Claire Everett
The world’s biggest McDonald’s is going to open in Stratford on the Olympic site and yes, as the Daily Mail puts it, oh the irony! (Daily Mail, 2011)
McDonald's has been involved in sponsoring the Olympic Games or catering to the athletes and spectators since the Moscow Olympics in 1980. The 2012 involvement will see the chain open four restaurants on the Olympic site, including one in the athletes’ village. The supersize restaurant will be 3000m2 – that’s bigger than 2 Olympic-size swimming pools – and seat 1500 people.
Usain Bolt’s pre-race meal of Chicken Nuggets at the Beijing Olympics made headlines (BBC, 2011) and whilst he has justified the unhealthiness of this choice by saying he wasn’t familiar with a lot of Chinese food and wanted something he trusted, I’m still inclined to believe that it was the wrong message to put out there to children. Another part of Bolt’s reasoning is the fact that his volume of training means he can eat pretty much anything he wants as long as he retains a balanced diet. The report in the Daily Mail estimates that a fifth of meals sold at the Olympics will be McDonald’s. So what will the other food outlets be and will they provide the chance to maintain this balance?
As a spectator at the Athens Olympics I was pretty horrified on my first day at the athletics stadium to find that the food choices were McDonald’s, pizza, or hot dogs. I’d like to think London can do better than this and indeed the organising committee has confirmed there will be a “diverse and full range of local food offerings” (Daily Mail, 2011). But there’s a problem... the exclusive deal with McDonalds as an official sponsor of the Games, means any other foods sold must be unbranded (Guardian, 2011). Of course, McDonald’s isn’t the only official sponsor, but with others including Coca Cola and Cadbury holding similar exclusivity deals, the ‘unbranded’ food suppliers are going to be really up against it to promote their products.
We also have to consider the impact on the local economy. McDonald’s has said it expects to sell 1.75million meals over the course of the games and in doing so 470 jobs will be created at the Olympic site and British farmers may benefit from the sale of beef, pork and eggs to the chain (Evening Standard). However, the overall profit is of course going to go into the pocket of the global brand. It would be interesting to see a comparison of how much money the equivalent number of meals from local food companies could inject into the local economy.
I think my next blog is going to have to be about the one major topic I’ve not managed to fit into this one...what would happen to participation in sport if sponsorship from global food brands wasn’t present?
13.8.11
23.5.11
Sugar – ‘if its white its killing you’
Nova Corcoran
We are a nation that is addicted to sugar. You will find it almost impossible to get through your day without it. Almost all processed foods, drinks and snacks contain some form of sugar. The term sugar generally refers to sucrose, which comes from sugar cane and sugar beet and on packets of food it can also be called names like corn syrup. Other sugars include fructose and glucose. Sugar, particularly the white refined stuff is linked to all sorts of nastiness in the history, production and final product that ends up in your sugar bowl.
Effects of sugar on health
White sugar is really the worst offender. It offers no nutritional values and in return gives us empty calories. The refining process to create white sugar also includes the addition of a number of chemicals. Excessive calories from sugar can lead to obesity which in turn can increase the risk of diabetes. Sugar is also a common cause of tooth decay. Appleton (2011) has come up with 149 reasons why sugar is bad for your health including suppression of the immune system, hyperactivity in children, premature aging and links to a whole range of health related problems. Anisman-Reiner (2006) reiterates the phrase "If it's white, it's killing you," cited by a number of holistic practitioners. She notes that the way the human body and brain process sugar (especially in excess) becomes part of an addictive pattern, so we crave more of a product that is bad for us – rather like tobacco.
Sugar and the slave trade
Did you know most of the world’s sugar comes from Brazil? In the past considerable labour was required to produce sugar, and slaves from Africa supplied this. It actually became one of the main motivations to colonise certain parts of the world (Kew 2011). Don’t be too complacent in your thinking that the slave trade disappeared with the abolition of the Slave Trade Act – In 2007 newspapers reported an anti-slavery group who freed more than 1,000 workers from a sugar cane plantation hidden in the Amazon rainforest (Hennigan 2007). Although this plant was using sugar cane for ethanol it highlights that issues around slavery still remain.
Health of sugarcane workers
Even today workers face harsh conditions in plantations. Recent studies indicate sugar cane workers experience health problems associated with eyes and the respiratory system (Robins et al 1998). A South Africa study suggests workers face severe threats to their physical and psychological well being including poor pay and living conditions, high risk of occupational hazards as well as abuse by employers and their agents (Rocha et al 2010). Survival International (2011) also highlight issues linked to the heavy reliance on indigenous labour and the taking of land from these groups.
How do you turn the white into right?
• Check snack packets – low fat can mean high sugar
• Unrefined raw sugar is a better alternative – as it does not have any chemicals added that make refined and a few minerals and nutrients
• Buy fair trade
• Consider alternatives like molasses, honey or not adding that extra sugar to your tea
We are a nation that is addicted to sugar. You will find it almost impossible to get through your day without it. Almost all processed foods, drinks and snacks contain some form of sugar. The term sugar generally refers to sucrose, which comes from sugar cane and sugar beet and on packets of food it can also be called names like corn syrup. Other sugars include fructose and glucose. Sugar, particularly the white refined stuff is linked to all sorts of nastiness in the history, production and final product that ends up in your sugar bowl.
Effects of sugar on health
White sugar is really the worst offender. It offers no nutritional values and in return gives us empty calories. The refining process to create white sugar also includes the addition of a number of chemicals. Excessive calories from sugar can lead to obesity which in turn can increase the risk of diabetes. Sugar is also a common cause of tooth decay. Appleton (2011) has come up with 149 reasons why sugar is bad for your health including suppression of the immune system, hyperactivity in children, premature aging and links to a whole range of health related problems. Anisman-Reiner (2006) reiterates the phrase "If it's white, it's killing you," cited by a number of holistic practitioners. She notes that the way the human body and brain process sugar (especially in excess) becomes part of an addictive pattern, so we crave more of a product that is bad for us – rather like tobacco.
Sugar and the slave trade
Did you know most of the world’s sugar comes from Brazil? In the past considerable labour was required to produce sugar, and slaves from Africa supplied this. It actually became one of the main motivations to colonise certain parts of the world (Kew 2011). Don’t be too complacent in your thinking that the slave trade disappeared with the abolition of the Slave Trade Act – In 2007 newspapers reported an anti-slavery group who freed more than 1,000 workers from a sugar cane plantation hidden in the Amazon rainforest (Hennigan 2007). Although this plant was using sugar cane for ethanol it highlights that issues around slavery still remain.
Health of sugarcane workers
Even today workers face harsh conditions in plantations. Recent studies indicate sugar cane workers experience health problems associated with eyes and the respiratory system (Robins et al 1998). A South Africa study suggests workers face severe threats to their physical and psychological well being including poor pay and living conditions, high risk of occupational hazards as well as abuse by employers and their agents (Rocha et al 2010). Survival International (2011) also highlight issues linked to the heavy reliance on indigenous labour and the taking of land from these groups.
How do you turn the white into right?
• Check snack packets – low fat can mean high sugar
• Unrefined raw sugar is a better alternative – as it does not have any chemicals added that make refined and a few minerals and nutrients
• Buy fair trade
• Consider alternatives like molasses, honey or not adding that extra sugar to your tea
13.5.11
First week of eating local
My first local only mini shopping trip was to Waitrose.
What could I not get
I was amazed at what was not local - broccoli, cauliflowers, all types of beans which i can get in the local fruit and veg shop from local suppliers are not available in Waitrose. Beans and peas came from kenya, Zambia and other Africa counties, with squash coming from Argentina. One packet of peas and baby corn was from two countries that are no-where near each other.
I found...
I managed to find tomatos, peppers, courgettes, carrots, parsnips, swede, potatoes, onions, apples, pears and rhubarb all UK produced. Difficult to tell how local they are though and overall more expensive than my local fruit and veg shop. Plenty of spag bol coming up for our house!
Good things
Labelling of meat was much clearer as all you have to do is look for the GB flag on their meat and there is plenty of choice all identical prices to the non UK stuff with many included in various offers. This impressed me. They even do take away curry with UK chicken.
What could I not get
I was amazed at what was not local - broccoli, cauliflowers, all types of beans which i can get in the local fruit and veg shop from local suppliers are not available in Waitrose. Beans and peas came from kenya, Zambia and other Africa counties, with squash coming from Argentina. One packet of peas and baby corn was from two countries that are no-where near each other.
I found...
I managed to find tomatos, peppers, courgettes, carrots, parsnips, swede, potatoes, onions, apples, pears and rhubarb all UK produced. Difficult to tell how local they are though and overall more expensive than my local fruit and veg shop. Plenty of spag bol coming up for our house!
Good things
Labelling of meat was much clearer as all you have to do is look for the GB flag on their meat and there is plenty of choice all identical prices to the non UK stuff with many included in various offers. This impressed me. They even do take away curry with UK chicken.
11.5.11
Can you eat local produce for one month?
Who is up for the challenge?
Do you think you could just eat produce grown in the UK (or your own country if outside UK i.e. Ireland, Mexico, America) for one month?
When I say produce I mean fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. We'll exclude fish for now as this is tricky when we think about whose sea it is and we'll exclude tinned pulses i.e. beans as the location of the contents is not always clear.
Claire says she'll do it for one year, but I thought one month might be more realistic.
Any takers? and we'll want to hear about your experiences too.
Do you think you could just eat produce grown in the UK (or your own country if outside UK i.e. Ireland, Mexico, America) for one month?
When I say produce I mean fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. We'll exclude fish for now as this is tricky when we think about whose sea it is and we'll exclude tinned pulses i.e. beans as the location of the contents is not always clear.
Claire says she'll do it for one year, but I thought one month might be more realistic.
Any takers? and we'll want to hear about your experiences too.
9.5.11
Tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers (Part 2)
Claire Everett
So, following on from Tomates, pepinos y pimientos (Part 1), I’ve decided to try to only eat British seasonal produce for a year.
I like to think I’m relatively faithful to the British seasons – I never buy strawberries outside of the summer months simply because they just don’t taste good, I always go a bit mad for pumpkins and squash in autumn, I generally eat salads in summer and soups in winter, and I’d much rather eat cucumbers and courgettes from my own garden than buy them from a supermarket. But very often, whether intentionally or not, I don’t buy British produce because it’s cheaper not to, or I simply want peppers with my pasta even though it’s the middle of December!
Offers and deals
Like most people, I can’t resist a ‘BOGOF’ or ‘25% off’ offer, but the best deals tend to include the cheaper imported produce. When I went to the supermarket today, there was a ‘3 for 2’ mix and match offer on cherry tomatoes, asparagus and Jersey Royals, and whilst the latter two were grown in Britain, the cherry tomatoes were from Spain. So, determined to stick to my good intentions, I picked up two bags of the potatoes and one bunch of asparagus, then went off to the tomato section to find some British tomatoes.
Saving for later
One of my biggest fears about this whole idea is not being able to eat tomatoes! I snack on cherry tomatoes all year round and I’m going to have to find a healthy alternative for the winter, otherwise I think the temptation to replace them with Maltesers or Minstrels will be too much! I have a small veg patch in my back garden so I’m vowing to make the most of it this year and, like most people who grow their own veg, no matter how hard I try to stagger sowing and planting, I’m bound to have an influx of courgettes or tomatoes at some point. So I’m going to make full use of my freezer and semi-prep or batch cook and store what I can.
Exceptions to the rule
I’m going to make a few exceptions simply because I want eating British produce to be part of my life, not running it. If I eat out or if friends cook for me, I’m not going to reject their food because some of the ingredients are imported! I’m still going to eat imported fruit and veg if they can’t be grown in this country, e.g. oranges and pineapples, because I like them - but I’ll try to make sure they’re from sustainable sources and FairTrade.
Seasonal updates
I’ll blog once a month about how it’s going, what I’ve eaten, what’s been good about this month and what the difficulties have been. I think I’ve chosen the best time of year to start and somehow have a feeling I’ll be fine for the next few months, but it could be a whole different story by February!!
So, following on from Tomates, pepinos y pimientos (Part 1), I’ve decided to try to only eat British seasonal produce for a year.
I like to think I’m relatively faithful to the British seasons – I never buy strawberries outside of the summer months simply because they just don’t taste good, I always go a bit mad for pumpkins and squash in autumn, I generally eat salads in summer and soups in winter, and I’d much rather eat cucumbers and courgettes from my own garden than buy them from a supermarket. But very often, whether intentionally or not, I don’t buy British produce because it’s cheaper not to, or I simply want peppers with my pasta even though it’s the middle of December!
Offers and deals
Like most people, I can’t resist a ‘BOGOF’ or ‘25% off’ offer, but the best deals tend to include the cheaper imported produce. When I went to the supermarket today, there was a ‘3 for 2’ mix and match offer on cherry tomatoes, asparagus and Jersey Royals, and whilst the latter two were grown in Britain, the cherry tomatoes were from Spain. So, determined to stick to my good intentions, I picked up two bags of the potatoes and one bunch of asparagus, then went off to the tomato section to find some British tomatoes.
Saving for later
One of my biggest fears about this whole idea is not being able to eat tomatoes! I snack on cherry tomatoes all year round and I’m going to have to find a healthy alternative for the winter, otherwise I think the temptation to replace them with Maltesers or Minstrels will be too much! I have a small veg patch in my back garden so I’m vowing to make the most of it this year and, like most people who grow their own veg, no matter how hard I try to stagger sowing and planting, I’m bound to have an influx of courgettes or tomatoes at some point. So I’m going to make full use of my freezer and semi-prep or batch cook and store what I can.
Exceptions to the rule
I’m going to make a few exceptions simply because I want eating British produce to be part of my life, not running it. If I eat out or if friends cook for me, I’m not going to reject their food because some of the ingredients are imported! I’m still going to eat imported fruit and veg if they can’t be grown in this country, e.g. oranges and pineapples, because I like them - but I’ll try to make sure they’re from sustainable sources and FairTrade.
Seasonal updates
I’ll blog once a month about how it’s going, what I’ve eaten, what’s been good about this month and what the difficulties have been. I think I’ve chosen the best time of year to start and somehow have a feeling I’ll be fine for the next few months, but it could be a whole different story by February!!
Thank fish its fry-day
Nova Corcoran
Did you know Fridays are the traditional day to eat fish and chips? This stems from the Roman Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Fridays and having fish instead. Eating fish and chips on the seafront is a very British tradition. In fact only places that the British population have emigrated to in large numbers have fish and chips at all. There are 11,000 fish and chip shops across the UK selling 255 million fish and chip meals every year (Jamieson 2010). That's a lot of fish! The UN note that fishing is central to the livelihood and food security of 200 million people, especially in the developing world (UN 2006). So why do we need to think more about fish?
So what the fish is the problem?
According to Greenpeace 70% of the world’s fisheries are over fished, over exploited or severely depleted (Greenpeace 2011a). Overfishing threatens the food supply of millions of people. Basically overfishing means that fish cannot replenish themselves quickly enough to keep up with our appetites for fish. One day fish and chips might be a delicacy rather than a Friday night special. Greenpeace says avoid our most popular fish and chip shop fish - cod, haddock and plaice unless it is line caught Icelandic cod or haddock.
Trawling for more than fish
Line caught fish are the best. Bottom trawling ploughs up the whole sea floor (imagine a huge net being dragged across the sea bed behind a boat) and pair trawling (a net between two boats) is indiscriminate and catches creatures like dolphins. One point aside is that tuna cans that have 'Dolphin Friendly' labels generally mean very little since they adhere to no legal standard or minimum criteria and may damage other marine life. For example, long lining for tuna is associated with a high by catch rate of turtles, sharks and seabirds (Greenpeace 2011b).
Health benefits of fish
Oily fish i.e. trout, mackerel, herring, sardines and pilchards contain vitamin D, selenium, omega 3 (Torpy et al 2006). Eating these fish can reduce the risk and risk factors of Coronary heart disease and related problems i.e. lowers blood pressure and risk of stroke. In addition all these fish are still from stable fishing stocks. Although there are levels of mercury in some fish that pregnant women are urged to avoid, generally traces are very low and health benefits outweigh any possible negatives. In relation to fish and chips, although the fish might be good for you, the way it is cooked may not be. If you can find fish that has been cooked in vegetable oil it will be slightly healthier than traditional frying methods. In addition thicker versions of chips have less fat in them. The key is moderation - don't eat battered fish every night of the week.
What can you do?
• Ask your chippy if the fish is from a sustainable source. Better still is it caught locally?
• In the UK, the best fish are line-caught mackerel, line-caught sea bass, and farmed mussels. Rod and line caught tuna and herring are also good fisheries. The Marine Conservation Society has a Pocket good fish guide which covers all fish. You can download this here.
• Eat more oily fish – its good for you!
• If you must eat Cod get it from M&S and Waitrose as it is mostly from sustainable fisheries.
• Use your local fishmongers if they sell fish from sustainable sources or local fisherman. Your local fish might be really tasty.
• Try alternatives to cod like coley, pouting, pollock and pollack. Instead of prawns try mussles, clams, cockles, crab and squid. BBC has some good recipes for alternative fish. Click here for Coley or Pollack.
Did you know Fridays are the traditional day to eat fish and chips? This stems from the Roman Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Fridays and having fish instead. Eating fish and chips on the seafront is a very British tradition. In fact only places that the British population have emigrated to in large numbers have fish and chips at all. There are 11,000 fish and chip shops across the UK selling 255 million fish and chip meals every year (Jamieson 2010). That's a lot of fish! The UN note that fishing is central to the livelihood and food security of 200 million people, especially in the developing world (UN 2006). So why do we need to think more about fish?
So what the fish is the problem?
According to Greenpeace 70% of the world’s fisheries are over fished, over exploited or severely depleted (Greenpeace 2011a). Overfishing threatens the food supply of millions of people. Basically overfishing means that fish cannot replenish themselves quickly enough to keep up with our appetites for fish. One day fish and chips might be a delicacy rather than a Friday night special. Greenpeace says avoid our most popular fish and chip shop fish - cod, haddock and plaice unless it is line caught Icelandic cod or haddock.
Trawling for more than fish
Line caught fish are the best. Bottom trawling ploughs up the whole sea floor (imagine a huge net being dragged across the sea bed behind a boat) and pair trawling (a net between two boats) is indiscriminate and catches creatures like dolphins. One point aside is that tuna cans that have 'Dolphin Friendly' labels generally mean very little since they adhere to no legal standard or minimum criteria and may damage other marine life. For example, long lining for tuna is associated with a high by catch rate of turtles, sharks and seabirds (Greenpeace 2011b).
Health benefits of fish
Oily fish i.e. trout, mackerel, herring, sardines and pilchards contain vitamin D, selenium, omega 3 (Torpy et al 2006). Eating these fish can reduce the risk and risk factors of Coronary heart disease and related problems i.e. lowers blood pressure and risk of stroke. In addition all these fish are still from stable fishing stocks. Although there are levels of mercury in some fish that pregnant women are urged to avoid, generally traces are very low and health benefits outweigh any possible negatives. In relation to fish and chips, although the fish might be good for you, the way it is cooked may not be. If you can find fish that has been cooked in vegetable oil it will be slightly healthier than traditional frying methods. In addition thicker versions of chips have less fat in them. The key is moderation - don't eat battered fish every night of the week.
What can you do?
• Ask your chippy if the fish is from a sustainable source. Better still is it caught locally?
• In the UK, the best fish are line-caught mackerel, line-caught sea bass, and farmed mussels. Rod and line caught tuna and herring are also good fisheries. The Marine Conservation Society has a Pocket good fish guide which covers all fish. You can download this here.
• Eat more oily fish – its good for you!
• If you must eat Cod get it from M&S and Waitrose as it is mostly from sustainable fisheries.
• Use your local fishmongers if they sell fish from sustainable sources or local fisherman. Your local fish might be really tasty.
• Try alternatives to cod like coley, pouting, pollock and pollack. Instead of prawns try mussles, clams, cockles, crab and squid. BBC has some good recipes for alternative fish. Click here for Coley or Pollack.
5.5.11
Virgins, Weeders and Queens
Nova Corcoran
Ok so I stole the title from Twig Way (2006) and her history of women in the garden but early gardens and growing your own food has a history connected to women. Queens were often to be found in their gardens, Elizabeth I was rarely out of hers (although I am not sure she got their hands dirty growing vegetables). Even the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland is obsessed by her garden – she chopped off heads for her roses!
Women in history
Historically women have always been connected to gardening and growing food in gardens even if they are not visible in history. The job of a ‘weeder’ was a respectable profession for widows and spinsters who earnt a small sum of money weeding (Way 2006) Gardening is also connected to the women suffragette movement – Emily Pankhurst’s daughter Amelia attended horticultural college.
Gardening and health
It was recognised in the early 1900’s that gardening was good for health and happiness of the body and mind and traditionally women often supported their households by growing herbs and medicines. It was war that changed women’s role in gardening and vegetables, as men went to war women were left at home to feed a nation. Bombsites were converted into allotments and women encouraged to ‘dig for victory’ turning gardens into vegetable plots and picking up spades to get digging. The question is if historically women were closely connected to growing food, why are many women not carrying on this tradition?
What does it mean for you?
Just under 30% of women obtain the recommended levels of weekly physical activity (30 minutes five times a week) (Sustrans 2011). Time, family commitments and careers may be one obstacle, but we should still get out and grow what we can for ourselves and our families. Did you know you can burn approximately 118 calories in 20 minutes of gardening i.e. moderate digging (calorie counter 2009)? In addition growing your own may help improve mental health and relieve stress (NHS 2011). Certainly preliminary findings from research that I have undertaken suggest that females cite mental health benefits as one of the main advantages of growing your own. So what are you waiting for? Grab a spade and get growing!
Ok so I stole the title from Twig Way (2006) and her history of women in the garden but early gardens and growing your own food has a history connected to women. Queens were often to be found in their gardens, Elizabeth I was rarely out of hers (although I am not sure she got their hands dirty growing vegetables). Even the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland is obsessed by her garden – she chopped off heads for her roses!
Women in history
Historically women have always been connected to gardening and growing food in gardens even if they are not visible in history. The job of a ‘weeder’ was a respectable profession for widows and spinsters who earnt a small sum of money weeding (Way 2006) Gardening is also connected to the women suffragette movement – Emily Pankhurst’s daughter Amelia attended horticultural college.
Gardening and health
It was recognised in the early 1900’s that gardening was good for health and happiness of the body and mind and traditionally women often supported their households by growing herbs and medicines. It was war that changed women’s role in gardening and vegetables, as men went to war women were left at home to feed a nation. Bombsites were converted into allotments and women encouraged to ‘dig for victory’ turning gardens into vegetable plots and picking up spades to get digging. The question is if historically women were closely connected to growing food, why are many women not carrying on this tradition?
What does it mean for you?
Just under 30% of women obtain the recommended levels of weekly physical activity (30 minutes five times a week) (Sustrans 2011). Time, family commitments and careers may be one obstacle, but we should still get out and grow what we can for ourselves and our families. Did you know you can burn approximately 118 calories in 20 minutes of gardening i.e. moderate digging (calorie counter 2009)? In addition growing your own may help improve mental health and relieve stress (NHS 2011). Certainly preliminary findings from research that I have undertaken suggest that females cite mental health benefits as one of the main advantages of growing your own. So what are you waiting for? Grab a spade and get growing!
3.5.11
Why Breast is Best
Claire Everett
I read this week that Elton John and David Furnish are having breast milk for their son Zachary flown into the UK from his US-based surrogate mother. Whilst this may obliterate the pro-breastmilk point of view that breastmilk is the cheaper option compared to formula milk (their FedEx bill must be through the roof!), I’m impressed that for once the media portrayal is positive and pro-breast-feeding.
Infant feeding is something that appears intermittently in the news, often as a short piece on the ‘breast vs. bottle’ debate. The formula milk companies heavily promote their products through TV advertising and other media. But the benefits of breast feeding are generally not as publicly promoted. The Bringing Up Britain series on BBC3 recently aired a programme on breast feeding which is being repeated until 6th May. So what are the advantages of breast-feeding and why have Messrs John & Furnish gone to such lengths to ensure their baby benefits from them, when in the UK over half of babies are fed exclusively on formula milk by 4-10 weeks of age (Mesure, 2011)?
Advantages
Although formula milks have advanced greatly since they were first developed, the nutritional content of breast milk is still optimum, containing the perfect balance of macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and hormones - in a form babies are fully able to digest. Formula milks have been based upon cows’ milk which cannot be digested until the baby is around 1-year old and therefore even if they contain a good balance of nutrients, the child may not be able to absorb them.
The health of the child can benefit from breast-feeding, for example breast milk contains antibodies that can help the baby resist infection both physically (Leung & Sauve, 2005). The mother’s health may also benefit through protection against ovarian and breast cancer (Lancet, 2002). The bond between child and mother develops more through the natural process.
Economically and practically, it makes sense for a mother to breastfeed her child, particularly when the health and nutrition advantages are considered. Breast milk is free and with no bottles to sterilise it is in this respect the easier option.
Disadvantages
With all the above considered, the disadvantages come down to situational factors that are individual to each mother and child. Whilst I have every intention of breastfeeding if and when the opportunity arises for me, I have close friends who have had the same intention but have experienced completely unforeseen difficulties after giving birth and been unable to do so. However, what I do believe is important is that mothers are given every opportunity to do the best they can for their child and there are many support groups to help with this:
NHS
Breast Feeding Network
National Childcare Trust
La Leche
Current Issues
A report from the Caroline Walker Trust (Crawley & Westland, 2011) highlights the need for medically valid information to be available on the composition of formula milks and commercial advertising of these products to be more closely regulated. I also think breastmilk should get equal promotion against the pro-formula campaign but with no obvious financial beneficiary in the breastmilk campaign it’s difficult to see how this will happen. In America and Australia however, there have been a number of TV adverts - they might not be the most high-budget commercials, but they definitely put a message out there!
Australian Breastfeeding Association #1
Australian Breastfeeding Association #2
American Breastfeeding Commercial
I read this week that Elton John and David Furnish are having breast milk for their son Zachary flown into the UK from his US-based surrogate mother. Whilst this may obliterate the pro-breastmilk point of view that breastmilk is the cheaper option compared to formula milk (their FedEx bill must be through the roof!), I’m impressed that for once the media portrayal is positive and pro-breast-feeding.
Infant feeding is something that appears intermittently in the news, often as a short piece on the ‘breast vs. bottle’ debate. The formula milk companies heavily promote their products through TV advertising and other media. But the benefits of breast feeding are generally not as publicly promoted. The Bringing Up Britain series on BBC3 recently aired a programme on breast feeding which is being repeated until 6th May. So what are the advantages of breast-feeding and why have Messrs John & Furnish gone to such lengths to ensure their baby benefits from them, when in the UK over half of babies are fed exclusively on formula milk by 4-10 weeks of age (Mesure, 2011)?
Advantages
Although formula milks have advanced greatly since they were first developed, the nutritional content of breast milk is still optimum, containing the perfect balance of macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and hormones - in a form babies are fully able to digest. Formula milks have been based upon cows’ milk which cannot be digested until the baby is around 1-year old and therefore even if they contain a good balance of nutrients, the child may not be able to absorb them.
The health of the child can benefit from breast-feeding, for example breast milk contains antibodies that can help the baby resist infection both physically (Leung & Sauve, 2005). The mother’s health may also benefit through protection against ovarian and breast cancer (Lancet, 2002). The bond between child and mother develops more through the natural process.
Economically and practically, it makes sense for a mother to breastfeed her child, particularly when the health and nutrition advantages are considered. Breast milk is free and with no bottles to sterilise it is in this respect the easier option.
Disadvantages
With all the above considered, the disadvantages come down to situational factors that are individual to each mother and child. Whilst I have every intention of breastfeeding if and when the opportunity arises for me, I have close friends who have had the same intention but have experienced completely unforeseen difficulties after giving birth and been unable to do so. However, what I do believe is important is that mothers are given every opportunity to do the best they can for their child and there are many support groups to help with this:
NHS
Breast Feeding Network
National Childcare Trust
La Leche
Current Issues
A report from the Caroline Walker Trust (Crawley & Westland, 2011) highlights the need for medically valid information to be available on the composition of formula milks and commercial advertising of these products to be more closely regulated. I also think breastmilk should get equal promotion against the pro-formula campaign but with no obvious financial beneficiary in the breastmilk campaign it’s difficult to see how this will happen. In America and Australia however, there have been a number of TV adverts - they might not be the most high-budget commercials, but they definitely put a message out there!
Australian Breastfeeding Association #1
Australian Breastfeeding Association #2
American Breastfeeding Commercial
1.5.11
Would you riot over a supermarket?
Nova Corcoran
Bristol riots
Last week there were riots in Stokes Croft over a Tesco store opening. Thousands have been campaigning for more than a year to stop it opening in a town The Mirror dub ‘Tesco Town’ for its sheer volume of TESCO stores (15+). The rioters say damage to TESCO was the result of a community not being heard. Objections include the impact on local shops and farmers as well as the supermarket dominant model which may prove problematic if oil prices start to soar (No Tesco in Stokes Croft).
Why supermarkets?
Around 60% of us buy all our groceries in a supermarket (FOE 2006). Many small business go out of business on a weekly basis as a result of our changing spending patterns, traffic congestion around out of town supermarket areas has increased and farmers and food processers are subject to the mercy of the supermarket. Currently, supermarkets are only accountable to their shareholders. They are not obliged to consider impacts on communities and the environment.
Did you know?
About 80% of all supermarket supplies of carrots now come from just 10 major packers in East Anglia
Around 60% of our fresh milk travels from farms around the country to six locations for processing before being trucked back hundreds of miles up and down motorways to customers? (Lawrence 2010)
Profits in a recession?
Last week Tesco reported full-year profits before tax of £3.54bn, up 11.3% from a year ago. Although much of this growth is down to expansion into Asia, Tesco have plans to increase UK profits by offering mortgages and developing Tesco online (BBC News 2011) meaning presumably that soon you will not even have to step outside your front door (owned by Tesco!) to get anything you need. In the last two years 577 Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons stores have been approved. That’s nearly one a day so clearly these are corporations that use money, power and influence and get what they want.
The future?
Supermarkets now offer non-food related products such as credit cards, insurance and mobile phones which are all set to expand. In addition we may see a move towards mega-farms i.e. pigs in “sty-scrapers”. Food may become more expensive with rises in oil prices, if we are relying on supermarkets to produce all our food then we will end up paying the extra and we’ll have no choice as the local shops will have all disappeared.
If a supermarket corporation wants to build in your area be prepared – there is still little that you can do as a community as the Bristol riots show. Expect increases in traffic, loss of local businesses and loss of your community as you know it.
A few things you can do
• Check out websites such as tescopoly which gives details of local campaign groups and supermarket news.
• Shop local for certain things where you can. Vegetables in particular can often be found locally at a cheaper price and you will be supporting local farmers.
• Grow your own – even if it’s just salad leaves and a tomato plant in an old boot.
• Make your own. I.e. if you invest in a bread maker you can make bread, rolls, specialist breads, pizza bases, jam, marmalade etc.
Panorama BBC i-player documentary on supermarkets is available on i player. click here
Bristol riots
Last week there were riots in Stokes Croft over a Tesco store opening. Thousands have been campaigning for more than a year to stop it opening in a town The Mirror dub ‘Tesco Town’ for its sheer volume of TESCO stores (15+). The rioters say damage to TESCO was the result of a community not being heard. Objections include the impact on local shops and farmers as well as the supermarket dominant model which may prove problematic if oil prices start to soar (No Tesco in Stokes Croft).
Why supermarkets?
Around 60% of us buy all our groceries in a supermarket (FOE 2006). Many small business go out of business on a weekly basis as a result of our changing spending patterns, traffic congestion around out of town supermarket areas has increased and farmers and food processers are subject to the mercy of the supermarket. Currently, supermarkets are only accountable to their shareholders. They are not obliged to consider impacts on communities and the environment.
Did you know?
About 80% of all supermarket supplies of carrots now come from just 10 major packers in East Anglia
Around 60% of our fresh milk travels from farms around the country to six locations for processing before being trucked back hundreds of miles up and down motorways to customers? (Lawrence 2010)
Profits in a recession?
Last week Tesco reported full-year profits before tax of £3.54bn, up 11.3% from a year ago. Although much of this growth is down to expansion into Asia, Tesco have plans to increase UK profits by offering mortgages and developing Tesco online (BBC News 2011) meaning presumably that soon you will not even have to step outside your front door (owned by Tesco!) to get anything you need. In the last two years 577 Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons stores have been approved. That’s nearly one a day so clearly these are corporations that use money, power and influence and get what they want.
The future?
Supermarkets now offer non-food related products such as credit cards, insurance and mobile phones which are all set to expand. In addition we may see a move towards mega-farms i.e. pigs in “sty-scrapers”. Food may become more expensive with rises in oil prices, if we are relying on supermarkets to produce all our food then we will end up paying the extra and we’ll have no choice as the local shops will have all disappeared.
If a supermarket corporation wants to build in your area be prepared – there is still little that you can do as a community as the Bristol riots show. Expect increases in traffic, loss of local businesses and loss of your community as you know it.
A few things you can do
• Check out websites such as tescopoly which gives details of local campaign groups and supermarket news.
• Shop local for certain things where you can. Vegetables in particular can often be found locally at a cheaper price and you will be supporting local farmers.
• Grow your own – even if it’s just salad leaves and a tomato plant in an old boot.
• Make your own. I.e. if you invest in a bread maker you can make bread, rolls, specialist breads, pizza bases, jam, marmalade etc.
Panorama BBC i-player documentary on supermarkets is available on i player. click here
Smoking and Obesity are more harmful than radiation
An addition to the blog on food and radiation in the wake of Japan's nuclear disaster
is an article by Thomas (2011) Smoking and obesity are more harmful than radiation.
Plus some pictures by Igor Kostin for those of you who do not know much about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - 26 April 1986.
is an article by Thomas (2011) Smoking and obesity are more harmful than radiation.
Plus some pictures by Igor Kostin for those of you who do not know much about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - 26 April 1986.
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