Today shoppers have more than 47,000 products to choose from. Sepehr Behnamifar / Unsplash
By Gwen Ranniger
The grocery store is a wonderful place: thousands of ingredients and products at your fingertips available to combine, cook, and eat. However, that choice can be overwhelming: while shoppers in the 1970s chose from a mere 9,000 products, shoppers today choose from more than 47,000.
<p>Selecting food that is clean and healthy for you and your family can be daunting, so we've put together 10 tips for cleaner grocery shopping that will help to navigate your options.</p><blockquote><em>We're defining clean here as products devoid of pesticides, additives or preservatives, and packaging by-products.</em></blockquote><h3>1. Your Most General Rule of Thumb: Try to Select the Bulk of Your Groceries From the Outside Perimeter of Your Grocery Store</h3>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NDAwNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2ODA0NTYzOX0._7qvjx5gRCpJ8WFNCjgYv54TZimarSwXYy5pU_8qZHA/img.jpg?width=980" id="a8d57" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f0abf26589256b96506d2b92e51c235b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Most stores line the walls with the simplest of products: produce, the butcher, the bakery, dairy, etc. Aisles in the middle contain most of the processed foods that generally have additives and preservatives it's better to avoid.</p><p>Now, there are caveats to this rule. For example, the bakery often also has items such as highly-refined cakes and cookies that are by no means beneficial to your health, and the dairy section provides a hearty supply of artificially flavored and sweetened creamers. You can find unhealthy products in every department, but <strong>the departments around the perimeter of the store contain the most whole, simple ingredients.</strong></p><h3>2. Buy Local</h3>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NDAzMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjMxNzU1OH0.tdzXLm8RlhzCK5qGkO2HJ3au-yFgiIlWLqdTccINZb4/img.jpg?width=980" id="d80fe" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cabe2fc5d0a3ee550e6ffa6beb08912e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>First and foremost, buy local. This can be anything from the weekly farmer's market to a local bakery to local ingredients sourced by your grocery store. Smaller businesses are more likely to use safer practices when cultivating their goods.</p><p>Buying local also reduces your carbon footprint. Imported ingredients contribute to fuel consumption and air pollution as they're flown in from overseas or driven across the country in a semi-truck. Local produce is fresher, often cleaner, and require less waste to get to you.</p><h3>3. Buy Organic</h3>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NDA0MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDc3MDM1MH0.KPn7hFUH42JNGFiF6H6kKSMWcCGB_ccK8YkGFPXFOt0/img.jpg?width=980" id="9dd4e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="41dd2b7d965cac74746490a5e284dd45" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Purchase organic food when possible, as it's grown without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, etc. Particularly pay attention to the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhs79BRD0ARIsAC6XpaW0WqPhU_wcIxssa9m3a2CRUtuw4mwCNbCEbInU-zVjLLv9OR-TmUUaArq-EALw_wcB" target="_blank">EWG's "Dirty Dozen"</a> - the produce with the most pesticide residue.</p><ul><li>This year's list includes strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, and potatoes.</li></ul><p>If your budget doesn't allow for all things organic, don't sweat it: it's better to gain the nutrients of produce, organic or not, than to go without.</p><h3>4. Consider Frozen</h3>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NDA5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDUyMzU4M30.hLrXkfjFDyU4pzEA7m4rGosRl3sbjD-xzTnD0BDnnQY/img.jpg?width=980" id="537ea" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="890ddb8c602cf871325749894ea5adc7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Frozen foods get a bit of a bad reputation, but many companies have stepped up their game and you can find a variety of nutritious options in the frozen section.</p><p>If the fresh produce doesn't look good, opt for frozen fruits and vegetables: they're flash-frozen right after picking so often they are more fresh than the "fresh" produce, depending on where you live.</p><h3>5. Try to Stick to "Whole" Ingredients</h3>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NDA5Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzAyMjI1Nn0.0tWuEH7HpUhsvFOl_yG-GGQZ-A4VRYyVN5NEyfb13bw/img.jpg?width=980" id="7a224" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fd06e8c541d8d53f7025554fd3d5db92" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>An easy way to eat cleanly is to eat simply. Shopping the perimeter of the store will already introduce you to many unprocessed foods - but the interior aisles have options too. Flour, nuts, dried fruits, beans and rice are all examples of whole foods.</p><p>The biggest thing? Check the ingredients list. The simpler the ingredients, the better. If you don't recognize or can hardly read the ingredients, do without.</p><h3>A Few More Tips:</h3>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NDEwNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODk0OTI5NH0.gmH861vkGoMiJoGro_QGDJu0sMc93vm-L64pSg3G4uA/img.jpg?width=980" id="4ec5b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9e02d36c7f2e3401a681a8151ed90077" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Bruce/flickr
<ul><li><strong>Go in with a list.</strong> Studies have shown that entering the store with a set list of items to purchase reduces impulse purchases - most of which happen in the candy, cookies, and chips section.</li><li><strong>Bring reusable bags.</strong> Clean grocery shopping is not only what you buy, but also what you carry your groceries home in. Single-use plastic bags are unsustainable and end up littering our environment and clogging waterways. Many European countries have banned them, with some U.S. cities and states beginning to follow suit. If you don't already, bring bags from home. It is an easy transition to reduce your waste (and those bags carry so much more, anyways!)</li><li>Online grocery shopping continues to grow in popularity as the pandemic drags on. You can follow these same steps while shopping online - products should be clearly labeled and <strong>many stores even have filters that allow you to narrow down your search to only organic products.</strong></li><li><strong>Reduce consumption of canned goods.</strong> While many canned goods, especially fruits and vegetables, do not contain many ingredients, they contain a harmful by-product from their packaging: BPA. <a href="https://www.ehn.org/bpa-pollution-2645493129.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Check out our guide to BPA to learn more.</a></li><li>If possible, <strong>buy in bulk.</strong> Bulk purchases often save you money in terms of price per ounce, and reduce packaging waste. Be smart about what you bulk-buy - make sure that the item won't go bad before you get around to using it, and that you have room for the bulk items back at home.</li></ul>
<h3>The Bottom Line</h3><p>The food we eat is a huge indicator of our health. Eating cleanly and simply, exposing your body to as few toxic pollutants as possible, will benefit your wellbeing. <strong>Be flexible</strong>; sometimes the only option may be non-organic or in the frozen section. Pick and choose what works for you and your budget, and know that every step toward eating cleanly is a step in the right direction.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://www.ehn.org/clean-grocery-shopping-guide-2648563801.html" target="_blank">Environmental Health News</a>.</em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2648980560#/" target="_self"></a></p>From Your Site Articles
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An aerial view from a drone shows an auger cart being used to transfer soybeans to a transport truck in a field at the Bardole & Son's Ltd farm on October 14, 2019 in Rippey, Iowa. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
By Scott Faber
The staggering number of food and farm workers who have died from Covid-19 has laid bare the Trump administration's disastrous policies on food and farm issues.
<p>President Trump's failure to provide these workers with protections from the coronavirus was the latest bad decision that made our food and the people who produce it less safe, increased hunger, increased the health care costs caused by poor diets and the pollution caused by farms, and made it harder for all Americans to decide how to feed their families.</p>
<p>Now President-elect Biden has a chance to change course. Here's what should be on the menu.</p><p>First, Biden should make it a <a href="https://frac.org/news/frac-congratulates-presidentelectbiden" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">priority to end hunger</a>. As a result of the pandemic, millions more are <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/05/06/the-covid-19-crisis-has-already-left-too-many-children-hungry-in-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">facing hunger</a>, including one in five children.</p><p>The Trump administration has actually been undermining programs to alleviate hunger. Last year, the Department of Agriculture proposed to kick nearly <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/12/trump-snap-food-stamps-cuts/603367/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">700,000</a> people out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as well as implementing <a href="https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/targeting-snap-expanded-public-charge-rule-could-worsen-food-insecurity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">other rules</a> designed to reduce participation in the program, commonly known as food stamps. Just weeks before the election, the administration went to court to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/26/trump-blocks-pandemic-food-aid-432560" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">block pandemic food aid</a> for the poor.</p><p>Biden has <a href="https://joebiden.com/joe-biden-urges-donald-trump-to-address-hunger-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pledged</a> to increase the standard SNAP benefit by 15 percent, <a href="https://joebiden.com/covid19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">supports</a> free school meals and wants to <a href="https://joebiden.com/covid19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rescind</a> rules that limit participation in anti-hunger programs. But increasing SNAP benefits and participation alone will not end hunger. A Biden administration must also address income and housing challenges.</p><p>Second, Biden should make it a priority to protect food and farm workers from Covid-19. According to the Food and Environmental Reporting Network, at least <a href="https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">72,000</a> of these workers have gotten sick and <a href="https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">327</a> have died.</p><p>Biden has <a href="https://people.com/politics/joe-biden-says-no-workers-life-is-worth-me-getting-a-cheaper-hamburger/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>, "[N]o worker's life is worth me getting a cheaper hamburger," and <a href="https://joebiden.com/empowerworkers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pledged</a> to support policies that protect workers from Covid-19, expand their ability to organize, and provide a $15 minimum wage. To make good on his pledge to protect workers threatened by Covid-19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, must quickly require basic personal protections for workers, boost enforcement and ensure that workers have safe housing and transportation. When food and farm workers get sick from Covid-19, they should receive sick pay so they can stay home. And when they take risks to keep us fed, those risks should be rewarded through premium pay.</p><p>Third, Biden should make it a priority to support healthy diets.</p><p>Poor diet is now the <a href="https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/why-good-nutrition-important" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">leading cause of Americans' death</a>, and obesity rates <a href="https://sites.tufts.edu/foodnutritionandhealth2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">continue to climb</a>, increasing <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/economic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">health care costs</a>. The diseases caused by poor diets – such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease – have <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2021264" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">significantly increased</a> the risks posed by Covid-19.</p><p>As a candidate, Biden has not had much to say about diet. But <a href="https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/report/reset-the-table-meeting-the-moment-to-transform-the-u-s-food-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">food leaders</a> have had a lot to say about <a href="https://www.tfah.org/report-details/state-of-obesity-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">steps</a> we can take to support healthy diets. And Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has been an outspoken supporter of <a href="https://www.cnsnews.com/article/national/susan-jones/harris-would-change-dietary-guidelines-food-labels-discourage-red-meat" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">food policy reforms</a> designed to improve our health. For starters, a Biden-Harris administration should immediately restore tough standards for food sold in schools.</p><p>Fourth, Biden should revamp Trump's farmer bailout programs to help farmers in real need and restore rules that ensure a farmer gets a fair price.</p><p>Trump's policies have been a disaster for farmers. His <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/making-sense/what-is-the-toll-of-trade-wars-on-u-s-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">trade war</a> closed markets that had taken decades to open. His <a href="https://foodpolicyaction.org/will-congress-repeat-the-mistakes-of-trumps-farmer-bailout/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bailouts</a> have favored the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/agmag/2020/10/get-big-or-get-out-how-trump-s-farm-bailouts-are-fueling-farm-consolidation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wealthiest farmers</a> at the expense of family farms, and rules designed to ensure that farmers get a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/14/trump-usda-meatpacking-proposal-098352" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fair price</a> have been shelved. His inhumane immigration policies have created <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/nyregion/ny-farmers-undocumented-workers-trump-immigration.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">labor shortages</a> that have harmed both farmers and food manufacturers.</p><p>The modest tweaks to ethanol programs Biden has proposed won't make a difference to most farmers. His agriculture secretary must rescind and rewrite the rules for the USDA's Covid-19 response programs to help farmers facing economic ruin and reform other farm subsidy programs to level the playing field for family farmers.</p><p>But that's not all. President-elect Biden should also make good on his<a href="https://joebiden.com/rural-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> plan</a> to address long-standing and ongoing discrimination against Black farmers. Farm subsidy reform alone will not be enough to address the <a href="https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/equity-farmers-of-color" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">long legacy of racial discrimination</a> in farm programs. We must also transform the culture at the USDA, provide land and credit to Black farmers and lift the veil of secrecy that hides the <a href="https://civileats.com/2020/07/03/op-ed-the-farm-bureau-says-it-wants-to-fight-racism-heres-where-to-start/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">racial makeup</a> of farm subsidies.</p><p>Fifth, Biden should make it a priority to keep our food safe.</p><p>Contaminated food kills more than <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/cdc-and-food-safety.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3,000 Americans</a> a year, and a recent <a href="https://www.gao.gov/key_issues/food_safety/issue_summary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">audit</a> shows no progress is being made to reduce foodborne illness. But Trump's Department of Agriculture <a href="https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/research/safe-food-coalition-comments-to-usda-on-its-proposal-to-eliminate-hog-carcass-cleaning-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eliminated</a> a requirement to clean hog carcasses, <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/attacks-on-science/usda-increases-line-speeds-endangering-poultry-processing-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increased</a> line speeds at meat-processing plants and <a href="https://cspinet.org/news/usda-publishes-final-rule-deregulate-meat-inspection-jeopardizing-food-safety-20190917" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deregulated</a> food safety inspections. His Environmental Protection Agency <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/climate/epa-chlorpyrifos-pesticide-ban.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reversed</a> a ban on chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to brain damage in children, and <a href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/epa-reapproves-dangerous-drift-prone-dicamba-pesticides-recently-banned-federal-court-causing-widespread-economic-harm-farmers-2020-10-27/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">extended</a> the life of dicamba, another toxic pesticide.</p><p>Biden should immediately restore the ban on chlorpyrifos and reverse other Trump administration decisions that fail to protect consumers and farmworkers from pesticides. But the Biden-Harris administration should go further and fix our broken system for reviewing the safety of <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/flawed-epa-approval-process-IB.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pesticides</a> and other <a href="https://www.edf.org/health/unsafe-and-untested-chemicals-are-our-food" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">chemicals</a> in food.</p><p>We must also do much more to reduce foodborne illness. We must not only require growers to test irrigation water for pathogens but also combat <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2019/05/opportunities-to-improve-food-safety-from-farm-to-fork" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the growing threat of pathogens</a> in meat and poultry. We must <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases-and-statements/2017/07/17/pew-safer-meat-requires-reducing-risks-where-food-animals-are-raised" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">address these risks where they start</a> – in the massive confined feedlots that have taken over much of farm country.</p><p>Sixth, the new agriculture secretary should immediately declare a climate emergency and use the resources of the Commodity Credit Corporation to reward farmers who reduce emissions and permanently store carbon in the ground.</p><p>Farmers can play a much <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/437193-how-corn-farmers-and-cows-can-help-avert-the-climate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bigger role</a> in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Historic storms have placed farmers on the front lines in the fight against the climate crisis, and legislators have proposed <a href="https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/with-fdrs-new-deal-as-blueprint-booker-introduces-climate-change-bill-focused-on-investing-in-farm-conservation-programs-reforestation-and-wetlands-restoration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bold ideas</a> to reward farmers who take meaningful and measurable steps to address it. Expanding and reforming voluntary farm stewardship programs to make the climate crisis a top priority and linking farm subsidies to a <a href="https://www.ewg.org/research/fooling-ourselves" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">basic standard</a> of environmental care will also help keep our drinking water clean and safe.</p><p>The Covid-19 crisis has shined a spotlight on Trump's food and farm policy failures. Workers are getting sick, and our food supply chains are being tested. Trump's policy failures have also made more consumers sick and pushed many farmers to the brink of financial ruin. A Biden-Harris administration can – and should – do better.</p><p><em><a href="https://www.ewg.org/experts/scott-faber.php" target="_blank">Scott Faber</a> is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group.</em></p>
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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Pexels
By Danielle Nierenberg and Sabrina Endicott
On November 17th, Food Tank is co-hosting a panel with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center on COVID-19's impact on the restaurant and culinary industry and what is being done to help save restaurants. Panelists will include Camilla Marcus, Founder of Independent Restaurant Coalition and Co-founder of the Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants, Naama Tamir, Co-owner of Lighthouse and Lighthouse Outpost, JJ Johnson, Owner of FIELDTRIP, Tom Colicchio, Founder of Crafted Hospitality, Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of NYC Hospitality Alliance, and Salil Metah, Chef and Owner of Laut Singapura Restaurant.
<p>Register <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-restaurants-tickets-127006454725" target="_blank">here</a> to learn more about how the industry has been impacted, and how chefs, restaurant operators, and entrepreneurs are looking for alternative ways to run their businesses.</p><p>When the COVID-19 outbreak began in the United States, 5.9 million restaurant jobs were lost between February and April, according to the <a href="https://www.saverestaurants.com/report/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Independent Restaurant Coalition</a>. And a new survey by the National Restaurant Association finds that <a href="https://restaurant.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/100000-restaurants-closed-six-months-into-pandemic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">100,000</a> restaurants have closed permanently or long-term.</p><p>"Moving forward, I think restaurants have to be very critical about how we used to run our businesses," <a href="https://foodtank.com/news/2020/05/new-on-the-podcast-chefs-amy-sins-and-erik-bruner-yang-on-food-and-community-relief-efforts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Erik Bruner-Yang</a>, chef and restaurateur, tells Food Tank. "Now is the time for everyone to revisit how to do things differently."</p><p>Organizations around the country are discovering innovative sustainable ways to revive the restaurant scene, while also addressing the impacts of COVID-19. Through strong community networks, these organizations have found ways to help unemployed workers, keep restaurants in business, and address food waste and hunger.</p><p>Food Tank is highlighting 17 organizations reviving restaurants and the workforce while reimagining what the industry will look like post-pandemic.</p>
<p>1. <a href="https://big-table.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Big Table</a>, Washington and California<br>Big Table is a nonprofit that helps restaurants and hospitality workers in times of crisis. Its referral model builds networks of managers, workers, and owners to help them access crisis care in San Diego, CA Spokane, WA, and Seattle, WA. Big Table is also promoting national resources to support restaurants and the workforce.</p><p>2. <a href="https://www.diningatadistance.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dining at a Distance</a>, International<br>Dining at a Distance is an independent grassroots effort that started in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization helps keep people fed and employed by compiling restaurants and farms that are operational during COVID-19. Since it began, Dining at a Distance has spread internationally, representing cities throughout North America, Europe, and Oceania.</p><p>3. <a href="https://www.frontlinefoods.org/#local" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Frontline Foods</a>, National<br>Frontline Foods began with a small donation to a local hospital and has transformed into a nationwide response to support frontline workers and restaurants. Frontline Foods is partnering with <a href="https://wck.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Central Kitchen</a>, a nonprofit started by Chef José Andrés, to fundraise money for restaurants to make meals for frontline workers. Through its efforts, Frontline Foods has helped support 1,125 restaurants around the country.</p><p>4. <a href="https://thegivingkitchen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Giving Kitchen</a>, Georgia<br>Giving Kitchen provides financial relief to uplift and protect food service workers in Georgia. Along with financial services, the organization provides mental and physical health resources, food, employment, and housing resources. With Giving Kitchen's Stability Network program, a referral model connects food service workers with social services.</p><p>5. <a href="https://www.heartofdinner.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Heart of Dinner</a>, New York<br>Heart of Dinner is a volunteer-based food-relief program that started to combat xenophobia and racism towards the Asian-American community during COVID-19. The organization partners with culturally appropriate restaurants to provide Asian-American senior-citizens in New York with fresh meals. Through donations, Heart of Dinner has been able to provide over 32,000 meals and help Asian-American restaurants.</p><p>6. <a href="https://www.saverestaurants.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Independent Restaurant Coalition</a> (IRC), National<br>The Independent Restaurant Coalition, created by and for restaurant and bar owners, works to collectively shape legislation that supports small food businesses affected by COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns. The IRC is advocating for Congress to pass the Restaurants Act, which would create an <a href="https://www.saverestaurants.com/report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund</a>, boosting the economy and protecting workers. A <a href="https://media-cdn.getbento.com/accounts/cf190ba55959ba5052ae23ba6d98e6de/media/EmH1JsVMRNylmKAeF2FJ_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report</a> by Compass Lexecon finds that the fund can grow the economy by US$271 billion and reduce unemployment by up to 2.4 percent.</p><p>7. <a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Beard Foundation</a>, National<br>The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates and honors chefs and other leaders dedicated to making America's food scene sustainable, delicious, and diverse. The Foundation started a campaign called <a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/openforgood" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Open For Good</a>, which ran a Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund from March till April. Since September, the Foundation has begun the Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans. These funds serve to help restaurants rebuild better after the crisis.</p><p>8. <a href="https://leeinitiative.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The LEE Initiative</a>, National<br>The LEE Initiative is helping revive restaurants and mend the food supply chain with its <a href="https://leeinitiative.org/restaurant-reboot-relief-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Restaurant Reboot Relief Program</a>. The organization is committing at least US$1million to purchase food from sustainable farms in 16 regions and donate the food directly to restaurants. By investing in farmers, the organization hopes to help farmers and restaurants rebuild together. At the start of the pandemic, The LEE Initiative, in collaboration with chef Edward Lee and Maker's Mark, started The Restaurant Worker's Relief Program, which provided 400,000 pounds of meals and supplies to out-of-work restaurant employees.</p><p>9. <a href="https://offtheirplate.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Off Their Plate</a>, National<br>Off Their Plate is a grassroots team dedicated to helping frontline workers. The organization offers ways to keep restaurants in business and feed communities by directing funds raised to partnering restaurants to continue staffing and prepping meals during the pandemic. For every US$100 donated, Off Their Plate sends 10 meals to those in need, which also creates a three-hour shift for workers.</p><p>10. <a href="https://onefairwage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">One Fair Wage</a>, National<br>One Fair Wage is a nationwide coalition advocating for policy to ensure that all workers are paid a full, fair minimum wage in addition to tips. One Fair Wage's Emergency Fund is raising money to provide cash assistance to restaurant and service workers during the pandemic. The organization also oversees <a href="https://highroadkitchens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">High Road Kitchens</a>, a group of independent restaurants that give free food to low-wage workers while providing restaurant jobs. Launched during COVID-19, High Road Kitchens looks to revive and rebuild a more equitable and sustainable restaurant industry.</p><p>11. <a href="https://www.powerof10initiative.com/?fbclid=IwAR1_m9X4Q9QoeiO9FTY6XEduMKbPH9ZzYdSlYRkZDi454x-0WdlOx_de27k" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Power of 10</a>, Washington D.C.<br>Started by chef and restaurateur, Erik Bruner-Yang, Power of 10 is mobilizing restaurant workers during the crisis to maintain operations and keep staff safe and employed. The program serves as a model for any city, demonstrating that donations of US$10,000 a week can provide 10 full-time jobs and 1,000 free meals to a community. So far, Power of 10 has donated 200,000 meals and provided 2,000 full-time jobs.</p><p>12. <a href="https://rocunited.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United</a>, National<br>ROC United is a nonprofit organization fighting for improved worker's wages and working conditions. Along with providing resources for restaurants, ROC United has advocated for Congress to pass legislation and for companies to pay employees paid sick leave. ROC United's <a href="https://rocunited.org/chapters/covid19-relief-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pandemic Relief Fund</a> launched in March to help the restaurant employees and since then has raised over US$1 million and has helped more than 5,000 workers and their families.</p><p>13. <a href="https://www.restaurantworkerscf.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Restaurant Workers Community Foundation</a> (RWCF), National<br>Created by and for restaurant workers, RWCF advocates for opportunities to strengthen the restaurant workforce. During the pandemic, RWCF is providing relief funds and resources for restaurant workers impacted by the crisis. They use the power of restaurant workers to create a more just restaurant environment.</p><p>14. <a href="https://www.rethinkfood.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rethink Food</a>, New York<br>Rethink creates partnerships with restaurants and food businesses, sources funding to restaurants, and secures meals to those in need. Rethink has invested more than US$2 million in local communities and served more than 1 million meals.</p><p>15. <a href="https://www.roarnewyork.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants</a> (ROAR), New York<br>ROAR is a charity organization that is donating to restaurants and employees during the pandemic. ROAR, in collaboration with Robin Hood, a poverty-fighting nonprofit in New York City, is raising funds for an NYC Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Through its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/roar.ny/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a>, ROAR shares action items to pass legislation in support of restaurant relief and ways to support restaurant employees.</p><p>16. <a href="https://southernsmoke.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Southern Smoke Foundation</a>, Texas and National<br>Southern Smoke Foundation is a crisis relief organization that provides funding to individuals in the food and beverage industry. During the pandemic, Southern Smoke Foundation has expanded its operations, creating a <a href="https://southernsmoke.org/chicago-relief-fund/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chicago Relief Fund</a> for restaurant workers impacted by the crisis. So far, Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund has raised US$3.6 million for restaurants and workers around the country.</p><p>17. <a href="https://wck.org/restaurantsforthepeople" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Central Kitchen</a> (WCK), National<br></p><p>WCK is supporting restaurants and consumers through partnerships, donations, and policy advocacy. WCK's program,<a href="https://wck.org/restaurantsforthepeople" target="_blank">Restaurants for the People</a>, provides fresh nutritious foods to communities in need and keeps small businesses running. By buying meals directly from restaurants, WCK has worked with over 2,400 restaurants and disbursed more than US$117 million.</p><p>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://foodtank.com/news/2020/11/seventeen-organizations-helping-revive-restaurants/" target="_blank">Food Tank</a>. </p>
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Trending
Edgar Castrejon / Unsplash
By Emily Payne
The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension lead to an increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection. As the pandemic wears on, eaters are preparing more food at home and focusing on healthier meals. Cooking and recipe website traffic surged at the start of quarantine, as did curiosity for meat alternatives.
<p><a href="https://www.nielsen.com/global/en/consumer-insights-for-fmcg-retail-manufacturers-coronavirus-covid-19/how-americans-are-shopping-during-covid-19/" target="_blank">According to Nielsen data</a>, plant-based meat saw a 264-percent increase in sales at the start of the pandemic. Whether or not this trend continues, it's clear that consumers are becoming more interested in plant-forward eating.</p><p>A plant-forward diet focuses primarily on plants like fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, and seeds but does not eliminate animal products completely. Below are 10 common plant-forwarding eating myths.</p>
1. Plant-Based Foods Cannot Provide Enough Protein
<p>The <a href="https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/chapter-2/current-eating-patterns-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports</a> that about three-fourths of Americans are eating diets low in fruits and vegetables, while more than half are meeting or exceeding protein recommendations. Meat is often touted as an eater's most important source of protein, but protein is found in all foods—even whole-grain pasta, oats, or vegetables. Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds are just a few protein-packed plants. One cup of lentils contains 18 grams of protein, for example, compared to 22 grams in one serving of beef. By focusing on a diversity of whole foods, plant-forward eaters can consume more than enough protein each day.</p>2. Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Are Flavorless (and Have No Texture)
<p>Tofu has long been a meat-alternative staple, but plant-based eating has much more to offer. Seitan, often called "wheat meat," is made by filtering the starch from wheat to create high-protein gluten with a similar texture to chicken. Tempeh is made by fermenting soy and can be marinated, fried, steamed, or eaten raw. It has a subtly nutty flavor, and companies like <a href="https://lightlife.com/our-food/?active_filter=tempeh" target="_blank">Lightlife</a>, the largest U.S. tempeh manufacturer, also offer flavors like three-grain, flax seed, smoky, and buffalo tempeh. Countless combinations of beans, chickpeas, lentils, herbs, spices, and grains can be made into flavorful plant-based burgers, meatballs, ground meat, and even bacon.</p>3. Plant-Based Ingredient and Restaurant Options Are Limited
<p>From restaurants to the grocery aisle, chefs and companies are responding to consumers' demand for plant-based options. In March 2020, The Good Food Institute and the Plant Based Foods Association <a href="https://www.gfi.org/blog-spins-data-release-2020#:~:text=Plant%2DBased%20Food%20Retail%20Sales,Billion%20%2D%20The%20Good%20Food%20Institute&text=2019%20marked%20another%20impressive%20year,total%20U.S.%20retail%20food%20sales." target="_blank">calculated</a> that total plant-based retail sales reached US$5 billion in 2019, growing 11 percent over the previous year, a rate almost five times faster than total U.S. retail food sales. And <a href="https://restaurant.opentable.com/news/features/year-in-review/firmly-rooted-support-for-plant-based-dishes-on-the-rise/" target="_blank">OpenTable reported</a> that in 2019, plant-based reviews on its platform increased by 136 percent compared to 2017. From sliced bologna to ground Mexican beef, there's a plant-based option for virtually any meat craving.</p>4. A Plant-Based Meal Won’t Be as Filling
<p><strong></strong>Processed foods are high in refined starches and sugar that are easier to digest, meaning they're less filling. Whole foods are naturally high in dietary fiber that breaks down slowly, keeping the body feeling full longer. With both fiber and protein, some plant-based proteins can even be more filling than animal meat options. Incorporating healthy fats from nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, and coconuts also lends to a more filling dish. As long as there are plenty of whole foods, a plant-forward diet can fuel sustained energy throughout the day—and with fewer cravings.</p>5. Eating a Plant-Forward Diet Is Too Expensive
<p>By focusing on minimally processed foods, shopping seasonally at farmers' markets when possible, and buying staples like nuts, beans, and legumes in bulk, many eaters save money by moving to a plant-forward diet. The rise in consumer demand for plant-based products also means more companies are joining the market and supermarkets are introducing their own private labels. With a more established supply chain, plant-based meat, cheese, yogurt, and egg alternatives can become more accessible to all budgets.</p>6. It’s Difficult to Eat Complete Proteins on a Plant-Forward Diet
<p>The idea that plant-based proteins must be combined in the same meal to provide a complete protein is a long-standing myth. The <a href="http://www.eatrightpro.org/~/media/eatrightpro%20files/practice/position%20and%20practice%20papers/position%20papers/vegetarian-diet.ashx" target="_blank">Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics</a> says that "the terms complete and incomplete are misleading in relation to plant protein. Protein from a variety of plant foods, eaten during the course of a day, supplies enough of all indispensable (essential) amino acids when caloric requirements are met." Even if consumed at different meals and times, the body will combine the essential amino acids it needs on its own.</p>7. Plant-forward Diets Are Nutrient-Deficient
<p>Plants are some of the most nutrient-dense food options available. Dark leafy greens and legumes, for example, are rich with calcium. Beans and lentils are high in protein and fiber, low in fats, and provide essential vitamins and minerals. Many plant-forward eaters cook with nutritional yeast, which contains B12, a nutrient primarily found in animal products. Focusing as much as possible on a variety of whole foods will supply more than enough nutrients. A good trick is to eat the rainbow: colorful foods contain many essential vitamins and antioxidants, and different colors ensure a variety of ingredients (and flavor!).</p>8. Meat Alternatives Are Ultra-Processed and Unsustainable
<p>As plant-forward eating becomes more popular, meat alternatives are appearing everywhere from baseball stadiums to fast-food chains. But many products labeled "plant-based" actually undergo the same amount of processing as typical junk foods, just without the use of animal products. With added processing comes a larger environmental footprint, as well. The best way to choose alternative meat is to check the ingredient label, opting for those with short ingredient lists of recognizable names. The <a href="https://lightlife.com/product/plant-based-burger/" target="_blank">Lightlife Plant-Based Burger</a>, for example, is made from only 11 ingredients with nothing synthetically processed, and the company has committed to <u>reducing its environmental footprint</u> by 50 percent by 2025.</p>9. Children Shouldn’t Eat a Plant-Forward Diet
<p>An article <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356233/" target="_blank">published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)</a> notes that plant-forward diets can meet the nutritional needs of not only children but pregnant mothers, breast-feeding mothers, and infants. And educators agree; Los Angeles public schools adopted meatless Mondays in their cafeterias in 2013, and New York City, the largest public-school system in the U.S., began meatless Mondays in 2019. As plant-forward eating gains popularity, more plant-based alternatives children's favorite classics like hotdogs and chicken nuggets are reaching grocery shelves.</p>10. Plant-Based Products Are Always Healthier
<p>Not all plant-based products are created equal. While french fries are derived from plants, they are also high in oil and salt. The plant-based Impossible Whopper may have fewer calories than the original Whopper, but it contains significantly more sodium. A frequent culprit of this is the veggie burger, deemed a health food but often full of sugars and unrecognizable ingredients. The key to a healthy and nutritious diet is minimally processed whole foods. Look out for plant-based products with a small ingredient list (which often translates to a more environmentally sustainable choice, as well).</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://foodtank.com/news/2020/11/ten-myths-about-plant-forward-eating/" target="_blank">Food Tank</a>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Endangered orangutans have long been losing habitat due to deforestation turning their rainforest island ranges into large-scale palm oil plantations. BAY ISMOYO / AFP via Getty Images
By Carly Nairn
Climate change and global food demand could drive a startling loss of up to 23 percent of all natural habitat ranges in the next 80 years, according to new findings published in Nature Communications.
<p>Habitat loss could accelerate to a level that brings about rapid extinctions of already vulnerable species. Shrinking ranges for mammals, amphibians and birds already account for an 18 percent loss of previous natural ranges, the study found, with a jump expected to reach 23 percent by this century's end.</p><p>Global food demand currently fuels agricultural sectors to increase land use, moving into habitats previously untouched. What results — <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/deforestation">deforestation</a> — leaves more carbon dioxide in the air, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the main driver of climate change. In the U.S. alone, agriculture-related emissions measure <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/natural-resources-environment/climate-change/#:~:text=Agriculture%20and%20forestry%20together%20are,largest%20contributor%20to%20climate%20change." target="_blank">11.6 percent</a> of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, which include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.</p>
<p>Deforestation and <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to-Wildlife/Habitat-Loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">habitat loss</a> also harms the natural cycles of ecosystems, affecting all stages of animal life from reproduction, to migration, to mating. For most species, survivability depends on geographic range. The study, which analyzed changes in the different habitats of 16,919 species from 1700 onward, found that with the increase in habitat destruction due to agriculture and climate change, more species will die sooner than previously expected.</p><p>"The tropics are biodiversity hotspots with lots of small-range species. If one hectare of tropical forest is converted to agricultural land, a lot more species lose larger proportions of their home than in places like Europe," said Dr. Robert Beyer of the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology, one of the authors of the study.</p>
<p>In many ways, the conclusion is already playing out in real time. Endangered orangutans have long been a noteworthy species dwindling in population due to their rainforest island ranges in Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia transforming into large-scale <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/orangutans-are-hanging-on-in-the-same-palm-oil-plantations-that-displace-them/" target="_blank">palm oil plantations</a>. Farming and charcoal production have moved certain species of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/science/madagascar-lemurs-climate-change.html" target="_blank">lemur</a> — Madagascar's signature primate — into private reserves. And Amazon jaguars are increasingly difficult to spot as their <a href="https://psmag.com/environment/deforestation-is-threatening-jaguars" target="_blank">ranges</a> are cut into to ranch cattle.</p><p>"Whether these past trends in habitat range losses will reverse, continue, or accelerate will depend on future global carbon emissions and societal choices in the coming years and decades," study leader Andrea Manica, a professor at the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology, explained.</p><p>The report is one more substantiated piece of evidence to push for the reversal of the current conversion of natural habitat to land used for resources.</p><p>"It all depends on what we do next," Manica concluded. </p>
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5 Best Eco-Conscious Meal Kit Delivery Services for 2020
Meal kit services offer pre-portioned recipes and a fun cooking experience. But what options are best for the earth-conscious family?
09 November
Reviews
Micheile Henderson / Unsplash
For those looking for a quick and convenient way to eat delicious, hearty meals with little to no hassle, there are plenty of meal delivery services to choose from. We've all seen the overwhelming number of meal kits promoted via Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms, but many consumers are left wondering if these delivery services are really worth the purchase. Despite all the hype, these programs can be beneficial for a number of reasons, including their environmental impact.
<p>Meal delivery kits actually have <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190422090844.htm" target="_blank">one-third of the carbon footprint</a> as the same meals bought in a grocery store, and they offer the advantage of easy meal planning and sustainable ingredient sourcing while simultaneously cutting down on food waste. </p><p><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/food-waste" target="_self">Food waste</a> is a big problem in the U.S. The average American generates more than 200 pounds of waste each year, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). </p><p><span></span>Meal kits are a way to cut back on discarded food.</p><p><span></span>Each kit comes with pre-portioned packets of produce, meat or fish, if requested, and all the spices and seasonings one needs to complete a chef-inspired dish at-home. So, if meal kits can actually lessen the strain you're putting on the world (and on your cooking prowess), which option is best?</p><p><span></span>We reviewed several of the leading brand's on their food options, packaging, and customer reviews to find the services we think are best for the conscious consumer. Here is our list of the top five meal kit delivery services.</p><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em><em><br/></em></p>
<h2> Getting Started with a Meal Delivery Service</h2><p>With so much variety, selecting a meal delivery service can turn into a stressful endeavor. Additionally, brands like Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Home Chef, and Daily Harvest are other options that are trying to win you over, but they may not have the most sustainable methods as some of the options listed above. </p><p><span></span>Although the sheer number of meal kit options can also work to your advantage. These companies are competing for customers and often offer sign-up specials and discounts to get you started. When shopping for a subscription service, try multiple options and take advantage of these deals. With many programs, you have the freedom to change or cancel your subscription, so you can try a few different options to find one that fits your taste and your budget. We also recommend that you compare your per-meal cost to what you might spend on dinners at the grocery store to maximize your savings.</p><p>If you give one of these meal kits a try, let us know what you think. We'll update this list regularly as we get feedback from readers and add additional sustainability notes as we dive deeper into new services. </p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br/></p>
Purple Carrot: Best Plant-Based Option
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc1MjUxMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDI2MzY2OX0.wFDjVHsZAAyyELNVgxR6prFFmolGry8egrzMePDf654/img.jpg?width=980" id="1a33a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="769107ab1740e29aa080f530755b037d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Purple Carrot
<p>According to researchers, you could cut the <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/11/15/how-much-would-giving-up-meat-help-the-environment" target="_blank">carbon footprint of your diet by 60%</a> by eating plant-based meals for two-thirds of your diet.</p><p>Now, if sustainability is about achieving a balance between human consumption and the environments we impact, plant-based is the way to go. Purple Carrot offers all plant-based meal kits in a variety of tasty menu items. There's even a black bean burger if you want to prepare the vegan-skeptic member of your family a familiar plate. </p><p>Purple Carrot meal kits, in many ways, support the idea that many small, smart choices can add up to a big impact. </p><p><strong>Cost</strong>: Purple Carrot costs $11.99 price per serving for two people and $9.99 per serving for the four-plate plan. With introductory discounts the first week costs $50 to $60. </p>Sun Basket: Best Organic Option
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc1MjUzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1Njc4OTkzN30.a2aIWvOTJfVK6VBFSZ3PdwNAPhoTMUu6eOFrbbaUeos/img.jpg?width=980" id="e24c7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5439cf2ef1a1377fe041dbed42aca07e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Sun Basket J030-Shrimp-PaellaSun Basket
<p>Sun Basket is our favorite organic meal kit brand. Sun Basket delivers a box of 100% organic produce, antibiotic- and hormone-free meat, and farm fresh eggs. Their approach to sourcing wild seafood was named Best Choice or Good Alternative by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® Program.</p><p>Sun Basket aims to support farmers who push for sustainable water management and crop rotations, as well as ranchers and fisherman who treat the planet with respect. </p><strong>Cost</strong>: Three meals each week for two people costs $71.94 plus $7.99 shipping. That's $11.99 per serving.Green Chef: Best for Keto and Paleo Shoppers
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc1MjU0NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTg4NDE2Nn0.VYYj6q9TDKOPaLib6vC04_pqJFTl3pPwlWuhc85pF4k/img.jpg?width=980" id="4ce26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="33a986a6a8296eee9702e82eff47a06c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Green Chef
<p>Green Chef is a certified organic company with meal kit plans that include keto, paleo, and plant-based options. You can schedule a weekly delivery or stagger deliveries during the month, depending on your personal needs or how often you choose to cook. Green Chef has a wide variety of recipe options, and according to its website, <span style="background-color: initial;">"offsets 100% of its direct carbon emissions and plastic packaging" through its sustainability efforts.</span></p><p><strong>Cost</strong>: Price is based on the plan chosen, but costs are generally $11.49 per meal for the Keto + Paleo option, $10.49 per meal for the Balanced Living option, and $10.49 per meal for the Plant-powered option. Shipping and handling costs are additional.</p>Freshly: Best "No Cooking" Option
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc1MjU1Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDEwNzI3Nn0.L3XUMO4-3dyj_cI0cMihqvoP7Ig7x8D-Z5vg4TsGWlo/img.jpg?width=980" id="89b90" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="64389578a3b41467c0759bf0d60eb993" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Freshly
<p>Freshly is the only service we came across that offered corporate options. We liked the idea of a cost-efficient way to serve a large group a healthy meal. Freshly boxes in the office fridge would be a nice reprieve from the typical mid-day exodus to the nearest quick food option. All Freshly meals come in recyclable packaging and the single portions mean less food going to waste during preparation, which makes this a more sustainable option than many single-serving meal packages available in the freezer section of your local grocery store. </p><p><strong>Cost</strong>: Individual meals are $8.99 to $12.50 per serving with free shipping.</p>Every Plate: Best Value for Meal Kit Beginners
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc1MjU1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTU2MDE5NX0.nZ8rvbH61g8MBueUwZBJpCgiwDUUrRgbXmuWBCW5kDs/img.jpg?width=980" id="40a43" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="71349a43c3f798f91db591cc481f7f7f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Every Plate
<p>If you're looking for organic ingredients, simple recipe cards, and a highly affordable option, Every Plate is for you. Every Plate uses less packaging than most other delivery services due to their simpler packages that contain fewer spice and sauce packets. Most Every Plate meals can be made in under 30 minutes, which makes this as close as you can come to fast and "cheap" meals with clean ingredients. </p><p><strong>Cost</strong>: Weekly boxes of two or four servings for as little as $4.99 per serving.</p>From Your Site Articles
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In response to the 2020 election results, Food Tank and Table 81 hosted a panel to make sense of the election results and discuss what it means to the food system. Jay Yuno / Getty Images
By Elena Seeley
In response to the 2020 election results, Food Tank and Table 81 hosted a panel to make sense of the election results and discuss what it means to the food system.
<p>Moderated by Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg and Katherine Miller of Table 81, the event featured Christopher Bradshaw of <a href="https://dreamingoutloud.org/" target="_blank">Dreaming Out Loud</a>, Devita Davison of <a href="https://foodlabdetroit.com/" target="_blank">FoodLab Detroit,</a> Navina Khanna of <a href="https://healfoodalliance.org/" target="_blank">HEAL Food Alliance</a>, Patricia Griffin of <a href="https://www.nvgllc.com/" target="_blank">NVG, LLC</a>, Bob Martin of the <a href="https://clf.jhsph.edu/" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future</a>, and Kathleen Merrigan of the <a href="https://sustainability.asu.edu/food/" target="_blank">Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems</a>.</p><p>Their conversation touched on the meaning of the election results, the need to bring new voices and energy into discussions around food and agriculture, and the importance of organizing around food system issues in local communities.</p><p>"We should be talking about a complete and total dismantling of our corporate food system and building infrastructure locally from the ground up," says Davison. Listen to the full conversation below.</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="200" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.radiopublic.com/e?if=food-talk-with-dani-nierenberg-by-69mY3Q&ge=s1!45fd4" width="100%"></iframe>
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://foodtank.com/news/2020/11/what-are-the-implications-of-the-election-results-on-the-food-movement/" target="_blank">Food Tank</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Trending
A flooded corn field along the Yazoo River during the Mississippi River near Redwood, Mississippi in May of 2011.
T. C. Knight / Getty Images
T. C. Knight / Getty Images
By Chaoqun Lu
Some effects of extreme weather are visible – like half a million acres of flattened corn in Iowa left behind after a derecho that hit the Midwestern United States on Aug. 10.
<p>Other effects are harder to measure, but can be just as harmful. One example is agricultural nitrogen runoff from farmlands in the Mississippi River Basin. It mainly comes from fertilizer that farmers apply to <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/old.2003/fs-105-03/" target="_blank">millions of acres of crops</a>.</p><p>Plants can't use all of the nitrogen in fertilizer because fertilizers are usually applied in excess. This excess can wash off farm fields into local rivers and lakes, degrading water quality and <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-your-diet-contributes-to-nutrient-pollution-and-dead-zones-in-lakes-and-bays-118902" target="_blank">stimulating algae blooms</a>. Traveling down the Mississippi River, it contributes to the yearly formation of a <a href="https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/large-dead-zone-measured-in-gulf-of-mexico/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dead zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico</a>, covering several thousand square miles; oxygen levels there are so low that fish and shellfish cannot survive.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY3NTI1Mi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NDI3MzY3OX0.yRe_Al0wWA5Dvuvari5a3YSLggWSF15CFm3bU4plJk4/img.png?width=980" id="3059c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="805831ff431667c6032910f6662b2171" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
The Mississippi River Basin covers over 1.245 million square miles across 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Shannon1 / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
<p>Excess nitrogen in drinking water also <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/farms-more-productive-than-ever-are-poisoning-drinking-water-in-rural-america-11547826031" target="_blank">threatens public health</a>. Ingesting high levels of nitrate, a nitrogen compound, can <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=1186&tid=258" target="_blank">reduce red blood cells' ability to transport oxygen</a>, a condition that is especially dangerous for infants.</p><p>My work as a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VI_Lb-YAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">quantitative ecologist</a> examines how ecosystems respond to external factors such as adding nitrogen. In a recently published study, I worked with colleagues to quantify nitrogen runoff from land into rivers and streams. We found that infrequent but heavy rainfall events account for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-020-00020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one-third of annual total runoff and nitrogen leaching from soils</a> across the Mississippi Basin. This tells us that managing nitrogen is likely to be more challenging if climate change continues to make heavy rains more frequent.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c61c993c58810750a464d2925f404029"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OQFjmWGONCA?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<h3>Too Much of a Good Thing</h3><p>Plants can't grow without nitrogen, but using too much or applying it improperly can cause problems. In the U.S. Midwest, one of the <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs155-99/fs155-99.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">most intensively farmed areas in the world</a>, farmers have added <a href="https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-969-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">large amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer</a> to the land to boost crop yields.</p><p>Long-term monitoring data from river gauges shows large year-to-year variations in the quantity of nitrogen that flows down from the Mississippi River Basin into the Gulf of Mexico. Yearly changes in farmers' fertilizer use are not large enough to explain these fluctuations.</p><p>Studies show that annual total precipitation is a <a href="https://carnegiescience.edu/news/projected-precipitation-increases-are-bad-news-water-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">significant factor in these changes</a>. But we know less about the role of daily rainfall – particularly heavy rains – in mobilizing and transporting nitrogen.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY3NTI2MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzIxMjIzMn0.pfwbhWLi0EIzIAdLfLRWUqzL3uf594rDG-1i7po64WA/img.jpg?width=980" id="0e006" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2f193abbb29905a56740f2553d06929" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Stream gauge measurements show that the amount of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) moving from Mississippi River Basin states to the Gulf of Mexico fluctuates dramatically from year to year. Heavy rainfalls can produce higher nitrogen levels. Modified from Lu et al., 2020, CC BY-ND
<h3>Heavy Rains Have an Outsized Impact</h3><p>My collaborators and I wanted to assess the impacts of extreme rainfall events in the Midwest. In this region, many cropped fields are laced with buried networks of drainage channels, known locally as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tile_drainage" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tile drainage</a>. These pipelines are designed to move excess moisture out of fields. But they can also channel large surges of water and nutrients into rivers and streams after heavy rainfalls.</p><p>It is challenging to determine how individual rainfall events affect nitrogen leaching and movement within a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/drainage-basin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">drainage basin</a>. Rain happens here and there, so it's hard to distinguish a single storm's impact from river gauge monitoring data. Rainfall events also vary a lot by season and intensity.</p><p>Our study used a well-tested model to quantify how much nitrogen is washed out by each rainfall event, as well as total nitrogen delivered to the Gulf of Mexico. We looked closely at heavy rainfall events, which we defined as the top 10% of historical daily precipitation amounts for any location in a given month.</p><p>Climate records show that over the past 20 years, a growing share of annual precipitation has come in heavy rainfall events across two-thirds of the Mississippi River Basin's land area. The region that receives a total of more than 15.7 inches (400 millimeters) of heavy rain per year has expanded from areas in Louisiana and Arkansas northward to Corn Belt states like Illinois and Indiana, where nitrogen fertilizer is heavily used.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY3NTI2My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODk1OTY2Mn0.EzMMBdzQZfSr7kWm9XRBiSoGjTpi7wq1Xf_TO0bWZUs/img.png?width=980" id="af222" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d1845a190c070996325c70dc8ea8ac8f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Percentage increases in the amount of precipitation falling in very heavy events (defined as the heaviest 1% of all daily events) from 1958 to 2012. Globalchange.gov
<p>We found that one-third of annual total runoff and nitrogen leaching loss come from heavy rainfall events, which happen on only about nine days per year on average across the basin. Nearly half to three-quarters of heavy rainfall in the basin occurs in spring and summer, with a monthly peak in May.</p><p>This timing coincides with the planting and seed germinating stages of corn, when the plants are using <a href="http://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/factsheets/factsheet98.pdf" target="_blank">minimal amounts of nitrogen</a>. We wondered whether changing when and how farmers apply fertilizer could reduce nitrogen runoff.</p>
<h3>When to Fertilize</h3><p>When during the year to apply fertilizer is a long-standing question in both <a href="https://theconversation.com/farmers-of-the-future-will-utilize-drones-robots-and-gps-37739" target="_blank">precision agriculture</a> and environmental science. Midwest farmers apply over 90% of nitrogen fertilizer before crops germinate in springtime and after harvesting. This means that a fair amount of available nitrogen accumulates in the soil before crops start taking it up. When heavy rainfalls occur, it is likely to be washed out.</p>
<div id="7afc9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e3585752d31dbe2f9fa3749fa375f74"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318214328403767303" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Nitrogen fertilizer application restrictions on crop ground went into effect in certain areas of Minnesota on Sept.… https://t.co/2xW8POSKyy</div> — DTN/The Progressive Farmer (@DTN/The Progressive Farmer)<a href="https://twitter.com/dtnpf/statuses/1318214328403767303">1603121761.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>We set up modeling experiments to test whether postponing fertilizer application could make the water running off of farmlands cleaner. In our alternative fertilizer management scenario, we assumed fertilizer was applied only twice, after crops developed. We expected this would reduce the amount of unused nitrogen accumulating in soils.</p><p>Our results predicted that this modification could reduce nitrogen loading to the Gulf of Mexico by up to 16%. This would be a significant step toward goals set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is working with states to reduce nutrient loads entering the Gulf of Mexico by <a href="https://archive.epa.gov/epa/newsreleases/states-develop-new-strategies-reduce-nutrient-levels-mississippi-river-gulf-mexico.html" target="_blank">20% by 2025 and 45% by 2035</a>.</p><p>However, even under the postponed fertilizer application scenario, we still found the frequent heavy rains in the recent decade could enhance nitrogen loss during summer and early fall. Scientists predict that if climate change continues at its current rate, it will cause <a href="https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/regions/midwest#intro-section-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more extreme rainfall events in the Midwest</a>, which, we think, would reduce environmental benefits from alternative nitrogen management practices.</p><p>Reducing the amount of nitrogen that escapes from land into water bodies while maintaining food production is a significant challenge. Our study complements the well-known <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ia/technical/ecoscience/nutrient/nrcs142p2_008196/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4R concept</a> for managing nutrients: Using the right fertilizer product, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. To get that timing right, our research shows that along with crop nitrogen demand, farmers should also consider the occurrence of heavy rainfall.</p>
<p>
<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chaoqun-lu-1160490" target="_blank">Chaoqun Lu</a> is an assistant professor of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University.</em><br/>
</p><p>
<em>Disclosure statement: Chaoqun Lu receives funding from the National Science Foundation, Iowa State University, and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center.</em>
</p><p>
<em><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-few-heavy-storms-cause-a-big-chunk-of-nitrogen-pollution-from-midwest-farms-146980" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em></em>
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Eating too much black licorice can be toxic. Nat Aggiato / Pixabay
By Bill Sullivan
Black licorice may look and taste like an innocent treat, but this candy has a dark side. On Sept. 23, 2020, it was reported that black licorice was the culprit in the death of a 54-year-old man in Massachusetts. How could this be? Overdosing on licorice sounds more like a twisted tale than a plausible fact.
<p>I have a longstanding interest in how chemicals in our food and the environment affect our body and mind. When something seemingly harmless like licorice is implicated in a death, we are reminded of the famous proclamation by Swiss physician Paracelsus, the Father of Toxicology: "All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison."</p><p><a href="https://wjsulliv.wixsite.com/sullivanlab" target="_blank">I am a professor </a> in the department of pharmacology and toxicology and <a href="https://authorbillsullivan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author of the book</a> "<a href="https://www.nationalgeographicpartners.com/press/2019/10/-pleased-to-meet-me--genes--germs--and-the-curious-forces-that-m/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are</a>."</p>
The Root of the Problem
<p>The unfortunate man who recently succumbed to excessive black licorice consumption is not alone. There are a smattering of similar case reports in medical journals, in which patients experience <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26380428/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hypertension crisis</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.5414/cn107011" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">muscle breakdown</a> or even death. Adverse reactions are most frequently seen in people over the age of 40 who are eating far more black licorice than the average person. In addition, they are usually consuming the product for prolonged periods of time. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcpc2002420" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In the most recent case</a>, the Massachusetts man had been eating a bag and a half of black licorice every day for three weeks.</p><p>Licorice is a flowering plant native to parts of Europe and Asia. Its scientific name, <em>Glycyrrhiza</em>, is derived from the Greek words "glykos" (sweet) and "rhiza" (root). The aromatic and sweet extract from its root has long been used as an herbal remedy for a wide variety of health maladies, from heartburn and stomach issues to sore throats and cough. However, there is <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/black-licorice-trick-or-treat" target="_blank">insufficient evidence to support that licorice is effective in treating any medical condition</a>.</p><p>Glycyrrhizin (also called glycyrrhizic acid) is the chemical in black licorice that gives the candy its signature flavor, but it also leads to its toxic effects.</p><p>Glycyrrhizin mimics the hormone <a href="https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/aldosterone/" target="_blank">aldosterone</a>, which is made by the adrenal glands when the body needs to retain sodium and excrete potassium. Sodium and potassium work together as a kind of cellular battery that drives communication between nerves and the contraction of muscles. Too much glycyrrhizin upsets the balance of these electrolytes, which can raise blood pressure and disturb the heart's rhythm. Other symptoms of excessive licorice intake include swelling, muscle pain, numbness and headache. Examination of the man who died from consuming too much licorice revealed that he had <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcpc2002420" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dangerously low levels of potassium, consistent with glycyrrhizin toxicity.</a></p><p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcpc2002420" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>It should be noted that a number of licorice-based foods do not contain real licorice, but use a flavoring substitute called anise oil, which does not pose the dangers discussed here. In addition, despite its name, <a href="https://www.livestrong.com/article/537724-black-licorice-vs-red-licorice/" target="_blank">red licorice rarely contains licorice extract</a>. Instead, red licorice is infused with chemicals that impart its cherry or strawberry flavor.</p><p>Products that contain real licorice are usually labeled as such, and list licorice extract or glycyrrhizic acid among the ingredients. Be advised that some products, such as black jelly beans or Good & Plenty, are mixtures of different candies that contain both anise oil and licorice extract.</p>Hidden Dangers That Increase Risk
<p>Glycyrrhizin has the distinct licorice flavor and is <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=Licorice" target="_blank">50 times sweeter than sugar</a> and has been used in other types of candy, soft drinks, tea, Belgian beers, throat lozenges and tobacco. This can make it challenging to keep track of how much glycyrrhizin has been consumed, and a combination of these products could trigger adverse effects.</p><p>Some people take dietary or health supplements that already contain licorice, which increases the risk of toxic effects from eating black licorice candy. Certain medications such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.5414/cn107011" target="_blank">hydrochlorothiazide</a> are diuretics that cause increased urination, which can lower potassium levels in the body. Glycyrrhizin also lowers potassium levels, further disrupting the balance of electrolytes, which can produce muscle cramps and irregular heart rhythms.</p><p>People with certain preexisting conditions are more susceptible to black licorice overdose.</p><p>For example, patients who already have low potassium levels (hypokalemia), high blood pressure or heart arrhythmia are likely to have greater sensitivity to the effects of excessive licorice. Those with liver or kidney deficiencies will also retain glycyrrhizin in their bloodstream for longer times, increasing their risk of experiencing its adverse effects.</p>What to Do?
<p>If you're a fan of black licorice, there is no need to ban it from your pantry. Eaten in small quantities from time to time, licorice poses no significant threat to otherwise healthy adults and children. But it is advisable to monitor your intake.</p><p>With Halloween approaching, be sure to remind your kids that candy is a "<a href="https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@global/documents/downloadable/ucm_305557.pdf" target="_blank">sometimes food</a>," especially the black licorice. The <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/black-licorice-trick-or-treat" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FDA has issued warnings</a> about the rare but serious effects of too much black licorice, advising that people avoid eating more than two ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks or longer. The agency states that if you have been eating a lot of black licorice and experience an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, stop eating it immediately and contact your health care provider.</p><p>Some scientists have further cautioned against the routine use of licorice in the form of a dietary supplement or tea for its alleged health benefits. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2042018812454322" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">review article from 2012</a> warned that "the daily consumption of licorice is never justified because its benefits are minor compared to the adverse outcomes of chronic consumption."</p>From Your Site Articles
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Chipotle's "Real Foodprint" will tell you the ecological footprint of each menu item compared to the industry standard. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
How does your burrito impact the environment? If you ordered it from Chipotle, there is now a way to find out.
<p>The chain on Monday launched a first-of-its kind <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability" target="_self">sustainability</a> tool called the <a href="https://realfoodprint.chipotle.com/" target="_blank">Real Foodprint</a>, which allows customers to see how each of its 53 intentionally sourced ingredients compares to the industry average when it comes to key environmental metrics like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/carbon-emissions" target="_self">carbon emissions</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/water" target="_self">water</a> use.</p><p>"Just by eating real, responsibly raised <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/food/" target="_self">food</a>, you can do a little something to help cultivate a better world," Bill Nye of Science Guy fame said in a video promoting the feature.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="edb1a1f60298c73efc6d7f5193a64a50"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fqWINfwdP_A?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<p>The Real Foodprint works like this, as <a href="https://retailleader.com/chipotle-sets-higher-bar-sustainability" target="_blank">Retail Leader explained</a>. When you place an order on the Chipotle app or on the website, the tracker will show you the environmental impact of each ingredient you select compared to the conventional equivalent. The ingredients are assessed according to five metrics:</p><ol><li>Less carbon emitted (measured in grams)</li><li>Water saved (in gallons)</li><li>Improved <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/soil-health" target="_self">soil health</a> (in square feet)</li><li>Organic land supported (in square feet)</li><li>Antibiotics avoided (in milligrams)</li></ol><p>So, for example, Nye's chicken bowl emits 0.8 fewer grams of carbon dioxide, saves 0.4 gallons of water, supports 1.7 square feet of improved soil health, supports 0.9 square feet of organic land and avoids 42.3 milligrams of antibiotics compared to a similar order made with conventional ingredients.</p>
<div id="e2a10" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba6130b414a0ff5ec3fbe005c4232d31"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1320698022594920453" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">*wheels tv into classroom*
@BillNye wants to show you how Chipotle ingredients can help reduce the impact on the… https://t.co/Ddedz1FdeO</div> — Chi-vote-le (@Chi-vote-le)<a href="https://twitter.com/ChipotleTweets/statuses/1320698022594920453">1603713920.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The data points are provided by HowGood, an independent research company that draws on more than 450 peer-reviewed and scientific studies to compare Chipotle's ingredients to conventional options, the website explained. Chipotle is the first restaurant to partner with HowGood, the company said in a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chipotle-launches-real-foodprint-introduces-sustainability-impact-trackers-for-digital-orders-301159499.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press release</a>. The data points will be updated on a regular basis, so customers can see if Chipotle's environmental impact lessens or increases over time, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90567802/is-your-burrito-bad-for-the-environment-chipotle-has-a-tool-for-that" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fast Company reported</a>.</p><p>"Beyond asking people to make the right choice for the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate</a> based on a carbon label, we are demonstrating the impact of our sourcing practices through data computed based on the ingredients in our guests' orders," Chipotle's head of sustainability Caitlin Leibert said in the press release. "While our guests can make good choices for the planet by simply eating at Chipotle, the radical transparency provided by Real Foodprint also holds us accountable to improve our practices and source more sustainably over time. It is the combination of transparency for our guests and Chipotle's commitment to higher standards that make Real Foodprint so impactful."</p>
<p>Other restaurant brands have taken steps to provide environmental information to their customers, Fast Company pointed out. Meat alternative brand Quorn prints the carbon footprint of its products next to the nutrition label. And, two weeks ago, Panera started pointing out the "Cool Food Meals" on its menu, meals that have a lower carbon footprint. But Chipotle's Foodprint is the most specific and detailed Fast Company has encountered, writer Mark Wilson pointed out.</p><p>"You can literally measure the impact of adding pinto beans or a scoop of pico de gallo," Wilson wrote. "(Btw, order those beans! They capture carbon and fertilize soil with nitrogen naturally!)"</p><p>One downside to the Chipotle tool is the fact that it compares its own ingredients specifically to the industry standard, Wilson noted. This means that it tells you that choosing Chipotle-sourced steak saves 150 milligrams of antibiotics, while choosing tofu saves none, because conventional tofu requires none. The impact of the beef is compared to the industry standard for beef, but does not account for the huge environmental difference between choosing meat and choosing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vegetarian" target="_self">vegetarian</a> options.</p><p>Chipotle chief marketing officer Chris Brandt said this was done to avoid passing a value judgement on individual foods.</p><p>"There's a lot of other metrics that say meat is bad, vegetarian is good. If you wanna live your life that way that's great ... everything is relevant to an industry average rather than a value judgment as to whether you eat meat or not," Brandt said.</p>
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An Asian giant hornet taken from the first U.S. nest to be discovered. ELAINE THOMPSON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
The first U.S. "murder hornet" nest has been discovered and eliminated.
<p>"Murder hornets," or Asian giant hornets as they are officially called, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/murder-hornets-honeybees-us-2645912097.html" target="_self">first emerged</a> as a concern after four sightings of the bee-slaughtering <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/insects" target="_self">insects</a> were verified in Washington State in December 2019. Since then, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has been working to prevent the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/invasive-species" target="_self">invasive species</a> from establishing a presence in the state, and they made headway towards that goal Saturday when they removed a nest newly discovered near Blaine, Washington.</p><p>"Got 'em," the WSDA wrote in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WAStateDeptAg/posts/10158596587562906" target="_blank">Facebook post</a>.</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7728c1de4b7ce306f2afe8918f938293"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/WAStateDeptAg/videos/3411169195635580" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div>
<p>WSDA workers vacuumed the hornets out of the tree cavity where their nest was found and into canisters, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/insects-washington-asia-agriculture-united-states-c235c7f6725460b463af968bb1355445" target="_blank">The Associated Press reported</a>. They donned protective gear thick enough to defend them against the hornets' six-millimeter long stingers. The suits also included face shields because the hornets can spit venom.</p><p>The tree will now be cut down and the nest searched for newborn hornets and to see if any queens have already left. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/scientists" target="_self">Scientists</a> think there may be other murder hornet nests in Washington State.</p>
<div id="a3b24" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="38572c61a5ebaf7cbdae52cd9f3cf21d"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1320151317495439361" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Quite a morning shooting Asian giant hornets and our WA Ag workers taking them out in Blaine. Love those sting-resi… https://t.co/uooInt70T9</div> — Elaine Thompson /// journalism matters (@Elaine Thompson /// journalism matters)<a href="https://twitter.com/ElaineMThompson/statuses/1320151317495439361">1603583575.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Murder hornets earned their nickname because they attack in groups and can inject a victim with as much venom as a snake bite. They are native to China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries, where they kill as many as three dozen people every year.</p><p>While that may sound like a lot, species of wasps, hornets and bees already common in the U.S. kill an average of 62 people a year, The Associated Press pointed out.</p><p>The main danger that Asian giant hornets pose is to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/honeybees" target="_self">honeybees</a>: A small group of them can kill an entire hive within hours, the <a href="https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=31875" target="_blank">WSDA said</a>.</p>
<p>Honeybees in Japan have evolved to surround invading hornets and vibrate until they cook the intruder alive, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/23/murder-hornet-us-first-nest-found-washington-state" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>. But North American honeybees have not evolved with Asian giant hornets, so they would not have any such defense strategies. Farmers are concerned that the hornets could devastate U.S. honeybee populations if they were to spread. This would also have serious consequences for all the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/food" target="_self">foods</a> that bees pollinate.</p><p>The WSDA discovered the first U.S. Asian giant hornet nest around 4 p.m. on Oct. 22. The nest was located after the WSDA tied radio trackers to some captured hornets with dental floss, The Associated Press reported.</p>
<div id="ef0b1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4b5bd1f1de8027364b6a15f8bfb6a358"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319651074744094720" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The rumors are true - our entomologists located the first-ever #AsianGiantHornet nest in the U.S. late yesterday. P… https://t.co/0LmpZToVHj</div> — WA St Dept of Agr (@WA St Dept of Agr)<a href="https://twitter.com/WSDAgov/statuses/1319651074744094720">1603464308.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The first Asian giant hornet was trapped in the U.S. in July, the WSDA said. Since then, its entomologists have been working to locate and eliminate any nests.</p>
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Researchers have discovered a link between air pollution, food delivery and plastic waste. Sorapop / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered a link between air pollution, food delivery and plastic waste.
<p>In a study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-00961-1" target="_blank">Nature Human Behavior</a>, the researchers found that the more polluted air outside is, the more likely office employees are to use food delivery services. This, in turn, increases the waste produced from single-use food packaging and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags" target="_self">bags</a>.</p><p>"While we see more research on the impact plastic pollution is having on the natural environment, there has been less work trying to understand the human behaviour that drives plastic pollution," Alberto Salvo, one of the study's authors, said in an <a href="https://news.nus.edu.sg/research/air-pollution-drives-food-delivery-consumption-and-plastic-waste" target="_blank">NUS news release</a>. "This is where our study seeks to contribute – finding a strong causal link between air pollution and plastic waste through the demand for food delivery."</p>
<p>The study surveyed the lunch choices of 251 office workers for 11 workdays each in three Chinese cities known for having levels of smog – Beijing, Shenyang and Shijiazhuang, the release explained. They also looked at data from an online food delivery platform with over 350,000 users. By comparing both datasets with air pollution data during the lunch hour, NUS researchers found that employees were 43% more likely to order food delivery when there was a 100 μg m–3 increase in particulate matter pollution (PM2.5), <a href="https://www.ibtimes.com/how-air-pollution-can-increase-food-deliveries-plastic-waste-3065010" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">International Business Times (IBT)</a> reported. By contrast, the general public was 7.2% more likely to use food delivery services with the same increase in air pollution.</p>
<p>PM is the most common indicator for air pollution, and includes nitrates, ammonia, sulfate, mineral dust and black carbon, the news report explained. According to the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Health Organization (WHO)</a>, PM affects more people than any other pollutant, and PM2.5, or fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system. Chronic exposure to particles contributes to the development of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/air-pollution-deaths-study-2648424420.html" target="_self">cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer</a>, the WHO said.</p><p>During the lunchtime periods surveyed by NUS researchers, PM2.5 levels were often well above the 24-hour U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 35 μg/m³, making pollution highly visible, the NUS release said.</p><p>"Faced with smog or haze outside, a typical office worker at lunchtime can avoid exposure only by ordering food to be delivered to his or her doorstep," said NUS researcher Chu Junhong in the NUS release.</p>
<p>Chu also explained in the release why air pollution seemed to have a smaller impact on food delivery in the general public than in workers, because people try to avoid the outdoors on a polluted day by using a home kitchen or eating at a cafeteria within their office building.</p><p>In a second part of the study, office workers submitted photos of their lunches, which researchers used to quantify the amount of disposable plastic in different dining choices, explained an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7M8AFvBEoE" target="_blank">NUS Business School video</a>.</p><p>Not surprisingly, researchers found that delivered meals used more plastic than meals eaten in restaurants. The average delivered meal used an average of 2.8 single-use plastic items or an estimated 54 grams of plastic, the video explained. By comparison, the average restaurant meal used an average of 6.6 grams of plastic, usually in the form of chopstick sleeves or bottles.</p>
<p>COVID-19 has <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/coronavirus-plastic-use-2645882816.html" target="_self">exacerbated the problem</a> by increasing the demand for delivered meals, which are usually packaged in plastic, the video explained.</p><p>According to the research, if all of China were exposed to a 100 μg/m³ PM2.5 increase in air pollution, the same as Beijing regularly experiences, 2.5 million more meals would be delivered daily, creating a total of five million more plastic food containers and plastic bags, reported <a href="https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/27790/20201020/air-pollution-causes-people-choose-food-delivery-services-resulting-plastic.htm" target="_blank">Science Times</a>.</p><p>NUS Researcher Liu Haoming said, "Individuals protect themselves from – and show their distaste for – air pollution by ordering food delivery which often comes in plastic packaging," in the NUS release.</p><p>IBT concluded that the study shows how people inadvertently contribute to the increasing plastic waste issues because they are trying to avoid air pollution. Liu added in the NUS release that the study makes it evident that "air pollution control can reduce plastic waste."</p><p>The findings could apply to other polluted developing nation-cities, such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, he said in the release.</p>
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