Breaking the Food Seduction

Check out the article here.

U.S. Court, FDA: Raw Milk Like Toxic Waste

Article here.

Last Friday, a U.S.  court and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has essentially ruled that organic raw milk shipped across state lines for use as animal food must be treated like a toxic waste; otherwise organic, sustainable dairymen will face a $250,000 fine and up to 5 years imprisonment for noncompliance. The case, U.S. v. Organic Pastures, was brought by evidence that showed an undercover FDA agent had received a one-gallon shipment of raw milk for pet food in Nevada, of all places, from California.

On a similar note, back in the early 90’s,  EPA and DOT wanted to define milk as a “hazardous material” under rules pertaining to oil spills. This was because the definition of oils included petroleum-based oils as well as fats and oils from vegetable and animal origin. The dairy industry needed to spend untold sums to Washington lobbyists to prevent the hazardous designation. This relieved truck transporters of milk and vegetable oil from putting “hazardous material” signs on their trucks and to have special papers onboard. All of this so that environmental spill responders would know that the spill material was milk containing 1-5 percent fat. The rationale was that, in the event a milk truck overturned on or near a bridge, these procedures might reduce the potential effect on fish and other aquatic life. I won’t get into here how Coca-cola and other soft drinks would have been classed also as a “hazardous material” because of its acid content (pH), but something tells me that EPA and DOT won’t do it with America’s other drinking problem.

But naturally occurring unpasteurized milk has created more of a crisis for the chimps at FDA and other “protect and serve” agencies, in all of their infinite wisdom. Might it be due to the fact that, since ancient times, it has been a wholesome and nutritional drink for babies, as well as animals and humans?

For his timely article on the present situation, investigative journalist David Gumpert in his story at The Complete Patient received documents from the case directly from the defendant Mark McAfee of Organic Pastures Dairy Company(OPCD). The documents, according to Dave, reveal the laughable conditions upon which OPCD can ship raw milk to be used as animal food:

• OPDC can “only ship raw milk and raw milk products to end use animal facilities,” including zoos, research labs, and veterinary practices;
• “The veterinary health professional or animal caretaker must have a legitimate provider/client-patient relationship with the animal to which the product is to be fed.”
• Prior to shipping any milk, OPDC must provide to the FDA’s San Francisco office assorted information about the recipient, including the “identity of each animal to which the raw milk or milk products will be fed and a declaration that the consignee has a legitimate provider/client-patient relationship with the animal to which the product is to be fed.”
• Milk recipients must “keep records of all use and disposition of raw milk and raw milk products received from OPDC.”
• Recipients must “destroy or return to OPDC any unused product…(and) provide OPDC with documented accounting of all quantities destroyed within 15 days of destruction…”

With up to five years imprisonment and up to $250,000 fine for noncompliance, I think it is safe to say the Mark McAffee is out of business of the interstate shipment of quality pet food.

Something else is leaving a sour taste in my mouth, because Augie does not recall if FDA pursued the U.S. food manufacturer’s of baby formula and countless other food items using Chinese milk solids intentionally laced with melamine, a toxic compound– even though they have set up quality control offices in China. Have you?

Now I am convinced that Albert Einstein was correct when he stated, “There are only two things that are infinite; the universe and the stupidity of man, and I am not certain of the former.” 

Of course, The Journal is now open for your comments on this important new development.

Al Gore Announces New Line of Organic Vegan Products

Website here.

Al Gore’s focus on making the world aware of the climate crisis has permeated nearly every media outlet with great success. Now it appears that the Nobel Prize winner is focusing his attention on Americans’ dinner plates.

Sources close to the the former Vice-President dropped the news that Gore is set to release a new line of 100% organic vegan frozen foods. While the branding is still under development (see the artist’s mock up above), a summer release date with four initial meals is being considered. “Al has been inspired by what the Linda McCartneybrand has done for the vegetarian frozen foods scene — and firmly believes that he can deliver an American-styled version,” said one source. “He’s especially eager to have his brand hit the shelves before Heather Mills’ does.”

Under consideration for early release are: “Al Gore’s Vegan Nubs”, “Al Gore’s Vegan Pizza Rolls”, “Al Gore’s Soy Poppers” and “Al Gore’s Vegan Buffalo Fingers”. All profits from the new venture will benefit the Alliance for Climate  Protection.

Still unclear is whether Gore will actually embrace the vegan lifestyle promoted on his boxes. With factory farming considered a major contributor to C02 emissions, Gore has received flak (especially from PETA) for not embracing a plant-based diet. “He’s still not even vegetarian, but figures these products might go a long way to convincing others it’s the right thing to do,” continued the source. “At the end of the day, it’s the message that matters.”

It’s worth noting that today is April 1st.

Red Meat or Chicken? Why It's Wise to Stay Away from Both

Read the article here.

Excessive Meat and Dairy May Harm Sperm Quality

Check it out here.

Pot Stickers

We have been working on perfecting a vegan pot sticker recipe. It is sooooo delicious!

Pot Stickers

We used this Seitan Recipe we just leave out the salt. It is salty tasting without it, and I'm not a huge salt fan anyways. I use this Worcestershire Sauce recipe.

1 pkg gyoza wrappers

1 log of seitan (see recipe above)

1 package of mushrooms

3 broccoli florets 

1 large carrot

1 bunch green onion

1 T sesame oil

1-2 cloves garlic

1-3 t fresh ginger

2 jalapenos

1 T soy sauce

1 T rice vinegar

1) Make seitan according to recipe put in food processor and set aside.

2) Put mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, jalapenos, and green onion in food processor. Heat sesame oil over medium heat. Put garlic and ginger in wok just until garlic is fragrant (be careful not to burn) then add vegetable mixture and saute until mushrooms are soft. Add seitan, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Take pan off heat. You can add cornstarch and water if you would like, it helps the mixture stick together better. Let mixture cool.

3) Lay Gyoza wrapper on counter, add 1 spoonful of mixture center of wrapper. Dip your finger in water and run it around the edge of wrapper (helps wrapper stick to itself). Then fold wrapper in half and press edges together, pushing out as much air as you can. Continue until all wrappers are used (we typically run out of wrappers before we run out of filling, you can just freeze the filling for a later date). 

4) Arrange then in a non stick pan that has a light coating of sesame oil over medium high heat until bottoms are browned, then turn them over to cook the other side. 

5) Once they are browned add 3/4 cup hot water to the pan and cover with lid immediately and turn up to high heat. Leave them for 7 minutes or until all the water is gone.

6) If you can't eat them all at once they keep in the fridge for about 3 days and in the freezer for about 3 months. We usually serve them with soy sauce. Enjoy!

Cookbooks that Rock!

I always love getting new cookbooks. What is even better is when I can actually find the ingredients that are in them. That is why I love Veganomicon. I like plenty of others as well. The Complete Vegan Kitchen, Vegan with a Vengence, and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World are all kick ass cookbooks. I don't think that I have made one bad thing out of any of these. Especially the cupcakes, yum yum. I can't wait until the husband has a bake sale at work that I can contribute some yummy vegan baking to.