Izzycue®

NOAA Re-opens All Remaining Federal Waters Closed in Response to the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

2011-04-29T08:52:00.009-04:00

April 20, 2011

NOAA has now reopened 1,041 square miles of Gulf waters immediately surrounding the Deepwater Horizon wellhead, just east of Louisiana.

This is the twelfth and final reopening in federal waters since 22 July, and opens all of the areas in Federal waters formerly closed to fishing due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This reopening was announced after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and under a reopening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.
“I am pleased to announce that all federal waters affected by the spill are now open to all fishing,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. “I thank fishermen and the public for their patience and FDA for its support and cooperation throughout this process while we worked diligently to ensure the integrity of Gulf seafood.”

NOAA sampled this area between 11 November and 14 November 2010, 12 March and 16 March 2011, and 28 March and 1 April 2011, for potentially affected finfish, including tuna, swordfish, and escolar. Sensory analyses of 86 finfish samples and chemical analyses of 112 finfish samples in eight composites followed the methodology and procedures in the reopening protocol, with sensory analysis finding no detectable oil or dispersant odours or flavours, and results of chemical analysis for oil-related compounds and dispersants well below the levels of concern.

As announced on October 29, NOAA and FDA developed and implemented a chemical test to detect the presence of dispersants in fish, oysters, crabs and shrimp. The level of concern for dispersants is 100 parts per million for finfish and 500 parts per million for shrimp. The test can reliably detect Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) at levels of 2000 times below the lowest level of concern. The results of chemical testing showed that 99% of samples contained no detectable dispersant residues, and the few samples that did contain dispersant residues showed levels more than 1000 times lower than FDA levels of concern.

article credit: NMFS / NOAA / pic credit to gettyimages
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US sugar supplies 'running out'

2009-08-22T20:42:00.019-04:00

Article by:BBC.co.uk

A number of large US food manufacturers have called on the government to ease sugar import limits, saying they fear the country could run out of supplies.

The letter from firms such as Kraft Food and Hershey comes in the week sugar prices have hit 28 year highs due to worldwide supply shortages.

Currently US food firms can only import a certain amount of sugar before they have to pay import tariffs.

US sugar manufacturers insist there is no shortage of domestic stocks.

Imminent sugar harvest

In their letter to US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the food firms, which also include General Mills, warned that "our nation will virtually run out of sugar".

This was backed by sugar industry group American Sugar Alliance (ASA), which said the next main sugar cane harvest would start later this month, while the sugar beet harvest would begin in October.

"There is absolutely no shortage of sugar here," said Jack Roney, director of economic and policy analysis at the ASA.

Global sugar prices have been pushed up by growing demand in Brazil for sugar to be turned into ethanol for vehicle fuel, and a sharp fall in production in India, the world's largest sugar consumer.

credit: pic courtesy of gettyimages

Summer honey, let me sweeten this deal...

2009-05-31T09:30:00.009-04:00

We will begin bringing in a truly premium small-batched honey via Buenos Aires for US food service, both conventional and organically-certified. The samples arrived and turned out very flavorful and well-executed.

Initially we will likely bring in bulk-packed in 5 gallon formats, subsequently likely offer retail options under our banner.

The specs are clean and we can't wait for mass distribution throughout the nation.

In terms of pricing strategy, we will stress value and margins.

credit: pic courtesy of gettyimages

Sweet crawfish!! What has Big Auto done to post-industrialism!!

2009-05-09T08:32:00.019-04:00

Well let me answer that question for you as simply as I dare, it has unimaginably transposed us {albeit reluctantly} as an economic power back several centuries, to the era prior to post-industrialism.

At the risk of over-simplifying, the whole concept of post-industrialism resides on the fact that economic activity, its vibrance and success becomes more reliant on information, service and technology, and less on industry. Capitalism is an off-shoot of the post-era, along with migration of workers into urbanization. Workers move and cluster in areas of industry and jobs.

What I fear the most is, when the US auto slips into oblivion, when our main post-era infrastructure weakens, what happens is you then lose footing and slip. There is no post-era without a proper pre-era.

But, it's still too soon to tell, we shall very soon discover how the macaron will crumble in the weeks ahead.

Overall, I like the progress Obama has achieved in his first 100 days; the banks seemed to have not passed their stress test, but, will likely survive, or, not be allowed to fail. The food {service} industry is resilient, restaurants are rolling out more value-eats (a very good thing). Swine flu is over hyped and fingers-are-apointing. Rate of unemployment is slowing, and the economy seems to be on its way to a gradual 4thQ recovery, painfully slow nonetheless.

As a result of the present predicament, there is immense value and under-pricing of key assets in the financial space. Stocks are under-priced, land is cheap and so are houses. So that is the bright spot. Naturally buyers beware.

Happy Mother's day. cheers all!

credit: pic credit of gettyimages

Of surfs and Blue Jays

2009-05-02T09:42:00.009-04:00

The good old garden is coming back to life, it's great to see buds and leaves, and the returning family of blue jays?

Yes, the family of birds that have called our backyard evergreen their summer sojournment of choice. Every year for as long as I can remember, the bird-couple would gather up twigs and assembled their nest - then weeks later they would lay their eggs.

There are two families, one in the front yard and the other in the back: we are co-existing happily.

The nest in the front is a quintessential nest, appropriately sized and round, almost perfection, as if it was mold-formed and then baked in the oven. Although vacated all winter, it is now ready for its re-occupation, by the same couple? Hard to tell unless we did a retinal-scan of them birds.

They have their routine, so do we ours.

Have a great weekend.

credit: pic courtesy of gettyimages

Of power naps and power lunches...but wait, no power dinghy?

2009-04-18T10:21:00.009-04:00

Let's face it - the CEO's life is no power-nap on the sofa, maybe lost rafting in the city sewer perhaps, but definitely no cushions and throws!

Granted the prospects of a preeminent future of financial security and self-actualization is possibly after next quarterly report (but for most, they either drop out once their Madoff-scheme is exposed, get an email from Obama asking them to step aside, get indicted for over-cooking their books, reported for excessively marking-to-market their long-term spoils, blah, blah and blah... ), getting there is definitely not a non-disruptive one.

Well for the majority, it usually involves riding the bumpy road of tedium amounting to uphill struggles with the board and investors, lateral moves, provisional pay cuts, overseas transfers, freesbie golf (only if you're really really well liked); for others the realization of a business dream gone awry is usually the founding moment.

The CEO of the future enterprise must be true, generous and have great empathy for mankind (within reason) if he is to succeed. He ("she" also intended) must be self-defined and possess the right mix of character, business acumen and some people skills. Spotting trends will be key in this mix, executing and monetizing them will be next.

In the final analysis, wearing this hat can be honestly - the reward onto itself. I encourage you to try it for yourself.

Be well, sip life, cheers!

credit: pic courtesy of gettyimages

Of colored eggs, hunts and the hop along Georgetown.

2009-04-10T20:48:00.015-04:00

This morning as I strolled along Georgetown in Washington DC, you can feel the air of excitement. Easter is not just another occasion, it's one with immense significance for both christians and non-christians alike. Particularly so as it is also the celebration of Passover this weekend.

Granted it's Friday and Wall Street's taking the day off and appearing in a skeptical mood, should I be knocking off early so as to be attuned to the financial world? Hey why not? Afterall can I really add value to my company on this day? Perhaps so, but it'll have to wait till Monday.

The global financial world is still shaky and all hopes of anything else portending recovery is at best limited if not unlikely. I will entertain new business thoughts next week, that is what I have resolved to do.

It's Saturday and I have decided on roasting a hormone-free antibiotic-free 6# chicken from Whole Foods Market (WFMI) for dinner. For veggies, I'll have fennel, radish and leeks - probably pan the whole shebang together with the protein in EVOO, sea salt and butter and honey.

So cheers to all and have yourself a fun Easter.

Regards,

Kenneth

credit: pic courtesy of gettyimages

Of Jasmine rice, farmed tuna and the land of mystery - Thailand.

2009-04-04T09:10:00.014-04:00

We'll be three weeks in Thailand later mid-year. Flying into the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport, well one of the newest, as it truly opened for business in late 2006.

Beyond being a culinary treasure cove for foodies, Thailand abounds in the mystical, deserted beaches, tricky traffic, tai chi performers, world-famous durian {which frankly I can't wait}, and bewildering night-markets.

Looking past the 22 hours of non-stop flight, the host of jabs and pills (Hep A, Malaria, Typhoid, tetanus...), I am so looking forward to this trip.

If you have anything to share, feel free...

credit: pic credit to gettyimages

Stupendous Spring and the Good Hearted Elderly Man

2009-03-21T22:12:00.006-04:00

Dear Foodies,

Spring has arrived and not a moment too soon. I say we should celebrate by eating cake and sipping fresh lemonade, after all what is there to sulk about.

This morning while driving to my Accountant's office I noticed what I thought was a very bright spot in a world in dismay: an elderly Caucasian man handing out food from the back of his trunk to a group of Hispanic Day Laborers. From a distance, he acted as a matter of factly and when finished he simply climbed back into his car and drove away.

Granted I was not attuned to the whole going-ons, they could have been friends, the man could have been selling them food he has left over. But, I chose to believe the old man was simply having a big heart. It empowered me to think differently of the world we live in...perhaps we should all be as big-hearted as the little old man.

Spring is definitely a time for the winter thrush to go into hiding and for the blue jay to rekindle its nest and hearken newness and the love of it all. Fixation is definitely not what spring is all about; its about change and turning over the wet leaves and raking up the remains of winter and tossing in new store-bought mulch by the bags-full.

I encourage all to stay open to all that this stupendous season has to offer.

Cheers!

Kenneth

Credit: pic courtesy of gettyimages.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MONSANTO (France 2008)

2009-03-14T08:50:00.008-04:00

Dear Folks,

Good morning. It's Saturday...

Continuing our discussion of the topic of the use of rBST / rBGH in consumer dairy products, and for those actively involved in this growing issue, I highly recommend this excellent screening / panel discussion on "The World According to Monsanto" at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, DC on March 18th at 6:30 pm. The video is directed by Marie-Monique Robin and lasts 109 mins.

Panel discussion with Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety, Michael Hansen, Senior Staff Scientist at Consumers Union, and Richard Wiles, Executive Director of Environmental Working Group following screening.

See you there!

My best,

Kenneth

credit: picture courtesy of gettyimages.

How may I help you?

2009-03-06T21:25:00.004-05:00

Dear Fellow Friends,

Good morning. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and looking forward to the official start of Spring, and all the hope that it may engender.

Times are quite worrisome. I realize this is a particularly trying time for all of us, myself included. Worries abound over practically everything! The deepening recession in our nation, our job security is in question, our savings and investments are at grave jeopardy, our future and all that we hold dear is at stake, and frankly, when the country is in such a shaky predicament, it becomes highly predisposed to infiltration and attacks! How did it ever get this way?

So what do we do? Frankly, there is little we can do to augment our own current condition. But, I feel this is a particularly good time to say to ourselves, "since we are all in this together, let me just focus on how may I help you {my friend, fellow worker, neighbour} instead. Afterall, my condition is not within my hands. But, I can make a decision to make a difference in someone else's life."

You see, if everyone of us did just that we would suddenly acquire an incredible Social Support System that can help us bear this crisis more tolerably. I am not saying to go overboard with aid or unwanted assistance. I am simply suggesting, to listen to the ones in need around us and offer quick simple advice, help when necessary and perhaps even a shoulder to lean on.

Our local community is a good start. Case in point, my little company is at this juncture looking to manufacture a large family sized Mac-N-Cheese, nothing fancy, but all made with natural ingredients. This large portion of about 64 oz can feed a family of four quite easily. The purpose is to help families deflect their expenditures {so we will sacrifice our usual margins} with a nutritious meal made of wholesome ingredients. We will offer it at all local supermarkets and the likes.

This is a good time for the country to show concern for one another, there can't be a better time. So I say, let's all re-focus and let's all try to do something for someone in need. You'll see that your overall frame of mind will improve and so will all things that matter to you and yours! Give it a try!

Stay well, eat well, and godspeed!

My best,

Kenneth H. Tan
Founder
Izzycue

pic credit: gettyimages

Have you dared Fugu lately?

2009-02-20T11:28:00.007-05:00

Dear Foodies,

Trying this "free-form death-defying act" was not part of my usual Friday evening happy hour.

But putting all faith into the hands of the local skilled (I hope) sushi chef, we decided to give it a go since it was on the special. Not too special, if you considered the cost of about three dollars per thin sliver.

But nevertheless we ordered and it arrived much to our surprise on a plate that appeared empty at first - you see the slices were so thin that we could see the bottom of the plate!

As I chewed on the rubbery texture I kept anticipating the onset of Tetrodotoxin Poisoning anytime. Perhaps if I keeled over they'll offer an immediate refund.

Anyway, I survived to relate this tale. Actually I envision starting a fugu fresh farm somewhere warm and nice like Boca Raton Florida. Perhaps I can become a "fugu-survivor-turned-supplier" success story...

If you have any tall sushi tales, I'll like to hear it.

Till next time...

Is good will really all that is required in rBGH regulation?

2009-02-14T09:24:00.001-05:00

{This article which I read this morning} is written by a Mr. Tim King, who describes very well the current norms and attitudes within the Minnesota Dairy industry concerning the use, handling and inspection of rBST as it pertains to Minn State DoA. (Tim is a farmer, journalist and community organizer of Clotho, MN.). Enjoy your reading...

Article starts here:

Consumers buying milk labeled rBGH free must rely on the good will of dairies.

St. Paul, Consumers buying milk labeled rBGH free must rely on the good will of dairies that are reluctant to speak publicly about their product and a Department of Agriculture that considers the issue secondary.

Minnesota's dairy plant inspectors consider inspection for proper separation of rBGH free milk from milk potentially being treated with the artificial hormone as subordinate to their primary responsibilities even though the labeling of rBGH free milk is regulated by a 1994 Minnesota statute. In fact, there is no evidence in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's inspection files, for the state's three largest dairies that produce rBGH free milk, that any inspection of rBGH packaging or bottling systems has been done for the years 2000 to 2002.
"It's a marketing issue and it's not really a food safety issue," Shirley Bohm, Director of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Dairy and Food Inspection Division, said in a phone interview. "The primary focus of all of our inspections are the food safety issues."
Bohm does say that the Department's inspectors do look at rBGH labeling issues when they conduct Grade A plant inspections even though their is no evidence of that in the Department's files.

Although neither Bohm's agency nor federal regulators consider rBGH, which is a synthetically manufactured hormone used to increase a cow's milk production, a food safety issue many consumers do. They have reason to do so. When the Canadian government banned rBGH in 1998 Health Canada, the equivalent of the US Food and Drug Administration, said that rBGH may cause "sterility, infertility, birth defects, cancer, and immunological derangements" in humans. Since the release of the Health Canada report two studies, reported on in Science and The Lancet, have linked rBGH to an increased incidence in prostate and breast cancer.
As a result of these studies some American consumers have doubts about the safety of milk not labeled rBGH free.

"At this point, we have found no substantiation for the arguments by either pro or anti rBGH/rBST groups. However, the questions being asked by the consumer organizations about the methodology of the studies used by pro-rBGH/rBST groups and the potential risks associated with (rBGH) make a reasonable case for the need to conduct long-term studies on the consequences of ingesting milk containing rBGH/rBST. Currently, there are no long-term studies cited on the effects of rBGH/rBST," writes the national chain store Whole Foods Market on their web page.

It was these doubts about the human, as well as animal, health that created the political climate that allowed the passing of an rBGH free labeling law by the 1994 Minnesota legislature. Once the law was passed dairies began packaging milk labeled rBGH free.

"Our company has built its reputation on a commitment to listen to our customers," James Green, president of Marigold Foods, said in an April 27, 1994 press release. "It became clear some of our consumers wanted a product backed by the farmers pledge that the milk is rBGH free."

Today Marigold Foods continues to package an rBGH free milk called Kemps Select. Attempts to discuss Kemps Select with officials at Marigold Foods throughout the later part of July and most of August were unsuccessful. After numerous phone calls it was learned that only one person at Marigold Foods, Vice President Rachel Kyylo, can speak to the press. Phone calls and emails about rBGH free Select sent to Ms. Kyylo, and her assistant, were not responded to.
Four Minnesota dairies that sell rBGH free milk were repeatedly contacted by The Land. Only one small dairy, that packages only organic and rBGH free dairy products, was willing to talk to a reporter off the record. Carl Schroedor, Vice President of Schroedor Dairy, said he'd try and line up an interview about the company's rBGH products. Than he stopped returning phone calls. Phone calls were placed to plant management of Dean Foods, Land O Lake's milk bottler, and not returned. A commitment by a LOL spokesman to line up an interview with production people knowledgable about the firms rBGH products resulted in a last minute phone call and email from Lydia Botham, Director of LOL's Corporate Communications: "LAND O LAKES branded products are known for being fresh, high-quality, good tasting, and nutritious and for offering a range of refrigerated-case choices that respond to diverse consumer wishes. With that in mind, LAND O LAKES Original milk is certified to come from cows which have not been treated with bovine growth hormone (rBST/rBGH). The following measures are taken to meet state certification standards: * Producers supplying milk for this product must sign an affidavit guaranteeing they are not using bovine growth hormone;

* Separate, assigned trucks are used to haul the raw milk;
* The milk is assigned to specifically identified storage tanks at the processing facility; and
* LAND O LAKES Original milk is processed first & and only after a system clean-up," Botham wrote in her email.

The retail milk business is highly competitive. At the heart of the Minnesota rBGH free labeling law is the issue of segregation. Milk, to be packaged as rBGH free, must be kept segregated from other milk from the cow to the carton. Segregation of milk is an industrial process. Although none of the companies indicated their segregation system is a trade secret, it could be considered one in the fiercely competitive retail milk market.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) low profile regarding the inspection of rBGH free milk segregation could be justified by two factors: The weakness of the Minnesota statute and the importance, and legal necessity, of inspecting all of the state's Grade A milk plants thoroughly every ninety days.

The Minnesota statute that regulates rBGH free labeling actually requires nothing of the MDA. Manufactures are required to keep records of how they segregate rBGH free milk from other milk. And they are required to make those records available to MDA inspectors. Manufacturers are also required to obtain affidavits from farmers who they get rBGH free milk from. The affidavits require the farmer to certify that their cows are not treated with rBGH. The statute requires that the manufacturers keep those affidavits on file and make them available to MDA inspectors. The statute does not require the inspectors to review the segregation records or to inspect the segregation facilities. The MDA has no rules that require an inspection of the milk segregation records or facilities.

"The statute is very clear," say Doug Engebretson, who supervises MDA's dairy plant inspectors, "so it was not necessary to write rules."

The regular Grade A plant inspections can last up to five days. They are complex and thorough. MDA's Shirley Bohm says that inspectors do look at rBGH free records during the inspections. The absence of any indication of such an inspection in MDA's files could indicate that there simply hasn't been a problem with rBGH segregation at the three plants that The Land reviewed, Kemps, Land O Lakes, and Schroedor's, in the last two and one half years. Inspectors are only required to write something up for the file if there is a problem. Dan Erickson, an inspector at the Kemps Minneapolis plant since at least 1994, said in a phone interview he had no memory of ever reporting a problem with rBGH segregation.

MDA's lack of visible interest in rBGH free labeling appears at the farm also. All dairy farms producing Grade A milk must be inspected regularly by an MDA inspector. Vincent Scherber, a dairy farmer from the Rogers area, signed an affidavit in 1994 saying he wasn't treating his cows with rBGH. From then until he retired in 1999 he supplied Kemps with rBGH free milk. His farm was inspected by MDA milk inspectors numerous times during that five year period. The inspectors never asked if he was using rBGH.

"I didn't think it was part of their job," he says.

According to Minnesota statute it's not. Kemps never asked him to renew his 1994 affidavit.
"I figured if I'd signed it once that was good enough," Scherber says. He's right. The statute has no provision to renew the affidavits.

The National Farmer's Organization, a collective marketing organization for farmers, does renew affidavits from time to time, according to Brad Rock of the NFO in Sauk Center.

"We do haul some loads of rBGH free milk to some of the bottlers," Rock says. "When we do that, when we put a route together, we go out and get affidavits from the farmers saying their cows are rBGH free. On a route, even if our truck isn't full, we don't mix the rBGH free milk with other milk"

Rock says the small premium that bottlers pay doesn't do much to recognize farmers who aren't using rBGH. But he believes that consumers who purchase milk labeled rBGH free can feel confident about the label.

"I think rBGH use is more common than people say," he says "but I'd be very surprised if any of the bottlers are putting rBGH milk into their rBGH free labeled product. They just have too much to lose."

Credit: Tim King.

rBST/rBGH-free Issue

2009-02-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Hello,

Let's discuss a different issue / interest each week.

Since this is a partial week, being that we just launched on Wednesday, we shall continue this rBST/rBGH-free discussion into next week.

For all of you still wondering, this week's issue is the absence of a national rBST (hormone-free) guideline or standard. Should a third party standard be instituted or is the present system of affidavit assurance sufficient?

Also do vote on this issue to the right of this section, near the top.Thanks and have a good Valentine's.

IZZYCUE Blog for my Foodie friends ...

2009-02-11T12:51:00.002-05:00

Hello Enterprise Foodie,

OK finally, we have a site just for you - the food service / industrial buyer.

Here's your chance to discuss, connect, share all your thoughts, actions, non-actions, opinions, referrals, wants, needs and anything else you may be looking for (keep it sane, real and clean!!).

My best to all,

Kenneth H Tan

Founder & CEO

Izzycue