April 2002

This year our Meat-Out action grew a bit, with member Barb Eisenberg doing some tab-ling at the Riverwest Co-op on the evening of March 19 (the day before the official Meat-Out day of March 20), in addition to our tablings at both Outpost stores on March 23. The latter went well, with many interesting contacts and conversations, and only one minor glitch that we’ll be discussing at our potluck meetings. We did have enough people at each of the sites: it seems that as our group slowly grows, we are able to do more and more. Thanks to Jody Johnson, Dianne Bahr, Cindy Juds, Sandy Forgach, and Laura Karel (and Chuck and myself).

Also, welcome to all of you who signed up for further contact with us and are therefore receiving this free sample of our newsletter. (Page 3 provides a form if you want to subscribe to the snail-mail version, as well as the website on which this newsletter is posted each month.)

We noticed that the Outpost Exchange last month published a reprint of an excellent E Magazine article on vegetarianism as crucial for environmentalism – but failed to include MARV among the resources for pursuing vege-tarianism that were listed at the article’s end. I am pleased to be able to report, however, that this month they did publish my letter-to-the-editor pointing out our existence and contact information.

And in April we will begin the first of our regular monthly potlucks at the Friends’ Meet-ing House, which is also likely to attract a few new faces. Please remember that we are now gathering at 5:30 PM instead of 6, and starting to actually eat promptly at 6.

Sunday, April 7, 5:30 PM, regular potluck at the Friends’ Meeting House, 3224 N. Gordon Place (from Humboldt Blvd., go east on Auer to the end and see their parking lot). Focus is Mediterranean cuisine.

Subsequent regular potlucks will be at the same place and time on:

May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, and Sept. 8.

Sunday, April 21, at Pat Courtney’s home, 5 PM, 2177 N. 70^th St., Wauwatosa, 258-0620.

"Food is the one central thing about human experience that can open up both our senses and our conscience to our place in the world."

-- Alice Waters, chef

"Food is political."

-- Dr. Marion Nestle, nutrition expert and author, in a 3/15 radio interview

The most interesting recent "meat is bad for you" news is about mad cow disease and its relative, chronic wasting disease, which affects deer and elk. Both of these concern us since such diseases, which cause Alzheimer’s-like brain degeneration and death and in humans is called Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, are now known to be able to cross species and infect humans who eat tainted animal products. CWD had already been found in deer and elk in the western U.S., but now three cases were confirmed in the brains of deer that Wisconsin hunters shot during the 2001 hunting season. Also, news was released on March 19 regarding mice that had been genetically altered to help study these diseases: certain proteins called prions, which when they change form become these diseases’ infectious agents, were found in the muscle tissue of the hind legs of the study’s mice – leading to concerns that the meat of affected animals, as well as the nervous system tissue, might be a disease vector. Mad cow disease has not been diagnosed in U.S. cattle, which may be because it has not been properly tested for here. But Slovakia recently identified its sixth case, and the European Union may discipline France for still refusing to accept beef imports from England, where mad cow disease first spread to humans.

Speaking of Alzheimer’s, researchers from the University of California recently announced findings that high cholesterol may be a risk factor for this disease as well as for cardiovascular illness. They had studied statin drugs’ effects in lowering these risks, but the news dispatch did mention that dietary/lifestyle measures (such as not eating the meat and dairy that contain saturated fats) also lower cholesterol. In a quite different aspect of the subject of bad meat, an Alabama meat company recalled over 30,000 pounds of cooked fajita chicken strips in late February due to the possibility of listeria contamination. Related to this was the news that a last-minute addition to the Senate farm bill would define irradiated meat as "pasteurized," in the hope that people will then accept such meat as safe, while Congress introduced a bill on March 15 that would restore USDA power to close meat processing plants that fail to control salmonella. A recent WorldWatch article advocated buying organic meat to discourage the agricultural overuse of antibiotics; a letter in response pointed out that not buying meat at all would achieve the same end. And following up a last month’s item, the U.S. Geological Survey reports that water downstream from both sewage plants and livestock herds contains all sorts of nasty chemicals and contaminants.

Several other interesting food-news items relate to government-in-action. One involved NASA scientists, who still recognize that when space travelers go for missions long enough to require growing their food, it will have to be vegan. On the other hand was a flap over a recent FDA advisory on which fish are safe to eat in pregnancy, which had left tuna off the danger-list despite considerable evidence of mercury contamination in this species. Both California and Kentucky are seeking ways to control the availability of soda and junk food in schools. Concerns about diet in Great Britain include a news story that 90% of chickens and 95% of pigs slaughtered now test positive for the disease organism campylobacter, and a re-port on the introduction of a team of cartoon characters who prefer vegetables and fruits, in the hope that, like Popeye and his spinach, they will encourage children to choose better diets. The American Cancer Society now explicitly recommends eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while limiting sugar, refined carbohydrates, and red meats. And the Yahoo website’s health/ alternative therapy feature actually listed vegetarianism as a "therapy."

Meanwhile, there is plenty of news about plant foods being good for you. For example, bananas are a good source of potassium, which helps prevent hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac arhythmias, depression, and fatigue; citrus fruits, apples, apricots, broccoli, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, and spinach are other sources. Prevention magazine reported on differences between Italian and American diets which help Italians stay slim: unlike us, Italians avoid refined-flour snacks, eat daily salads that feature dark leafy greens, eat fruit instead of cake for dessert, and get their fat from olive oil rather than meat and cheese. Another item in the same issue was that something in lemon peel apparently helps prevent skin cancer.

Soy compounds called isoflavones are now being tested as potential treatment for prostate cancer (so men should eat soy foods). And Health Science magazine reported on a study in the Journal of Urology which found that an active lifestyle combined with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains could reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells by as much as 45%. Meanwhile, Brazilian researchers have announced that the same isoflavone compounds beat out high-tech hormones as effective treatments for menopause symptoms, while eating soy foods helps promote the right levels of estrogen, and Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that eating a low-fat vegetarian diet helped control symptoms of PMS.

Eating whole-grain breakfast cereals with fruit seems to help people stay leaner, as com-pared to starting the day with eggs, bacon, and bagels; so does eating a wide variety of fruits compared to just a few kinds. And a Prevention article on erectile dysfunction observed that eating grains and vegetables rather than fatty foods is one key to combating this problem. There is also further evidence that tomatoes and garlic help fight cancer. One study found that the more garlic was eaten by study participants, the less colorectal cancer they had; another found that lycopene, a carotenoid in tomatoes, actually killed oral cancer cells in test tubes. On a different tack, University of Surrey researchers found that the more fruits and vegetables healthy women ate, the better their bone density, presumably because of the potassium, beta carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium found in these foods which are needed along with calcium to keep bones strong. And in two Harvard studies, risk of stroke dropped in correlation with consumption of vegetables and fruits, especially cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, etc.), citrus fruits, and fruit juices – and extra especially if these foods were consumed instead of meats and trans-fatty acids rather than as well.

It’s good news that Burger King has launched a new VeggieBurger, since the availability of vegetarian fast food could help many people to follow through on a wish to quit meat, and if it succeeds it could force McDonalds and Wen-dys to follow suit, ultimately saving many animals from slaughter. For this reason, vegan Erik Marcus recommends it even though its bun has a smidgeon of butter, and other vegetarians also see value in helping promote it. The burger is made of grains and vegetables, not soy; if you want it vegan, ask them to hold the mayo and microwave rather than flame-broil it (explain that a veggie burger only needs warming, not cooking through like meat does!).

So Chuck and I decided to try it. After the Meat-Out we made our experiment, and it was partly successful. We did get microwaved veggie burgers at a Burger King, and the burgers themselves were vegan, if less substantial than we’re used to calling a meal; the tomato and lettuce were fresh and had some taste. But while we’ve heard several good reports of the burgers’ taste, both our tongues confirmed data we had that our sandwiches contained a large array of chemical flavorings and preservatives. We’re used to no-preservative whole foods, so this left a most dismaying taste in our mouths (both figuratively and literally). Others like them. It must depend on what you’re used to.

We have received notice of a DNR hearing on hunting rules in Wisconsin, to be held on April 8 at 7 PM at Wauwatosa West High School. For many years, only hunters knew about these "public" hearings, and as a result they got to give the only input that the DNR received. Those readers who are interested in animal welfare may wish to attend and present an alternate view. To learn more, contact Madravenspeak@aol.com.

Different possible reactions to the BK veggie burger bring up the breadth of differences in the mindsets of people who may otherwise have much in common.

As another example, our last issue mentioned studies which found food value in honey – and one of our readers who does not eat honey on the principle that gathering it is bad for bees and hives was distressed that honey should be promoted as a food. I had included that item because, while honey is anathema to some of us, others do eat it and would want to know.

Again, after the Outpost Exchange printed the E magazine article on vegetarianism and environmentalism, a letter to the editor pointed out that while the environment is indeed devastated by the way most animals are raised in the U.S., it’s also true that there is some land that works for grazing but is truly useless for crops, where appropriate grazing can be environmentally benign, even restorative, and humane and healthy for the animals; the writer approved of vegetarianism but felt it should not be adopted out of misperceptions.

Then a letter that came to me with a subscription renewal mentioned that when the writer eliminated all sugar from her diet and added more water it cured her of constant chill, fibromyalgia symptoms, and insomnia; she suggested I devote an issue to the evils of refined sugar and how to avoid it. Again, my reaction was complex: a bravo to this reader but also a certainty that not all of us are ready to consider following in her footsteps.