What Doesn't Kill You

Dr. Marion Nestle joins Katy Keiffer for this week's What Doesn't Kill You to talk about the tenth anniversary of her seminal book, Food Politics. Tune into this episode to hear Dr. Nestle and Katy talk about the inspiration for the book, and how cancer research influenced 'the food movement'. Why is Dr. Nestle optimistic about the future of health and good food? Listen in to find out Dr. Nestle's opinions about Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign, and why food labeling is duping consumers into believing that junk food is healthy. This program has been brought to you by Route 11 Potato Chips. Thanks to Dead Stars for today's music. "When we started Food Studies at NYU in 1996, there was only one other school that had something like that, but now- everybody has some sort of food program." [7:50] "That's where policy comes in; there's a reason why some foods cost less than others, and it's not because one is cheaper to produce." [12:00] -- Dr. Marion Nestle on What Doesn't Kill You

Katy Keiffer is talking antibiotic resistance as seen in ground turkey on this week's What Doesn't Kill You with Dr. Urvashi Rangan. Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D. leads and directs the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group for Consumer Reports. She is responsible for managing risk analysis, policy assessments, label evaluations and consumer advice for tests, reports, and related advocacy work. Dr. Rangan serves as a primary, national spokesperson for Consumer Reports in the areas of sustainable production/consumption practices, food safety, and product safety issues related to chemical and contaminant hazards. Learn about the differences between bacteria strains found in conventional and organic, antibiotic-free ground turkey, and what it says about antibiotic resistance. Hear Dr. Rangan talk about animal welfare standards in conventional livestock agriculture, and how sub-therapeutic antibiotic usage is only the first step for better food and health. Hear what proposed legislation could curb antibiotics in the food chain. This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. Thanks to Dead Stars for today's music. "We're not stopping at antibiotics; we need systemic changes to conventional agriculture if we want to see any long term changes." [21:00] "We hope that we can treat sick animals for a long time, and sick humans, too." [26:15] -- Dr. Urvashi Rangan on What Doesn't Kill You

What goes into meat inspection? Find out on another informative episode of "What Doesn't Kill You", as Katy Keiffer chats with Ted Conover, the author of five books, most recently The Routes of Man, about roads, and Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing, an account of his ten months spent working as a corrections officer at New York's Sing Sing Prison. Newjack won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2001 and was finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His other books are Whiteout: Lost in Aspen, Coyotes: A Journey Across Borders With America's Illegal Migrants, ( and Rolling Nowhere: Riding the Rails With America's Hoboes. In recent years he has taught at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Oregon. He contributes to publications including The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, National Geographic, Virginia Quarterly Review, and many others. Most recently he published “The Way of All Flesh”, the cover story for this months Harpers Magazine about working as a USDA inspector in a meatpacking plant in Nebraska. This program was sponsored by Tabard Inn. "They need inspectors at lots of small town slaughterhouses - these spots are not always easy to fill." [03:00] "The machinery is all about the interface between industry and life." [15:00] "The abscesses begin when the cattle's diet changes from grass. The bacteria that results from that makes ulcers in the cattle's stomachs and livers. The antibiotic is used to control those abscesses." [16:00] --author/journalist Ted Conover on What Doesn't Kill You

Hank Cardello mixes business and health. This week on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer chats with Hank about calories and obesity. Hank is chief executive officer of 27ºNorth, a consulting firm which addresses societal issues that businesses play the largest role in solving. Over two decades, Hank was an executive at some of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and General Mills. He chairs the annual Global Obesity Business Forum, an initiative sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Currently the Director, Obesity Solutions Initiative as a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Hank is also author of Stuffed: An Insiders Look at Who Is (Really) Making America Fat. Listen in to hear Hank and Katy discuss realistic and practical measures that would curb the nation's obesity epidemic. Find out why demonizing opponents generally does not work towards progress or change, and why changes in the economy can ultimately lead towards better health amongst Americans. This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. Thanks to Dead Stars for today's music. "If you're trying to reverse obesity, get the calories off the street in a way that the companies will want to jump in head first!" [25:50] -- Hank Cardello on What Doesn't Kill You

Chris Daly is getting parents and children in touch with nutrition! This week on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer sits down with Chris to discuss his non-profit, Hip4Kids. Chris founded Hip4Kids, as in Hospitality Industry Professionals, 11 years ago. Hip4Kids Inc., a 501 c (3) company, is designed to educate parents and children on the fundamentals and ongoing importance of healthy eating and good nutrition. Hip4Kids’ primary components include multi-media learning programs and community outreach through innovative educational lifestyle programs for children and young adults. In this episode, hear about some of Hip4Kids' new initiatives, and how their curriculum has influenced schools and organizations across the world. Learn why it's important not to demonize foods with children, and how healthy eating encompasses more than just fruits and vegetables. Thanks to our sponsor, Tabard Inn, and thanks to Dead Stars for today's music. "If you take basic culinary knowledge and relay it to people, you can really turn things up on it's end." [23:00] -- Chris Daly on What Doesn't Kill You

Paul Shapiro is Katy Keiffer's guest on this week's installment of What Doesn't Kill You to talk about animal welfare and ag gag laws. Paul is the Vice President, Farm Animal Protection for the Humane Society of the United States. Shapiro's work has helped enact farm animal protection laws in California, Arizona, Michigan, Maine, Colorado, Oregon, and Ohio. He's also worked with dozens of companies, including some of the world's top retailers, to improve animal welfare in their supply chains. Find out why the meat industry is trying to blow the whistle on whistleblowers. Learn more about poultry farming practices on factory farms, and how the treatment of chickens offers many food safety considerations. Learn how the meat industry intends to stifle media outlets through ag gag laws! This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "This is problem because routine practices in the meat industry have become inhumane. This isn't just a case of a few rotten eggs!" [7:05] -- Paul Shapiro on What Doesn't Kill You

In 2005, after a long career in family medicine and as Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Raymond was appointed Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the next 3 years, Dr. Raymond was responsible for overseeing the policies and programs of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). In semi-retirement now, he writes several blogs on food safety, has consulted with law firms on foodborne illness cases, is a frequent lecturer on food safety and public health, and is a food safety and public health consultant for Elanco, the Animal Health branch of Eli Lilly. Doctor Raymond serves as a Board member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, and is engaged in volunteer work with that organization. Tune into this episode of Straight, No Chaser to hear Katy Keiffer talk with Dr. Raymond about antibiotics in the food chain. Find out how Dr. Raymond defines sub-therapeutic antibiotic dosages, and learn how the different chemistry of specific drugs leads to antibiotic resistance. How do resistant bugs develop due to human and animal medicine? Find out on this week's installment of Straight, No Chaser! Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. "We're creating a problem as a human doctors. No one ever talks about over-prescription in human medicine!" [22:45] "The people who want to eliminate antibiotic use in the meat industry are people who don't want us to eat meat and poultry!" [24:45] -- Dr. Richard Raymond on Straight, No Chaser

49 million people in the U.S. - one in four children - don't know where their next meal is coming from, despite our having the means to provide nutritious, affordable food for all Americans. Today's guest on Straight, No Chaser is Peter Pringle, the editor of the Participant Guide for A Place at the Table, the recently released documentary about hunger in America. For 30 years Peter was a correspondent for The Sunday Times, The Observer, and The Independent, working in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union and the United States. He has also written for several US newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic and The New Republic. Among his many books, the most recent, besides this project, is Experiment Eleven about the discovery of streptomycin, The Murder of Nicolai Vavilov, Food Inc, Day of the Dandelion, and Those are Real Bullets. Tune in and find out what prompted Peter to explore these issues of hunger, and hear about some of the alarming facts he discovered in his research. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "You should have a right to food. The government has a responsibility to make sure people are not hungry. It's a public health problem." [11:00] --Peter Pringle on Straight, No Chaser

Tune in for an in-depth conversation on food politics as Katy Keiffer chats with Wenonah Hauter, the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Her book Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America examines the corporate consolidation and control over our food system and what it means for farmers and consumers. She has worked and written extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues on the local, state, and national levels. Katy and Wenonah chat about everything from anti-turst law to the industrial meat system on a jam packed 30-minutes full of insight into our American food systems. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "Food isn't even look at as food any more, it's looked at as money and something that can be traded." [05:00] "I don't think Americans want to eat fecal matter - even if the bacteria has been killed!" [17:00] --Wenonah Hauter on Straight, No Chaser

Tune in for an in-depth conversation on food politics as Katy Keiffer chats with Wenonah Hauter, the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Her book Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America examines the corporate consolidation and control over our food system and what it means for farmers and consumers. She has worked and written extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues on the local, state, and national levels. Katy and Wenonah chat about everything from anti-turst law to the industrial meat system on a jam packed 30-minutes full of insight into our American food systems. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "Food isn't even look at as food any more, it's looked at as money and something that can be traded." [05:00] "I don't think Americans want to eat fecal matter - even if the bacteria has been killed!" [17:00] --Wenonah Hauter on Straight, No Chaser

Gary Oppenheimer is connecting food producers with surpluses to food pantries across the world! This week on Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer is talking with Gary about his initiative, AmpleHarvest.org! Why is it so hard for communities to connect to food pantries in their area? Hear how AmpleHarvest.org plans to expand and reach more producers. Tune in to hear Gary talk about global food waste, and the percentage that can be attributed to the United States. Find out how local food can address the lack of fresh food in food pantries. Did you know that food waste creates three different environmental problems? Find out more about food waste, hunger, and the environment on this episode of Straight, No Chaser! Thanks to our sponsor, Fairway Market. "The number of food pantries has grown significantly because the need has grown significantly." [5:20] "Food waste starts at the farm and ends in the kitchen." [16:15] -- Gary Oppenheimer on Straight, No Chaser

What happens to our waste water and how does it get cleaned? Find out on Straight, No Chaser as Katy Keiffer chats with Jim Pynn, Superintendent at the Newton Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Get down and dirty as Jim explains the three steps in waterwaste treatment, including a very interesting process of using microorganisms. Find out what kinds of regulations are in place for businesses to account for chemicals in wastewater and learn how the city dealt with the effects Super Storm Sandy had on our wastewater infrastructure. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "Modern waste water treatment plants were not meant for metals and petroleums. NYC has an industrial pre-treatment program. anybody with a business in NY has to report their chimerical usage to DEP and we have the right to monitor it. Any excess chemicals are the responsibility of the business." [12:00] --Jim Pynn, Superintendent at the Newton Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

Will "natural" health and medicine practices save the world? On this week's episode of Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer chats with freelance journalist Nathanael Johnson about everything from microbes to community gardens. Nathanael's first book "All Natural*: *A Skeptic's Quest to Discover If the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing, and the Environment Really Keeps Us Healthier and Happier", separates fact from faith when it comes to natural practices. Tune into today's program to get more insight into the themes and ideas explored in the book. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "I grew up in a family that believed it was better to embrace nature rather than using technology to protect ourselves against nature." [02:14] "Scientists say humans are super organisms - we're not unique systems, we're an incorporation of our environment in a very fundamental way" [05:45] --Writer Nathanael Johnson on Straight, No Chaser

Emily Meredith and Katy Keiffer talk about monitoring slaughter facilities and ag gag laws on this week's Straight, No Chaser. Emily Meredith is the communications director for the Animal Agriculture Alliance. Established in 1987, the Animal Agriculture Alliance includes individuals, companies, and organizations who are interested in helping consumers better understand the role animal agriculture plays in providing a safe, abundant food supply to a hungry world. Emily is also a blogger for the industry blog, Meatingplace.com. Tune in to hear Emily and Katy talk about third-party audits, and if they would actually make slaughter processes more transparent. Do organizations like the Human Society hurt the livestock industry? Does Emily believe that animal abuse is systemic? Find out on this week's Straight, No Chaser! This episode has been sponsored by Bi-Rite Market. "There is a huge disconnect between the consumer and the producer. This country is fed by less than 2% of the population." [25:25] -- Emily Meredith on Straight, No Chaser

Michael Dimin is in the business of sustainable seafood. On this week's installment of Straight, No Chaser, Michael joins Katy Keiffer in studio to talk about the organization he co-founded, Sea2Table. Tune in to learn about the cod catch share in New England, and how recent restrictions are making some fisherman shake in their galoshes. Hear Michael and Katy talk about the history of fishing in New England, and why it's not just a livelihood, but a culture. Learn why fisherman are in favor of traceable supply chains, and find out some surprising facts about the Gulf oil spill. How will Sea2Table change the food world? Find out on today's Straight, No Chaser! This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "Fisherman love to know where their fish is going to go. Traditionally, fish is a commodity, and they never know where their fish goes." [10:10] -- Michael Dimin on Straight, No Chaser