Monthly Archives: February 2012

Is Your Food Genetically Modified?

By |
Tags: , , , , ,

Genetically Modified foods (GM) are food sources that have been genetically altered for a number of different reasons. Those reasons include making fruit and veggies larger and seedless as well as making them resistant to certain kinds of pesticides. Are food products containing genetically modified organisms a health risk? Possibly. Do we want to know if our food is genetically modified? Definitely.

While the DEA has yet to make companies slap labels on foods that straight up let us know they are genetically modified (no thanks in part to biotech giant Monsanto), there is a system in place that can help us make better informed decisions at the market.

By reading the numbers on PLU labels (those little stickers), we can identify whether produce is organic, conventional or genetically modified. Continue reading →

Comments (1)

Consumer Reports Picks Toyota Prius as Best Green Car for 2012

By |
Tags: , , ,

Every year, Consumer Reports releases its Top Picks which are comprised of the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from more than 260 vehicles tested. The three main areas of focus are: Road test, reliability, and safety. Fuel efficiency is also an important consideration when grading vehicles.

Winning its category for Best Green Car is the Toyota Prius. Per Consumer Reports:

The Prius still sets the standard for its blend of fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability. The 44 overall mpg we measured in the hatchback is still the highest of any five-passenger, non-plug-in vehicle we’ve tested, and the 41 mpg of the new Prius V wagon easily tops its class. Moreover, its roomy interior, comfortable ride, and hatchback versatility make it easy to live with. Crash-test results are excellent. New electric cars have gotten the energy equivalent of higher mpg figures, but they’re less practical and affordable. Continue reading →

Comments (0)

Could Feeding Cows Garlic Reduce Greenhouse Emissions?

By |
Tags: , , ,

What’s worse – garlic cow breath or cow toots? Scientists in the UK have discovered that feeding cows a mixture of garlic and oats could reduce their greenhouse emissions by as much as 25%. Anyone up for some garlic milk?

Through their burps and, er, toots, farm animals produce 4% of the world’s total greenhouse emissions. Their new diet could cut that number down to 3%.

A team of researchers tested out different diets while measuring the amount of gas being emitted from the animals. They discovered the emissions could be reduced through a combination of different food, special rations and additives. Continue reading →

Comments (0)

Who Was Green on the Red Carpet?

By |

Sustainability and eco-consciousness were not lost amidst the glitz and glamor of the 84th Academy Awards. Thanks to her Green Carpet Challenge (of which EMA is the U.S. partner), Livia Firth recruited several Oscar nominees to wear sustainable attire.

Thee-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep wore Lanvin’s first ever custom-made eco gown. According to Firth, “The gown is gold, full-length and made from Eco Certified Fabric sourced with help from the GCC.”

Livia’s husband, Colin contributed to the GCG by wearing his Tom Ford wool tuxedo from the previous year when he won for Best Actor. Recycling at its best! Continue reading →

Comments (1)

‘Green’ Cheese: What to Think About Before You Buy

By |
Tags: , , ,

It’s not the kind of cheese Dr. Seuss might have written about, but what actually makes a cheese ‘green’ is something we probably don’t think of beyond being organic and non-GMO. But cheese, like other mass-produced food items, can have a detrimental impact on the environment.

The Huffington Post asked five cheese experts to name their favorite sustainable brands – including a vegan brand.

Jeff Roberts: Long before sustainability was celebrated, Lazy Lady Farm in northern Vermont utilized green practices. The farm operates completely on solar and wind power, while the hillside aging caves take advantage of ambient temperature and humidity to make a diverse array of seasonal and organic goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses. La Petite Tomme, a bloomy-rind disk from goat’s milk, is a signature product. The soft surface yields to a moist interior with hints of mushroom, milk, and nuts. $11 for 6 ounces, available seasonally at gourmetlibrary.com Continue reading →

Comments (0)