Food Manufacturers

Irene  Rosenfeld, CEO of Kraft, is quoted as saying that “40 percent of the food supply is being diverted for use in fuel.”*  That is just short of half.  Now you can see why our food prices have skyrocketed.  Someone needs to do a better job of thinking forward.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

* USA Today CEO Forum at Duke University, December 11, 2008, p. 4B

We interviewed Ken Gootkind, head of the natural and organic product lines for Apple and Eve.  Boy, have they got some great new products for kids!  The first to bring to your attention is FIZZ ED.  This is a genius answer to replacing soda.  It is 8.4 fluid ounces of 70% juice and 30% carbonated water.  That’s it.  No bad chemicals added.  No added sugar.  Only fruit juice and sparkling water.  A bonus is that Apple and Eve uses the better sources for both their natural and organic juices.  This product is first being introduced into vending machines at schools.  Yeah - a far better beverage choice than the junk sodas.  You will also see it in stores soon.  The four flavors are: Pomegranate Cherry, Orange Mango, Green Apple and Red Raspberry - Yum  Here’s your answer for drink treats, especially for parties!

And there is more …. FRUITABLES.  This is a great new vegetable/fruit juice drink for kids. You will find a nice flavor and nutrient balance that includes carrot (yellow, purple, orange), beet, pumpkin, tomato, and butternut squash Juices.  When was the last time you kids drank beta-caroteen-filled pumpkin and butternut squash juice?  The three flavors are: Strawberry Kiwi, Tropical Orange, and Berry Berry. Again, no added sugar, bad chemicals and unwanted ingredients. Perfect for school lunches!!!!!   Fruitables will be showing up in your stores soon.

Apple and Eve, known for quality, are ahead of the curve when it comes to creating healthier products for kids.  These new products are example of this truth.

For more about Apple and Eve, listen to Ken on our archived show by clicking on to www.BetterFoodChoices.com/BetterFoodChoices. 

… for the health of your family,

ellen

Most do not know that there is a bill that has been passed which contributes to why food prices are higher. This bill is not going away so you can expect that this added expense passed on to you is here to stay.  Government intervention costs money, usually.

The newly accepted Farm Bill includes specific Country of Origin labeling.  As of Sept 30th of this year, all products that are not processed have to display a label that tells you where it came from.  When you buy meat, you will know whether it came from the US or not.  When you buy fruit and vegetables, you will know where they were grown and harvested.  I am looking at an acorn squash sitting in a basket on my kitchen table.  It has a label that says, “Acorn Squash, Product of Canada.” 

The cost of labeling every product is expensive, I have heard up to a half a billion per year for retailers.  They have to pay for paper, printing and application of these labels.  Someone has to be hired to manage this process. In addition, labeling programs have to be run to maintain and report this bill’s requirements  Before the retailer receives the products, there is an additional cost to the suppliers who have to monitor and verify the country of origin for each one. Alot of extra time and paperwork is involved; each costs money.  Who do you think pays for this new requirement?  You, the consumer.  Both the supplier and the retailer pass the added expenses on to you. 

Now I know it is fun to know where you food is coming from, and, it is important to know where imported foods were grown and harvested.   However, I cannot understand why those products with a United States of America origin have to be labeled.  Why couldn’t this requirement be limited to imports and save us consumers some money? This would also encourage consumers to buy US products - good for the economy.

The reason processed foods do not fall into the labeling requirement is that is too difficult to list the country of origins for all the ingredients.  They skate.  Now you are looking at frozen entrees that may contain imported produce, meat or fish, and you won’t know it.  If the fact that it came from a country such as China is a concern for you. .. well, you lose out here. 

Some where the balance between the need to know and common sense solutions has been lost here.  Still, you get more for your money when you buy fresh produce, meat and fish!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Here is a little tidbit for you.  A source has told us that the advertising dollars spent on bad-for-you foods outnumbers that spent on good-for-you foods by 450 percent.  As obvious as this is when you turn on the TV, this stat is still overwhelming.  For those who think food manufacturers are really concerned about unhealthy eating, think again.  Advertising commitments do not reflect this.  The bottom line rules.