but time goes on.  i still have the mother of all my hot sauces brewing on top of the fridge, and i’ve sent lots of little baby hot sauces out into the world as gifts.

and now my friend santa claus has donated a bag of peppers from the mennonite farm around the corner from the north pole, so i’ve got a brand new batch going.

i thought i’d show you.

the basic idea behind cure-all hot sauce is to put all sorts of medicinal things into vinegar for awhile.  and then eat it on everything.

so the picture above shows all sorts of things in the bottom of the jar.  eyes of garlic, chunks of ginger, juniper berries, allspice, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, celery seed, coriander, cumin seed, black pepper, brown mustard seed, and whatever else is in my pantry at the time.  i didn’t have horseradish, more’s the pity.

and then i stuffed it full of finger hot peppers, poured it full of vinegar, then capped it, dated it, and stuck it on top of the fridge. no pressure/heat canning, nothing complicated.  the ingredients are pretty mold proof in vinegar like that.

in a couple of months i can start pouring off the vinegar and bottling it up as hot sauce, wish maybe a couple more eyes and fingers inside.

i sent batches of it out once xmas, but only a few people ever commented on it, so i’m not doing that anymore.  but i’ve got loads on the fridge and use it like it was free.

which it is.

oh 20 some odd years ago i went to an allergist because i had asthma and my doctor referred me.  i got a battery of tests – these big boards with pins sticking out of them that the tech mashed into my back, and then watched the welts come up.

the result – i was allergic to practically everything and needed a whole bunch of allergy shots, a whole regimen.

i ran screaming.

my understanding of my own system is that i am hypersensitive, especially to chemicals.  but i react easily, to pretty much anything.  i’ve got that kind of personality, too.  you should see me at a party.

so my answer to i’m allergic to everything was to decide i just had to be more tolerant.

so, allergic to feathers?  sleep on a feather pillow.  allergic to dog hair?  get a dog.  total immersion, that’s my answer.  it’s a personal thing.  kind of macho, actually, and since i got cancer i’ve kind of toned down the self-conquering attitude.

but moderation in all things.

being allergic to something is being intolerant to it.

and intolerance is bad, right?

so the idea that a little dose will inoculate you isn’t such a far-fetched one.

Can exposing little mites to dust stop allergy?

By Martin Halfpenny

Thursday October 27 2011

DOCTORS are to expose babies to dust mites in an attempt to halt the rising allergy epidemic.

Experts hope that exposing tots under one year old to the common allergen — often found in pillows, mattresses and on carpets — when their immune systems are developing will prevent them becoming allergic in the future.

A total of 120 babies aged five to nine months with a family history of allergy will take part in the project.

It is being conducted at the respiratory biomedical research unit at the University Hospital Southampton and the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre on the Isle of Wight.

As many as one in four people in the UK are affected at some time in their lives, with children accounting for half of those affected.

Dust mites are the most prevalent trigger, inducing reactions in 85pc of asthmatic people.

Prof Graham Roberts, a specialist in allergies, said: “We hope that by giving babies an allergen when their immune systems are working out what is and isn’t harmful will teach their bodies to not become susceptible as they grow up.”

Professor Hasan Arshad, director of the research centre, said: “We need to act very early in life — before babies reach their first birthday — and this should reduce the development of asthma and other allergies.”

Who Owns Organic? The Organic Corporate Brand List v1.4

Feb 19, 2009 | By: John Serrao

Ever wonder who owns organic brands you see on the shelves in the grocery store? Better still – which of all these new organic brands belongs to whom?

Well, it turns out you have come to the right place. This chart lays out the parent companies of each major organic label you are likely to see in the supermarket and what food stuffs they are selling. We have broken the chart into two distinct groups – agribusiness and independent labels (extended methodology is available below the chart). We hope this helps you determine the true owners of your food.

Agribusiness Organic/Health Labels

Organic Label	Parent Company	Food Stuffs
Organic Wild Hop Lager	Anheuser-Busch Beer	Lager Beer
Green & Black’s	Cadbury Schweppes Plc.	Chocolate Bars and Ice Cream
Chunky – Healthy Request	Campbell’s	Soups
Organic Select Soups (discontinued?)	Campbell’s	Soup
Pace (Picante) Organic	Campbell’s	Salsa
Prego Organic	Campbell’s	Pasta sauces
Swanson Broth (Certified Organic)	Campbell’s	Chicken, Beef and Vegetable Broths
V8 (Organic)	Campbell’s	Tomato Juices, Soups
Gold Peak Tea	The Coca-Cola Company	Tea, ‘Natural’
Odwalla Juices	The Coca-Cola Company	Fruit Juices, Fruit Bars
ConAgra Mills	ConAgra	Wheat and Flours
Healthy Choice, All Natural	ConAgra	Frozen Dinners, Soups, Pizzas, Sauces
Hunt’s Organic	ConAgra	Ketchup, Tomatoes, Sauce
Orville Redenbacher’s Natural (Organic)	ConAgra	Popcorn
PAM Organic	ConAgra	Olive OIl and Canola Oil Sprays
Silk (White Wave)	Dean Foods (Dairy)	Soy Milk
Horizon Organic (White Wave)	Dean Foods (Dairy)	Organic Dairy Products (Butter, Milk, etc.)
Cascadian Farm	General Mills	Cereals, Granola, Frozen Fuits and Vegetables
Muir Glen	General Mills	Tomato Products and Soups
Arrowhead Mills	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Whole and Organic Grains
Celestial Seasonings	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Tea Products
Rice Dream	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Non-dairy Beverages, Ice Cream Susbstitutes
Soy Dream	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Non-dairy Beverages, Ice Cream Susbstitutes
Oat Dream	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Non-dairy Beverages, Ice Cream Susbstitutes
Almond Dream	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Non-dairy Beverages, Ice Cream Susbstitutes
Hemp Dream	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Non-dairy Beverages, Ice Cream Susbstitutes
Garden of Eatin’	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Corn Chips
Health Valley	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Bars, Cereal, Cookies, Crackers, Soups
Imagine Foods	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Soups, Broths
Terra Chips	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Chips and Snacks
Walnut Acres	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Sauces, Salsas, Juices
Yves Veggie Cuisine	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Synthetic Meat Products
Boulder Canyon Natural Foods	The Inventure Group	Potato Chips
RW Knudsen Family Juices	JM Smuckers	Fruit Juices
Santa Cruz Organic Juices	JM Smuckers	Juices, Spritzers, Peanut Butter, Sodas
Kashi	Kelloggs	Cereals, Crackers, Bars, Pizzas
MorningStar Farms	Kelloggs	Synthetic Meat Products
Back to Nature Foods	Kraft (Altria/Philip Morris)	Cereals, Granola, Cookies, Crackers
Boca Foods	Kraft (Altria/Philip Morris)	Synthetic Meat Products
Private Selection Organics	Kroger Supermarkets	Beverages, Dairy, Eggs, Produce, Meat and Snacks
Kettle Foods	Lion Capital – UK)	Potato Chips, Tortilla Chips, Nut Butters
O Organics (Safeway)	Lucerne Foods	Beverages, Dairy, Eggs, Produce, Meat and Snacks
Stone Mill Pale Ale	MillerCoors (Michelob Brewing)	Pale Ale Beer
Gerber Organic	Nestle (Gerber)	Baby Food, Juice, Cereal, Raviolis
Arrowhead (some fluoridated)	Nestle Waters	Water, 8oz – 5 Gallon Sized Bottles
Deer Park (some fluoridated)	Nestle Waters	Water, 8oz – 5 Gallon Sized Bottles
Ozarka (some fluoridated)	Nestle Waters	Water, 8oz – 5 Gallon Sized Bottles
Poland Spring (some fluoridated)	Nestle Waters	Water, 8oz – 5 Gallon Sized Bottles
Ethos Water	PepsiCo	Water
Flat Earth Snacks	PepsiCo – Frito Lay	Veggie Snacks
Naked Juice	PepsiCo	Fruit Juices
Simple Harvest – Quaker Oats	PepsiCo	Oatmeal, Bars, Instant Oatmeal
Tropicana Organic Orange Juice (possibly discontinued)	PepsiCo	Orange Juice
Sara Lee Delightful	Sara Lee	Breads and Bakery Products
Earth Balance	Smart Balance (formerly Boulder Specialty Brands, Inc.)	Butter Spreads, Soy Spreads
Nature’s Farm (Organic Chicken)	Tyson Chicken	Chicken
Organic Ben & Jerry’s	Unilever	Ice Cream
Lipton PureLeaf	Unilever	Teas, ‘Natural’
Ragu Oragnic	Unilever	Pasta Sauce
Nature’s Pride	Interstate Bakeries	Breads
Brown Cow	Dannon	Yogurts
Honest Tea	The Coca-Cola Company (40%)	Teas
Baleine (La) Salt	Les Salins du Midi	Salt Products
Morton’s (Kosher) Salt	Rohm & Hass Company	Salts
Looza	Pepsico	Fruit Drinks
True North Snacks	Pepsico (Frito Lay)	Nuts and Nut Snacks
West Soy	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Soy and Rice Mlik
Smart Water (Glaceau)	The Coca-Cola Company	Water, Bottled
Vitamin Water (Glaceau)	The Coca-Cola Company	Water, Flavored
Propel Fitness Water	Pepsico	Water, Flavored
Sobe (Lifewater)	Pepsico	Water, Flavored, Tea
Aquafina	Pepsico	Water, bottled
Mother’s Natural Cereals	Pepsico (Quaker Oats)	Cereals, Rice Cakes
SunSpire Chocolate	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Chocolate Products
Jocalat Chocolate	General Mills (Humm Foods)	Cholocate Bars
Larabar	General Mills (Humm Foods)	Energy Bars
Nature Valley	General Mills	Energy Granola Bars
GoodEarth Teas	Tata (Tetley) Teas	Tea
Smart Products (SmartDogs, SmartBacon, SmartChili)	ConAgra (LightLife)	Meat Substitute Products
GimmeLean	ConAgra (LightLife)	Meat Substitute, Ground
Billington’s Sugar	Associated British Foods, plc (UK)	Sugar, Natural
Guiltless Gourmet	The Manischewitz Company	Chips, Dips, Cakes
Maranatha Foods	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Nut Butters, Peanut Butter
Near East	Quaker Foods (PepsiCo)	Middle Eastern Foods – Pastas, Pilafs, Falafel, Couscous
Tazo Tea	Starbucks	Teas
Stacy’s Snacks	PepsiCo	Chips – Pita + Bagel Chips
Imagine Foods	Hain Celestial Group (HJ Heinz)	Soups, Broths, Stocks
French Meadow Bakery	Rich Product Corporation	Bagels, Tortillas, Breads, Gluten-Free
Nantucket Nectars	Cadbury Schweppes	Juices, Nectars
Evian	Dannon (Groupe Danone)	Water, French Alps
Volvic Water	Dannon (Groupe Danone)	Water, Volcanic Origin
Fiji Water	Roll International	Water, Artesian
POM Products	Roll International	Juice, Energy Bars, Pills, Iced Coffee
Arizona Organics	Ferolito, Vultaggio & Sons	Sweet Tea
Pearl Soy Milk	The Kikkoman Group	Soymilk
POM Wonderful	Roll International	Pomegranate Juice, Pomegranate Products
Old Bay	McCormick	Seasoning, Fish
Wholesome Sweeteners	Imperial Sugar	Sweeteners, Agave, Honey, Sugar

Independent Organic Labels

Organic Label	Parent Company	Food Stuffs
Bob’s Red Mill	Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods	Whole Grains, Gluten Free, Flours, Seeds
Clif Bar/Nectar Fruit Organic	Clif Bar & Company	Vegan Energy Bars (Men)
Luna Bar	Clif Bar & Company	Vegan Energy Bars (Women)
Petaluma Poultry (Rocky/Rosie the Chicken)	Coleman Natural Meats	Chicken Products (Sustainable)
Earthbound Farms Organic	Earthbound Farms	Fresh Produce, Cookies, Dried Fruit
Peace Cereal	Golden Temple (of Oregon)	Cereals
Yogi Tea	Golden Temple (of Oregon)	Tea
Coleman Natural Beef	Meyer Natural Angus	Beef Only Products
Laura’s Lean Beef Company	Meyer Natural Angus	Beef Products, Humanely Raised
EnviroKidz	Nature’s Path	Kids Cereals, Energy Bars, Waffles, Cookies
Optimum	Nature’s Path	Cereals, Bars, Waffles, Breads
Weil by Nature’s Path	Nature’s Path	Bars, Hot Cereal, Waffles, Breads, Mixes
Organic Prairie	Organic Valley Coop (1300+ farms)	Beef, Pork, Chicken, Turkey
Organic Valley Brand	Organic Valley Coop (1300+ farms)	Dairy, Eggs, Juice, Meat, Soy and Produce
Wolaver’s Beers	Otter Creek Brewery	Ale Beers, Stout Beers
Pamela’s	Pamela’s Products	Cookies and Baking Mixes
Giving Nature	Giving Nature Foods	Eggs, Milk
Echo Farms Puddings	Echo Farms Puddings	Pudding
Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs	Pete and Gerry’s	Eggs (New England)
Murray’s Chicken	Murray Bresky	Chicken, Fresh + Humane
Piney River Organics	Black Eagle Farm	Yogurt, Dairy
Black Eagle Farm	Dr Ralph Glatt	Meats (Beef, Chicken, Goat, Pork, Lamb) – Virginia
Seven Stars Farm	Seven Stars Farm	Yogurt
Hawthrorne Valley Farm	Hawthorne Valley Farm	Yogurt/Dairy
Golden Valley Natural	Roger H. Ball	Beef Jerky (Idaho)
Zija	Plant Miracle (Direct Level Marketing)	Fruit Drink
Cell-nique	Cell-nique	Green Drink
Artisan Salts (Colored)	Artisan Salt Company	Salts, fancy
Redmond Real Salt	Redmond Trading Company	Salts and Seasonings
Lakewood Juices	Florida Family Trust	Fruit Juices
Dr. Praeger’s	Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods	Frozen Foods, Jewish Foods
Country Choice Organic	Country Choice	Cookies, Oatmeal
Eden Foods (Edensoy)	Meridian Foods (UK)	Snacks, Whole Grains, Beverages, Canned Foods, Japanese Foods
Maldon Sea Salt	Maldon and Essex Salt Makers	Salt
Suzie’s	???	Whole Grain Snacks
Ian’s Natural Foods	Ian’s Natural Foods	Kids Snacks, Entrees, Breakfast
Doctor Kracker	Kracker Enterprises LLC	Crackers
Lakefront Brewery	Lakefront Brewery LLC	Beer – Organic ESP
Cal Organic	Cal Organic	Produce
Grimmway Farms	Cal Organic	Produce
San J	San Jirushi Corporation of Japan	Soy Sauce, Tamari, Marinades
Blue Diamond	Blue Diamond Growers Cooperative	Almonds, Nut Thins, Almond Milk
XOXOXO (Chocolove) Chocolate	Chocolove Inc.	Chocolate Bars
Terra Nostra Chocolate	KFM Foods International	Chocolate Bars
Vivani Chocolate (German)	Vivani (Internatural Foods, LLC)	Chocolate Bars
Endangered Species Chocolate Company	Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC	Chocolate Bar
Theo Chocolate	Theo Chocolate	Chocolate Bars
Edward & Sons	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Japanese Food (Miso, Panko, Brown Rice Crackers)
Let’s Do…Organic	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Candy – Gummi Bears, Licorice, Tapioca
Native Forest	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Fruits and Vegetables (Canned)
Nature Factor	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Coconut Products
Premier Japan	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Sauces, Asian
Road’s End Organics	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Pastas, Mixes, Sauces
The Wizard’s Saucery	Edward & Sons Trading Company	Sauces, Vegan (great label!)
Samuel Smith Organic Beer	Merchant du Vin Corporation (England)	Beer (Ales, Stouts, Fruit Beers)
Newman’s Own Organics	Newman’s Own	Cookies, Snacks, Teas, Oils, Coffee
Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water	CG Roxane Water Company	Water Products (Sierra Nevada Spring)
Vermont Mystic Pie Company	Vermont Mystic Pie Company	Pies
Sunergia Soyfoods	Sunergia Soyfoods	Soy Cheese, Tofu
Nasoya Foods	Vitasoy	Soy Products – Tofu, Sauces
Vitasoy	Vitasoy	Soy Milk
Azumaya	Vitasoy	Noodle Soup, Pasta, Wraps, Tofu
Lesser Evil Snacks	Lesser Evil Brand Snack Company	Snacks – Popcorn, Potato Sticks
New Morning	Attune Foods	Cereals
Erewhon	Attune Foods	Cereals
Oregon Chai	Kerry Group, PLC	Tea, Chai
Choice Organic Teas	Granum, Inc.	Tea
Alvita	IdeaSphere Inc.	Tea
BossaNova Suprefruit Juice	Bossa Nova Company	Juices with Acai Berry
Zoe’s Granola	Zoe’s Foods	Granola, Energy Bars, Cereals
thinkOrganic, thinkGreen	think Brands	Energy Bars
ECO Meal	EcoMeal Inc.	Dairy, Nuts, Grains, Beverages
popchips	Popchips Company	Potato Chips
Pannela	Pannela Foods LLC	Juices, Cane Sugar Based
I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter (Trader Joe’s SoyNut Butter)	The SoyNut Butter Company	Soy-based Peanut Butter Substitute
Funky Monkey Snacks	Funky Monkey Snacks	Fruit, Dried
Wedderspoon Honey (New Zealand)	Wedderspoon Organic Inc.	Honey, Manuka Variety
mix 1	Tri-Us LLC	Beverages, Protein Drinks, Energy Bars
Melitta Coffee	Melitta Coffee USA	Coffee
Baronet Coffee	Baronet Gourmet Coffee Inc.	Coffee
Yummy Earth Lollipops	YummyEarth	Candy, Lollipops
Hearts & Minds	Hearts & Minds LLC	Peanut Butter, w/ Omega-3
Eddie’s Pasta	InterNatural Foods	Pasta
O.N.E. Natural Experience	O.N.E. World Enterprises	Beverages, Fruit
Manitoba Harvest	Manitoba Harvest	Hemp Products (Milk, Seed, Protein, Oil)
Living Harvest Hempmilk	Living Harvest Foods, Inc.	Hemp Milk and Hemp Oil
Texmati, Jasmati (Rice Select)	RiceSelect	Rice, Rice Blends
Madhava – Sweeteners	Madhava Honey	Sweeteners – Honey, Agave
FruitaBu	FruitBu	Fruit Snacks, Tea
Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods	Right Foods	Soups, Oatmeal
Cafe Altura	Clean Foods, Inc.	Coffee
Tasty Bite Indian	Preferred Brands International	Indian, Thai Foods
Scarpetta Sauces	Sauces ‘n Love	Tomato Sauce, Italian Fine Foods
Annie Chun’s Meals		Noodle Bowls, Sushi, Sauces
FoxRiver Rice	Fox River Rice, Inc.	Rice Blends
Sensible Foods	Sensible Foods LLC	Dried Fruit
Rapunzel	Family Owned	Baking Products, Chocolate, Oils, Mixes
Koyo Organic	None	Japenese Foods – Udon Noodles, Sauces, Rice Cakes
Real Foods Company	Real Foods Company	Commercial Foods – Tzatziki, Sauces, Side Dishes
Harvest Bay Beverages	Harvest Bar Company	Beverages – Coconut, Acai Berry
Ener-G Foods	Ener-G Foods, Inc.	Grain Products – Breads, Cookies, Pastas, Flours, Cereals
Steaz Beverages	Healthy Beverage Company	Teas – Iced Teas, Energy Drinks
Old Wessex Ltd.	Old Wessex Ltd.	Hot Cereal, Oatmeal
Woodstock Farms	Woodstock Farms Inc.	Grains, Applesauce, Canned Goods, Condiments, Juices, Milk, Salads
Go Naturally	Hillside Candy	Hard Candies
BoraBora Bars	Wellements Bars	Energy Bars
Cafe Sanora	Wellements	Coffee
Green Mountain Gringo	TW Garner Food Company	Chips, Salsa
Vita Spelt	Purity Foods Inc.	Bread Products – Cereals, Flours, Granola, Pastas, Pretzels
Food Should Taste Good	Sherbrooke Capital	Chips – Exotic, Snacks
Miguel’s Organic Chips	Middlebury Partners	Chips, Salsa, Plantains
Rising Moon	Rising Moon Organics	Italian Foods – Pastas, Pizzas, Ravioli
Bionaturae	Euro-USA Trading Co., Inc.	Pastas, Olive Oil, Tomato Sauces, Fruit Spreads
Wildwood	Pulmuone Wildwood	Soy and Tofu Products
Whole Soy and Co	Whole Soy and Co	Soy Yogurt and Ice Cream
Natural by Nature	Natural by Nature	Dairy – Milk, Cream, Cheese, Yogurts
Applegate Farms	Applegate Farms – (Dietz & Watson partnership)	Meat – Cold Cuts, Frozen Beef, Hot Dogs, Bacon
Himalania Organic	Himalania	Goji Berries, Pink Salt
Alvarado St. Bakery	Alvarado St. Bakery	Breads, Sprouted Grain, Bagels, Tortillas
Annie’s Naturals	Solera Capital	Dressings, Marinades, Sauces, Condiments
Pacific Natural Foods	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Soups, Teas, Soy, Pizzas, Mates
365 Organics	Whole Foods	Beverages, snacks, supplements
Barbara’s Bakery	Barbara’s Bakery Inc (Sunfield Farms)	Cereal, Snacks
ZenSoy	ZenSoy	Soy Pudding, Soy Milk
SweetLeaf Sweetener	Wisdom Natural Brands (United American Industries, Inc)	Stevia Products
Vitalicious	Vitalicious, Inc.	Snacks, low calorie
Healthy Handfuls	Healthy Handfuls, Inc.	Snacks
Attune Probiotic Bars	Attune Foods	Energy Bars
Melissa’s	World Variety Produce, Inc	Produce Baskets, exotic
Amy’s Foods	Amy’s Kitchen, Inc.	Frozen foods, Soups, Pizzas, Snacks
Lundberg Family Farms	Lundberg Family	Rice, Rice Products, Snacks
Tony Chacere’s	Family Owned	Seasoning, Sausage, Turduchens
The Republic of Tea	The Republic of Tea	Teas
Numi Tea	Numi LLC	Teas, Bottled Tea
Traditional Medicinals	Traditional Medicinals	Herbal Teas

Notes:

Our distinction for calling a brand agribusiness is based on whether or not they are part of a corporate conglomerate whose main focus is not organics. Parent companies whose primary business is organics were placed in the independent category because often, they were the pioneers in using organic, healthy ingredients in the marketplace long before it was a popular choice.

Many of the brand labels you see listed in the ‘Agribusiness’ section (like Green & Black’s for example) were once organic pioneers in their respective fields – so this may cause you some confusion; thats exactly why this chart was made. Many (but not all) agribusiness interests count on you not being able to associate their organic labels with the parent company. We believe this is a dishonest practice. With the price premiums that are now attached with organics, buyers need to understand the marketplace more fully so they can make educated decisions.

Mind you, this is not a slight against agribusiness. We long for the day when Unilever and Kraft offer only organic products. Additionally, we are not suggesting that these agribusiness firms are no longer innovating – quite the contrary. Organics are one of the major agribuisness initiatives currently sweeping over the food marketplace and that is great for everyone. Still, a destinction needs to be made between market participants for whom organics is just another market segment versus companies that have fully embodied organic product lines from Day 1.

We have also chosen to include firms owned by venture capitalists and private investors as independent, even though most of these brands are likely being built to be sold to agribusiness interests at a later date for substantial profit.

Also note that this chart is designed for an American audience. International ones may follow if demand warrants.

If you have additional information to add to this chart, please contact Nutrition Wonderland at info@nutritionwonderland.com. Please include any necessary references.

Sources:

• PepsiCo to acquire Naked Juice (2007_01_01)
• Corporate Organic Beer Scene (2007)
• Cadbury’s aquires Green Blacks (2005_05_13)
• The History of Nestle (2006)
• ConAgra News Release – PAM organic (2006-05-08)
• The Organic Pages Online – Campbell’s (2009-02-19)
• Heinz to Purchase Additional Equity in Hain Celestial to Restore Investment Level to 19.5 Percent (2000-06-15)
• Lion Capital – Kettle Foods (2009-02-19)
• O Organics becomes not-so-private label (2009-09-18)
• Meyer Natural Angus to purchase natural beef business of Coleman Natural Foods (2004-08-08)
• Organic Industry Structure: Acquisitions by the Top 25 Food Processors in North America, Phil Howard, Michigan State University (2007-07)
• GOOD Magazine: Buying Organic (All You Can Eat) (2008-04)
• Black Eagle Farm Enters New Territory (2008-10)
• Coca-Cola acquires stake in Honest Tea (2008-02)
• Morningstar: Our Thoughts on Coke and Glaceau Deal ($4.2 billion) (2007-05-27)
• General Mills Acquires Humm Foods, Makers of LARABAR(R) (2008-06-10)
• Organic’s Sweet Partnership (Terra Nostra Chocolate) (2007-09)
• Tata Tea Buys Good Earth Tea (2006)
• ConAgra acquires vegeterian foods maker Lightlife Foods (2000-07-17)
• TIME Magazine: Curry in a Hurry (Tasty Bite/Preferred Brands Int’l)
• Sherbrooke Capital Announces Investment in FoodShouldTasteGood(TM). (2007-03-19)
• PepsiCo To Acquire Stacy’s Pita Chip Co. (2005-11-28)
• Cadbury and Ocean Spray in juice deal (2002-03-26)
• Lance, Diamond in bidding for Kettle (2010-02-03)
• Attune Foods Acquires Uncle Sam and Erewhon Cereal Brands from US Mills (2009.12.14)

it was a late lunch – 2:30, and i could have worked thru the fatigue, gotten up, walked the dogs, gone back to work.  but i went and lay down, and the next thing i knew the phone was ringing, so i lurched up, grabbed it on the third ring, grunted a few times, and handed the phone off to the intended recipient, then fell back into bed instead of getting up and going back to work, and slept for another while.  then it was 5 in the afternoon.

and this is the second time it’s happened just like that after yogurt.  the second time i’ve noticed it.

so what am i eating?  or is it possible that i’m leaving the food so late that my blood sugar is near zero and it takes all my being to process whatever food i shovel in?

i ate stoneyfield plain organic whole milk yogurt, but recently they’ve fucked with the yogurt (using enzymes) and now it’s ‘smooth and creamy’ with a suspicious pebbly pattern, instead of being cream on top.

also in the bowl is my spice mixture – cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger.

walnuts, almonds, rolled oats, coconut.

blueberries, prunes, crystallized ginger.

and a healthy spoonful of raw honey.

something is knocking me out.  and this post is the beginning of figuring it out.  it’s happened before with yogurt, but my eating habits are not regular or consistent, and a lot of things knock me out.  i’ll be keeping notes.

Is this Flavor Enhancer Making You and Your Children Sick and Fat?

Anthony Gucciardi
NaturalSociety
August 9, 2011

 

Obesity has run rampant across the globe to such a degree that even infant obesity is now turning into an epidemic. The problem has become so drastic that babies are now given anti-obesity drugs in the womb, medicated with weight loss pharmaceuticals before they are even born. Even more horrendous than climbing childhood obesity rates are adult obesity rates, which continue to skyrocket across not only the United States but the entire world population. What could be the cause of such a global health crisis? While there certainly is not a single factor to blame, one major player may be the integration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) into the average diet of both children and adults.

MSG is a deceptive “flavor enhancer” that has an extremely sweet taste and is widely used by the restaurant industry to make otherwise bad and unhealthy food taste delicious. Chemically, MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid. Considering that it is derived from a natural source, shouldn’t it be of no danger to the body? After all, it is derived from an amino acid, which are considered the building blocks of life. The truth is that MSG, just like aspartame, is a toxic substance that has been found to damage the body in a number of ways — despite being “naturally” extracted from a non-essential amino acid. The problem is that when a singular amino acid is extracted from a complex food, and increases the concentration to unnatural proportions, glutamic acid can have devastating health effects. (See: Foods highest in glutamic acid)

In fact, MSG has been found to directly damage not only your neurological tissue, but has been found to lead to endocrine disruption throughout your body associated with metabolic syndrome. The reason for this lies within the relationship between MSG and the cells in your body. Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, has described MSG as an excitotoxin. What this means is that MSG is so potent that it “excites” your cells to the point of death or damage, leading to varying degrees of brain damage. The result is the triggering of learning disabilities and neurological issues. Even the FDA has spoken out about the link between neurological diseases and MSG:

Studies have shown that the body uses glutamate, an amino acid, as a nerve impulse transmitter in the brain and that there are glutamate-responsive tissues in other parts of the body, as well.

Abnormal function of glutamate receptors has been linked with certain neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s chorea. Injections of glutamate in laboratory animals have resulted in damage to nerve cells in the brain.

According to the FDA, MSG Symptom Complex can involve symptoms such as:

• Numbness
• Burning sensation
• Tingling
• Facial pressure or tightness
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Nausea
• Rapid heartbeat
• Drowsiness
• Weakness

The Obesity Connection

Aside from damaging major parts of your biology, MSG consumption may also be making you fatter. The University of North Carolina as well as a number of other organizations have found that those who use MSG are more likely to be overweight or obese than those who do not yet have the same amount of physical activity and calorie intake. Researchers from UNC teamed up with Chinese scientists to examine 750 Chinese men and women, aged between 40 and 59, in three rural villages in north and south China. With 82% of participants using MSG in their food, researchers created 3 different groups of eaters based on the amount of MSG they use. The results were quite shocking.

The group who used the most MSG were 3 times more likely to be overweight than non-users. Again, all of the groups had the SAME amount of physical activity and calorie intake!

Later in 2011, the study would continue on to find even more astounding information. Led by Ka He, a nutrition expert at the University of North Carolina, the researchers followed 10,000 adults in China for about 5.5 years on average. The intake in Asian countries is considerably higher than the United States so the results will be amplified in China verses the U.S., though that is beginning to change. Americans are consuming more and more MSG in processed food products such as chips and canned soups even when it is not labeled. Still,  Americans’ typical daily intake of MSG is estimated to be only about 1/2 a gram, whereas estimates for Japan and Korea have much wider ranges, averaging as much as 10 grams per day.

Studying the intake of MSG in a wider range of participants and for a longer period of time, the results matched the previous study. Those who consumed the most MSG (a median of 5 grams a day) were about 30% more likely to become overweight by the end of the study than those who consumed the least amount of the flavoring (less than a half-gram a day), the researchers found. Participants still had the same physical activity and calorie intake. Furthermore, the risk rose to 33 percent when excluding those who were overweight at the beginning of the study.

The leader of the study, Ka He, summarized his thoughts on the findings:

Everybody eats it. This could spell trouble for many Americans, as aside from impacting your brain and nervous system, as I’ll discuss below, it may also be making you fat.

Regular consumption of MSG certainly will lead to a higher obesity risk, as it will lead to additional weight with each additional gram consumed per day. If the obesity risk is not enough, it also damages the cells in your body and may lead to neurological damage. There is simply no reason to choose MSG over a natural and safe alternative such as stevia.

 Sources:

GreenMedInfo - The Flavor Enhancer That Sickens

i filled an empty mrs. dash shaker (jumbo size) with a spice mixture that i made up out of tubs of ground spice.  it was the usual, cinammon, cloves and nutmeg, and at one point i had cookies with cardamom in them and loved it, so i added a good dose of that.  and then i found some powdered ginger one day, and stuck that in too.

the last time i made ice cream, i shook in half a cup of my ground spice mixture, along with a heaping tsp of chili powder and an ounce of pulverized coffee.  this is for a half gallon of ice cream.

and we love it.  we’ve been eating it for over a year, every night.  it’s type-2 diabetic for thin-variant type 2s, so eating it doesn’t raise anybody’s blood sugar.  it’s not very sweet at all, and whenever i forcefeed a guest with a tiny taste they make a face, so it can’t be very sweet at all.  it’s got lots of fat – a lot of milkfat and a bunch of coconut oil to help fatten up a thin type 2 diabetic with low cholesterol and no heart troubles.  i’ve posted the recipe elsewhere.

recently 100% of the people eating this ice cream have developed sore, painful joints in the morning.  in the last month or two.  analyzing our diets, i wonder if maybe i’m not dosing us with too many spices.  and that maybe the spices are causing arthritis symptoms.

so i am here to check it out.

cinnamon

In addition to diabetes, Cassia cinnamon is used for gas (flatulence), muscle and stomach spasms, preventing nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, infections, the common cold, and loss of appetite.

Some people use it for erectile dysfunction (ED), hernia, bed-wetting, joint conditions, menopausal symptoms, menstrual problems, and to cause abortions. Cassia cinnamon is also used for chest pain, kidney disorders, high blood pressure, cramps, cancer, and as a “blood purifier.”

It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken in large amounts, long-term. Taking large amounts of cassia cinnamon might cause side effects in some people. Cassia cinnamon can contain large amounts of a chemical called coumarin. In people who are sensitive, coumarin might cause or worsen liver disease.

When applied to the skin, cassia cinnamon can sometimes cause skin irritation and allergic skin reactions.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of cassia cinnamon during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Cassia cinnamon can affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully, if you have diabetes and use cassia cinnamon in amounts larger than the amounts normally found in food.

Liver disease: Cassia cinnamon contains some chemicals that might harm the liver. If you have liver disease, don’t take cassia cinnamon in amounts larger than the amounts normally found in food.

Surgery: Cassia cinnamon might affect blood sugar and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking cassia cinnamon at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
from webmd

cloves

Clove is used for upset stomach and as an expectorant. Expectorants make it easier to cough up phlegm. Clove oil is used for diarrhea, hernia, and bad breath. Clove and clove oil are used for intestinal gas, nausea, and vomiting.

Clove is applied directly to the gums (used topically) for toothache, for pain control during dental work, and for a complication of tooth extraction called “dry socket.” It is also applied to the skin as a counterirritant for pain and for mouth and throat inflammation. In combination with other ingredients, clove is also applied to the skin as part of a multi-ingredient product used to keep men from reaching orgasm too early (premature ejaculation).
from webmd

In general, the use of cloves is regarded as safe for food use; however, when taken in large doses in its undiluted oil form or in clove cigarettes, side effects may occur.  These include the following:

• Vomiting
• Sore Throat
• Seizure
• Sedation
• Difficulty breathing
• Hematemesis
• Kidney Failure
• Liver damage
• Erectile dysfunction
• Prolonged ejaculation
• Seizure
• Stomach irritation

Although the most common complaint of large doses of cloves is GI upset, those with kidney or liver disorders should avoid large doses of cloves.  Serious side effects are more commonly reported in young children.  There is insufficient evidence for cloves and its use in pregnancy or nursing.

Those with bleeding disorders and those taking medications that thin the blood, may be at risk for increased bleeding if ingesting cloves or clove oil.  There has been one reported case of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a patient using cloves by mouth. 

If clove oil is applied to the skin or inside the mouth, the patient can experience burning, loss of sensation, tissue damage and an increased risk of cavities and sore lips.  Burns and contact dermatitis (rash) is more common if using undiluted clove oil directly on the skin or mouth.

There is a chance the clove oil taken orally may lower blood sugar levels based on an infant case.  Therefore, those with diabetes or hypoglycemia or those taking drugs or supplements that affect blood sugar are cautioned against the use of clove oil and blood glucose levels may need to be monitored and medication adjustments made as needed.
from altmed

nutmeg

Nutmeg and mace are used for diarrhea, nausea, stomach spasms and pain, and intestinal gas. They are also used for treating cancer, kidney disease, and trouble sleeping (insomnia); increasing menstrual flow; causing a miscarriage; as a hallucinogen; and as a general tonic.

Nutmeg and mace are applied to the skin to kill pain, especially pain caused by achy joints (rheumatism), mouth sores, and toothache.

In foods, nutmeg and mace are used as spices and flavorings.

Nutmeg and mace are UNSAFE in doses larger than amounts found in foods. Side effects such as thirst, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, feelings of pressure in the chest or stomach, dry mouth, stomach pain, and many other problems might occur in some people. More serious side effects might include hallucinations, seizures, and death.
from webmd

cardamom

Cardamom is used for digestion problems including heartburn, intestinal spasms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal gas, constipation, liver and gallbladder complaints, and loss of appetite. It is also used for common cold, cough, bronchitis, sore mouth and throat, and tendency toward infection. Some people use cardamom as a stimulant and for urinary problems.

The cardamom seed can trigger gallstone colic (spasmodic pain).
from webmd

ginger

Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of “stomach problems,” including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.

Other uses include treating upper respiratory tract infections, cough, and bronchitis.

Fresh ginger is used for treating acute bacterial dysentery, baldness, malaria, poisonous snake bites, rheumatism, migraineheadache, and toothaches.

Dried ginger is used for chest pain, low back pain, and stomach pain.

Some people pour the fresh juice on their skin to treat burns. The oil made from ginger is sometimes applied to the skin to relieve pain.

Some people can have mild side effects including heartburn, diarrhea, and general stomach discomfort. When ginger is applied to the skin, it may cause irritation.

Bleeding disorders: Taking ginger might increase your risk of bleeding. Avoid using it.

Diabetes: Ginger might lower your blood sugar. As a result, your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted by your healthcare provider.

Heart conditions: High doses of ginger might worsen some heart conditions. Don’t use ginger if you have a heart condition.
from webmd

in general, these spices are good for you, and help regulate or lower blood sugar, and most of them are blood thinners.  they’re good for digestion, pain, and seem to be some sort of sex aid, possibly topical (i saw one ingredient list containing toad venom).

so that’s not what’s making my hands and feet sore in the morning.  maybe it’s old age.

MSG: The Flavor Enhancer That Sickens In Two Ways

Post date: Thursday, June 16, 2011 – 14:36

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) contributes to illness in two distinct ways: 1) It makes food that is bad for us taste really, really, really good.  2) It is a toxic chemical that directly damages neurological tissue, as well as induces generalized endocrine disruption throughout the body associated with metabolic syndrome.
So, What is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a commonly used “flavor enhancer,” and so powerful that arguably you could spray it on roadkill and it would taste good. This omnipresent ingredient in modern mass market food takes advantage of our biologically hard-wired taste receptors, and makes it very hard to stop eating the foods “seasoned” with this ingredient. In fact, it is doubtful that without the MSG trick many of these mass market processed foods would be palatable enough to maintain their status as economically viable commodities.

Common “Tricky” MSG Synonyms
Technically MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid. Glutamic rich foods include wheat, dairy, corn, soy, seafood, etc. (Foods Highest In Glutamic Acid). The “YUMMY!” sensation that occurs immediately after ingesting a MSG (or various synonyms, e.g. hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed yeast) laced morsel the Japanese call umami (meaning: savoriness) and is considered one of five basic tastes.  The problem is that when one isolates out of a complex food a singular amino acid, and increase the concentration to unnatural proportions (and without the hundreds of checks and balances Nature provides in the context of a whole food), glutamic acid can have devastating health effects.

MSG Synonyms:
Glutamic Acid
Hydrolyzed protein
Autolyzed protein
Textured protein
Yeast extract
Autolyzed yeast extract
Protein isolate
Soy sauce
Modified food starch
Modified corn starch
Calcium caseinate
Sodlium caseinate
Broth
Maltodextrin
Seasonings
Natural flavor
Monopotassium glutamate
Glutamate
Gelatin
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Hydrolyzed plant protein
Textured protein
Yeast food
Yeast nutrient
Torula yeast
SOURCE: Indigo Earth
Monosodium Glutamate Causes Excitotoxicity
One of the primary adverse effects associated with excess glutamic acid is excitotoxicity, a form of neurotoxicity where neurons are stimulates to the point of cell death. Repeated excitotoxic events can result in neuronal lesions and loss of cognitive function. While there are a number of natural substances that mitigate this type of excitotoxicity, the best choice is to reduce the consumption of glutamic acid (as well as its “twin” excitotoxic non-essential amino acid aspartic acid) rich foods if there is a pre-existing neurological condition such as migraines, epilepsy or multiple sclerosis, to name but a few.
John Symes has written an excellent document on the benefits of the Glutamic and Aspartic Acid Reduced Diet (GARD Diet) here.

More Than Just An Excitotoxic Agent
Recently Dr. Mercola featured the connection between MSG and obesity.  While excessive food cravings caused by MSG’s taste-enhancing effects figure into this relationship, research from the US National Library of Medicine indexed on our site shows that MSG may directly cause hypothalamic lesions that result in elevated insulin, insulin resistance and leptin resistance (leptin suppresses appetite).
It is becoming clear that MSG can no longer be considered simply a “flavor enhancer” but an intrinsically harmful chemical with endocrine disruptive properties . Research we have collected shows that MSG actively contributes to metabolic syndrome, obesity, fatty liver, dysregulated blood lipids, as well as a wide range of neurological problems.

Anybody who’s ever “listened to their gut” when making important decisions might be satisfied to learn of the biochemical evidence for the mind/belly connection.
April 29, 2011

Photo Credit: Randomidea

Most children seem determined to eat dirt. It may be a coincidence, but what those little mud pie makers appear to intuit is now being supported by a growing body of scientific evidence that early exposure to diverse microorganisms results in healthier immune systems. Now there’s reason to think that intestinal bacteria have important effects on brain development as well.

A study published in the March issue of Neurogastroenterology & Motility examined germ-free mice — i.e. mice deprived of contact with bacteria at a formative age. The researchers observed changes in brain activity based on varying microbe levels. They also found germ-free mice more likely to engage in risky behavior — measured as time spent in areas where they could be seen — than mice with normal levels of intestinal flora.

The study concludes that this constitutes evidence of bacteria in the loop between belly and brain, and influencing behavioral development.

A separate study, published last November in Archives of General Psychiatry, surveyed the scientific literature for evidence of a connection between gut microbes and depression, and suggested that certain bacteria might be considered as treatment for depression.

Discoveries such as these support the decades-old “Hygiene Hypothesis,” which postulates that hyper-sterile environments, widespread use of antimicrobial soaps, and general paranoia about bacteria are responsible for many so-called “diseases of civilization,” like asthma, allergies, and other autoimmune disorders. The recently discovered importance of bacteria in brain function helps deepen understanding of our relationship with these ancient organisms.

Anybody who’s ever “listened to their gut” when making important decisions might be satisfied to learn of this biochemical evidence for the mind/belly connection. The mechanism by which mouse-belly microbes might influence mice brains isn’t known. There is speculation that the vagus nerve is a likely conduit.

The vagus nerve connects the brain to several parts of the digestive system. It’s what tells your brain how hungry you are, based on what it senses in your belly. The vagus nerve has also been shown to carry signals initiated by bacteria. Staphylococcus can attack the vagus nerve and induce vomiting. Salmonella infections have been shown to affect brain activity, a connection lost when the vagus nerve is severed.

However mouse gut bacteria exert their influence on the brain, the fact that they do so, on top of all of the other cooperative relationships we’ve been discovering with bacteria, is amazing. And it makes me wonder who’s really in charge. Are we simply hosting these creatures, or driving them around as well? When kids eat dirt, is it because the bacteria are telling them to?

Although we have a clear size advantage on the bacteria we harbor, they dramatically outnumbered us. And on the genetic level, bacteria bring far more to the table. Of the 3 million different genes identifiable in our bodies, only 30,000 are human genes. We share those additional millions of bacterial genes with thousands of different species.

The species lines in bacteria can be fuzzier than with mammals. I’m a lot less likely to exchange DNA with my dog than are two bacterium with each other. The genetic mixing is greatly assisted by bacteriophages: viruses that infect bacteria. Some of the most numerous and widely distributed creatures in the biosphere, bacteriophages are viruses that attack bacteria. They usually insert some of their own genetic information into the host, while helping themselves to what looks good in the host’s genetic fridge. Then they move on to the next bacteria and do it again, spreading genes as they go. When we speak of bacterial populations it’s a given that there is an associated bacteriophage population greasing the wheels of whatever’s going on.

A recent study found large amount of bacteriophage DNA in kimchi, suggesting a significant role of bacteriophages in the fermentation process. Kimchi is just one of many bacteria-rich (and presumably phage-rich) foods, like yogurt and sauerkraut, that many people consider to be superfoods. There are countless kinds of fermented foods in many diets, both old and new.

The Paleo diet — short for Paleolithic — is a modern diet that’s based on the foods humans would have had access to during our evolutionary formative years. According to the Paleo diet, modern-day foods like sugar, grains, and processed carbohydrates shift the balance toward undesirable flora, while animal- and vegetable-based dishes, including fermented foods and vinegar, encourage good bacteria. It’s no wonder, according to the Paleo worldview, that foods that have been with us since the beginning are the ones that keep our bodies in proper balance-with the help of our old friends bacteria.

The “Gut and Psychology Syndrome” (GAPS) diet (it’s also the name of the related book) is built on the premise of a link between mental and intestinal health. The diet mixes probiotic supplements with a regimen of foods designed to tilt the playing field so the good bacteria take over.

Probiotic supplements are essentially “good bacteria” by the millions, in pill form. Doctors often recommend them after a round of antibiotics, which can kill the good bacteria in your body along with the bad.

Much of what we’re learning in labs is validating ancient wisdom, like the importance of fermented foods. And along these bacterial lines, science is also finding an important function for an organ it once dismissed as a useless evolutionary relic: the appendix. Now they’re realizing that the appendix probably has immunological functions related to the fact that it acts as a reservoir of spare bacteria in case your gut flora gets killed off or flushed out, say, in a nasty bout of diarrhea.

We’re still at the beginning of the bacterial learning curve. A research team recently determined that humans can be classified into three categories depending on the type of bacteria in their guts. Such bacterial affiliation is found in all humans, and is unrelated to race or to the gut-bacteria type of one’s parents. At this point we have no idea what this means, or where it will lead.

But we can be sure that as we continue learning about our relationship with bacteria, kids will continue eating nature’s probiotic wherever they can find it. And the more we learn, the smarter they seem.