Giveaway Opportunity 1: Want to win Baked Fries? Gratitude Gourmet has a Giveaway available for 2 winners! We are giving away 2 Packages with 4 flavors each. Just place a note on this Facebook post that you want to win this product. Enter Here. Giveaway Opportunity 2: Do you have a favorite Berry Recipe, be it breakfast, dessert, cocktail etc? If so, please share it on Facebook. The 5 most creative recipes win a Berry Bible! Enter Here on The Berry Bible Facebook Post. Enter soon to have a chance to win! Otarian Restaurant I believe you all know that I'm a Stakeholder Advisory Group Member of WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol which has been developing a new standard for product and supply chain GHG accounting and reporting, and what sparked me to start Gratitude Gourmet was the UN Climate Change Report stating Animal Agriculture casuses 18% Greenhouse Gas Emissions which is more than transportation. Over the past years, I have provided input to the WRI/WBCSD Protocol about the importance of including food and agriculture data into the standards. I've just heard some good news that Otarian Restaurant, a sustainable and vegetarian restaurant in New York City, uses WRI's Greenhouse Gas Protocol. You can read the full article here. President Bill Clinton is working to stay healthy for his potential grandchildren using a low-cholesterol, vegetarian diet. You can read the article and see the video here. The first ever Vegan Fashion Show to hit the streets of SF will be part of the 11th World Vegetarian Festival on October 2 starting at 4:45PM. The event will be emceed by Rory Freedman and is free with $7 admission to the festival.
The festival is taking place in the County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park (1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94122). In an Exclusive Interview with Farm Sanctuary, 2010 Walk for Farm Animals Spokesperson Bob Harper Proclaims “…we can no longer have blinders on...” On “The Biggest Loser,” celebrity trainer Bob Harper helps people lose weight and break the bad habits that are holding them back. But as the first-ever celebrity spokesperson for the Walk for Farm Animals, a national event to celebrate and promote compassion for farm animals and raise money to support the lifesaving rescue, education and advocacy work of Farm Sanctuary, he has become the biggest gainer for farm animals. Thanks in part to his star-power, the annual event has gained a record-breaking 78 participating cities across the U.S. and Canada (up 10 from last year) and a steadily growing list of registrants (nearly double last year’s participants), making the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals the largest organized North American event for farm animals in history. With eight Walks already down in Michigan, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Missouri, Delaware, New Jersey, Tennessee and Florida, and 70 more still to go throughout the remainder of September and October (including a virtual “No Walk” Walk), the 2010 Walk is proof that the cruel treatment of animals raised for food has become an issue of national concern. This year’s addition of Harper as celebrity spokesperson, a first in the event’s nearly 25 year history, further demonstrates the mainstreaming of a movement that began in large part with the factory farm investigations and legal reforms initiated by Farm Sanctuary’s President and Co-Founder Gene Baur. “The astounding growth of the Walk for Farm Animals is an encouraging sign that we are getting closer to the day when agribusiness’ treatment of living, breathing animals like unfeeling machinery is a thing of the past,” said Baur. “Through the vast resources of the Internet, undercover investigations, public education campaigns and popular films like ‘Food Inc.,’ people are learning in record numbers about the intolerable abuse, neglect and confinement endured by billions of animals raised for food on factory farms throughout North America, and they are increasingly rejecting these abhorrent practices in favor of mercy and compassion. No one likes cruelty to animals and the Walk provides a terrific opportunity to spread a message of hope for farm animals in your own hometown.” Farm Sanctuary recently sat down with Harper on the set of “The Biggest Loser” in Los Angeles, where he credited the Walk with “getting people to think” and for initiating a “conversation that sparks change.” Here are highlights from Farm Sanctuary’s exclusive interview with Bob Harper: On getting involved with Farm Sanctuary and the Walk for Farm Animals: “Well, I’ve got to tell you, when I was first approached about Farm Sanctuary, I was very, very excited. I knew that this was going to be a movement that I wanted to be a part of. It just all made sense to me. The lifestyle I live right now, my history, where I’ve grown up – so me being able to be a part of Farm Sanctuary is like having a badge of honor. I wanted to be able to talk about what I know and be a part of an organization that I believe so wholeheartedly in.” On going vegan: “It was actually pretty seamless. I was on vacation a couple of years ago and a friend of mine gave me a book called Skinny Bitch, and that started the ball rolling. But it wasn’t until I read T. Colin Campbell’s The China Study that my life absolutely changed. And bringing in the connection of ‘you are what you eat,’ that old adage our mothers have always taught us, it just started to make even more sense.” On how his life has changed since going vegan: “Well, it’s interesting because one thing I’ve really been able to do is talk to so many people about what they eat and their diet, for lack of a better word. I’ve worked with overweight Americans for such a long time and it’s about a stepping process … every day is a step because I get people I’ve worked with before saying to me now “What? Are you just going to take out all my meat and dairy?” I want to say “yes” immediately, but I know it’s about getting them to take steps. It’s a process for all of us, but I just get very excited about the platform I’ve been given and the information I now have to give out.” On myths about vegan nutrition: “I’ve really had to do my homework because my work is all about informing people and giving them the right information. One thing that I’ve realized is that, yes, our bodies need protein, but we don’t need as much as all these websites out there tell us that we do. And there are definitely ways to get all your nutrients within a plant-based diet.” On how growing up on a cattle farm in Tennessee shaped the way he views farm animals: “I have to tell you that because I grew up on this cattle farm it was just the way of life then. On the farm I grew up on the cows were treated relatively respectfully. They had pastures, they lived a good quality of life, of course until their death. To me there was more compassion back then because now … the thing that really pains me … is that these factory farms are just treating these animals like they’re light fixtures, like they’re not real and don’t have blood running through them. It’s just shocking to me.” On the egregious abuses of modern farming: “Well, I think the biggest thing is that animals are treated like they are not real. But these animals have emotions; they can be afraid; they can be happy. It’s like people tend to forget about that and that scares me when I think about slaughterhouses and what goes on in these places. When I started getting more and more informed about farm animals and how they were treated it made me feel like I needed to do whatever I could to help.” On how people can make a difference for farm animals in their daily lives: “They need to get involved, get informed and get their voices heard. To me, that is the number one step. One thing I tell people all the time when it comes to going to the grocery store, it’s like you are making a vote. Everything you get is a vote … it’s all about the foods you are eating. And I think you got to know what is going on out there … because we can no longer have blinders on; we can no longer just think ‘okay, well it doesn’t affect me,’ because these issues affect us all.” The full interview can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/farmsanctuary1#p/a/f/1/UaNM40MDjhM Bob Harper’s PSA for the Walk for Farm Animals can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/farmsanctuary1#p/a/u/0/Uux88tB1D18 In July, when Harper was first named national Walk spokesperson, he spoke about the added health benefits of farm animal advocacy. “Getting and staying physically fit is a lot easier when you have a powerful motivation, and I can’t think of a better reason to get moving this fall than to raise vital funds and awareness for farm animals,” said Harper, who states that since he adopted a plant-based diet he has felt “more clear headed and strong” and that his genetically high cholesterol dropped more than 100 points. “When I think about the billions of sensitive, intelligent beings who are confined and mistreated on factory farms to produce foods linked with obesity, heart disease, cancer, and stroke — that is all the motivation I need to make healthier, more conscientious choices. I am honored to be the national spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals.” Participating Walk cities are: Albany, NY; Amsterdam, NY; Ann Arbor, MI; Asheville, NC; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Bangor, PA; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Calgary, AB; Cape Cod, MA; Charleston, SC; Charlotte, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Chicago, IL; Chico, CA; Cincinnati, OH; Claremont, CA; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Door County, WI; Durham, NC; Fort Wayne, IN; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Glasgow, DE; Halifax, NS; Hartford, CT; Ithaca, NY; Jacksonville, FL; Johnston, RI; Kalamazoo, MI; Kansas City, MO; Kingston, ON; Lancaster, PA; Lisbon, CT; Long Beach, CA; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; North Augusta, SC; Northport, NY; New York City, NY; Orlando, FL; Ottawa, ON; Palm Springs, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, ME; Portland, OR; Princeton, NJ; Rehoboth Beach, DE; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; Sacramento, CA; San Antonio, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; Santa Monica, CA; Sarasota, FL; Seattle, WA; State College, PA; St. Catharines, ON; St. Louis, MO; Syracuse, NY; Tampa, FL; Toronto, ON; Truckee, CA; Tulsa, OK; Vancouver, BC; Ventura, CA; Washington DC, Wichita Falls, TX; Wilmington, NC; Youngstown, OH. The 2010 Walk for Farm Animals is sponsored nationally by Boston Baked Bonz, a unique company of imaginative artisan/bakers offering tasty and healthy baked goodies and gift baskets for the wonderful doggies that share and enrich our lives. To learn more about the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals and register for the Walk nearest you, please visit walkforfarmanimals.org. Per PCRM:
"The lawsuit seeks to compel McDonald’s and other chains to post warnings in California restaurants about the cancer risk of grilled chicken. The fast-food chains will now face trial for selling products containing PhIP, one of a group of carcinogens found in grilled meat. The lawsuit was filed under California’s Proposition 65, which states that consumers must be warned about products that contain known carcinogens. The National Institutes of Health, the state of California, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all identified PhIP as carcinogenic. The lawsuit is based on tests that found PhIP in 100 grilled chicken samples from McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, Outback Steakhouse, Burger King, and Applebee’s. The findings, compiled from independent laboratory tests commissioned by PCRM scientists, were published in the September 2008 issue of Nutrition and Cancer." Read PCRM's full article here. Credit: PCRM Here's an interesting development regarding PCRM and the FDA and the recent Diabetes drug Avandia. PCRM is suing the FDA. Specifically: "The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, targets Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D., for failing to act on a PCRM administrative petition. The petition urges the FDA to require that diabetes drugs carry warning labels telling patients that low-fat plant-based diets can effectively treat type 2 diabetes without dangerous side effects associated with oral medications." "A 2006 study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that a low-fat plant-based diet was as effective as oral medications at reducing blood glucose and cholesterol in people with diabetes. In July, other researchers unveiled data linking Avandia to life-threatening side effects that might have killed or injured tens of thousands of people. Following these findings, the FDA took expert and public testimony on Avandia at a special joint meeting of two advisory panels." “A plant-based diet is as effective as drugs for lowering blood sugar, and much more effective for trimming body weight,” says PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D. “Doctors and patients need the facts.” You can read the full article here. Event: All About Honey Bees
Saturday, September 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Free Berryessa Library, 3355 Nobel Avenue, San Jose, 95132, Directions Join Master Gardener Nella Henninger and beekeeper Alan Henninger for a talk on honey bees. Learn all about honey bees, the benefits of attracting them to your garden, and how to protect this precious resource. September 21 is United Nations International Day of Peace. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says, "Peace is my main job. Peace doesn’t just happen – it must be nurtured, maintained and defended. I work for peace in many different ways: I mediate between antagonists, urging them to resolve their differences peacefully; I promote tolerance and harmonious relations among countries and peoples; I campaign to stem the tide of deadly disease; and I press for the elimination of extreme poverty, and for a natural environment that can sustain not only this generation, but those to come. There are many tools in the peacemaker’s kit – diplomacy and human rights; development and disarmament; peacekeeping and peacebuilding – and I use them every single day. One of the purposes of Gratitude Gourmet is to promote Peace in our food systems. People, Animals, and Nature should not suffer in our food systems..food systems should be peaceful and well-planned in order to avoid problems. What are you doing for Peace? More information on the UN International Day for Peace is here. You may be well aware of the declining Shark populations, especially due to the increasing demand for Shark Fin soup. A team of U.S. scientists and environmentalists met with Cuban officials this week to discuss a proposed alliance, including Mexico, to protect the Gulf of Mexico's declining shark population. If you see a restaurant serving Shark Fin Soup, PLEASE talk to the owner and ask them to take it off the menu.
You can read more about the U.S. and Cuba Alliance discussions here. Press Release: Coalition Demands FDA Deny Approval of First Genetically Engineered Food Animal9/19/2010
Hi Everyone, As you may know, Gratitude Gourmet features Food Policy information to inform readers on the latest news in this area. Here's a new Press Release on GE Salmon for your records. JOINT PRESS STATEMENT (see 31 participating organizations below)FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2010 Contacts: Marianne Cufone, Food and Water Watch: 202-683-2511 George Kimbrell, Center for Food Safety: 571-527-8618 Jaydee Hanson, Center for Food Safety: 202-547-9359 (w); 703-231-5956 (c) Niaz Dorry, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance: 508-982-3748 Jonathon Rosenfield, PhD, SalmonAID Foundation: 510-684-4757 COALITION DEMANDS FDA DENY APPROVAL OF CONTROVERSIAL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FISH FDA Considers Approval of GE Salmon--the First GE Food Animal--Yet Fails to Inform the Public of Environmental and Economic Risks Washington, DC August 27, 2010 – AA coalition of 31 consumer, animal welfare and environmental groups, along with commercial and recreational fisheries associations and food retailers submitted a joint statement criticizing an announcement this week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it will potentially approve the long-shelved AquAdvantage transgenic salmon as the first genetically engineered (GE) animal intended for human consumption. The engineered Atlantic salmon being considered was developed by AquaBounty Technologies, which artificially combined growth hormone genes from an unrelated Pacific salmon, (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) with DNA from the anti-freeze genes of an eelpout (Zoarces americanus). This modification causes production of growth-hormone year-round, creating a fish the company claims grows at twice the normal rate. This could allow factory fish farms to crowd fish into pens and still get high production rates.Each year millions of farmed salmon escape from open-water net pens, outcompeting wild populations for resources and straining ecosystems. “We believe any approval of GE salmon would represent a serious threat to the survival of native salmon populations, many of which have already suffered severe declines related to salmon farms and other man-made impacts,” Marianne Cufone, director of Food and Water Watch’s fish program said. If the FDA opens this door, GE fish will likely be among the millions of salmon that currently escape from open ocean pens every year. This could be the last blow to wild salmon stocks and in turn the thousands of men and women who depend on fishing for their livelihoods. “Approving genetically engineered salmon is a sharp contradiction to the agreements the United States has signed at NASCO, where transgenic salmonids are considered a serious threat to wild salmon” said Boyce Thorne Miller, Science and Policy Coordinator for the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and accredited observer at the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. Escaped GE salmon can pose an additional threat – genetic pollution resulting from what scientists call the “Trojan gene” effect.” Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences notes that a release of just sixty GE salmon into a wild population of 60,000 would lead to the extinction of the wild population in less than 40 generations.Anticipating the stark danger to our fisheries and ocean environments - and trying to circumvent analyses of those dangers - AquaBounty has claimed that they will only raise their fish in land-based facilities. However most salmon farmers in the real world ply their trade in low-lying coastal areas and competing corporations will no doubt race to produce GE fish in crowded open ocean facilities already in use for fish production. Backsliding on its original claims, reports have circulated that AquaBounty may only suggest producers raise GE fish in “inland waters” – presenting novel threats to our nation’s lakes, rivers, and estuaries – many of which are already under attack by invasive fish species like the Asian carp and Northern snakehead.“FDA’s decision to go ahead with this approval process is misguided and dangerous, and is made worse by its complete lack of data to review” said Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director for the Center for Food Safety. “FDA has been sitting on this application for 10 years and yet it has chosen not to disclose any data about its decision until just a few days before the public meeting.”On Wednesday, FDA officials announced that they had begun the approval process for the engineered salmon and have scheduled public meetings beginning Sunday, September 19. Speakers wishing to present oral comments are expected to submit their requests in writing by September 7th; one day after the FDA has said it may post “some” of the data to its website. “This is not a process that leads to full and informed public participation,” said Charles Margulis, Sustainable Food Program Coordinator for the Center for Environmental Health.FDA announced the same day that it will hold a public comment period and a hearing on labeling for the transgenic salmon, which seems to presuppose that the controversial GE fish will be approved. If the GE fish is approved, Agency officials are undecided as to whether they will require any product labeling. “We all know there is a great appetite for salmon, but the solution is not to ‘farm’ genetically engineered versions to put more on our dinner tables; the solution is to work to bring our wild salmon populations back” said Jonathan Rosenfield, PhD, a Conservation Biologist and President of the SalmonAID Foundation, a 28-member coalition of commercial, tribal, and sportfishing interests, conservation organizations and chefs. “The approval of these transgenic fish will only exacerbate the problems facing our wild fisheries.” CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY – FOOD AND WATER WATCH – SALMONAID – NORTHWEST ATLANTIC MARINE ALLIANCE - ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION – FRIENDS OF THE EARTH – THE LIVING OCEANS SOCIETY – SMALL BOAT COMMERCIAL SALMON FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION – THE GEORGIA STRAIT ALLIANCE – CALIFORNIANS FOR GE-FREE AGRICULTURE – THE ORGANIC & NON-GMO REPORT – PLANETARY HEALTH, INC. – SIERRA CLUB – SAY NO TO GMOS! – CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH – CANADIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY ACTION NETWORK – INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES RESOURCES – AMERICAN ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY – PACIFIC COAST FEDERATION OF FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION – MANGROVE ACTION PROJECT – FOOD FIRST / INSTITUTE FOR FOOD AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY – EDEN FOODS, INC. – THE NON-GMO PROJECT – NORTHWEST RESISTANCE AGAINST GENETIC ENGINEERING – PCC NATURAL MARKETS – AMBERWAVES – GLOUSTER FISHERMEN’S WIVES ASSOCIATION – FRESH THE MOVIE – WASHINGTON BIOTECHNOLOGY ACTION COUNCIL – OREGON PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY A recent University of Toronto Study provides the first long-term evidence of a downward trend in bee pollination, while also pointing to climate change as a possible contributor. See the full article here.
Credit: World Veg Festival Join me in attending the Saturday and Sunday October 2 and 3 San Francisco Vegetarian Society WORLD VEG FESTIVAL, commemorating World Vegetarian Day, taking place in the San Francisco County Fair Building, located at the Lincoln and 9th Avenue entrance to Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. This Award Winning Festival celebrates its 11th year with an action packed weekend of very informative lectures by the movers and shakers of the vegetarian movement plus creative vegan cooking demos; international cuisine to sample or buy; vegan friendly merchandise; a Children’s Corner; Veggie Speed Dating; a Vegan Fashion Show; and a variety of world entertainers. Some of the outstanding speakers are John Robbins, Jeffrey Masson, Rory Freedman, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Michael Greger , Dr. Michael Klaper, Dr. Milton Mills, Dr. Anteneh Roba, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, & more! DATE: Saturday & Sunday, October 2 & 3, 2010 TIME: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. PLACE: San Francisco County Fair Building, Lincoln & 9th Avenue entrance to Golden Gate Park COST: $7 suggested donation; FREE to children, students & seniors with ID. SCHEDULE: http://www.sfvs.org/wvd/schedule.php I hope to see you there! I try to buy Fair Trade coffee and chocolate whenever possible...OK, now you know some of my favorite treats. If you're a fan of Fair Trade and/or want to learn more about it, check out the "Every Party Matters" Fair Trade Month Kickoff Party Wednesday, September 29 at the Temple Nightclub San Francisco! Gratitude Gourmet is giving away 2 VIP Passes to the Event. Just place a note on Facebook on why you should win, and make sure to be creative! Enter today! Chloe Coscarelli Chef Chloe wins the increasingly popular Food Network 'Cupcake Wars', and the news-breaking part is that all her creations were vegan! All her winning recipes are here for reference. The names sound delicious in themselves! Enjoy, and thanks Chloe! Raspberry Tiramisu Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake Chocolate Orange Cupcake Mango Masala Panini Credit Jenn Farrington The Fourth Annual San Francisco Cocktail Week is September 21-27, and it's hosted by Barbary Coast Conservancy of the American Cocktail (BCCAC) which was founded in order to preserve the cultural heritage of saloons and their cocktails in San Francisco. Of particular interest is the Cocktail Carnival Gala Co-Presented by The Bon Vivants is on Saturday, September 25 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The historic Old Mint is the setting for San Fracisco Cocktail Week's Gala Event, a decadent Barbary Coast-Era Cocktail Carnival. Set to the backdrop of antique punch bowls, “carnival curiosities,” and the raucous horns of the renowned Brass Mafia, The Bon Vivants are joined by bartenders from Smuggler’s Cove, Elixir, Cantina, 15 Romolo, The Alembic - and star chefs Chris L’Hommedieu (Restaurant Michael Mina) and William Werner (Tell Tale Preserve Co.) - in presenting a darkly entertaining, delicious, and memorable evening. “Whimsical” attire is recommended. $95 per person (Ticket includes punch, hors d’oeuvres and dessert) Address: San Francisco’s Old Mint, 88 Fifth St. at Mission St. Check out the full schedule and ticket information here. Saturday, September 18, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Free
Sunnyvale Teaching and Demo Garden, Charles Street Community Gardens, 433 Charles St., Sunnyvale, Directions You can grow many varieties of garlic in our area and now is the time to get ready for planting. Garlic is planted in mid- to late-fall here and harvested in June. Come learn how to successfully add this wonderful vegetable to your garden. Recent data indicates that at least 40 million Americans are lactose intolerant, and many others have reduced or eliminated their dairy intake for religious, philosophical, health or ethical reasons.Now through September 30, Oregon-based natural foods company Turtle Mountain, a pioneer in the creation and production of natural dairy-free products, has teamed up with Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, to ensure that every creamy, delicious sip will go even further toward ending the abuse of farm animals by donating $1.00 (up to $5,000) to the nonprofit organization for every UPC that is cut out and sent to them from any flavor of So Delicious™ Dairy Free Coconut Milk.
Every day, thousands of animals are experimented on and killed to create and test drugs, many of which will never help a sick human being. That’s why PCRM and an international coalition of scientists, doctors, and animal-protection organizations filed the Mandatory Alternatives Petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The petition asks the FDA to mandate the use of validated nonanimal testing methods, when those alternatives exist, to create safer drugs for American consumers.Contact the FDA today via this Petition.
We all know the mantra, "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away". This month's Self Magazine (September 2010) mentions that Apples contain malic acid and when you freeze apple juice in cubes, the chill of the cube shrinks bags, and the juice exfoliates! Who knew!? If you know other ways Apples benefit, please comment on this post.
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