New Studies Dispel Myth Of Organic ‘Elitism’

www.enewspf.com - November 10th, 2011

Washington, DC--(ENEWSPF)--November 10, 2011.  Two new studies released last week add further proof that the popularity of organic food is not just an elitist trend. One report by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The 2011 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, finds that 78 percent of U.S. families purchase organic food. Another study by SCALE, Inc. finds that organic food is generally cheaper at farmers markets than at grocery stores in Southeast U.S.

OTA partnered with KIWI Magazine, and polled nearly 1,300 U.S. families about their attitudes and behaviors relating to organic food. The total sample reflects the target population of U.S. households with a confidence interval of +/-3% at the 95% confidence level. This is the third year the study has been conducted. According to OTA, it contains in-depth information about organic consumers’ demographics, purchase motivation, understanding of organic, willingness to substitute when organic is not available, and attitudes about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The other study, Is Local Food Affordable for Ordinary Folks?, compares farmers markets and supermarkets throughout 19 different communities in six Southeast states, including Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. Though the study focuses on local foods, it did find that when organic food was available at the market, it was generally around 16% less expensive than at supermarkets in 88% of the communities examined.

This research is in line with previous reports on the growing market of organic agriculture. A poll conducted this summer by Thompson-Reuters and National Public Radio (NPR) found that 58% of respondents say they choose organic over conventionally produced foods when they have the opportunity. Other research suggests that U.S. retail sales of organic sales are projected to double in the next few years, despite the lagging economy.

“In a time when the severity of the economy means making tough choices, it is extremely encouraging to see consumers vote with their values by including quality organic products in their shopping carts,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s Executive Director and CEO. The finding is one of many contained in OTA’s newly released 2011 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study. “It’s clear that with more than three-quarters of U.S. families choosing organic, this has moved way beyond a niche market,” Ms. Bushway added.

Read More

Maple Roasted Rack of Pork with Creamy Mushroom Bechamel

1 6 lb rack of pork

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons whole grain mustard

1/4 cup good quality maple syrup
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

sea salt and black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 F

Combine mustard, maple syrup, olive oil, garlic, and rosemary in a bowl and stir to combine. Season with sea salt and black pepper.  Rub roast all over to fully coat with the marinade. Season with sea salt and black pepper.

Place pork on a rack in a roasting pan and roast until thermometer inserted into the center of pork registers at 140 F (about 1 hour).  Glaze pork occasionally with the pan drippings and any left over marinade. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes before carving. Continue glazing pork with pan dripping until serving.

Serve with your favorite roasted vegetables and Mushroom Bechamel.

Mushroom Bechamel:

2 cups milk

1/2 cup fresh cream

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons unbleached white flour

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups cremini mushrooms, cooked

1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Salt and black

In a medium pan, heat the butter over medium to high until it melts. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Keep over medium heat until it turns slightly darker in color (about 4 minutes). Meanwhile heat milk in a medium saucepan until just about to boil. Add to the flour mixture one cup at a time whisking constantly until all the milk is used up and sauce is smooth. Bring sauce to a boil and cook a further 10 minutes, whisking constantly. Mix in mushrooms, parmesan, and nutmeg. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

FDA Denies Citizen Petitions on Animal Antibiotics

www.sacbee.com - November 9th, 2011

CHICAGO, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, in a disappointing move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied two citizen petitions that asked the Agency to ban certain uses of antibiotics in food animals.  The petitions, filed in 1999 and 2005, urge the FDA to withdraw the approvals for antibiotics given to animals in feed or water for purposes other than disease treatment if the antibiotics are also used in human medicine. The petitions were filed by Environmental Defense, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Animal Concerns Trust, and the Union of Concerned Scientists along with other groups because of evidence showing that using antibiotics in this way in food animals can lead to the spread of difficult to treat resistant infections in humans.

The response to these long-standing citizen petitions came after several of the petitioners filed suit in May against the FDA for not responding.  In addition to demanding the FDA respond to the citizen petitions, the lawsuit asks that the FDA take action on the Agency's own safety findings from 1977 and withdraw approval for most uses of penicillin and tetracyclines in animal feed. 

In denying the petitions, the FDA did not challenge the need to reduce antibiotic use, but instead argued that the withdrawal process itself was too expensive and resource intensive. Rather than implementing its formal process for taking drugs off the market, the Agency stated that it plans "to work with sponsors who approach FDA and are interested in working cooperatively with the Agency to phase out production uses of medically important antimicrobials." FDA has released a draft version of a document that describes its plan to reduce use through the voluntary withdrawal by pharmaceutical companies of currently marketed uses of antibiotics in feed.  

"Instead of adhering to its mission to protect consumers, the FDA is waiting for the drug companies to voluntarily do what the Agency is legally mandated to do. There is absolutely no reason to believe that drug companies will voluntarily reduce sales of antibiotics and act against their own financial self-interest. Without reductions in antibiotics used it is impossible for there to be any public health benefit," said Steven Roach, FACT's Public Health Program Director. "For this reason we do not see the FDA's plan as an answer to the petitions or the problem of antibiotic resistance."

Read More

Spiced Roasted Pumpkin

2 lbs pumpkin, any kind (chop into bite size chunks)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon raw brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

sea salt and black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 F

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well to fully combine. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Bake for 30 minutes or until pumpkin is cooked, crispy, and a golden color.

Serve warm as a side dish with your favorite meal.