Food Sleuth Radio

Did you know that media literacy is essential for a healthy democracy and planet? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Faith Rogow, Ph.D., media literacy educator, founder of Insighters Education, and author of Media Literacy for Young Children: Teaching Beyond the Screen Time Debates. Rogow is an expert in helping us navigate media images and messages, tease out mis- and dis-information, and understand media’s power to influence how we think and feel. In an uncertain world, Rogow helps us respond with imagination rather than fear.Related website: https://insighterseducation.com/

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency, our government agency that reviews and licenses pesticides relies almost exclusively on manufacturers’ safety data, which is rife with self-interest? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with John P. Wargo, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Health and Politics at Yale University’s School of the Environment and author of the award winning book, Our Children’s Toxic Legacy: How Science and Law Fail to Protect us from Pesticides. Wargo discusses his latest report, “Pesticide Risks: From Our Farms to Our Homes,” (Environment & Human Health, Inc.), and asks: “Why in the world would you want to expose your family to a mixture of chemicals?” Wargo describes how we’ve been sold a lawn “narrative,” but that common lawn chemicals put our water supply and health at risk.Related website: https://www.ehhi.org/Pesticide_Risks_web_new.pdf

Did you know that there’s a 51-acre planned development in northeast Austin, TX, that provides affordable, permanent housing, an organic garden, microenterprise opportunities, and a supportive community for people coming out of chronic homelessness? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Alan Graham, founder, President and CEO of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and “lead visionary” behind MLF’s Community First! Village. Graham discusses his perspective on the cause of homelessness, and the solutions, starting with food and family. Community First! Village offers a national model for preventing homelessness with dignity.Related website: https://mlf.org/

Did you know that just because a pesticide is registered with the EPA doesn’t mean it’s safe? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Alexis Temkin, Ph.D. toxicologist and lead author of the Environmental Working Group’s “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce,” including the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen.” Temkin describes the process of pesticide testing and regulation, and how the EWG’s guide was developed to help consumers enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables while protecting their family’s health, as well as farm worker health and our environment. The Environmental Working Group, as well as Beyond Pesticides: www.beyondpesticides.org provides information on produce safety and the benefits of organic food and farming.Related website: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/about.php

Did you know that Abbott’s infant formula contamination resulted in the death of two children? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Bill Marler, personal injury lawyer and internationally recognized expert in foodborne illness litigation. Marler discusses the Abbott infant formula contamination fiasco, formula shortage, inadequate regulation and unintended consequences of industry consolidation. Marler’s Food Safety News has covered this issue extensively, as well as food recalls, foodborne illness outbreaks and investigations.Related website: www.foodsafetynews.com

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one third of all food in the U.S. goes uneaten and in 2018, about 81 percent, or 20.3 tons of households' wasted food ended up in landfills or combustion facilities? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Rhonda Sherman, M.S, Extension Specialist on composting, recycling and solid waste reduction at North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Affectionately known as “the worm queen,” Sherman explains that preventing food from going to waste is one of the easiest and most powerful actions we can take to save money and lower our climate change footprint by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and conserving natural resources. Related website: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/show_ep3_pdf/1649787791/22094/

Did you know that the American food supply is increasingly contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Henry Rowlands, journalist and Founder/Director of Sustainable Pulse and the Detox Project. Rowland dives into his latest report: “Glyphosate Contamination: The Poison in Our Daily Bread,” which reveals the glyphosate levels found in commonly purchased grocery store foods, and explains why such foods as bread, oats, barley, beans, peas and lentils are contaminated. See the report here: https://detoxproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Glyphosate_Contamination_Report_Final1.pdf Related website: www.detoxproject.org

Did you know that almost four decades after the Clean Water Act’s deadline for all waters across the U.S. to be “fishable and swimmable,” 50 percent of assessed river and stream miles in the U.S. are so polluted they are classified as “impaired”? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Tom Pelton, Communications Director for the Environmental Integrity Project and lead author of EIP’s report, “The Clean Water Act at 50: Promises Half Kept at the Half Century Mark.” Learn if your elected officials vote in favor of environmental protection here: League of Conservation Voters: https://lcv.org/mission/ and listen to Pelton’s “Environment in Focus” interviews here: https://www.wypr.org/people/tom-pelton Related website: https://environmentalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CWA-report-3.23.22-FINAL.pdf

Did you know that many “plant-based” foods are highly processed and not necessarily good for our health or the planet? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Alan Lewis, Vice President for Government Affairs, Stakeholder Relations and Organic Compliance for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. Lewis discusses the impact of industrial agriculture on our environment and health, pulls back the curtain on plant-based, yet highly processed foods, and helps us understand often confusing food labels, including: “bioengineered,” “natural,” and “non-GMO.” Follow Lewis’ astute observations of the food system on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanplewis/Related website: TED Talk: “Food Betrayal – Don’t swallow the lies:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y81rCiw1LPY

Did you know that herbicide drift challenges the wine industry, especially in states largely dominated by chemical intensive industrial agriculture? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Mick McDowell, award-winning wine producer based in St. Paul, Nebraska. McDowell describes the land he loves, corn and livestock economics, and the challenges of growing grapes in a state dominated by crops that are routinely sprayed with a growing number of herbicides. Each year, McDowell explains, a significant percentage of his grapes are lost due to herbicide drift, with no significant means of compensation. Related website: www.milettavistawinery.com

Did you know that regenerative farming methods are not “new,” but have been practiced by indigenous farmers for centuries? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Liz Carlisle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming. Carlisle discusses the powerful movement that’s happening in farming today, that reconnects farmers with their roots to fight climate change. Carlisle amplifies the voices of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors’ methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system. Listen to Dr. Carlisle’s Island Press webinar here: Island Press webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV7FFn3-IiA Related website: https://www.lizcarlisle.com/

Did you know that images are powerful influencers on how we think about food, people and national policies? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Shana Klein, Ph.D., art historian, assistant professor of art history at Kent State U. and author of The Fruits of Empire: Art, Food, and the Politics of Race in the Age of American Expansion. Klein discusses the role of visual imagery in the acceptance and promotion of fruit, national expansion, and racism focusing on five key fruits: grapes, oranges, bananas, watermelon and pineapple. Sales of her book are generously contributed to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. To see more of Klein’s deconstructed images of food: @thefruitsofempire Related website: https://sites.bu.edu/gastronomyblog/2022/01/25/spring-2022-pepin-lecture-series-in-food-studies-gastronomy/

Did you know that pesticide drift interferes with the ability of rural farmers to feed their communities? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Michael O’Donnell, mechanical engineer, Indiana farmer, and sustainable agriculture educator. O’Donnell discusses the myth of biofuels, and describes his experience living in the path of pesticide drift, resulting in crop damage, reduced quality of life, and the inability to feed his community farm fresh, nourishing food. To learn more about biofuels, see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35165202/ For research on herbicide drift, see: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337288375_Investigations_of_the_Sensitivity_of_Ornamental_Fruit_and_Nut_Plant_Species_to_Driftable_Rates_of_24-D_and_Dicamba Related website: “Options for Dealing with a Pesticide Drift Incident:” https://edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=PPP-110

Did you know that smell and taste loss can affect our personal safety, mental and physical health, and overall quality of life? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Danielle Reed, Ph.D. Associate Director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, based in Philadelphia, PA. Reed shares insights from her research investigating differences in the loss of taste and smell as a result of COVID-19 infections and other conditions. Reed is a member of the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research. Related website: https://monell.org/smell-taste-loss/

Did you know that the diet industry depends on a “media illiterate” audience? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Frank Baker, journalist and media education consultant. Baker has been recognized by UNESCO’s Global Alliance partnership for Media & Information Literacy. Baker pulls back the curtain on diet industry ads, discusses media literacy education in K-12 schools, and shares critical questions we can pose to navigate all media messages. https://namle.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Key-Questions.pdf Baker explains that propaganda is widely used in our society https://www.frankwbaker.com/mlc/propaganda/ and https://propaganda.mediaeducationlab.com/, but students are not taught to recognize persuasive techniques. He provides examples of carefully constructed media messages in the diet industry, and the power of testimonials and celebrity in selling products. Related website: www.frankwbaker.com

Did you know that phytochemicals in plants deserve more of our attention for their role in protecting our healthspan? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fft2.81 Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Jed Fahey, Ph.D., nutritional biochemist and former Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School where he directed the Cullman Chemoprotection Center. Fahey shares his expertise of plant physiology and human nutrition, discusses the many benefits of “phytochemicals” in general and specifically sulforaphane found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts. He also explains how and why we get a greater phytochemical load from organically grown fruits and vegetables, and laments the loss of biodiversity in vegetable seeds, as depicted by National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/infographic-design/ Related website: www.jedfahey.com

Did you know that intermittent fasting can reduce breast cancer recurrence and improve overall metabolic health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Dorothy Sears, Ph.D., professor of Nutrition at Arizona State U.’s College of Health Solutions, and adjunct professor of medicine at the U. of CA – San Diego. Sears discusses her research on meal timing (intermittent fasting and circadian rhythm) and the benefits of standing during bouts of sitting to improve overall health. Related website: https://chs.asu.edu/dorothy-sears

Did you know that pesticides are not necessary to “feed the world,” and that American taxpayers pay for pesticide-related harm to our environment and health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Kristin Schafer, Former Executive Director of the Pesticide Action Network of North America. Schafer discusses highlights of her 25-year career with PAN, summarizes the best farming methods for resilient agriculture; and, explains how policy must help protect children from pesticide harm. Read more about Schafer’s work experiences in her reflection series: https://www.panna.org/blogs/kristin-schafer, and learn about how the pesticide industry influences EPA in this Catalyst article: https://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/PANnews2021n03.pdf Learn about SB 3283 Protect America’s children from toxic pesticides act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3283 Related website: www.panna.org

Did you know that if pesticides are used anywhere in a community, those pesticides can end up in ground water shared by that community? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Nancy Alderman, Founder and President of Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of human health from environmental harms through research, education and the promotion of sound public policy. Alderman describes how well-meaning individuals can be fooled by pesticide and lawn care marketing. Tune in to find out how to best protect your family from a number of harmful environmental chemicals, and ask to receive EHHI’s daily education updates at: [email protected] Related website: http://www.ehhi.org

Did you know that U.S. consumers spend more on health care than they do on food? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Jeff Tkach, Chief Impact Officer at the non-profit Rodale Institute. Tkach describes the Rodale Institute’s new free, on-demand consumer course on regenerative organic food and farming. He defines “regenerative organic agriculture,” and explains the multiple health benefits of organic food and farming for our environment and health. He also discusses hurdles or barriers to the adoption of organic practices, and the power of consumers in the marketplace. Related website: https://courses.rodaleinstitute.org/p/being-a-regenerative-consumer

Did you know that plastic breaks down in our environment and enters our water, air, food chain and bodies? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Environmental Chemist at Yale University, and author of “Plastics and Microplastics: A Threat to the Environment and Health.” Benoit discusses the fate of microplastics, potential adverse effects on soil and human health, and why it is critical to choose anything but plastic whenever possible. Related website: https://www.ehhi.org/plastics.php

Did you know that industrial agriculture and factory farms negatively impact rural communities’ water, air and quality of life? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Sherri Dugger, Executive Director of the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. Dugger defines “socially responsible agriculture,” discusses industrial farming myths, and describes how SRAP works in partnership with rural communities to oppose concentrated animal feeding operations. To watch SRAP’s 2021 conference, “Building a Socially Responsible Food Future,” See: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ1v-GDXiO6jmll0RNj7MkrbsE_EJKnFZ For community assistance in opposing CAFOs, call: 844-367-7727. Related website: https://sraproject.org/

Did you know that what we eat can not only affect our own personal health, but that of our planet as well? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Dana Ellis Hunnes, R.D., MPH, Ph.D., dietitian and faculty member at UCLA https://ph.ucla.edu/faculty/hunneswho discusses her book: Recipe for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life. (Cambridge U. Press). Hunnes reflects on her dietetics profession, discusses the lack of “sustainability” guidance in our National Dietary Guidelines, and the relationship of food and farming to climate change. Related website: http://danaellishunnes.com

Did you know that 50 years have passed since the first edition of Diet for a Small Planet was published? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Frances Moore Lappé, activist and author of Diet for a Small Planet. Lappe discusses her life’s work; the connections between democracy, world hunger, and our environment, and shares insights gained during the fifty years since the first edition of her book reached more than 3 million readers and changed many lives. Lappe also discusses highlights from her 50th edition of Diet for a Small Planet. Related website: https://www.dietforasmallplanet.org/

Did you know that less than 10% of all the plastic ever made has been recycled? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Erica Cirino, science writer, artist, and author of Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis (Island Press, 2021). Cirino describes her 24 day ocean voyage during which she witnessed extensive plastic pollution, the plastic crisis facing our planet, and the environmental and public health costs associated with its production and use. She encourages consumers to engage in policy (See: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/policy), and consider two questions: What do we need to live; and, what can we live without? Related website: http://www.ericacirino.com/

Did you know that January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and in all likelihood, we consume the products of slavery every day? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Anne Ross, attorney with Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services, Charleston, S.C. Ross discusses human trafficking and forced labor in food and agriculture industries. Today’s globalized supply chains make it is almost impossible to avoid goods or services free of the fingerprints of slavery, including electronic gadgets, clothing, fish, cocoa and cane sugar. Ross describes how trafficking happens, and how we can help report and avoid such tainted products. For more information from the state department, see: https://www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month/ , and a toll-free number to report suspected trafficking or seek help: 888-373-7888. Related website: PBS/ Frontline investigation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp9E5nkr-wQ

Did you know that food labels can mislead us into thinking processed and packaged foods and beverages are healthier than they might appear? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Eva Greenthal, MS, MPH, Senior Science Policy Associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Greenthal discusses the Food Labeling Modernization Act and the food labeling confusion and loopholes it attempts to correct. Greenthal and Hemmelgarn expose misleading “natural” labels, and discuss potentially harmful ingredients, including phosphorus, caffeine, gluten, food dyes, sugar and more. Related website: CSPI food labeling webinar: https://cspinet.org/resource/2021-flma-webinar-recording

Did you know that industries use a variety of tactics to manipulate public opinion about products that can harm our health and environment? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Laura Vandenberg, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs within the School of Public Health & Health Sciences, and Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Vandenberg’s research has largely focused on endocrine disruptors – https://www.umass.edu/family/people/laura-vandenberg - chemicals found in plastics, pesticides and flame retardants, which at very low doses can lead to diseases such as cancer, obesity and infertility. However, her latest paper, titled: “The Science of Spin: Targeted Strategies to manufacture doubt with detrimental effects on environmental and public health,” identifies and explains a multitude of manipulative strategies used by industries to convince us that their products are safe. Related website: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12940-021-00723-0.pdf

Did you know that many physicians are joining with dietitians to help their patients eat well? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Dr. Reshma Shah, M.D., MPH, board-certified pediatrician, and co-author of the award-winning book, Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families, co-authored with Registered Dietitian, Brenda Davis. Shah has over two decades of experience caring for children and recognizes the many challenges busy working parents face when trying to feed their families well. In addition to her medical and public health degrees, Shah has additional training in plant-based nutrition and cooking. She believes cooking for our families is a powerful way to not only nourish our bodies but also to nourish our spirits and our connections to one another. Through her training and research, Shah has discovered that a plant-based diet is the foundation for good health, not only for ourselves and our families, but for the world at large. You can try some of her recipes here: https://reshmashahmd.com/recipes/ Related website: https://nourishthebook.com/

Did you know that less than 10% of plastic is recycled? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Alexis Goldsmith, National Organizing Director at Beyond Plastics. Goldsmith discusses the myths of plastic “recycling,” plastic’s connection to climate change and how plastic creates global environmental and public health disasters. Related website: https://www.beyondplastics.org/plastics-and-climate

Did you know that the majority of farmers struggle to make a living? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Beth Hoffman, journalist and author of Bet the Farm: Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America (Island Press, 2021). Hoffman describes the little known hard economic realities of farming and exposes myths we’ve been fed about American agriculture. Her book offers potential solutions to achieve truly resilient and sustainable farming. Related website: https://www.iowa-farm.com/

Did you know that Danone North America, owner of Horizon Organic, dropped its contracts with 89 organic dairies in New England and Upstate New York? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Edward Maltby, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance. Maltby discusses the benefits of organic food and farming, the plight of dairy farmers, and the impact of lost contracts on farm families and regional economies. Related website: https://www.nodpa.com/

Did you know that our perceptions of how and what we eat are influenced by our culture? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Melanie Joy, PhD, psychologist and author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows. Joy specializes in the psychology of eating animals, social transformation, and relationships. She discusses her theory of carnism, and works to raise awareness of the brutality of factory farms. Related website: www.carnism.org ; www.melaniejoy.org/relational-literacy

Did you know that child-targeted marketing and excessive screen time undermines kids’ health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Josh Golin, Executive Director of the non-profit, Fairplay: Childhood Beyond Brands (formerly the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood). Golin describes the mission and recent activities and concerns of Fairplay, and strategies to help children thrive despite our increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture. He discusses the impact of social media, branded food and toys and AI on children’s health. Related website: www.fairplayforkids.org

Did you know that human, animal, plant, environment and ecosystem health are all connected? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Laura Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, co-founder of the global One Health Initiative.Kahn is a physician and research scholar with experience in medicine, public health, and public policy. She fosters systems thinking, taking into account connections between agricultural practices, pandemics and climate change and impacts on civilization. She teaches a free course on One Health titled “Bats, Ducks, and Pandemics: An Introduction to One Health Policy." https://www.coursera.org/learn/onehealth?action=enroll Related website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771421000793?via%3Dihub

Did you know that the stories behind our favorite distilled spirits are largely hidden, and rarely presented on bar menus? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Shanna Farrell, expert in “cocktail culture,” and author of A Good Drink, In Pursuit of Sustainable Spirits. Farrell delves into labeling, ingredients, production, and why and how eco-conscious consumers should include attention to both their food and drink. Her website also includes much needed resources for the service industry during COVID-19. Related website: https://shanna-farrell.com/a-good-drink-in-pursuit-of-sustainable-spirits

Did you know that the benefits of probiotics are strain specific? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her part 2 interview with Anthony Thomas, Ph.D., nutrition researcher, scientific consultant in the dietary supplement industry, and director of Scientific Affairs at Natreon Inc., a nutraceutical ingredient innovator. Thomas was formerly the Director of Scientific Affairs at Jarrow Formulas, Inc. Thomas continues his explanation of the development of the microbiome during infancy, and its importance throughout the lifecycle. He also explains how to choose effective probiotics in a confusing marketplace. Related website: http://usprobioticguide.com/?utm_source=intro_pg&utm_medium=civ&utm_campaign=USA_CHART

Did you know that the microbes in and on our body significantly contribute to our health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Anthony Thomas, Ph.D., nutrition researcher, scientific consultant in the dietary supplement industry, and director of Scientific Affairs at Natreon Inc., a nutraceutical ingredient innovator. He was formerly the Director of Scientific Affairs at Jarrow Formulas, Inc. Thomas discusses the influence of diet and antibiotics on gut health, the development of the gut microbiome in infancy, and choosing probiotics. Related website: https://isappscience.org/

Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 98 percent of Americans have trace amounts of PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their bodies? And that PFAS reduce vaccine effectiveness? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Sydney Evans, MPH Science Analyst, Environmental Working Group. Evans discusses PFAS, a toxic “forever chemical” and tap water contaminant that has been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression (reduced vaccine effectiveness), low birth weight, decreased fertility and more. Tune in and learn more about tap water quality and how to protect your health. As Evans explains, there’s a big difference between what is “legal” and what is “safe.” There are hundreds of contaminants in water but only some are regulated. And bottled water is not necessarily safer. Where to find PFAS chemicals? Teflon, non-stick, food packaging, Scotchguard, fire-fighting foams and more. For a PFAS timeline see: PFAS timeline of 3M and DuPont deception: https://www.ewg.org/pfastimeline/ Related website: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/

Did you know that black currants were once illegal to grow in the U.S.? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Greg Quinn, owner of Walnut Grove Farm in Clinton, NY where he grows and produces a variety of black currant products. Once a “forbidden fruit,” Quinn describes the steps he took to make it legal to produce currants in NY State, and explains why their production was forbidden and still restricted in some states. The small dark berries are loaded with health protecting anthocyanins and they are one of the most popular fruits in Europe. If you live in the right garden climate zone, black currants could be a nutritious addition to your landscape.. Related website: www.currantC.com

Did you know that global palm oil production is decimating rainforests, polluting water and harming farmworker health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Jocelyn C. Zuckerman, former deputy editor of Gourmet magazine, and James Beard award winning feature writer, who discusses her book, Planet Palm: How Palm Oil Ended Up In Everything – and Endangered the World. (The New Press) Palm oil has become ubiquitous in highly processed diets, with hidden abuses to land, indigenous populations, and wildlife, while further fueling climate disasters. After hearing Zuckerman’s story, and diving into her well-researched book, you'll start reading food labels with determination to avoid this earth-crippling ingredient.. Related website: http://jocelynczuckerman.com/

Did you know that food and food production are central to our discussion about climate change? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Tom Philpott, food and agriculture correspondent for Mother Jones, and author of Perilous Bounty: The Looming Collapse of American Farming and How We Can Prevent It. Philpott focuses on two key areas of U.S. food production: California and the Midwest, and these regions’ water scarcity and soil degradation, respectively. He explains how industrial agriculture creates social injustices and environmental wreckage, and how agricultural reform is critical to climate resilience. Related website: https://www.motherjones.com/author/tom-philpott/

Did you know that young people worldwide are working to mitigate climate change, clean up their environment and create a more sustainable, livable world for future generations? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Marianne Larned, Founding Director of the Stone Soup Leadership Institute and author of Stone Soup for a Sustainable World: Life Changing Stories of Young Heroes. Larned shares stories of stand-out youth leaders and describes the Institute’s work, which inspires people from all walks of life to work together to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. The Institute also features a virtual toolkit for educators and lesson plans. http://stonesoupleadership.org/virtual-education-toolkit-intro/ Related website: https://soup4worldinstitute.com/ www.stonesoupleadership.org

Did you know that poppy seeds used in baking come from the same plant that produces opiates, including morphine and codeine? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Sarah Sorscher, J.D., MPH, Deputy Director of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Sorscher explains that the poppy plant cannot be legally grown in the United States, so all poppy seeds sold in this country are imported. While the seeds themselves contain negligible amounts of opiates, they can be contaminated with plant debris and require washing and processing to reduce opiate contamination to safe levels. Not all importers adequately process their seeds, and some sellers even market poppy seeds as “unwashed” or “unprocessed,” to convey that they have high levels of opiates to consumers who may purchase the seeds to brew poppy seed tea, which can be fatal. Related website: https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/Contaminated_Poppy_Fact_Sheet_1-13-2021.pdf

Did you know that chronic wounds (those that have not healed in 12 weeks) affect approximately 6.5 million patients in the U.S. annually? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Nancy Collins, Ph.D., R.D., a registered dietitian who is certified in wound care, and is known nationally for her expertise in the complex relationship between malnutrition, body composition, and tissue regeneration. From surgical scars to gunshot wounds, diabetic ulcers and bedsores, Collins discusses nutrition’s vital role pre- and post-surgery and for general wound healing. Related website: https://drnancycollins.com/

Did you know that most cropland in the U.S. is characterized by large monocultures, whose productivity is maintained with costly inputs, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and that this over-simplification of our of our food system contributes to climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Jonathan Lundgren, Ph.D., Director and Founder of Blue Dasher Farm and the Ecdysis Foundation. Lundgren defines and discusses regenerative agriculture through the lens of research entomologist, agroecologist, farmer, rancher and beekeeper. He shares key polnts from a recent article, “Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural resource conservation profitably:” https://peerj.com/articles/4428/. Lundgren explains why pests were 10-fold more abundant in insecticide-treated corn fields than on insecticide-free regenerative farms, and how regenerative farming is at the heart of food system reform. Lundgren delivered a keynote presentation at the 2021 Beyond Pesticides Forum: www.beyondpesticides.org Related website: https://www.ecdysis.bio/

Did you know that August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and August 25th-31st is Black Breastfeeding Week? https://www.facebook.com/BlackBreastfeedingWeek/Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Kimberly Seals Allers, journalist, author and advocate for equity in maternal and infant health. Seals Allers discusses the economics, politics and culture of breastfeeding in America and the specific challenges faced by women of color. Seals Allers has developed an app to help women of color find maternal health care free of bias. https://irthapp.com/ Related website: www.kimberlysealsallers.com

Did you know that industrial agriculture is economically flawed, and survives by externalizing its costs to taxpayers, while spending billions of dollars on myth-based marketing campaigns? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Emily Miller, Research and Policy Manager at the Family Farm Action Alliance, and lead author of the report: “The Truth About Industrial Agriculture: A Fragile System Propped up by Myths and Hidden Costs.” Miller describes the “feed-meat complex,” and how and why farmers lose choice in the way they grow and produce food, while consumers lose choice in the marketplace. Miller also describes regenerative, resilient agriculture - keys to robust rural communities. Related website: https://farmactionalliance.org/truthreport/

Did you know that Lee Johnson is the first person in the world to go to trial against Monsanto to prove that the company’s popular weed killer, “Roundup,” causes a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Carey Gillam, investigative journalist, Research Director at U.S. Right to Know https://usrtk.org/, and author of “The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice” (Island Press, 2021). Gillam describes her research into Monsanto, and discusses the links between pesticide exposure and cancer, and failure of regulatory agencies to protect public health. Gillam also gave a presentation on these issues at the 2021 Beyond Pesticides Forum: www.beyondpesticides.org. Her first book about Monsanto, “Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer and the Corruption of Science,” won the Rachel Carson Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists in 2018. Related website: www.careygillam.com

Did you know that now is the critical time to facilitate a just transition of land to the next generation of farmers? But the next generation of farmers who want to grow nutritious “table food” cannot afford land that is constantly under pressure from housing development or commodity crops. Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Suzan Erem, co-founder and Executive Director of the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT), a statewide non-profit organization that permanently preserves farmland to grow healthy food. Erem describes how SILT is creating a whole new way to permanently preserve farmland and truly “feed the world” nutritious, health-supporting food, while supporting economic development in rural communities. For more information on the principles of a healthy, sustainable food system, see: https://www.planning.org/nationalcenters/health/foodprinciples.htm Related website: https://silt.org/silt-launches-circle-our-cities-campaign/