy on the booze, the sugary drinks and fatty beverages like eggnog. Just because it's liquid doesn't mean it's not bad for you. Drink plenty of water before and during holiday meals, eat slowly and stop eating before you feel completely full. You’ll feel better, lighter and happier, rather than bloated, dull and sluggish.

Happy and healthy holidays to you all!

Stress you didn't even know you had could kill you, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday. They found people whose blood pressure rose during "mental stress" were six times more likely to have a heart attack or other severe heart event within six years than people who handled the stress more calmly. And it was not stress that people knew they were feeling -- pulse was not affected and their volunteers usually had no idea their blood pressure was spiking, the researchers told a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando. Reuters