Urban gardening can save money, but start-up costs can be high if not done carefully. Image: Flickr / mat_the_w / CC-BY-SA

With food costs continually going up, front-yard gardens and urban farming are again in vogue. These city gardens are often touted as a way to save money. Some enterprising farmers, however, are trying to turn backyard gardens into full-fledged, profitable farms.

The argument for urban gardens

For a variety of reasons, urban gardening is gaining in popularity. Some homeowners see these gardens as a way of putting their property to work. Others use these gardens as a way to grow their own food the way they want to — organic, no fertilizers or to rock music twice a day. Urban gardens are usually billed as a way of saving money. The math seems pretty logical. Spend $5 on seeds and another $5 on equipment and get $50 or even hundreds of dollars or more worth of produce.

The math of an urban garden

Saving money with your own garden does make sense. The math of an urban garden is a bit more than seeds and water, however. Setting up an urban garden takes significant amounts of time and at least some monetary investment for the first year or so. First, garden space must be developed. Grass must be pulled out or killed, or raised beds need to be built, which costs $20 to $100. In some areas, testing the soil for mercury or lead is a good idea; that costs $150 to $300. Seeds must be purchased or acquired, which can cost $1 and $100, depending on what you wish to grow. Compost, if you do not have your own compost bin or pile, is another $5 to $20 per cubic yard. All in all, setting up an urban garden can cost as little as $25 or more than $500, plus hours of hard work. The good news is, properly cared for, a garden will cost significantly less in following years. Over time, an urban garden can save you significant grocery money. At an average cost of 55 to 60 cents per pound, a garden would need to produce 50 to 200 pounds of vegetables to break even, depending on what you spent to create it. Of course, cost is not the only consideration with gardening; there are many reasons beyond cost to grow your own food.

Turning an urban garden into an urban farm

Some enterprising entrepreneurs are turning urban gardening into urban farming. Rather than trying to purchase large portions of land outside a city and driving the food in, some businesspeople are using backyards of friends and neighbors as their farms. Sometimes, they pay a small rental fee. Other times, the farmers offer a basket of produce in exchange for using the land. This is not always a recipe for quick profit — one Canadian company, FoodCycles, points out:

Farming is like any other business — you need a marketing plan, a financial strategy, a risk strategy.

Sources

The Star
AZ Star Net
USDA

Hot weather and heavy rains have hurt Columbian coffee production as global demand catches up with U.S. coffee drinkers. Image: CC ZeePack/Flickr

Coffee prices are skyrocketing, and U.S. coffee lovers are starting to get the jitters. Coffee production worldwide is under stress from climate change, global coffee demand is rising and speculators are driving the price of coffee futures higher than they’ve been in more than 30 years. But the CEO of Starbucks spread some sunshine on the gloom and doom, vowing not to pass coffee price increases on to Starbucks customers.

Coffee prices and climate change

Coffee futures for May delivery approached $3 a pound for the first time in 34 years. According to the International Coffee Organization, a precarious balance between supply, demand and weather is driving up coffee prices. Climate change is wreaking havoc. In recent years, major coffee producing countries have been battered by rising temperatures and heavy rains. Coffee plants require their own precarious balance of temperature, rainfall and dry spells to ripen properly for optimum taste. Warm, wet weather also incubates coffee pests, such as a fungus called coffee rust. In Columbia, the second largest producer of prized Arabica beans behind Brazil, average temperatures have increased one to two degrees in three decades. In the last few years, rain in Columbia’s coffee regions has increased more than 25 percent.

Has the world reached peak coffee?

Colombia produced more than 12 million 132-pound bags of coffee in 2006. At the time, Columbian coffee producers set a 2014 goal of 17 million. In 2010 Columbian coffee production totaled 9 million bags. In Brazil, increased coffee production has been offset by rising domestic coffee demand. Brazil’s coffee consumption in 2010 grew to within 3 million bags of the U.S., the world’s top coffee-drinking nation. Consumers in the developing economies of China and India are also getting hooked on coffee. Coffee experts doubt that climate change will allow Columbia’s Arabica bean crop to recover and worry that the world has hit “peak coffee.” If peak coffee has been reached, global coffee supplies will not match growing demand, and coffee prices will rise accordingly.

Starbucks makes a stand

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz blames skyrocketing coffee prices on speculators and has pledged not to raise prices. Schultz told Fox Business News that speculators are making money off rising coffee futures while coffee drinkers and coffee farmers suffer. He said Starbucks has already bought enough coffee to last through fiscal 2011. But Starbucks profits have been in decline. If the upward trend in coffee prices continues, by the time Starbucks replenishes its coffee supply for 2012, Schultz may be hard-pressed to maintain that pledge.

Sources

New York Times

Agrimoney.com

Wall Street Pit

Growing a small crop in a community garden can circumvent rising food prices for those willing to do the work. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

During the past few months, world food prices have been on the rise for a variety of reasons. Oil prices are part of the reason, as increased costs of shipping food means that producers and retailers have to charge more for it. However, there are always some ways to save money.

Variety of factors cause spike in food prices

For the past few months, many news agencies have covered a worldwide rise in food prices, which was said to have had a hand in the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt. There are multiple reasons; energy costs have been rising slowly and transportation costs make goods more expensive, according to Reuters.  Supplies of grain have also been contracting, according to CNN, which makes livestock that depends on grain more expensive as the price goes up. That also means that the price of bread and other grain products will increase as well. Increasing demand for ethanol fuel doesn’t ease that situation either. The cost of food is estimated by the Department of Agriculture to rise by at least 3 percent in 2011. However, none of this means that a person has to resort to borrowing payday loans just to fill their grocery list.

Make bread

Baking bread is a  tradition that is sadly becoming lost, and it is not a hard skill to acquire. Granted, freshly baked bread does not keep as long as the chemically enhanced loaves available at the grocer. However, the cost of flour and yeast is not high. Bread machines make the process easier and provide a means to bake at home in perpetuity, as long as supplies are on hand. Check out any number of recipe sites for recipes and tips for baking.

Community gardening

Community gardening is something that has become popular over the past few decades. Each community garden differs in its operation, but essentially a large plot of land has small lots available for rent or sale, where people can grow whatever they wish. Flowers are common, but vegetables that don’t require a large area or extensive maintenance are a good idea. Take a look at the American Community Gardening Association to see where the nearest one is.

Green thumb around the house

Go to any large hardware store, and chances are there should be plenty of seeds and pots for starting one’s own herb garden. A little potting soil and diligent watering can raise a complete supply of herbs. Startup costs may seem high, but having fresh chives or basil on hand is hard to beat. Hanging planters, which are very affordable, can be used to grow fresh tomatoes or peppers right off the front porch.

Sources

Reuters

CNN

American Community Gardening Association

Organic produce is more expensive -- but it is only worth the cost in some situations. Image: Flickr / TimPsych / CC-BY

Organic produce can be very expensive. With recent reports showing that groceries are getting even more expensive, many are wondering whether organic produce is worth the cost. U.S. Department of Agriculture tests show that some produce is worth it and some not so much.

Understanding the cost of organic

There are several different organic certifications available in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture says labeled “Organic” products must come from farms that integrate “cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.” In general, this means not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Getting organic certification costs anywhere from $500 to $33,000, depending on the size of the farm. Foods grown organically also have lower yields, which means farmers have to charge more per unit to make their investment back. These factors mean that organic produce is more expensive in the grocery store.

Foods worth buying organic

Some foods absorb pesticides and chemicals much more easily than others. According to USDA tests, there are 19 types of produce that absorb chemicals easily enough that scrubbing or peeling simply won’t remove the chemical. Despite their average higher cost, these fruits and vegetables contain, on average, more pesticides:

• Celery
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Nectarines
• Peppers
• Spinach
• Cherries
• Kale
• Potatoes
• Grapes
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Pears
• Plums
• Summer squash
• Cucumbers

Foods not worth the cost

The structure of some fruits and vegetables does not make it easy for pesticides and chemicals to absorb. If you are trying to pinch pennies, there is some produce that USDA tests indicate you can more safely buy non-organic.

• Onions
• Avocado
• Corn on the cob
• Pineapple
• Mangoes
• Peas
• Asparagus
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Honeydew
• Grapefruit

Trying to balance saving money with staying healthy can often be difficult. When you’re eating healthy, the right fruits and vegetables can make all the difference — and knowing when to spend the money and when to save can make the strain on your wallet a little easier to take.

Sources

How Stuff Works
USDA

Global competition for basic agricultural commodities is increasing upward pressure on food prices for U.S. consumers. Image: CC NCinDC/Flickr

Food prices in the U.S. are rising at an accelerated rate. Rising global demand is raising the price of basic agricultural commodities, which has started to affect the grocery budgets of U.S. consumers. In addition to rising demand, the rising price of oil is a root cause of food inflation, which is expected to increase in the foreseeable future.

The meat of the food price issue

Food inflation in January rose 1.8 percent year-over-year, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index. Rising fuel prices, rising demand and bad weather are driving the cost for basic agricultural commodities worldwide steadily upward. So far, the impact of these factors has been most dramatic in meat prices. For example, due to tightening supplies, corn prices reached a 30-month high in January. Because corn is used more for livestock feed rather than consumed directly, the cost of livestock is rising. Plus, people in China, India and other developing countries with growing economies want to eat more meat. U.S. beef exports have risen nearly 1.5 billion pounds in the past five years.

U.S. food price statistics

U.S. consumers are bidding against people in other countries for a limited global supply of meat. Pork prices are up 12 percent from a year ago, beef is up 6 percent and poultry 2 percent. Rising global commodity prices are also affecting other items in the grocery cart. January CPI data shows that prices for bread, milk, eggs and other staples are rising significantly.  Cereal prices are climbing due to wheat rising wheat prices, and coffee is at a premium because coffee bean prices jumped 77 percent last year. At the grocery store in 2011, pork prices are expected to rise the most, more than 10 percent. Beef prices are expected to rise more than 7 percent. U.S. consumers will be eating more chicken, which is expected to rise in price a little more than 5 percent.

U.S. food price outlook for 2011

Overall, U.S. food prices are expected to rise between 3 percent to 4 percent this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As food inflation rises, U.S. policy makers are downplaying the impact on consumers. Last week Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee that effect of food inflation on consumers will be “temporary and relatively modest.” The Fed doesn’t factor in food and energy prices when it calculates inflation, but more than 12 percent of after-tax income in U.S. households is now spent on fuel and food. The increases are adding up fast for consumers dealing with high unemployment and stagnant wage growth. In 2008, the average taxpayer earned $33,000 a year, far less than two decades ago.

Sources

CNNMoney.com

Seeking Alpha

Agrimoney.com

Libya's singular dependence on oil has made supplying food more difficult. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Javier Blas/Wikipedia)

As the crisis in Libya continues, the situation grows increasingly desperate for Libyans in need of humanitarian aid. According to Al Jazeera, convoys from the World Food Program with flour and other foodstuffs have been turned back by supporters of Col. Moammar Gadhafi, leaving the lives of more than 1 million civilian refugees in disarray. The United Nations and United States are currently developing strategies for Libya food delivery and other means to alleviate suffering.

Thousands of refugees will ‘invade Europe,’ Gadhafi says

Various reports from the front lines of clashes between anti-Gadhafi rebels and Gadhafi  loyalists indicate Gadhafi may be leaning toward compromise, yet Gadhafi’s public proclamations that he will fight insurrection until death have suggested otherwise. Gadhafi  has warned that if he falls, thousands of Libyan refugees will “invade Europe,” reports Reuters. Reportedly, tens of thousands have already fled into Tunisia, although that country is also politically unstable.

As hospitals in rebel-held cities like Misrata are drastically short of supplies – and rebel areas in general face food shortages – Gadhafi’s prediction that a massive wave of refugees will throw themselves upon the mercy of any country that can offer humanitarian aid may prove to be an accurate one. Military analyst Shanshank Joshi of Britain’s Royal United Services Institute told Reuters that the rebels do not have the upper hand, even though their fighting skills are “reasonably competent.”

“Government forces have more mobility than the rebels thanks to airlift and a decent amount of road transport,” said Joshi.

United Nations seeks to deliver aid to Libyan refugees

U.N. aid coordinator Valerie Amos knows that more than 1 million fleeing Libyans need humanitarian aid, and that number increases daily as skirmishes drive people from their homes. Rebel towns like Misrata, which was recently home to 300,000 people, are considered high-priority areas by the U.N.

“Humanitarian organizations need urgent access now,” said Amos. “People are injured and dying and need help immediately.”

After announcing the institution of a potential no-fly zone over Libya, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the U.S. has pledged $10 million to help Libyan refugees. Interested individual donors are being urged to contribute through the U.N. World Food Program.

Libya needs food and a diverse economy

Agriculture is difficult to sustain in Libya, writes Christopher Albon for The Atlantic, so the nation has to import much of its food. Considering that food prices have risen 50 to 75 percent in war torn areas of Libya, the panic of food shortage has set in. Albon suggests that the U.S. has both the capacity and infrastructure to supply rebel-controlled eastern Libya with food deliveries, via the major seaport of Benghazi. Such a move would be a meaningful policy option for President Obama and would avoid the burden of U.S. military engagement.

Sources

The Atlantic
Army Times
Reuters
U.N. World Food Program
U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya (via Wikileaks)

Al Jazeera reports: Using food as a weapon in Libya

Skippy Peanut Butter has been recalled because of salmonella risk. Image: Flickr / consumerist / CC-BY

Every month, the Food and Drug administration heads up hundreds of small recalls. Many recalls go unnoticed, but the most recent peanut butter recall — 2011′s Skippy recall — is calling attention to another problem with the federal budget. Despite many safety recalls, the FDA and USDA are facing serious funding cuts.

First peanut butter recall for 2011

In a move expected to cost about $50 million or more, Skippy has recalled peanut butter in 16 states. The Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread have both been possibly contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The 16.3-ounce plastic jars with UPC numbers 048001006812 and 048001006782 are included in the recall. The FDA is working in cooperation with Unilever, the company that manufactures Skippy, to pull the possibly tainted product off the shelves.

Finding funding for food safety

In a new bill signed into law last year, the Food and Drug administration got an update. Rather than requiring the agency to work with companies offering tainted products, the FDA will soon have the right to require a recall. The FDA’s budget also included funding to hire new inspectors and generally keep a closer eye on food safety. The funding for these changes, however, appears to be at risk. Part of the funding is appearing from cuts to the USDA, which is responsible for the safety of the meat supply. Congress is also calling for additional cuts to the budget of the FDA, which may leave new food safety initiatives un-enforceable. With more than 3,000 deaths each year attributed to tainted food, the consequences of the lack of funding are immediate and serious.

The essential problem with food safety

Funding the food safety system in the United States is a difficult regulatory challenge. The FDA is responsible for both food and drug safety in the United States, both of which are huge challenges with thousands of moving parts. Food safety is also, alternately, handled by the United States Department of Agriculture or 14 other federal agencies. State and local governments take on another level of oversight. Though heavier regulations and more funding could improve food safety, heavier regulation comes with its own challenges. Small farms, farmer’s markets, and other local food producers have already expressed concern that increased regulation costs them a significant percentage of their sales. Each food-safety recall pulls millions of dollars out of the safety budget and the economy in general, but reforming the system will take political, social and economic changes that could prove overwhelming.

Sources

Slate
MSNBC
Food Safety News
Government Accountability Office (PDF)

A study has linked consumption of sugary drinks, such as colas and fruit juices, to higher blood pressure. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A recently published study has found a possible link between sugary drinks and an increase in blood pressure. The study found that patients who consumed large amounts of sugared beverages such as fruit juice and soft drinks had higher blood pressure. However, the study doesn’t rule out other dietary factors playing a part.

One sugary drink per day can increase blood pressure

A study conducted by English researchers has found that any sugary drink can boost a person’s systolic blood pressure from 0.8 to 1.6 points, according to ABC. Blood pressure is a ratio of the highest pressure recorded in blood vessels to lowest blood pressure, or systolic to diastolic. Higher blood pressure or hypertension, can lead to heart problems, which makes sugary drinks that much more of a worry in that systolic is the high reading of pressure. The study is being published in the medical journal Hypertension and was carried out by Dr. Ian J. Brown of the Imperial College London, in coordination with other colleagues.

Objections

In the study, patients kept records of what they ate and drank, and those patients who regularly consumed sugar-heavy beverages such as soda and fruit juices were found to have higher blood pressure than those who did not. However, Dr. Brown and his colleagues did not assert that the data indicated there was a clear link between sugary drinks and blood pressure. Dr. Brown admitted, according to WebMD, that the correlation was only observed, and a causal link couldn’t be established. A spokesperson for the American Beverage Association, a trade group for soft drink companies, said that the study was “seriously flawed,” and the changes in blood pressure were “inconsequential.” The authors noted as much in the study.

Cut back on the soda

The study found that people who drank even one soda per day took in 400 more calories per day than others, though this doesn’t mean anyone who drinks soda has higher blood pressure. However, drinks that are sweetened with sugars are one of the biggest contributors of empty calories in the American diet, and even artificial sweeteners such as Splenda are known to pose health risks.

Sources

ABC

WebMD

Mother Jones claims drinking Jamba Juice is not unlike eating a cupcake or two. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Kim Navarre/Flickr)

Fans of Jamba Juice may not find the Feb. 28 Mother Jones report on the fast-food smoothie chain to their taste. Writer Ashley Bates dared to look behind the curtain and see that “all natural” may not be the best way to describe the tantalizingly blended fruit smoothies. According to Mother Jones, Jamba Juice smoothies aren’t even low-calorie.

First McDonald’s oatmeal, now Jamba Juice smoothies

Oh, how the false nutrition idols have fallen before the ax of consumable convenience. First, McDonald’s oatmeal was analyzed and found to be less-nutritious-than-advertised; now Jamba Juice smoothies are in question. If the bulk of Jamba Juice’s creations were simply fruit, ice and skim milk, there would be no problem, but all is not as it seems, writes Bates. The “simple, honest ingredients” Jamba Juice is committed to serving its customers are optimized for high-speed service. According to Jillian Shamoon, a Jamba Juice store general manager, real milk can’t be used with fruit because they “don’t taste good together.” Thus, frozen yogurt and sherbert are the standards in classic smoothies. If a customer wants to go “light,”a “dairy base” containing the artificial sweetener Splenda is used.

Ramping up the calories

Bates says a typical, medium-sized Jamba Juice smoothie like the Mango-a-go-go Classic contains 400 calories. Most other smoothies at Jamba Juice range from 250 to 600 calories. Compare that with the 540 calories of a McDonald’s Big Mac and you quickly discover that you’re in a fast food danger zone. While a smoothie may be a better choice than a Big Mac, says Dr. Alison Field of Harvard Medical School, the fact that most people drink smoothies as snacks or with a meal translates into a high calorie load.

Jamba Juice website remains neutral

As a company, Jamba Juice doesn’t appear to take a stand on whether smoothies should be considered meals. However, there are enough questions about the artificial sweetener Splenda to give any health-conscious person pause. Fields pointed to numerous studies that show people who consume diet sodas with Splenda tend to gain weight anyway.

That’s not all, says Dr. Janet Hull, author of “Splenda Exposed.” Hull says that while more conclusive testing is still needed, there is reason to believe that Splenda and its variants may also lead to disruption of sleep, sexual dysfunction, increased instances of cancer, MS, Lupus, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.

Sources

Mother Jones

Splenda Exposed

When you must Jamba, which juice is on the loose?

The basics of dishes for big families can help even small families cut food costs. Flickr / tinytall / CC-BY

Feeding a big crew can feel like a tough — and expensive — proposition. But dishes for big families can incorporate many cost-saving secrets that even small families can make  use of. Try these dishes for big families and cut your food costs.

Dishes for big families – the basics

The basics of cooking for a big family or to reduce your food costs start with understanding storage. Using ingredients in as many different ways as possible helps reduce the amount of food waste by making sure ingredients don’t go bad. Increasing the amount of non-meat protein also helps cut down cost; mixed correctly, this can actually help the food be more filling. Making dishes for big families that can be frozen and easily re-heated cuts down preparation time and allows you to take advantage of sales.

What to include in dishes for big families

When you’re cooking dishes for big families or for freezing, there are a few basic elements that make any dish great. Vegetables such as onions, garlic and celery provide a flavorful base. Grains, such as rice, barley, wheat kernels, pasta and quinoa are inexpensive and provide “filler” for the meal. Legumes, such as beans or lentils, pair up with grains to create a complete protein; meat is also an option. Add a sauce to these basics in just about any combination, and you’ve got a meal.

Ways to blend dishes for big families

So you know the basics of what to include in dishes for big families. How to combine them? For a soup, try starting by sauteing onions, carrots, celery and garlic in butter or olive oil. Combine with legumes or meat and broth and simmer for a few hours. For a stroganoff, blend one onion, a tablespoon of garlic and a few ounces of mushrooms with a few ounces of meat strips. Sprinkle with flour and add broth, sour cream and spices. Mix with cooked pasta or rice and serve. Combining these ingredients could even be as simple as steaming vegetables, cooking meat and adding grains or legumes. No matter how you combine these four elements — vegetables, grains, protein and sauce — you can create one great meal that saves you money and time.

What do those labels on wine bottles really mean? CC by Sébastien Barillot/Flickr

Options to put in your wine glass have always existed,  but in the last few years, the options seem to have been expanding. You can find thousands of dollars worth of wine in one bottle, or pick up a bottle for a few dollars at the gas station store. Sorting through the vocabulary on a bottle is the first step to buying the right wine.

How to interpret a wine label

There are some things every wine label will have. On most of them, the grape producer, vintage year, region and alcohol content will all be listed. The “varietal” indicates what type of grape the wine is made from. The year the wine was made is listed on vintage wines. Vintage wine labels do not always contain all this information, but they can be translated easily with a search engine.

Organic wine facts

Almost every wine has the word “organic” printed on it. Red and white wines are most common overall and the most common organic wines around. There are three types of organic. If a label just says “organic,” the bottler claims it was grown without chemicals. The organic status of the procedures, when it comes to growing, was double checked when “certified organic” is listed on the bottle. Some bottles will say “USDA certified organic.” This means federal organic standards were followed.

Movement toward natural wine

There are many connoisseurs nowadays who want “natural wine,”which contains no  chemicals. Natural wines can go as far as using only the natural yeasts that float in the air. With a good natural wine, the only ones you can expect to be just as good are the ones from the same batch, because the results are much less consistent with natural wine.

Finding sulfites in fine wine

You might see other qualities advertised on your wine label. “No sulfites” means that the wine does not contain any sulfite acids at all — which takes processing. There weren’t any extra sulfites added to the wine when “no added sulfites” is put on the label. There are a few wines with a lot of sulfites in them. These include white wine, sweet dessert wine and ice wine.

Getting the best fine wines is all about finding a wine that you love. You will find your best wine when you know what you are looking for, which takes you one step closer to enjoying it.

The Hotel Chelsea has a new occupant. CC by Nikk0 at fr.wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons

Bohemian counter-culture used to surround Manhattan’s Chelsea Hotel. The hotel used to be known for its central role in drug dealing, murders and rock ‘n’ roll music. This old hotel, though, is now home to something totally different — Doughnut Planet.

Past of Chelsea Hotel

Many recognize the Chelsea Hotel as a landmark. Built in 1883, the hotel has served as home base for a wide variety of notorious figures. Most infamously, punk rocker Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death at this hotel. For years, the Chelsea Hotel has been losing permanent residents; management just couldn’t seem to get a grip on keeping the hotel running. Last year, The Chelsea Hotel was finally sold off.

Chelsea Hotel now home to the Doughnut Planet

The Doughnut Planet is a popular New York pastry shop. On Valentine’s  Day, Doughnut Planet opened a new location in the old Chelsea Hotel. Rather than converting the hotel to an industrial warehouse look to match the first location, owners tried to keep as much of the old-style elegance the Chelsea was known for. The ground-level store uses only one level of the hotel, and there is no word yet on the possible uses of the remaining floors of the historic building.

Future looks grim for Chelsea Hotel

The Chelsea Hotel is the second major New York punk-rock landmark to close in just five years. Rock club CBGB closed in 2006. Chelsea Hotel residents originally banded together in an attempt to save the hotel, but the mostly foreign owners sold it for what amounted to a pittance. The Chelsea Hotel may be converted into an apartment complex above the Doughnut Planet, though investors have yet to come forward with funding for that plan.

Articles cited

New York Times

Wikipedia on CBGB

The best wine can turn your dinner into the optimal meal. CC by Don LaVange/Wikimedia Commons

Choosing a bottle of wine can be a very daunting task. When hosting a social dinner function, having the right bottle of wine is a must. The food needs to be considered along with personal preference in these cases. Wine pairing is selecting a wine with a flavor profile that complements the flavor profile of the food. In order to ensure the wine and food go well with one another, you can pair wine and food with similar characteristics. Tnother approach is to have contradicting profiles, so that the wine can balance the food.

Red wine versus white wine

As a general rule, white wines tend to pair better with lighter food, while red wines are typically matched with heavier, richer courses. If you are having a light meal, salad and seafood, for example, you may want to try Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or Chardonnay. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel and other heavier red wines tend to pair well with beef, lamb, veal and barbecue.

All in the details

There are other “rules” to consider when wine pairing, such as matching the spices used in food preparation. A Zinfandel or Chianti would go well with a with a red marinara sauce on pasta. However, pasta with a white sauce, such as parmesan or alfredo, would be something you would want to serve a Chardonnay or Merlot with. A Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio are both better off with something like lemon chicken while a Pinot Noir or Merlot would go well with a chicken marsala.

The sweeter side

Dessert is another thing to consider when choosing wine. Try a late harvest Riesling with fruit or citrus based desserts. Those desserts might also go well with ice wine.Cabernet Sauvignon goes well with desserts that have dark chocolate in them. Champagne also goes well with chocolate, as do Port wines.

Having wine at a meal is always a nice touch, and wine pairing is a fun and exciting way to make meals more interesting. The thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong combination, and it’s good to experiment with different combinations until you discover what you like. And remember, wine is best enjoyed when others are around to share it.

The secret recipe for Coke is said to contain ingredients anyone can find. Image: CC Marion Doss/Flickr

The formula for Coca-Cola is one of the most closely guarded trade secrets in the history of the U.S. The syndicated radio show “This America Life” revealed Monday that the original Coca-Cola recipe was discovered in an old newspaper column. The Coca-Cola Company keeps the Coke recipe locked in a vault, but the radio show said all the ingredients can be bought online.

How the secret Coke recipe was revealed

The formula for Coca-Cola was concocted by a doctor in Atlanta named John Pemberton in 1886. It has been reported that only two people who know how to mix the secret ingredient called “Merchandise 7X” are alive at any one time. But “This American Life” found what it said is the formula for Coca-Cola in an article published in the Feb. 18, 1979, edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A columnist reported discovering the hand-written Coke recipe in a notebook passed along by pharmacists through the generations. The article has a photo of a book open to a recipe which is described as a copy of Pemberton’s original formula for Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola without the cocaine

A recipe described as the original Coke formula has turned up before. Journalist Mark Pendergrast published a book in 1993 called “For God, Country and Coca-Cola” that included what he claims is the original recipe for Coke. Coca-Cola has claimed that the recipe in Pendergrast’s book differs from the formula used to make Coke. Company executives may be referring to the fact that the original Coke recipe called for fluid extract of coca leaves. The modern version of Coca-Cola uses “spent” coca leaves. Spent coca leaves are run through a process that extracts the cocaine. But cocaine extraction doesn’t get rid of cocaine alkaloids at a molecular level. Thus, today’s Coke contains trace amounts of cocaine.

Why Coke is addictive

When Dr. Pemberton formulated Coca-Cola extract, he took it to a local pharmacy, where it sold for five cents a glass. Sans cocaine, today’s Coke is still rather addictive because of an “asymmetrical” base of flavors that combines sweet, sour, bitter and salty, combined with huge amounts of sugar and caffeine. Plus, carbon dioxide injected under pressure — otherwise known as carbonation — lowers the pH level of the mixture to help the bloodstream absorb the sugar and caffeine as quickly as possible.

The alleged original Coke recipe:

Fluid extract of Coca 3 drams USP
Citric acid 3 oz
Caffeine 1 oz
Sugar 30 (it is unclear from the markings what quantity is required)
Water 2.5 gal
Lime juice 2 pints
Vanilla 1 oz
Caramel 1.5 oz or more to colour

7X flavour (use 2 oz of flavour to 5 gals syrup):
Alcohol 8 oz
Orange oil 20 drops
Lemon oil 30 drops
Nutmeg oil 10 drops
Coriander 5 drops
Neroli 10 drops
Cinnamon 10 drops

Sources

Today Show

This American Life

The Daily Mail

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A new report says energy drinks can pose health risks to kids because of the amount of caffeine the beverages contain. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A recently published report says energy drinks could pose some serious risks for children. The report, appearing in medical journal Pediatrics, says the amount of caffeine in energy drinks may be dangerous for teens, along with other ingredients. The study suggests regulation to curb the risks.

Ingredients such as caffeine may be dangerous for teens

A recent study has concluded that energy drinks contain levels of caffeine that may be dangerous for children and teens, and other ingredients included as “energy boosters,” such as taurine and guarana, could pose risks as well, according to MSNBC. The report, titled “Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults” is being published in Pediatrics, a pediatric medicine journal. The report says consuming energy drinks poses a risk to children and teens because of the amount of stimulants. The amount of caffeine contained in energy drinks could lead to heart palpitations, stroke, seizure and death in some cases. The caffeine content of alcoholic energy drinks such as Four Loko, is said to pose risks to young people as well.

American energy drinks go unregulated

The report, which is available for free from Pediatrics in PDF format, says the drinks often contain more caffeine than labels disclose. Most already contain 70 to 80 milligrams of caffeine per each 8-ounce serving, which is nearly three times the amount of caffeine in a can of cola. Energy drinks also contain other ingredients, such as taurine and guarana. Guarana is a vine that produces a bean, like coffee, except guarana has three times the caffeine as coffee, according to ABC. Caffeine is a stimulant, which affects numerous bodily functions.

Possible side effects

The report highlights that poison control centers in the U.S. do not track possible energy drink overdoses. However, health care officials in Germany and New Zealand have linked energy drink overdoses to mild symptoms like nausea, vomiting and irritability and to serious side effects such as liver damage, respiratory distress, kidney failure, heart trouble and even sudden death. The American Association of Poison Control Centers started tracking health problems associated with energy drink consumption in 2010, noting 677 cases of energy drink overdose from October to December 2010. The AAPCCC also noted 331 cases since the beginning of 2011.

Sources

MSNBC

ABC

Pediatrics (PDF – Requires Adobe Reader)

Store-branded products, including Walmart's Great Value, are usually manufactured by outside companies. Image: Flickr / acrider / CC-BY

In East Texas, reports indicate that a woman bit into a razor in her Walmart ice cream. Stephanie Granger says that her Peanut Butter Stars cup “tasted funny” when she first started eating it. Rather than suing Walmart, however, Granger says she just hopes the company “reviews safety procedures.”

Woman bites into razor in her Walmart ice cream

Stephanie Granger, who lives in Texas, was sitting down to watch a movie with Great Value brand ice cream. One spoonful of the ice cream, however, cut the inside of her lip. Granger found a broken razor blade in the ice cream. She called Walmart customer service, where she claims she was told “I’m sorry, I hope your day gets better.” Granger contacted the local media outlets, saying that she believes that the razor is “nobody’s fault” and just wants Walmart to review its safety procedures. Granger has indicated that she does not want to sue the company.

How Great Value ice cream is made

Though many of the reports on a woman biting into a razor blade call the product “Walmart ice cream,” that is not entirely accurate. Great Value is the Walmart house brand, but it is not usually directly manufactured by Walmart. Instead, the Walmart corporation contracts out to manufacturers of various products and labels them as Great Value. That means that Walmart will need to contact the company that makes the ice cream and discuss the problem with them. Walmart spokespeople have indicated that they are “opening a full investigation.”

Foreign objects in food

Foreign objects have been showing up in manufactured food for as long as manufactured food has existed. The USDA and FDA both work together to track and address foreign-object-in-food complaints. About one-third of reports of a foreign object in food involve glass or other sharp objects. Anyone who finds items in their food is encouraged to report the finding to their local health department and the food manufacturer.

Source

Consumerist

In a Spanish study, eating trans fats increased depression risk while a Mediterranean diet had the opposite effect. Image: mauricesvay/Flickr

Eating the trans fats present in processed foods increases the risk of depression, according to a recent study. The same study found that a Mediterranean diet rich in polyunsaturated fats and olive oil reduced the risk of depression. The effect of trans fat on depression may be even more pronounced in the U.S., where the rate of trans fat consumption is much higher than in Europe.

Trans fats and depression

People who ate trans fat were 48 percent more likely to suffer from depression, according to a study conducted at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain. The increase in the risk in depression was documented in people who obtained more than 0.6 percent of their calories from trans fats. To draw their conclusions, researchers tracked more than 12,000 people for six years. None of the participants suffered from depression at the beginning of the study. People who consumed the most trans fats at the beginning of the study were at a greater risk of depression over time than those who consumed less.

Trans fats and inflammation

The trans fat/depression study began with questionnaires on diet and medical conditions, which were administered again when the study concluded. Not only was trans fat consumption linked to depression, higher levels of trans fat consumption led to a higher risk of depression. Participants who ate a Mediterranean diet were less likely to become depressed. The study’s authors suggested a relationship between depression and inflammation, which is common among people with depression. Trans fats increase inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease, as well as lower HDL (good) cholesterol and raise LDL (bad) cholesterol. Olive oil a key component of a Mediterranean diet, contains compounds that help reduce inflammation.

Trans fat consumption in the U.S.

The Spanish study should be considered a wake-up call to Americans. The Spanish subjects in the study eating the highest levels of trans fat averaged 0.4 percent of total calories from trans fat, mostly in the form of milk and cheese. An American diet averages about 2.5 percent of calories from trans fat, in large part from processed foods. The U.S. leads the world in the consumption of trans fats and cases of depression, as well as heart disease.

Sources

MSN

Bloomberg

Medical News Today

Oysters may show up on your plate, but many oysters are extinct. Image: Flickr / of_guido / CC-BY-SA

The scientific journal BioScience released a scary finding this week: Oysters may be extinct. This declaration of extinct oysters has many worried. Oysters can be farmed, but wild oyster beds play an important part in their ecosystems.

Oysters extinct in many areas

Oyster reefs, the areas of the ocean where oysters tend to congregate and grow, used to fill many ocean bays. Many areas where oysters used to grow are now practically empty of oysters, leading BioScience to declare that oysters are functionally extinct. Of the remaining oysters, 75 percent are found in just five North American locations. Only the Gulf of Mexico has a healthy oyster population, and many oysters there died when the BP oil spill forced actions that reduced the salinity of the water.

Oysters extinct in the wild

Oysters, like many other sea-based foods, used to be a cheap source of protein. Over-harvesting has led to much of the extinct oyster areas, however, making them much more expensive. That does not, however, mean that demand has gone down. Oysters are extinct in many areas because wild oysters are easy to make money from and have therefore been over-harvested. Oysters are eaten by gulls, starfish, stingrays, crabs and many other ocean-based life forms.

Farmed oysters not extinct

In many areas, wild oysters are facing extinction, but farmed oysters are not. Oyster farming is a relatively ecologically neutral process that does not produce nearly the environmental effects of growing protein-based food sources on land. However, many oyster farms face disease and expensive start-up costs. Oyster farms can also spread disease to wild oyster populations. Aquaculture, however, appears to be the only solution that will allow humans to continue eating oysters without causing even deeper wild oyster extinction.

Sources

USC News
NY Times

Is Chick-fil-A anti-gay? CC by Horia Varlan/Flickr

Popular restaurant chain Chick-fil-A is being protested over donations to a religious organization with an anti-gay rights agenda. A Pennsylvania location of Chick-fil-A provided catering to a marriage seminar put on by a conservative evangelical group that is hostile to LGBT causes. Several colleges have student groups demanding the restaurant be banned from campus for promoting discriminatory messages.

Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A causes protests

Because of the rumor that Chick-fil-A has an anti-gay agenda, the company is facing controversy, says The New York Times. It was disclosed that a Chick-fil-A location is donating sandwiches to a seminar called “The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God’s Design” by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, and the seminar is being held in February. The event got sandwiches donated from a location near Harrisburg, Penn., because the group running the event is a 503(c) non-profit organization. Operators of Chick-fil-A restaurants are encouraged to make charitable donations, so the act may not have been religiously motivated. Many college campuses are trying to get the restaurant banned from campuses, and LGBT rights groups want boycotts.

History of Christian values

There have always been values associated with Chick-fil-A, and they happen to be Christian. Sunday school teacher Truett Cathy is the founder of the chain. His policy from the founding of the restaurant was that it would be closed on Sundays and all locations follow that schedule to this day. Christian values are promoted in the charitable foundation, WinShape, which the company runs. WinShape gives scholarships to college students and runs a network of foster homes. “Premarital boot camp” is put on by the WinShape for those engaged. It also does summer camps for kids and getaways for married couples.

Company denies discriminating

The corporation of Chick-fil-A did come out with a statement that says it doesn’t support discrimination. There is nothing on the Chick-fil-A website about the controversy. However, “honor, dignity and respect” is how employees are expected to treat everyone at the restaurant, according to a video posted on Facebook by president Dan Cathy. Years ago Chick-fil-A made headlines because a Muslim wouldn’t participate in prayers and was fired, which got the company sued in 2006.

Information from

New York Times

Chick-fil-A website

WinShape Foundation

The new Dietary Guidelines from the government advise people to eat more fish and cut intake of fats and salts. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The new pamphlet of Dietary Guidelines has been published by the U.S. Government. Every five years, the federal government publishes a new set of suggestions on what Americans should eat including what should be cut back on. The effect is not expected to be dramatic.

Government publishes new dietary guidelines

The federal government has just released a new edition of “Dietary Guidelines,” according to ABC. A new edition of guidelines is issued every five years by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises limiting the use of solid fats and consuming at least two and a half cups of fruits and vegetables per day, especially those high in dietary fiber. Americans are advised by the new guidelines also to limit their sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day. Those at risk for or already living with heart disease are recommended to limit sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day, and the American Heart Association says that about 50 percent of the American population fits that criteria.

Fish upon a star

The new dietary guidelines also recommend that Americans start eating more fish. It is recommended that people ingest at least 8 ounces of seafood per week, which is double the current average of 3.5 ounces per week, according to USA Today. Certain species of fish and other seafood are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Higher consumption of fish is also supposedly part of the so-called “French Paradox” or “French Affect,” wherein French people consume more saturated fats than Americans but have less heart disease.

The war on obesity

The high rate of obesity among American adults and children is something that health professionals and First Lady Michele Obama are extremely concerned with. American life expectancy was recently reported as lagging behind other industrial nations and many suspect that diet along with increasingly sedentary lifestyles are major culprits.

Sources

ABC

USA Today

2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans