Collection of the ‘news’ Category

BUSINESS TALKRADIO NETWORK BRINGS THE

FOOD NATION RADIO NETWORK TO NATIONAL SYNDICATION

For Immediate Release

Stamford, CT—May 13, 2013–The Business TalkRadio Network announced today an agreement with THE FOOD NATION RADIO NETWORK with ELIZABETH DOUGHERTY beginning June 1st, 2013 to join its roster of nationally syndicated programming on hundreds of radio stations across America.

“We are all really excited that hosts Elizabeth Dougherty and Michael Serio are bringing this compelling program to a national audience,” said Jeff Weber, Consulting Operations Officer for BTRN.
“We’re proud to be a part of this show which is informative and fun. It’s truly a one of a kind program,” he added.

THE FOOD NATION RADIO NETWORK is a one hour weekend show whose flagship station is Genesis Communications’ WWBA AM 820 in Tampa, FL. Elizabeth, along with Tampa radio veteran, Michael Serio send listeners on an adventure of “good food, food-related stories and compelling interviews.” It is delivered via satellite to stations across the country. Elizabeth Dougherty has an extensive background in food writing and culinary arts training. Her years of experience cooking and writing about food help demystify the concepts of good cooking for good health. She has written hundreds of articles on food that have appeared in many major publications. Additionally, her website, www.elizabethdougherty.com and Facebook page, “Elizabeth Dougherty” are among the most visited in the area, along with a strong presence on Twitter, keywords “FoodNationRadio”.

THE FOOD NATION RADIO NETWORK host Elizabeth Dougherty said, “We are pleased to partner with the Business TalkRadio Network as Food Nation Radio continues to grow so that we can continue to concentrate on the cutting-edge and entertaining content we provide to our listeners each week.”

More info on THE FOOD NATION RADIO NETWORK can be found on the BTRN website,www.BusinessTalkRadio.net.  Interested stations can also contact BTRN by phone at 203.323.7300 or by email: Jpatch@businesstalkradio.net

Business TalkRadio Network provides business, financial and specialized programming 24/7 to hundreds of radio stations all over the U.S. and Canada. It also syndicates nearly a dozen short form features as well.

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 200 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday morning at 8 on the Business Talk Radio Network (beginning June 1st 2013), Saturday afternoons at 4 on flagship WWBA AM820 News, and Sunday mornings at 8 on both  WAMT AM1190 News and WIXC AM1060 News. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcastpage on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.

####

@Food Nation Radio

BOXER, DEFAZIO INTRODUCE BILL TO REQUIRE LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

More than 90 Percent of Americans Support the Right to Know What Is In The Foods We Feed Our Families

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clearly label genetically engineered (GE) foods so that consumers can make informed choices about what they eat.

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) are cosponsors of the Senate bill. Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), James Moran (D-VA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), George Miller (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Ann Kuster (D-NH) are cosponsors of the House bill.

“Americans have the right to know what is in the food they eat so they can make the best choices for their families,” Senator Boxer said.  “This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of consumer groups, businesses, farmers, fishermen and parents who all agree that consumers deserve more – not less – information about the food they buy.”

“When American families purchase food, they deserve to know if that food was genetically engineered in a laboratory,” Representative DeFazio said. “This legislation is supported by consumer’s rights advocates, family farms, environmental organizations, and businesses, and it allows consumers to make an informed choice.”

“American consumers have made it clear that they want to be empowered to make choices about the food they eat.  This legislation will deliver the transparency every American deserves by providing clear labeling standards for food containing genetically engineered ingredients,” said Senator Gillibrand.

“This is a common sense approach to ensuring that American consumers know more and make more informed decisions about the foods they eat,” Senator Blumenthal said. “As an advocate for consumers’ rights and ally of many groups supporting this measure, I want to make sure thefood industry gives consumers the full story about what they put on their dinner tables.Consumers deserve to have clear, consistent, and accurate facts about the food products they purchase. More information is always better than less.”

“Alaskans deserve to know what’s on their dinner plate, especially if it might come from a science lab. Labeling Genetically Engineered food should be a no-brainer which is why I’m pleased to join my colleagues on this bill to make sure consumers are fully informed when they make choices at the grocery store,” said Senator Begich.

“American families shouldn’t have to play a guessing game when it comes to the food they put on their kitchen tables,” Senator Tester said. “Consumers have a right to know what’s in their food, and this bill gives them the tools they need to make informed decisions about the foods they choose.”

“All over this country people are becoming more conscious about the foods they are eating and the foods they are serving to their kids. This is certainly true for genetically engineered foods,” Senator Sanders said. “I believe that when a mother goes to the store and buys food for her child she has the right to know what she is feeding her child.”

“Oregonians want to know what is in their food, and they should have the right to find out,” said Senator Merkley. “Labeling is the common sense way to bring more transparency to consumers.”

According to surveys, more than 90 percent of Americans support the labeling of genetically engineered foods. In fact, many consumers are surprised to learn that GE foods are not already labeled.

Currently, the FDA requires the labeling of over 3,000 ingredients, additives and processes, but the agency has resisted labels for genetically modified foods. In a 1992 policy statement, the FDA allowed GE foods to be marketed without labeling, claiming that these foods were not “materially” different from other foods because the genetic differences could not be recognized by taste, smell or other senses.

Unfortunately, the FDA’s antiquated labeling policy has not kept pace with 21^st century food technologies that allow for a wide array of genetic and molecular changes to food that can’t be detected by human senses. Common sense would indicate that GE corn that produces its own insecticide – or is engineered to survive being doused by herbicides – is materially different from traditional corn that does not. Even the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has recognized that these foods are materially different and novel for patent purposes.

Consumers – who are used to reading labels to see if foods contain MSG, gluten, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup or aspartame – clearly want more information. More than one and a half million Americans have filed comments with the FDA urging the agency to label GE foods.

The bipartisan legislation introduced today would require clear labels for genetically engineered whole foods and processed foods, including fish and seafood. The measure would direct the FDA to write new labeling standards that are consistent with U.S. labeling standards and international standards.

Sixty-four countries around the world already require the labeling of GE foods, including all the member nations of the European Union, Russia, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.

This legislation follows last year’s letter from Senator Boxer, Representative DeFazio and 54 Senate and House lawmakers urging the FDA to require the labeling of GE foods.

The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act has broad support from organizations and businesses, including the Center for Food Safety, Consumers Union, Environmental Working Group, Just Label It, the National Farmers Union, Stonyfield Farms, Consumer Federation of America, AllergyKids Foundation, National Cooperative Grocers Association, New England Farmers Union, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Center for Environmental Health, Chefs Collaborative, Label GMOs, Alaska Trollers Association, Ben & Jerry’s, Clif Bar & Company, Lundberg Family Farms, Nature’s Path, Annie’s Inc., and many others. For a list of more of the groups supporting the bill, click here.

###

The European Union has adopted a zero tolerance approach to GMO foods for livestock.

In a report obtained by Food Nation Radio Network, the OECD says the following, “72. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) launched new, more precise guidelines for monitoring the environmental impact of authorised Genetically Modified (GM) crops, in response to changes in the EU’s Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) rules. In February 2011, member states set the tolerance threshold for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) traces in feedstuffs at 0.1%, a rate for which detection is scientifically reliable. A zero tolerance approach was applied beforehand. Concurrently, in December 2011 it was agreed to extend the phase out period for traces of GM oilseed rape products withdrawn in 2007 that was due in 2012 for another five years to 2017.”

The full report can be viewed here: OECD AG Report

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 200 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday afternoon at 4 on WWBA AM820 News and  other stations. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcast page on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.

In an unprecedented move, a grocery chain has decided to label genetically modified foods in their stores and do what the FDA has been unwilling to do, give consumers the right to know what is in their food.

We asked the questions consumers are asking about this significant change by Whole Foods.

Here’s our interview with Russ Benblatt of Whole Foods with the announcement and reasoning behind the timetable: 

About Whole Foods from their site: Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. (Read more on the Whole Foods site.)

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 200 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday afternoon at 4 on WWBA AM820 News and  other stations. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcast page on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.

This week on the Food Nation Radio Network we spoke with Professor Don Huber who has identified an unknown entity in genetically modified corn. Concurrent with that discovery and research, he has found several very serious health effects from consuming GMO plants.

There are currently bills in front of the House and Senate in the Florida Legislature to label these foods, giving consumers the right to know what they are eating. GMOs include soy, corn and sugar beets, although there are several others on the market.

Some citrus farmers in the State of Florida are in support of a new genetically modified orange to combat “greening”, a blight on the citrus crops, instead of using more organic methods. This new orange produces its own insecticide inside the fruit to kill pests.

Here’s our shocking interview with Dr. Huber: 

Dr. Huber is Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Idaho (1957, 1959), a Ph-D from Michigan State University (1963), and is a graduate of the US Army Command & General Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was a Pathologist at the University of Idaho for 8 years before joining the Department of Botany & Plant Pathology at Purdue University in 1971. He does advisory work for the USDA.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and in food news: Whole Foods draws a line in the sand to label GM foods and a professor in plant genetics identifies major safety concerns in genetically modified soy and corn. If you care about what you feed your family, you don’t want to miss this show!

What’s coming up this week: 

In an historic move, Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda has introduced a bill that would require labeling of genetically modified food sold in the State of Florida. She appeared on Food Nation Radio Network this weekend, where we have broadcast continuous coverage of the food labeling issue.

Here’s what she had to say about the proposed mandate to label GMOs in Florida: 

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 200 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday afternoon at 4 on WWBA AM820 News and  other stations. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcast page on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.

Last week on Food Nation Radio we spoke with Jacques Pepin in the first of a three-part series about his early career and latest book. As always, he was charming, entertaining and informative.

You can listen to part one of that interview here: 

Part two of our chat with Jacques Pepin will air this week.

Jacques Pépin is world renowned as the host of his acclaimed and popular cooking programs on public television, and as a prolific author, respected instructor, and gifted artist. Pépin was awarded the highest honor by the French Government and holds the title of CHEVALIER DE L’ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LEGION D’HONNEUR. Pépin is taping the upcoming series “Essential Pepin” for KQED in San Francisco. His memoir, The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen, was published by Houghton Mifflin in 2003 and in paperback in May, 2004. He is also a proud grandfather of his daughter Claudine’s child, Shorey.

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 200 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday afternoon at 4 on WWBA AM820 News and  other stations. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcast page on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.