Posted by
Andrews on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:42:33 PM
My wife and I saw an ad for Sun Chips new "compostable" bag. Being a curmudgeon, I pointed out that Sun Chips would now be stale, as they likely used waxed paper, which is an imperfect barrier, while foil is nearly perfect. (Which is why it is used for, say, MREs, as well as by almost all chip makers.) I then mentioned that there was a reason we used foil lined bags, it was not because we are evil or want to "hurt the earth", but because it has advantages, something eco-freaks never consider.
But that is not why I am writing. My wife asked why they would oppose foil bags, after all, they would eventually decompose. I pointed out that technically they are not "bio-degradable", as nothing organic eats metal, but it is true that thin foil will break down. However, foil will break down into metallic salts and other substances, which seem to terrify environmentalists.
And that reminded me of my first environmentalist belief that confuses me to no end. They seem horrified at the idea that we might take an ounce of metal or gallon of oil out of the earth. But should we do so, they seem even more horrified that we might return that substance to the earth again. Can anyone explain that to me, because I can't figure it out.
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My wife and I were then talking about the increase in the supposed incidence of allergies, celiac disease and several other conditions. I will write on that topic later, so no long discussion now. To be brief, I tend to think mostly it is the fault of self-diagnosis, rather dubious diagnoses, looser diagnostic criteria used by the same, and the need to maintain welfare benefits. (I have made the argument before, at least privately, concerning asthma, as the diagnosis rests largely on self-reported symptoms, but allows mothers exemptions from some requirements of the 1994 welfare reform... But that is another topic, and will have to wait as well.)
Anyway, the discussion then turned to allegations about either "acquired sensitivity" or processing causing the problem. Again, these arguments will have to wait for my later post. Basically, they boil down to the fact that food is always "processed", from cooking to threshing to aging, food is always treated in some way and there is always a trade off between lost nutrients and more accessible nutrients. It is not an aspect of the modern world, and has nothing to do with allergies. Similarly, the acquired sensitivity theory ignores the twin facts that wheat and peanuts, two main culprits, have, in differing regions, been a large part of diets for a very long time, as well as the fact that in primitive societies, diet is even less varied than the worst modern diets.
But that is beside the point. What I want to mention is CSPI, about whom I recently wrote in "
Salt,
Transfats, DDT, Bad Science and Even Worse Law". While discussing allergy theories, my wife mentioned the proposed salt bans and I noticed how CSPI seems to always find the worst threat in whatever foodstuff is most popular at the time. For example, white bread. White bread does have some disadvantages compared to other breads, but also advantages. Like all foodstuffs, processing involves tradeoffs. However, as white bread was very popular in the ears since the 1960's or so, it became the single greatest threat to humanity according to the food nannies.
And that is what puzzles me about CSPI. When we look at their warnings, it seems the greatest threat to humanity is that someone might enjoy eating. Otherwise I really can see no other theme connecting their warnings, as many have little or no science behind them, and none seem to enjoy broad public support, so unless they are afraid people might enjoy themselves, I can't figure out the logic behind their actions.
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That is it for now. Just a brief look inside the odd chats I have with my wife, as well as a few stray thoughts about environmentalism and food police. But don't worry, I am sure I will write something irrelevant, disjointed or off topic again soon. So just wait.