Cornucopia (delete if you are now bored)

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Laurie, for taking the time to cite statements from the Cornucopia Report (CR). While I do not agree with your broad statement about peer-reviewed studies, I think it is important to always question what is going on with our food AND to always question what various enterprises will tell us about our food.

Because I'm a nerd, I looked into the references to your highlighted segments.I. CR: " A Swiss team of scientists tested various oils and found hexane residues in some of the tested oils. "

The study: A Swiss laboratory tested various cold pressed and refined vegetable oils (none of which were soy oils) sold in Basel. The oils originated from Europe and New Zealand. They tested 1) if the nutritional values were on par with what was declared on the labels, 2) if there were hexane residues in the oils, and 3) if there were pesticide residues in the organic vegetable oils.

Lab results:1) four samples did not meet the declared nutritional values (fatty acid composition/content)2) hexane: " No samples were found to exceed the tolerance value of 1mg/kg [1 ppm] for the solvent hexane. The highest concentration was found in a macadamia nut oil, nevertheless, at 0.13mg/kg it was much lower than the tolerance value. No hexane was detected in 88% of the samples. The limit of detection for hexane is about 0.01mg/kg. Fortunately, the use of hexane as an extraction solvent does not seem to lead to any noteworthy residues in vegetable oils, so repeating this investigation does not seem to be necessary. "

3) one sample failed the pesticide residue test (organic pumpkin seed oil)My take: C's statement was misleading about hexane and soybean production, the subject of their report.

II. CR: The Cornucopia Institute sent a sample of hexane-extracted soy oil, soy meal, and soy grits to an independent analytical laboratory (registered with the FDA and USDA).

My take: Which lab, why is it a secret? A sample, as in ONE? While an interesting exercise, no citations or details were given (how many samples, replicates, methodology, etc.). Therefore, I would give no credence to the results stated. If a large study were done, and the findings were similar, those products should be taken off the market.

III. A segment that followed one you highlighted - C's comparing hexane to benzene is like comparing a match to a blowtorch. It's crazy and can only be interpreted as a tactic. 

I completely agree with you about striving to eat cleanly to reduce our exposures as much as possible, and am impressed with your dedication towards that end. We are fortunate to be in a place where we can make those choices. Others are not as fortunate, and that is why I am interested in debunking alarmist and/or misleading statements put forth in the media. If the information were instead presented in a non-biased way, then I'm all for it. 

DonnaOn Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 1:24 AM, Laurie Masters <lauriem wrote:

 

 

Hi there. You're welcome!

 

Given that peer-reviewed studies are almost entirely funded by corporate interests, I find that little research exists in the realms that interest me. I prefer to err on the side of caution and eat as cleanly as possible (which for me means whole organic plants purchased directly from farmers--little or no juices, oils, powders, canned or prepared foods, or isolated nutrients/supplements in any form ... and largely raw. ).

 

Here is an excerpt from the Cornucopia report (which, by the way, I find quite readable and appears upon cursory review to be well worth reviewing (link below)

 

I haven't looked at any of the research cited in the report ... just passing this on (not sure whether my yellow highlights will show up on the SFBAVEG post ...)

 

Laurie

 

Laurie Masters, freelance editor | Precision Revision " I turn what you wrote into what you meant!www.GreenSongPress.org | LaurieM

 

 

 

 

 

" Behind the Bean " (http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf)

 

--All roads lead to vegan. Keep walking. -donna

[Guest guest]

I've found this discussion very thought provoking. When I read Laurie's first

message about Cornucopia saying there is hexane residue in soy-based veggie

burgers, I immediately thought I'd better stop eating them. Then, later, when I

read Donna's response, I reevaluated that and decided I would only eat them on

rare occasions.

 

Regardless of whether or not veggie burgers are bad for my health, I am a

committed vegan and I'll look within the range of vegan foods for healthier

alternatives. I think the danger of this type of report is that it may push

some who were thinking of going veg into deciding that is not a good way to go.

And, in my opinion, based on who sponsors this group, that is what Cornucopia is

trying to do.

 

What I did not see in any of the Cornucopia information is a comparison between

toxins in soy burgers and toxins in hamburger. I wonder how that might look.

 

Karen

[Guest guest]

Spot on, Karen! I shudder to even think about those beef-fed beef patties.Donna 

 

 What I did not see in any of the Cornucopia information is a comparison between toxins in soy burgers and toxins in hamburger. I wonder how that might look.

 

Karen