The FDA took steps this week to reduce trans fats in our foods, after acknowledging that partially hydrogenated oils, the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe.” In making the announcement, the agency stated that reducing trans fat intake could prevent thousands of heart attacks and […]
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Month: November 2013
Several thousand gallons of manure blows...
As new, large-scale hog confinement facilities are debated in Linn County, comes news from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on one of the potential side effects of this type of operation. Of note, the corporation involved in the manure spill, Maschhoff LLC, cites on its website the company’s environmental philosophy: “Our environmental team is […]
Iowa Organic Conference features documen...
I’ve mentioned the Iowa Organic Conference a few times already, but in case you haven’t heard, this annual event is set for Nov. 17 to 18, 2013, at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City. The keynote speaker, Bob Quinn, an organic farmer from Montana, will discuss the benefits of biodiversity. Much more is scheduled […]
Experience the connection between health...
A relaxing day at Wapsipincon State Park this past weekend helped me appreciate the waterways that run through Iowa. Unfortunately, our state doesn’t have the best reputation for pristine rivers, streams and lakes, but efforts are underway to make changes, utilizing the sometimes overlooked connection between healthy soils and clean water. One of those projects […]
Eastern Iowa under firewood quarantine; ...
Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive pest that has already killed millions of ash trees in the United States, is gaining a foothold in Iowa. Today, state officials issued a quarantine on firewood to try to help stem the tide. Read a Q&A on Emerald Ash Borer, find where meetings are scheduled to address the issue […]