Reading List: Controversy Over Olive Oil, Cloned Food + Adult Picky Eaters
In this week’s nutrition news: Meatless Monday makeover, study shows label readers eat healthier and Europe faces cloned food controversy.
It's not just kids who only eat hot dogs and potato chips -- there's a group of picky adults that claim their long list of hated foods is a disorder, not a choice. The group Finicky Eating in Adults has more than 2000 members who report their eating habits have cost them their loved ones and even jobs. The site has a support forum and information for those living with food limitations.
Meatless Mondays have been on the radar for some time as one way to help lower cholesterol and heart disease. But if lowering disease risk isn't a motivator for you, would you eat less meat to help the environment? The movement is making over its message to attract younger, environmentally-conscious localvores that care where meat comes from and how it's raised. Want to go meatless on Mondays? We have 4 Mondays-worth of meatless meals here, plus get 25 more vegetarian meals.
As if olive oil labels weren't confusing enough, a recent study conducted at the University of California found that 69 percent of the imported oils claiming to be “extra-virgin” didn’t meet international standards for the term. Top Chef contestant David Martin and other California restaurateurs filed a lawsuit alleging 10 major brands were misrepresenting their products. The North American Olive Oil Association says their tests revealed that only one percent of samples have issues. The lawsuit comes as the USDA develops standards for products labeled "virgin" and "extra-virgin."
Label readers, stand proud! New data from a national survey found that more than 60 percent of the respondents read the nutrition facts, 51.6 percent check out the ingredients, 47.2 percent read the serving size and 43.8 percent review the health claims at least some of the time when choosing which food to buy. Research also revealed a significant difference in total calories, fat, sodium, fiber and sugar between label readers verses non-readers. So to all you label readers — keep it up! Want more info about what's in your food? Check out our label decoder series.
Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »