Prop 37 In CA

I was sad to learn that prop 37 failed in California. I was really hoping that GMOs could finally be labelled in the US! Even though it was unsuccessful, there still is a major food movement that exists. People are wanting to know more about their food and know exactly what they are ingesting. Prop 37 raised awareness on an issue that most people didn't think about before. Another funny thing is that some people have begun to label GMOs themselves. (see this link)

I can only hope that people continue to wonder about their food, the sources of their food, and the treatment of the workers, animals, and plants that create the food. Hopefully a sustainable future is nearby and hopefully we can all learn a bit more about a process that we normally turn a blind eye to.

Did any of you hear about prop 37 before? If you are curious, here are a few link to look at:

Food and Safety News: Why Prop 37 Failed

Ballotpedia.org: More info on what Prop 37 would have done

Voterguide: Compares Yes and No on Prop 37

CA Right to Know.org: Info on Prop 37


The unfortunate thing about the US is that the major corporations are in our government and have enough money to contribute millions of dollars to persuade people away from not buying their products. Here is a breakdown of which companies contributed and which side they were on:

Who's funding prop 37? 

All in all, I urge people to read labels, know where their food came from, and try to reconnect with the food system. It could be as easy as visiting a farmers market, or growing your own food, or perhaps even visiting a farm. Keep your eyes and ears open, because I don't think this will be the last time that this issue makes noise.

What is up with washing chicken?

Ok, this has bothered me for a while. I keep seeing recipes that tell people to "wash the chicken first" on the list of steps. My first question is... why? Why should I "wash my chicken" and why does it help? I personally have never washed chicken for one reason: washing chicken contaminates your sink. You know how you have to wash veggies, fruits, pots and pans, and many other things in the kitchen sink? Well, if you washed chicken in it, cross contamination can happen. Yuck! Another thing to mention... it doesn't clean your chicken. Whatever germs are on your chicken will be either killed when cooked or they can't be just rinsed off. Save yourself the hassle and just don't do it!


I have a few articles to share and some quotes from them that I think prove my point.

• "Don't Wash Your Chicken Before You Cook It and 9 Other Surprising Tips"

"Rinsing your chicken is an ideal way to spew nasty pathogens all over your sink and the surrounding area. Rinsing never did get rid of pathogens anyway."

• "Washing chicken increases food poisoning risk"

" An FSA spokeswoman said: ''Washing raw poultry is a common kitchen mistake, and it simply isn't necessary. "

"chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: ''It shouldn't be up to consumers to clean up problems made earlier in the food chain, but if you're planning on cooking a whole chicken be aware that if it's infected washing it actually increases the risk of food poisoning.

'Stay safe by cutting out the cleaning and cooking it through thoroughly.' "

Food Safety and Inspection Services says on their website (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/chicken_from_farm_to_table/index.asp#10) :

"Rinsing or Soaking Chicken
Washing raw poultry before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. This is called cross-contamination. Rinsing or soaking chicken does not destroy bacteria. Any bacteria that might be present on fresh chicken are destroyed only by cooking."

My advice... stop washing that chicken! Cook it to a proper temperature and you will be fine. I mean, do you really want chicken juice spewed a 3 foot radius from your kitchen sink? No? Me neither... 

Have you ever wondered...?

I used to wonder about food. Where did it come from? How many little farms did it take to make our food? When I watched the documentary Food Inc. I was shocked. If you haven't watched it, you really should. You can find it online, but it online, or even buy it from a store like Target. I really need to invest in my own copy of it. It isn't that I love the documentary (because it kind of scares me), but I know that more people need to see the film! Many of us have no idea where our food came from or what seeds/pesticides/herbicides/chemicals were used. Food Inc. is a documentary that exposes the food system for what it is. It has multiple interviews and discusses who really owns our food system. There is no better time than today to be informed! Go and watch it!

If you watch the movie and then want to know more, there is another documentary called The World According to Monsanto. If you click, you will be taken to the website to watch the documentary. This documentary is a fascinating movie to watch after Food Inc. Be an informed consumer and know more about your food than what it says on the label and fancy packaging. Go and watch! :)

Health and Food label lies

Americans seem to be obsessed with health. That may be a generalization, but the media has seemed to pick up on it quite well. There's exactly how many diets, diet pills, and slimming things now? I understand that health is important, but we become healthier through better life decisions and support from others who also need to be healthier. In fact, diets have been proven to work for while you are on them, but the weight returns once you stop the diet. Another diet problem is that you don't always get all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you really should. For my own health, I have majorly increased my fruit and vegetable intake and reduced foods that I don't really need to eat (like desserts, excess snacks, etc.) I don't try to label foods as bad or good, but I do try to avoid prepackaged foods as much as possible. There are many problems with prepackaged foods that I could ramble on about for hours, but one thing to consider is the labeling.


In this article, Are You Falling for These Food Label Lies?, a few of the common misconceptions about certain label terms are looked into. Phrases like "trans fat free, all natural, and made with real fruit" are a few of the 10 phrases discussed. It amazes me what we will believe. This is why I have this blog, to let the readers know some info that they might not have known before. Everyone should know this information in order to make guided decisions about the food they are eating! We have walked so far from the farm that we are left with a bit of a mess. Our food system needs help, and it is the little decisions that can slowly change everything. Your money buying certain items is your "vote" for what type of food you want in the future. Less processed = healthier for your body. If you see one of these phrases, be sure to be wary!