food industry Archives - Just to Claireify

What Are Bioengineered Foods? The New US Food Labeling Law Explained

January 6, 2022 by Claire Leave a Comment

You may have heard about the new law requiring genetically modified foods to be labeled as “bioengineered.” This labeling law went into full effect on New Years Day of 2022. But how does it differ from previous labeling laws, what does it actually mean, and why are some people upset about it?

Before 2016, there was no federal law in the US requiring food companies to state on packaging whether or not a food contained genetically modified ingredients (source). Some states had labeling laws. From my research, Minnesota did not have a labeling law.… Read More »

Why We Drink Raw Milk – Benefits of Raw Milk

December 21, 2021 by Claire Leave a Comment

Raw milk?! I know. If you’d mentioned raw milk to me a year ago, I would have shuddered at the thought of drinking such a risky, potentially sickening beverage. After all, when you Google raw milk, all of the first results are government webpages warning you about how raw milk can contain horrible bacteria and viruses that will probably kill you!

Proponents of raw milk have dissected some of the studies that back up these safety conclusions and came to very different results (see also here for an analysis by one of my favorite nutrition experts). But I’m not here to argue with you on the safety of drinking raw milk. Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional or dairy industry expert. Whether or not you feel comfortable drinking raw milk and assuming the potential risks is a choice that’s entirely up to you. … Read More »

A Small Win + My Passion in Life

July 15, 2021 by Claire Leave a Comment

Ok, ok. Next post will be a wardrobe one. I swear.

Today I want to share a small win of mine lately: I found a near(ish) source for dairy, eggs, and meat! That’s been a tough one to check off my list. We get a summer/early autumn CSA share, and I order bulk goods from Azure Standard or fill my own jars at the local co-op. But finding local raw dairy and pastured meat has been one heck of a journey.

Background info: it’s illegal for farmers to advertise selling raw milk in the state of Minnesota. I have been trying to contact drop site owners via Facebook, join groups that go in on pickup sites, or contact farms listed on realmilk.com for a while now. This is probably my 5th? 6th? attempt to reach out to a source.… Read More »

What is the Environmental Impact of Coffee Pods?

January 30, 2020 by Claire Leave a Comment

I have a six-month-old, so, coffee… it’s been on my brain a lot lately. I don’t actually own any type of coffee maker at the moment. And you know what’s appealing when you’re short on time in the mornings? A Keurig or Nespresso machine. They were made for busy mums.

Plus, those little pods are recyclable, right? My dad and stepmom have a Nespresso machine. I remember having bags of used pods rattling around in the backseat when I borrowed his car in high school. So they’re environmentally friendly… right… right?… Read More »

Is Eating Tuna Bad for the Environment?

May 30, 2018 by Claire Leave a Comment

This is one of the food industry topics that I have been asked to write about on the blog. Tuna is a popular fish choice for many people due to its cost and relatively mild flavor. Because of this, I thought that it was a great suggestion and I want to cover it in detail, like I did with shrimp a few weeks ago.

Note: When you Google search “Is eating tuna bad for the environment?”, all of the suggested searches are about how much tuna can be consumed per week due to the accumulation of heavy metals (such as mercury) in its tissues. This post will not deal with health ramifications of eating tuna, although it is a valid concern. Instead, I would like to talk about the environmental issues associated with tuna fishing.… Read More »