If you’ve ever been to the U.K., you might notice that the fast food restaurants over there are a little bit different, and slightly healthier than they are here. In the past, I wrote about how it’s a common practice for food companies (everyone from Betty Crocker to Pringles to Quaker Oats) to reformulate their products with safer ingredients overseas, while they continue to sell us inferior products with unhealthy ingredients here in the States. If you walk into any McDonald’s in the U.K. you’ll find organic milk available for children in their Happy Meals, and no chocolate milk. Just think about that for a minute…
McDonald’s serves organic milk to children in the U.K.? But not here in the U.S.?
McDonald’s also serves organic milk with their porridge (oatmeal), coffee and tea! You’ll also find healthier items, like pineapple and carrot sticks that you won’t find at any McDonald’s in the U.S. – also without preservatives. Their fries aren’t cooked in oil that contains TBHQ (a derivative of butane) or the anti-foaming agent dimethylpolysiloxane (an ingredient in silly putty) like they are here. Isn’t it funny that the oil in the U.K. seems to work just fine without these ingredients?
Pull through the Taco Bell drive-thru and you won’t be able to order Cinnabon desserts and big Mt. Dew Baja Blast Frozen drinks because these super sugary “treats” simply aren’t available. If you dine at Pizza Hut, you’ll get to take advantage of a free unlimited salad bar full of fresh vegetables (like they used to have in the United States but discontinued). I’m not saying everything is healthy in these restaurants, because it’s certainly not – but, it’s definitely different than what we’ve got going on here in the U.S. Not only are their ingredients different, but they are serving up completely different ingredients and menu choices. One startling thing I noticed is that many of the menu items in the U.K. contain far less sugar than the versions that they serve us in the U.S.
Five Fast-Food Restaurants Serving Up More Sugar In the U.S.:
1. McDonald’s Chocolate Shake (without whip cream or cherry on top)
If you order a large chocolate shake in the U.K., you’ll get it in the classic smaller cup (16.9 oz.) that I remember as a kid. This is about the same size as a medium size shake now in the U.S., as cup sizes have grown dramatically over the years. McDonald’s has changed their shakes for the worse in the U.S. and now serve new larger versions (22 oz.) with whipped cream that contain an astounding 120 grams of sugar. In the U.K. that large shake still has a whole lot of sugar (67 grams), but it’s so much less sugar than what we get here at home. Taking into account the bigger cups sizes in the U.S., ounce for ounce, the U.S. McDonald’s shake without whip has 33% more sugar than the U.K. version.
2. Pizza Hut Pepperoni Lovers/Pepperoni Feast Thin Crust Pizza (14” large/8 slices)
Not only would you get to take advantage of that free unlimited salad bar in the U.K., but when you order this pizza it only contains 16 grams of sugar, versus a whopping 40 grams in the U.S. version. That’s 151% more sugar!
3. Subway Turkey Ham Sandwich (6″ with 9-grain wheat bread, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and onions)
Subway used to be one of my go-to “healthy” sandwiches before I stopped eating processed fast food. Their Turkey Ham Sandwich isn’t exactly high in sugar, but here in the U.S. you’ll get over 56% more sugar (8 grams of sugar for 217 gram subway sandwich) than if you were to order the exact same sandwich in the U.K (5.4 grams of sugar for 228 gram sandwich).
4. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (20 oz. venti, semi-skim/2% milk with whip)
Following my Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte investigation, I couldn’t help but wonder if Starbucks was serving up the same ingredients in other countries. I obtained the complete list of ingredients for the Pumpkin Spice latte in the U.K., and my hunches were correct. Not only did they reformulate their recipe with safer ingredients, but it also contains a lot less sugar. The venti Pumpkin Spice (2% milk with whip) in the U.S. has a whopping 58% percent more sugar than the U.K. version. A “tall” latte in the U.S. (small size) has almost the same amount of sugar as the Venti (large size).
Starbucks also doesn’t use use caramel coloring in the U.K., which proves this is a totally unnecessary ingredient. Instead, they color it with beta carotene (from carrots) and don’t use preservatives. Starbucks is telling news agencies here in the U.S. that they’ve got a “team in place” working on phasing out caramel coloring in the U.S. But, they’ve already done it in the U.K., so why can’t they just serve the same, safer, product here?
*Caramel Color Level IV contains 4-MEI, which is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. The National Toxicology Program also has determined caramel coloring level IV compound 4-MEI to be a carcinogen.
5. Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnut
A plain Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut in the U.S. has 52% more sugar than the U.K. version. Not only is the U.S. doughnut slightly smaller (49 gram size), but it’s got more sugar, ringing in at 10 grams, versus 7 grams in the U.K. doughnut (52 gram size). If you eat more than one doughnut, those extra sugar grams can add up quick.
My mind was reeling when I found this data.
Why are they doing this? In the U.K., restaurants are required to let you know if their food contains any genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, with a warning on the menu. If they simply remove all GMO ingredients, they can avoid this obligation.
One of the most prevalent GMO crops in the world are sugar beets. Most sugar in the U.S. actually comes from GMO beets, and no longer from sugar cane (which is generally more expensive to produce). According to Ken Roseboro of the Non-GMO Sourcebook, non-GMO ingredients tend to cost food manufacturers 25% to 50% more. So, here in the US it’s easy for food producers to just switch to GMO sugar beets to save money and keep pumping our food up with more of it than they do overseas without taking a hit financially. On packaged food containing GMO sugar, the ingredient list can still say “sugar” and they are not required to tell us if it’s GMO here in the U.S.. For restaurants it’s even easier, because they don’t need to even tell us the ingredients if they don’t want to.
There are very few GMO warnings labels on menus in the U.K. because restaurants know that customers overwhelmingly don’t want to eat GMOs. It’s simply more advantageous for them to serve GMO-free food in countries with GMO labeling laws. This could cost them more money as non-GMO sugar is more expensive to produce, so one viable option is for them to simply use less sugar which actually benefits consumer health in the long run in multiple ways. Meanwhile many of the same food companies continue to fill our “food” here with cheaper GMO sugar, and do everything they can to make sure that those labeling laws don’t pass here in the US.
We are getting the short end of the stick.
When I look at the menu items at these U.K. restaurants: organic milk, free unlimited salad, coffee without caramel color, non-GMO food and less sugary options – I feel like we are getting the short end of the stick. Sure, I realize that not all of the food in the U.K. is better, and some things are even worse than what we’ve got here, but when you look at the complete picture, they are definitely getting a better deal. Just last week the great-granddaughter of the co-founder of General Mills spoke up and made the news asking shareholders: “Why not here?”. She asked this simple question citing evidence that General Mills makes GMO-free versions of its food in Europe and Asia, and labels GMOs in 63 countries – But not in the United States, even though it’s entirely possible for them to do so.
Knowledge is power.
I am sharing this information with you to spread the word to let companies know we won’t stand for inferior and less healthy products. When these companies tell us that it’s not possible, or it’s too expensive, we know that they really can because it’s already being done. This is such an easy request – we simply want the same healthier options that they are serving in other countries. They may not initially want to do this, but if consumer demand is strong enough, they will. The truth is, as more food manufacturers seek out natural and non-GMO ingredients, they will become more readily available, as they are in the U.K. and Europe. So, please share this post with everyone you know and raise awareness of this very important issue. Let’s raise the bar here in America and persuade these companies to bring these safer food products here for us and our loved ones, not just for citizens in other countries.
With Much Love,
Vani
REALLY?????? How is any of this any surprise to anyone in the USA? The EU (European Union) is the group that BANS certain ingredients and foods in Europe to protect their citizens – this is true for FOOD, SUPPLEMENTS and BODY CARE. Here in the United States – our Government cares more about MONSANTO and profits then its citizens. This is why we will ALWAYS lose and NOTHING will EVER be done here…. The US revolves around PROFIT only…. unless you get half our citizens to actually start complaining – nothing will ever be done. Most people to this day have no idea what GMOs are… so how can we expect them to SCREAM about POISON in our food???????? The mighty DOLLAR always wins in America. This always has, is and will be the truth and the factor driving all disease and “un-wellness”….
You are Correct on Everything you said
1000% Agreeee !!!
I agree. As long as the American public continues to buy these nasty products from the fast food companies, THEY WILL SELL IT. It’s called supply and demand. So yeah, it’s a shame these companies sell bad food, but they won’t get rich offering carrot sticks and organic milk. The market for this stuff is just not there yet, for the typical American.
As long as the Food Babe continues her push to educate and inform the public and those people push to further educate and inform their friends, I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s very unfortunate that we have so many people with their heads in the sand but it is up to us to work to correct this.
The corporations will get away with what they can and will sell what people will buy.
Bottom line…
Very True Erin and also Tom. I work in the Natural Products Industry… so I educate each and every day. It is a shame… all that is happening. BUT a hopeful change is coming in 2015… I can not disclose what but just watch the LARGEST retailer in the US … how they will be making changes for the better and promoting HEALTHY & ORGANIC products… :0)
And most of the people don’t even care… Classic American attitude – there is always a medicine for a problem… Very sad.
With all the things going on I think the biggest terrorists are right here in our soil poisoning us with pesticides (think glysophate from Monsanto), GMOs (think BT Corn, soy, etc) from Monsanto, the new agent orange pesticide that will be introduce in another GMO (think Agent Orange Corn– the last crop that they want to introduce from Dow). These companies are like terrorists and also the ones working in disguise to approve whatever in the FDA and EPA in exchange for millions because once they approve the big corporations hire them with multi-million dollar packages for their consulting needs. In the meantime, this country continue immerse with growing numbers of cases of obesity, Parkinson, Alzheimer, diabetes, ADD, autism, high blood pressure, cancer, etc. Before, an old person was known for his wisdom; now-a-days for Alzheimer or dementia. I know a couple from France who are in their sixties. They do not anybody there with cancer. You ask anyone here, and they will know at least a couple of people. We are being poisoned here!
So, I’m reading all this and I’m kind of laughing but only not to cry kind of way. Listen to the responses; anyone reading this would rather eat children (kids are organic right?) then go to any of these places. Needless to say we are not McDonald’s target consumers and a small minority at that. More importantly we should we all take a good look at W h y all these things are added to our food and that is cost. Wall street punishes these companies if they don’t make their projections (by no means am I an apologist for the jerks just a realist) and most Americans can’t afford to feed themselves well (I spend 850 a month easily on a family of five and I can shop at a commissary). America is used to spending a much smaller percentage on food then other developed nations. Real change comes from the nitty gritty details so remember that the next time a tax increase is on the ballot. USDA and F
I’ll be honest, you used so many all-caps words it was too annoying to finish. Exclamation points adequately, and correctly, denote how pissed you are. Consider this a formal petition to stop the all-caps words. Forever.
Wonder when the day comes where the culprits of Monsanto and other ruthless likes are mandated a deathy penalty by court through citizens?
USA sucks to the core bc of Monsanto. Wonder what third world countries have scum sucking Monsanto banned?
Isnt it the worst shame and wreck when a well meaning and ambitious IVy leaguer ends up in a ruthless, greedy corp like Monsatan, DOw or Syng rathee than a do gooder one?
I always thought Europe is the best in world and free of corruption. When you mean all of Europe with GMOs banned you include Romania,,Ukraine too?
Hi John – Romania is part of the UE but Ukraine is not (at this time). I say this… if a small country of Hungary can stand against Monsanto – why can’t we?
“Hungary has taken a bold stand against biotech giant Monsanto and genetic modification by destroying 1000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds, according to Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar.”
Full article here: http://www.trueactivist.com/hungary-destroys-all-monsanto-gmo-corn-fields/
EXACTLY!!!!
I do not eat fast food anymore, instead I cook everything myself & always try to eat fresh or frozen. I am on a limited income but find it isn’t that difficult or expensive to eat well. Many of my friends (we are all seniors) have diabetes, lupus, heart disease, etc. They all know they should eat better but refuse to do so. It is so sad. I believe they are addicted to junk food.
European laws are much different compared to ours here in North America. They require warnings on products that contain chemicals such as artificial colours. M&M’s has naturally coloured ones in Europe to avoid scaring consumers. I think if our laws change here then these big companies will have to offer us the same here. Let’s go above these big corporations and push for similar laws here! It’s time to “pull the weed by the root”
We are Capitalists. That’s what they keep telling us. Actually, we are an oligarchy. The USA is no longer a democracy and if anyone still believes that they ate in for a rude awakening. With Monsanto and ADM to name a couple of the coporations that give us food that make us obese, diabetic, cancer, and heart disease society. Then bring in the other corporations that want us to have as many children as possible so they can become cannon fodder. Those are the gun manufacturers, the weapons manufacturers, the plane manufacturers, and the list goes on. We have to be diligent in what we spend our money on! The government is not going to stop these companies from polluting our bodies with bad food, it’s up to you!
As many kids as possible? Sadly no… if you’re the 1 in 8 couples in North America who struggle with infertility, you usually have to be rich to cover fertility treatments.
Though the ones who can with no effort, often do. And a lot of those perpetuate sad and damaging cycles.
Sorry. Personal pet peeve.
We were never a democracy…..we have always been a democratic republic. We are in no definition an oligarchy.
SO I’ve signed every GMO petition out there. The chemical companies and big food co’s are also putting so much money into combating transparency that it’s hard to beat.
Thank you for this information, I haven’t eaten at Macdonalds or any fast food place in years, nor do I wish to.
What’s the plan Vani?
Good question! The worst frustration is seeing homeless people who have no choice but GMO food usually, others who have lost their jobs and dont earn money or in transition and others who work by usually being on roadand have to travel to rural areas with only fast food choices.
Wondercwhich country i can escape to that has no GMO?
Isn’t rapeseed the same as canola? Canola is GMO, therefore, I am suspecting the UK MacDonalds is serving GMO through rapeseed. I’m not an expert, just wondering.
No, Rapeseed is not a GMO. Canola is a GMO produced by altering rapeseed. So Unless they alter rapeseed it’s non-GMO.
Neither is true.
Canola is the name for a type of low eruic acid rapeseed. Without that change, it’s really bitter, and high-eruic rapeseed is mainly used for animal feed.
The most prevalent cultivar of canola in North America today is GMO. However, original canola is not–it was bred in the 1970s in Canada. “Canola” vs. “rapeseed” is not, in itself, indicative of GMO status. The Manitoba breeders came up with the name “canola” (from “Canadian oil”) because “rapeseed” is a tough sell on bottles and to indicate that it’s palatable.
Now, the UK version will not be GMO, because it’s in Europe and the market demands it. But there’s organic, non-GMO canola sold in North America, as well. Generally speaking, unless it’s organic, you can assume that canola sold in north America is GMO and that European is not.
When the government here in UK proposed growing GMO rapeseed a few years ago there was strong opposition and I believe the experiment was abandoned ….. or at least I very much hope so!!
Yes we are getting the short end of the stick, but looking at the ingredients in the UK they aren’t too much better. I’m seeing a lot of natural and artificial flavors along with dextrose. None of these things are good for you, the best bet is to just stay away from them all and you will be much healthier.
I now live in Argentina and the government will not allow these mega corp. serve junk to the people, they must adhere to strict food standards or they will be thrown out of the country. I have yet to find any high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient in any products here.
I can’t eat at any US fast food ‘restaurants’. If I do, within 30-45 minutes, I need to make a 20 minute pit stop. My body literally does a ‘reboot’. I eat healthy, organic, fresh most of the time, and my body rebels even if I just have a McDonald’s shake. If people were used to eating healthy, their body would tell them. Unfortunately, Americans are addicted to sugar and artificial flavors (and chemicals) and their body doesn’t rebel until they have heart issues or diabetes. And unfortunately, they still don’t connect the dots! WAKE UP AMERICA!!
Thank you Food Babe for your dedication to a healthier America. You are a Godsend to us!!
It is extremely frustrating! Our government cares more about getting kickbacks from large corporations (like Monsanto) than it does WE THE PEOPLE. I’m so sick of fighting to have REAL FOOD but I’ll keep trying (by signing loads of petitions and speaking out)! There’s so much corruption… non ending… pitiful! Makes me so mad! Thank you for the work you do Vani!
That is because those kick back’s get politicians into office.
We need to change the system.
Vani does rock and so do people that share her site and lead people to the information she shares.
Just got news of this and wanted to share it:
Monsanto and their Big Food allies have dumped in over $8.15 MILLION this month to defeat GMO labeling in Colorado. And of that, almost $5 million came from Monsanto alone.
Monsanto and their allies know that 2014 will be a watershed year for GMO labeling initiatives – if we win in Colorado and Oregon, it will set off a tidal wave of labeling initiatives in 2016 and beyond. And that scares the big agrochemical companies that profit from selling pesticide-drenched GMO foods.
Anyone who would like to learn more about GMO’s should read Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey M Smith. It helped me understand just how long we’ve been getting duped in the US!
Vote the bastards out. Real simple. Everybody has to get off their butt and participate in the primaries and get the crooks off the ballot. Then we need term limits and a long list of other things. It could be fixed quite quickly if people cared/educated themselves/participated.
That’s just it! There’s so many of them bastards. We will keep on keeping on and not give up… My family and the future generations deserve non poisonous food on our plates!
Agreed! If we could just get ALL American’s to wake up! I share stuff all the time and no one seems interested much… but I sure wished they cared more.
Dear Vani,
My family and I are stationed in Germany. We can testify that the choices at McD’s is healthier here (we do not eat there very often!) My wife and I noticed that with the kids meals they offer fresh fruit or apple sauce, The wraps and the sandwiches come with real greens-Ricola and other mixed greens! I am not sure if you were aware but McD’s advertise where they source their beef and other ingredients (local EU)… I am glad you ran this article, we want to stay here for the sake of our two kids and our own health!
Europe doesn’t add sugar to their wines either the way US does. If a European wine maker ships wine to the states, they add sugar because, as I was told when touring many different wineries in France and Germany, Americans like their wine more sweet. I don’t. I’d prefer a wine from Europe without the added sugar. It’s all about the all mighty dollar in the US. I love this country but I wish it would take a stand on important issues banning food riddled with added chemicals, sugars, etc.
Although I have not done ‘fast food’ for years I am nevertheless very concerned how greedy USA food purveyors continue to be – what a blight on the face of America. Fortunately the food shoppers of America are exponentially becoming
more wise and will place their dollars where ‘healthy goods’ reside. Thanks for
one more expos’e Vani.
wow, this is interesting though not all that surprising given how companies operate in this country. Would it do any good to petition McD’s and other compaines??
I see that some big name companies are now offering supposed gluten free offerings in supermarkets, all be they often more expensive and seldom “on sale” like other similar products..
Perhaps if the fast food companies hear from enough people they might plan to improve at least a little…
I wish you were head of the food and drug administration!
Then it might actually start to protect us.
We WILL WIN this GMO labeling fight in the USA,..
Monsanto U R on your way down and out!
Ann… I’m with you they will go down
We place our vote for what we want to eat every time we order at any restaurant. If Americans continue to order junk the big bad food companies will continue to provide it. They clearly can’t sell what people refuse to buy.
So I think we all agree that the US government caters to corporations that lobby to them and fill their pockets, as opposed to the people who put these clowns in office in the first place. It’s safe to say that attempting to demand any kind of reform within government is a waste of time; none of us combined can write a check that big. So the only thing left to do is stop supporting these companies altogether. I don’t care if Subway took the yoga mats out of their bread or not, I’m not going in there for anything. I haven’t eaten fast food of any kind or soda in over six years, and never plan on going back. When enough people kill these business’s profits for good, not just temporarily because they claim they changed the ingredients, then we’ll see some change. Because you will have changed. Your efforts have to be focused on the choices you make for you and your familiar. Want fast food? Put some fruit and trail mix in a bag and be on your way. You want some foot long sub with all kinds stuff in it? Round up the rest of the family and make an activity out of making the thing yourself. At least you have more control as to what’s in it. And if you feel you don’t have time, eat accordingly. Prep your meals to cover a few days. Eat more raw fruits, veggies, simple meals that don’t take hours to prepare and clog up the sink with all kinds of dishes. Might sound easier said than done, but I do it, and it ain’t that hard. The hardest part is actually doing it after you say you’re going to. Plus it’s much easier than trying to force these idiots to do the right thing when they don’t get paid to.
I expect the clown I vote for to have at least the modicum of decency to care about their own children and grandchildren’s health and not become a political hack who says show me the money.
Integrity seems to be non existent at these high profile corporations but the funny thing is that the majority of the employees are just regular people trying to make a living
So that begs the question why don’t they care about their own children, future grandchildren and the planet?
In USA, all french fries are cooked in beef suet??? I didn’t fully understand that ingredient. If true, we will never ever buy again. Every so often we do. No longer. Totally disgusting. Mom’s best meal was fish sandwich, fries and coffee. Over and done. Ugh. Totally.
Beef Suet, all fries? Where did you hear that? Not even close! Maybe back in the 50’s to give some savory flavor, but if you actually pay attention to the nutritional facts listed in the restaurants, they use 100% vegetable oil!
Yes, McDonalds used to fry their fries in beef fat. Then they announced in 1990 that they were going to be using 100% veg oil so vegetarians started eating them, little did they know that they continued to use “natural flavor” in the fries in the U.S. The ‘natural flavor’ is beef flavoring. Once this was discovered they were sued:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-settles-beef-over-fries/
http://animalrights.about.com/b/2011/10/26/mcdonalds-french-fries-still-not-vegetarian.htm
No longer cooked in beef suet but beef flavor is added before they’re cooked in vegetable oil (in U.S. only I think, in other countries no beef flavoring is added).
Go. Vani! Don’t eat at fast food places but I do care about this GMO
Issue! We have to unite somehow to get this labeling issue settled.
How dare Monsanto and our FDA ignore this right of ours!
Infuriating! Maybe on change.org…do you know that website?
You can start a petition on there with your expertise people will
Follow….Please hurry!
Thank you, Lisa
My husband is from the UK and we frequent his parents in Brighton. I will actually eat Mc Donalds in the UK. They have so many healthy options, its unbelievable. The thing that annoys me most is that when I tell people how wonderful the food is in the UK, most people will say its because they are socialist with regulated food. I will be honest, I got an ice cream cone from a small vendor in England and my first bite i knew that was the first time i tried REAL ice cream. Tasted so good!
This is simply because the EU wants to protect its citizens, and the USA wants to protect its Corporations. Do not put this “stuff” in your body, it makes no sense to keep poisoning ourselves. Your actions will speak louder than anything else. If you stop consuming, they’ll be forced to change!
We need to pressure our government into protecting us like the EU does it’s citizens as far as safe and healthy food is concerned. Too bad our pols are more interested in lining their pockets than worrying about their constituents’ health.
Vani, I LOVE that you go after so many corporations & practices who do not have the public’s health as any sort of priority. I would also love to see you wield your power (WOW, it amazing what you’ve been able to get done!!) in the direction of GMO’s. As respected analyst, Nassim Nicholas Taleb has said There is no comparison between the tinkering of selective breeding and the top-down engineering of arbitrarily taking a gene from an organism and putting it into another.
The interdependence of all things in nature, Taleb points out, dramatically amplifies risks that may initially seem small when studied in isolation. Tiny genetic errors on the local scale could cause considerable—and even irreversible—environmental damage when the local is exported to the global. The lack of understanding of basic statistical principles, he says, is what leads GMO supporters astray.
So, for the interest in individuals & the planet, how about some REAL attention here.
thanks for all you do!
I only have one thing to say. The shakes at McDonald’s have actually gotten smaller. When I started 7 years ago we served a large shake in a 32 oz cup. Now they are served in a 22 oz cup. That’s all I have to say.
we need to get our government LOL to get this done overseas government tells our food company’s what is good and bad not us its all about the $$$$$$
It is low information voters in the USA that allow for things like GMO, etc to happen here. Allow more illegals into this country and the low information voters goes up even further.
Food Babe pushes education which is great. Problem is educated people or people who want to be educated is becoming more and more rare. As the schools teach people to become dependent on Gov’t from craddle to grave, these people assume the gov’t is looking out for them. The indoctrinated in our schools will only make food worse down the road. With 50 million people on food stamps, you have at least 50 million people who would believe food babe is trying to hurt government and them personally.
If you look at fast food and compare it to fast casual food, there is no real difference except perception. Yes there are a few standouts but overall fast casual food is just as unhealthy/dangerous. But boy oh boy do people think they are eating healthier. Again, lack of proper education.
As with everything else:
If you don’t want it, don’t buy it or eat it.
As a few others have noted….OUR WALLET is our BIGGEST VOTE..
+ along with signing countless Petitons, etc…’remind’ those RUNNING for any Political Office….about the URGENCY & IMPORTANCE of this ISSUE….
WE “VOTE” everytime we ‘open’ our WALLET…
The representative for my district responded to a petition I signed by reminding me that he is an organic farmer as well as a doctor of veterinary medicine, and in his opinion, there are no harms to be found in GE crops and that both kinds of agriculture can co-exist without any problems. Needless to say, I don’t need a post-a-note on my calendar to remember that come election day.
I’ve just changed computers and haven’t transferred my bookmarks yet, but there is a site that tracks how politicians vote and another that shows who they have taken contributions from. This one took $3,500 from Monsanto, not much compared to some, but any at all tells me everything I need to know. I’m sure anyone can find those 2 websites by googling.
Food Babe Your Knowledge gives us power ,to eat right !
We need to get the word out there. They are killing our children with all these chemicals! It’s no wonder why we have all theset illnesses. The government doesn’t care as long as the money keeps coming. It’s a sad issue
It is encouraging to see Vani undertaking the long over due task of exposing just how horrible the food ingredients are that we ingest daily. I am convinced that the medical systems particularly in the Western Hemisphere will virtually implode in the years to follow as they collapse from the damage done by sugar. Please keep up the great work as our only hope is through education and the will to collectively reform the food industry. It is imperative that each of us share this information and pressure the appropriate agencies. Vani — YOU GO GIRL !!!
May I please make a language comment? Please? Living things are healthy or not healthy. Food products are HEALTHFUL or not HEALTHFUL. I respectfully suggest that authors of food-related texts please use the correct language. ((Sorry, I was supposed to be an English professor when I grew up.))
Thank you Food Babe, you are awesome.
We do not eat out unless it’s a restaurant we trust….they must use organic ingredients. Needless to say, we don’t eat out much at all. I prefer to make meals from scratch from organic ingredients. We are lucky, as my husband works in a wonderful health food store and we can find everything we need there. It’s a damn shame that our government is so influenced by money that the People’s needs are ignored and big business is protected. Monsanto must be stopped.
Aloha; I am neither an advocate for, nor an opponent to, “organic” or GMO products. Your article assumes non-organic and GMO products are not as safe as “organic” and non-GMO products. I am curious, on what you base these assumptions ? Is there a difference between GMO products created by irradiation versus genetic splicing? Thank you.
As an organic livestock farmer I too have a difficult time getting a straight answer from wholesale grain outlets as to its origin. GMO wheat and corn have been found to cause unnatural organ development in livestock. I am staying far away from GMO products on my table and in my pens,stalls and pastures.
Just curious, do know if Australia is more like the UK or the USA? Would love to know if you have any info. Thanks!
Vani,
Thank you. Knowledge is power, but what can we as a collective start doing to affect a greater change. I certainly agree with and practice what you preach, but we need a serious revolution -NOW against these food manufacturers. Just saying food manufacturers seems wrong.
Let’s think how we can mobilize the masses to get heard and change the paradigm.
I don’t support fast food.
Sorry, not a GMO+fluoridated sheeple. Shop Local, Shop Organic.
In the USA we have the privilege to vote with our dollars. You wanna change what the restaurants sell? Then you have to stop buying their crap!
I am so mad at McDonald’s All the children that go through their pick up windows
Yes McDonald’s no wonder you donate and have us donate to your Ronald McDonald house for sick kids because you know you are helping to make our children sick.
You can not make your money for your family by harming other peoples families.
Where is your shame at giving children food jacked up with chemicals and then advertise to the parents safe healthy fast food for your hectic life a treat for you and your child
Its not alright to poison a treat even a once in a while treat cause we know some people eat here regularly.
This is not alright
Leave the Fed Government out of it! We the people have the power to change the restaurant food quality by our choice to purchase or not purchase. If people want it they will get it even if the Fed Gov outlaws it. Government is not the answer. Our choice is the answer.
If you are going to eat a doughnut at all, you gotta go with the best taste.
Krispy Kremes are perfect!!!
The reason that the EU can do this is that they GMO companies are owned , for the most part, by us citizens. Those citizens are the politicians. so why do you think they would vote to cut their own money out. The politicians are the primary stock holders of these companies
Money is power. The only way to control a politician is buy his but. Yeah I said it. right left male female black or white the politicians only answer to the people that bribe them.
As Americans you have a choice of not buying the product. Competition is the only thing that changes a business. You can blame politicians but at the end of the day, the Americans still buy the goods.
If anyone is truly concerned about their health, they don’t eat fast food. Shouldn’t matter if it’s “better” in another country or not, it’s still unhealthy.
Vani, This is crazy stuff, can’t believe this. Thanks for sharing this info!
Evgenia.
Yes, the American food supply is disgusting. It’s poison.
I’ve given some thought to how to change the government, but the only way I see to win is fight money with money. People who care about our food supply, lands, country need to buy our own politicians to change the laws. But not just the laws about food, they need to change the way government works. Only then can we do what is right vs. what is cost effective.
The FDA thinks that “fruit like flavor” is Ok to use.
If you say it fast it sounds like “fruit flavor.”
I used to a copy writer and even we knew how to confuse the public.
“Stop It, You Are Killing me” great title for a book about the fast food industry.
Neal
Thank You and Bless you for ALL that you do and share with us! Blessings!