One can only imagine how much the body can withstand while eating McDonalds’s for thirty days. The movie Supersize Me sets forth on this mission to see how much damage American Fast Food can do to the body. McDonald’s has been around for a long time and has greatly affected the lives of many people. We clearly see in the documentary that children at an earlier aged are influenced so easily by advertisement. Just by a simple toy or gadget to influence kids and family members to buy the food. As a young boy I remember my family going to McDonalds every Sunday it was a ritual, now imagine having it 3 times a day for a whole month…OUCH!
During this documentary you see a rapid change in his weight. The amount of calories of any McDonald food is not a normal amount. Your calorie intake can greatly damage the way your body functions. Also your carbohydrate intake is also increased. Much of the weight gain during the thirty days is known as water weight which is the hardest to lose. During his weight gain you a see a rapid change in his behavior. You clearly see that there is correlation between physical and psychological behavior. During this documentary there was an increase of twenty five pounds and a whole lot of psychological change.
To conclude what we must do is educate ourselves. We must understand what our bodies are consuming. We all use the excuse that it’s easy to purchase McDonalds because it’s convenient and cheap but in the long run in can damage your health. I have recently cut off McDonalds as of the beginning of the spring semester and have felt much better. I was a regular McDonald’s customer was going at least 3 times a week not no more. Just recently I went to McDonalds for a Birthday Party and tried a cheeseburger. Just to let you know I did not enjoy it one bit. As consumer of any product we must understand what the outcomes of our own behaviors.
Here are some hardcore facts of McDonald’s:
• McDonald's feeds more than 46 million people a day - more than the entire population of Spain
• 60 percent of all Americans are either overweight or obese
• Only seven items on McDonald's entire menu contain no sugar
• McDonald's represents 43% of total U.S. fast food market
• In 1972, the US spent 3 billion a year on fast food - today the US spend more than $110billion http://www.vivavegie.org/101book/text/nolink/social/supersizeme.htm9
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Green Packaging
Angel Aguilar
English 101.0796 Composition 1 Food, Politics, and You
Research Paper: Green Packaging
Green packaging has come a long way due to the efforts to improve the environment. The environment has been a hot topic among activists, lobbyists, and politicians. Many food corporations are now coming forward with new innovations to help improve our environmental conditions. There has been much added pressure from all industries especially the food industry to start the new wave of “green packaging”. Great concerns that deal with CO2 emissions and other wastes. Food and beverage packaging is one of the most significant of the green packaging identity. As you will see there are many corporations who are trying to capture consumers with the so called “green initiative”.
The Dole Corporation which produce products such as Dole 100% Juice and the Vegetables, felts a move toward sustainable packaging was warranted by efforts to improve the quality of life in the long term. “Years of continuous research at Dole provide our Company with a competitive advantage in these areas. Most of these programs do not only contribute to better protect the environment but the also contribute to decrease our production cost” (Packing Digest). Though we see major concerns among food corporations, Dole has taken a full commitment to accessing its practices and develops new goals in important areas such as the environment. Dole has recently announced in established recycling programs among communities in the United States and the world. With its packaging as being 100% percent recyclable, Dole has established programs in countries such as Ecuador, Costa Rica and Honduras which approximately recycles approximately 2,900 tons yearly. Though, Dole Corporation does not widely use its product as a stepping stone for green packaging, its beginning phase of its marketing with the green initiative Dole has clearly emphasized on saving production cost and waste management as a whole. With the recent emergence of a new product from Dole which is made from 70% from recyclable material Dole is now starting to market its product of “green”. Dole Food Corporation is using this product to launch its marketing in green promotions with a 50% of solar energy used to produce this recyclable material from its production line, Dole is now in full swing with marketing and green packaging. These products include Sassy Baby Spinach, Baby Garden Blend, Arugula with Spinach, Baby Spinach and Baby Spinach with Tender Roots have hit the local convince stores with the prime initiative of grabbing new consumers who care for the environment and more. The “clamshell” logo is clearly seen on its packaging as a sign of recyclable material used in its packaging.
With new innovation there are always questions regarding the integrity of its product. Questions have risen with how safe is the material against the food product. Dole has clearly stated that its packaging is safe for the consumer and the environment. There are many skeptics who think otherwise. A study from the Food Science and Technology states “fruits and vegetables are living organisms which continue to respire and transpire after harvesting” (Peterson, Karina), so why then pack these products. According to numerous tests by the FDA, Dole products have gone through vigorous testing and ensure that its product is safe for the consumer and the environment.
Frito Lay Corporation has recently introduced its new green initiative product of Sun Chips. Frito Lay introduced a snack bag earlier this year which will biodegrade in approximately 14 weeks. Frito Lay Corporation has put together a comprehensive research plan and conducted numerous studies in several environments: including laboratories, industrial compost and home compost. Wood End laboratories and Frito Lay have teamed up to conduct its testing in the Sun Chip combustible bag. The Sun Chip combustible bag will fully decompose under aerobic conditions of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or over, and the bag will break down quickly in 12 - 14 weeks.
However, there is much criticism regarding this new product. Many Americans do not compost on there own and the test results provide by Frito Lay are under controlled conditions. There are many cities in the United States that do not have programs to collect biodegradable materials. That is the big question among the skeptics and the composition operation. There were many similar questions asked with the country first started the recycling program 25 or 30 years ago. In order for this operation to work, programs must be implemented by these corporation who are using these biodegradable materials in there packaging. In order for compost program to work education must be implemented into the cities where this product is being sold.
Coca Cola has introduced a new design to its beverage packaging. The Coca Cola Corporation has long history of design packages with the environment in mind. “About 85 percent of our global beverage volume is delivered in primary packaging made from polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) plastic, aluminum and steel.”(Coca Cola) The introduction of their new bottle in 2000 of Ultra Glass contour bottle was designed to reduce weight and cost. Though we see the improvement in the bottle, Coca Cola’s main objective is to reduce costs and CO2 emissions. The Ultra Bottle Glass design has eliminated a total of 52,000 tons of glass. The production of the bottle is currently being made by turning sugar and molasses into a component in the PET bottle. Coca Cola’s ultimate goal is to use nonfood, plant based waste, such as wood chips or wheat stalks to produce the PET bottle. The PET containers are 100% recyclable. As we see the emphasis of the total green packaging, Coca Cola wants to meet with local economic, social and environmental needs
Many questions have risen due to the production of the PET recyclable bottle. Is the PET bottle safe for refills? According to the PET Safety Press Release in September 2007, “PET is an inert plastic and does not leach harmful materials into its contents.” (NAPCOR) The PET container has passed numerous FDA guidelines to ensure its safety as a food and beverage container suitable for storage and use. A concern for bacteria to harbor in open bottles has raised some eyebrows with the public. According to the FDA guidelines, all drinking containers whether PET bottles or not should be washed in hot, soapy water, then dried completely before being reused. Though we see major concerns with PET bottle Coca Cola has taken major steps in its green packaging initiative with the reduction of materials used for its product to recycling its own materials for future use.
There is nearly at total of 35 billion dollars in the United States market for food and beverage packaging, which is more than enough for ample opportunity for the growth of green packaging in the United States and the rest of the world. Despite the economy’s downgrade as a whole, many consumers are still attracted to products with green and sustainable packaging.
The general consumers are more and more interested in knowing that the environmental performance and commitment is being noticed by such large food corporations. For example, Coca Cola was named most admired U.S. Companies, with the environmental imitative playing a gigantic role. Hopefully, with proper marketing and advertisement many other corporations can capture consumers to move their product along with the primary objective in saving the environment.
English 101.0796 Composition 1 Food, Politics, and You
Research Paper: Green Packaging
Green packaging has come a long way due to the efforts to improve the environment. The environment has been a hot topic among activists, lobbyists, and politicians. Many food corporations are now coming forward with new innovations to help improve our environmental conditions. There has been much added pressure from all industries especially the food industry to start the new wave of “green packaging”. Great concerns that deal with CO2 emissions and other wastes. Food and beverage packaging is one of the most significant of the green packaging identity. As you will see there are many corporations who are trying to capture consumers with the so called “green initiative”.
The Dole Corporation which produce products such as Dole 100% Juice and the Vegetables, felts a move toward sustainable packaging was warranted by efforts to improve the quality of life in the long term. “Years of continuous research at Dole provide our Company with a competitive advantage in these areas. Most of these programs do not only contribute to better protect the environment but the also contribute to decrease our production cost” (Packing Digest). Though we see major concerns among food corporations, Dole has taken a full commitment to accessing its practices and develops new goals in important areas such as the environment. Dole has recently announced in established recycling programs among communities in the United States and the world. With its packaging as being 100% percent recyclable, Dole has established programs in countries such as Ecuador, Costa Rica and Honduras which approximately recycles approximately 2,900 tons yearly. Though, Dole Corporation does not widely use its product as a stepping stone for green packaging, its beginning phase of its marketing with the green initiative Dole has clearly emphasized on saving production cost and waste management as a whole. With the recent emergence of a new product from Dole which is made from 70% from recyclable material Dole is now starting to market its product of “green”. Dole Food Corporation is using this product to launch its marketing in green promotions with a 50% of solar energy used to produce this recyclable material from its production line, Dole is now in full swing with marketing and green packaging. These products include Sassy Baby Spinach, Baby Garden Blend, Arugula with Spinach, Baby Spinach and Baby Spinach with Tender Roots have hit the local convince stores with the prime initiative of grabbing new consumers who care for the environment and more. The “clamshell” logo is clearly seen on its packaging as a sign of recyclable material used in its packaging.
With new innovation there are always questions regarding the integrity of its product. Questions have risen with how safe is the material against the food product. Dole has clearly stated that its packaging is safe for the consumer and the environment. There are many skeptics who think otherwise. A study from the Food Science and Technology states “fruits and vegetables are living organisms which continue to respire and transpire after harvesting” (Peterson, Karina), so why then pack these products. According to numerous tests by the FDA, Dole products have gone through vigorous testing and ensure that its product is safe for the consumer and the environment.
Frito Lay Corporation has recently introduced its new green initiative product of Sun Chips. Frito Lay introduced a snack bag earlier this year which will biodegrade in approximately 14 weeks. Frito Lay Corporation has put together a comprehensive research plan and conducted numerous studies in several environments: including laboratories, industrial compost and home compost. Wood End laboratories and Frito Lay have teamed up to conduct its testing in the Sun Chip combustible bag. The Sun Chip combustible bag will fully decompose under aerobic conditions of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or over, and the bag will break down quickly in 12 - 14 weeks.
However, there is much criticism regarding this new product. Many Americans do not compost on there own and the test results provide by Frito Lay are under controlled conditions. There are many cities in the United States that do not have programs to collect biodegradable materials. That is the big question among the skeptics and the composition operation. There were many similar questions asked with the country first started the recycling program 25 or 30 years ago. In order for this operation to work, programs must be implemented by these corporation who are using these biodegradable materials in there packaging. In order for compost program to work education must be implemented into the cities where this product is being sold.
Coca Cola has introduced a new design to its beverage packaging. The Coca Cola Corporation has long history of design packages with the environment in mind. “About 85 percent of our global beverage volume is delivered in primary packaging made from polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) plastic, aluminum and steel.”(Coca Cola) The introduction of their new bottle in 2000 of Ultra Glass contour bottle was designed to reduce weight and cost. Though we see the improvement in the bottle, Coca Cola’s main objective is to reduce costs and CO2 emissions. The Ultra Bottle Glass design has eliminated a total of 52,000 tons of glass. The production of the bottle is currently being made by turning sugar and molasses into a component in the PET bottle. Coca Cola’s ultimate goal is to use nonfood, plant based waste, such as wood chips or wheat stalks to produce the PET bottle. The PET containers are 100% recyclable. As we see the emphasis of the total green packaging, Coca Cola wants to meet with local economic, social and environmental needs
Many questions have risen due to the production of the PET recyclable bottle. Is the PET bottle safe for refills? According to the PET Safety Press Release in September 2007, “PET is an inert plastic and does not leach harmful materials into its contents.” (NAPCOR) The PET container has passed numerous FDA guidelines to ensure its safety as a food and beverage container suitable for storage and use. A concern for bacteria to harbor in open bottles has raised some eyebrows with the public. According to the FDA guidelines, all drinking containers whether PET bottles or not should be washed in hot, soapy water, then dried completely before being reused. Though we see major concerns with PET bottle Coca Cola has taken major steps in its green packaging initiative with the reduction of materials used for its product to recycling its own materials for future use.
There is nearly at total of 35 billion dollars in the United States market for food and beverage packaging, which is more than enough for ample opportunity for the growth of green packaging in the United States and the rest of the world. Despite the economy’s downgrade as a whole, many consumers are still attracted to products with green and sustainable packaging.
The general consumers are more and more interested in knowing that the environmental performance and commitment is being noticed by such large food corporations. For example, Coca Cola was named most admired U.S. Companies, with the environmental imitative playing a gigantic role. Hopefully, with proper marketing and advertisement many other corporations can capture consumers to move their product along with the primary objective in saving the environment.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Research
There are many things that I have learned while doing my research. Once you begin to think that you have answered all your question for research you come up with new answers. When I started to look at a specific topic in my research it opened up new avenues in my research and I answered alot of question. The fact that it is very time consuming is beside the point. One needs a lot of dedication and self motivation in order to complete your task. Also learned to use the library more instead of the internet though still very helpful. The Cuny Library website did actually help me breakdown my research into wat I actually needed. Thanks to Prof. Mccormick I knew nothing about Google Books until she mentioned it. Also learned the hard way dont wait to the end to start your research paper! To summarize in one word "BLAH"..
Friday, April 2, 2010
Green Packaging
Have a video clip from the Mcdonalds Corp. and its emphasis on its packaging of its products.
This article is from the NY Times is focusing of green packaging on the food industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/business/business-the-struggle-to-sell-a-green-wrapper.html?pagewanted=all
Also have video that deals with fast food and green packging
">
This article is from the NY Times is focusing of green packaging on the food industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/business/business-the-struggle-to-sell-a-green-wrapper.html?pagewanted=all
Also have video that deals with fast food and green packging
">
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Living on a Limited Budget
Angel Aguilar
In today’s economic era there are many families who are struggling to survive and seem to take to the easy way out when it comes to food. There are many ways you can survive on a limited budget and eat healthy. One is to plan your finances in advance, budget you’re spending on your lifestyle. Next, you can also look for deals in specialty stores, supermarkets or even farms. Last but not least is limit yourself to what you can have and cannot have when it comes to eating.
It is very easy to learn how to budget yourself especially when it comes to your health. Know what you can afford buy placing a set value on what can save in a week or month. One can you use that extra cash to buy healthy products. Cut back on spending such as entertainment. There are places in the city where you can go for entertainment and enjoy yourself for free. Go through town newspapers and see what are the local plays and shows. You don’t have to go the most extravagant shows for pleasure. Another way is to cut back on you when it comes to clothing. Shopping on the internet is start, for the last couple of years millions of peoples have saved a considerable amount of money shopping online.
Once you have started saving money from budgeting you can start shopping for healthy foods but wisely. There are many businesses that are trying to survive due to the country’s economic status. These are the perfect places to shop; they want to attract business by lowering their prices. Use coupons when food shopping one can save up to 10 to 30 percent off the total price. Don’t shop in one specific store use the newspapers to look for sales and compare prices. If one has to travel to multiple store do it, if it saves a couple of bucks. Once in the supermarket read the labels, try to get as much as you can for your dollar. One can also buys things in bulk, this can save time and money. During the spring and summer month’s local farmers usually sell their products at a lower rate than to their distributors. This is where you can bulk up on vegetables and fruits.
Finally, once you have purchased your food plan what you are going to eat. Occasionally mix up your meals during the week. Change is always good; vary your meals instead of meats exchange for high proteins meal like beans or potatoes. Instead of fish have fruits for dinner. Also you can change the time you eat. Your metabolism will suffer as a result of late-night snacking, so pick a cut-off eating time. That will give your digestive system time digest your food before you go to bed. You might want to add to this habit by going on a late-evening walk with your spouse or a friend. You'll burn off much of the calories you consumed during dinner. You will feel considerably much better.
Society can clearly enjoy eating healthier regardless of their income status. Learning to change your lifestyle can be easily done. The goals you set have to be realistic. One has to know what they can afford. Like anything else worthwhile in life; it takes a lot of planning and dedication from all individuals. In the long run everyone who chooses this type of lifestyle will live a little longer.
In today’s economic era there are many families who are struggling to survive and seem to take to the easy way out when it comes to food. There are many ways you can survive on a limited budget and eat healthy. One is to plan your finances in advance, budget you’re spending on your lifestyle. Next, you can also look for deals in specialty stores, supermarkets or even farms. Last but not least is limit yourself to what you can have and cannot have when it comes to eating.
It is very easy to learn how to budget yourself especially when it comes to your health. Know what you can afford buy placing a set value on what can save in a week or month. One can you use that extra cash to buy healthy products. Cut back on spending such as entertainment. There are places in the city where you can go for entertainment and enjoy yourself for free. Go through town newspapers and see what are the local plays and shows. You don’t have to go the most extravagant shows for pleasure. Another way is to cut back on you when it comes to clothing. Shopping on the internet is start, for the last couple of years millions of peoples have saved a considerable amount of money shopping online.
Once you have started saving money from budgeting you can start shopping for healthy foods but wisely. There are many businesses that are trying to survive due to the country’s economic status. These are the perfect places to shop; they want to attract business by lowering their prices. Use coupons when food shopping one can save up to 10 to 30 percent off the total price. Don’t shop in one specific store use the newspapers to look for sales and compare prices. If one has to travel to multiple store do it, if it saves a couple of bucks. Once in the supermarket read the labels, try to get as much as you can for your dollar. One can also buys things in bulk, this can save time and money. During the spring and summer month’s local farmers usually sell their products at a lower rate than to their distributors. This is where you can bulk up on vegetables and fruits.
Finally, once you have purchased your food plan what you are going to eat. Occasionally mix up your meals during the week. Change is always good; vary your meals instead of meats exchange for high proteins meal like beans or potatoes. Instead of fish have fruits for dinner. Also you can change the time you eat. Your metabolism will suffer as a result of late-night snacking, so pick a cut-off eating time. That will give your digestive system time digest your food before you go to bed. You might want to add to this habit by going on a late-evening walk with your spouse or a friend. You'll burn off much of the calories you consumed during dinner. You will feel considerably much better.
Society can clearly enjoy eating healthier regardless of their income status. Learning to change your lifestyle can be easily done. The goals you set have to be realistic. One has to know what they can afford. Like anything else worthwhile in life; it takes a lot of planning and dedication from all individuals. In the long run everyone who chooses this type of lifestyle will live a little longer.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thoughts "Food Inc."
Having know long ago before I saw the movie “Food Inc.” about the government control of the Food Industry I am more disgusted more now than ever before. The reality of things is that there is no way of telling the American people the truth about things especially when it comes to health. I did not fully realize until Thursday that the Food Industry as a whole is one big corrupted industry where the big corporation controls the way our country is governed. There are senators in our government that allow this to happen just to keep a seat in government. Covering up diseases to the consumer weeks after they have been discovered just to make millions of dollars. In fact we are serving as guinea pigs for the Food Industry is you look at it.The processing of food from the farm to the supermarket isle is quite disturbing. One does not realize how many times food has been touched before it is sealed and packed for the supermarkets.Or how many maybe people actually went to work sick that day and the spread of bacteria.This mass production of food using assembly line to keep up with the demand of a product just for $$$ its not healthy.Yet again we don’t see the wrong with that because both parties are cashing in …..at what expense?
We know for a fact the bio-engineering has gone a long way. The injection of steroids into animals just to reduce the time of growth is a cause for great concern. Don’t we consume the same things as animals if you look at it ? Should the food industry jeopardize the health of Americans just for a quick buck for “fast delivery vs. natural taste” What ever happen to nature taking its course? It was tough enough seeing chickens fall on their side because the could not hold their body weight. Overweight due to chemicals in their body. Is that healthy? Its also disturbing what they feed these animals. Cows were meant to graze not eat corn, but because corn is cheap and effective because it saves money.The food industry does not see the big picture. These Corporation are poisoning these animals. Making them obese at a quick rate.Fat equals product, product equals money.
What about the people working in these big assembly areas is it healthy for them to be exposed to the dead animals bodily fluid and wastes. Who cares for them? This why the employee turnover rate is high in this industry. I did not realize that the Immigration Department controls that amount of workers in these factories. Striking deals with Food Corporation knowing willingly that if there are not enough workers on that day that,production could drop to a point where they are not making any money. So employers give up a certain number of illegal workers to the government so the Immigration Department can keep up with the quota and the Corporation can survive financially.
We the people who consume these products must speak up to the government let them know that what they are doing is wrong and costly lives of millions of people.Everything is not money!!
To be honest I am looking more and more into becoming a Vegetarian.
We know for a fact the bio-engineering has gone a long way. The injection of steroids into animals just to reduce the time of growth is a cause for great concern. Don’t we consume the same things as animals if you look at it ? Should the food industry jeopardize the health of Americans just for a quick buck for “fast delivery vs. natural taste” What ever happen to nature taking its course? It was tough enough seeing chickens fall on their side because the could not hold their body weight. Overweight due to chemicals in their body. Is that healthy? Its also disturbing what they feed these animals. Cows were meant to graze not eat corn, but because corn is cheap and effective because it saves money.The food industry does not see the big picture. These Corporation are poisoning these animals. Making them obese at a quick rate.Fat equals product, product equals money.
What about the people working in these big assembly areas is it healthy for them to be exposed to the dead animals bodily fluid and wastes. Who cares for them? This why the employee turnover rate is high in this industry. I did not realize that the Immigration Department controls that amount of workers in these factories. Striking deals with Food Corporation knowing willingly that if there are not enough workers on that day that,production could drop to a point where they are not making any money. So employers give up a certain number of illegal workers to the government so the Immigration Department can keep up with the quota and the Corporation can survive financially.
We the people who consume these products must speak up to the government let them know that what they are doing is wrong and costly lives of millions of people.Everything is not money!!
To be honest I am looking more and more into becoming a Vegetarian.
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