My "safe" foods list
I have been calling and emailing companies to get food production dates to avoid foods produced in California that might have been affected by radiation from the nuclear accident. I share these in case others might be doing something similar.
Pre-Fukushima foods
(expiration/best by dates)
Julian date of accident March 11 is 070 or 1070 (1 represents 2011)
The following was determined by emailing and calling companies to get the production dates. Julian dates are exact as packing dates; the rest must be counted back from expiration dates. The number in parentheses is shelf life.
Butter: Organic Valley: 16 Dec 2011 or before (280 days)
Cheese
Org Valley mild cheddar: 10 Apr 2011 or earlier (aged 30 days)
Org Valley string: 8 Aug 2011 or earlier (150 days)
Org Valley cream chz: 7 Sept 2011 or earlier (180 days)
Eggs: Julian date 070 = March 11, so before
Fish: not buying anything from the Pacific Ocean or western states, including Baja
Flour: Bob's Red Mill Organic White: Julian date 1070 or before
(but takes two months from production to packing - Julian date is packing)
Arrowhead Mills: Whole Wheat flour: 11 March 2012 (1 year)
Buckwheat Pancake Mix: 11 March 2012 (1 year)
Granola bars: Cascadian Farms: 14 Nov 2011 or before (248 days)
Ice cream: Julie's: Julian date 11070 or before
Juice: frozen Cascadian Farms: 24 March 2013 or before (744 days)
boxed Apple and Eve: Julian date 1070 or before (estimated)
Honest Ade: 11 March 2012 or before (1 year)
Meats
Organic Prairie: frozen: Julian date 11070 or before
fresh sliced meat: 25 May 2011 (75 days)
Diestal frozen turkey: Julian date 070 or before
Smart Chicken: Julian date 070 or before (but all from Nebraska anyway)
Applegate farms: fresh (hot dogs, bacon) 18 April 2011 (38-40 days)
frozen (turkey burgers) 11 Dec 2011 (9-12 months)
Trader Joe's packaged Pinot Grigio salami: 11 Dec 2011 (9-12 months)
(Trader Joes won't say where anything is from)
Milk (boxed ): 7 Sept 2011 or earlier (180 days)
Oils and condiments:
(all Hain company, which is tricky since they won't say where anything is from)
Hain Safflower Mayonaisse: 11 Dec 2011 (9 months)
Spectrum Organic Mediterranean Olive Oil: 11 March 2013
(but Trader Joe's is cheaper and comes from Italy)
Spectrum Org Brown Rice Vinegar: 11 March 2013 (2 years)
Spectrum Org Toasted Sesame Oil: 11 Sept 2012 (18 mo)
Spectrum Org Canola Oil: 11 March 2013 (2 years)
Pasta and cheese (boxed): Annie's: 10 Sept 12 or earlier (18 months)
Protein bars: Amazing Grass Greens Superfood Chocolate Peanut Butter 3/11/2013 (2 years)
Protein drink: Orgain: 11 March 2012 (1 year)
Rice milk: Rice Dream: 11 March 2012 (1 year)
Seaweed
Osahwa: 11 March 2013 (2 years)
Soups and broths:
Pacific Foods creamy soups and broths: 11 March 2012 (1 year)
Pacific Foods carton soups w/chicken and condensed: 11 March 2013 (2 yrs)
Sour cream: Organic Valley 6 May 2011 or earlier (56 days)
Vegetables (frozen): Cascadian Farms: 24 March 2013 or before (744 days)
Woodstock Farms: mixed mushrooms, shiitake, edamame, broccoli florets: 11 Sept 2012 (18 mo)
all other veg: 11 March 2013 (2 years)
Water (bottled): Arrowhead 10 Sept 2012 (18 months)
Yogurt: Wallaby 29 Apr 2011 or earlier (all flavors, 49 days)
Yes and No
.
Consumer grade Reverse Osmosis units:
The prefilter will remove any big chunks of radioactive particles.
Do remove nuclear fallout radionuclide ions such as Plutonium, Uranium, Iodine, Radium, Cesium, Strontium and so forth. These are the 'bad-boys' and major players that we really need to get out of the water. Thus RO units are a great product.
There are a few limitations to what RO Units will do. So for example, deuterium and tritium, the so-called 'heavy water' molecules, with an extra neutron or two, are not removed by RO units.
Some gasses (bubbles) can contain some radioactive particles. These will also not be removed by RO units.
RO units are well worth the money, if your water supply has received a dusting of radioactive fallout.
Water Filtration to Remove/Reduce Radionuclides
Cs137 can be filtered by zeolites. Be careful which zeolites are used - some have toxic silica (inhalant) as a component AND they may be of variable quality with respect to their ability to adsorb Cs137. I suggest that you look up the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the product you are considering purchasing. Also, many zeolite products are not certified for use with potable water. If you have an under sink water filtration system, I suggest going with an Anti-rad filter cartridge in adition to reverse osmosis:
http://pureeffectfilters.com/antirad-plus.html
This should take care of most Cs and Sr isotopes. It uses a nuclear grade ion exchange resin (certified for potable water). You could buy separate resin cartriges (special order) or buy loose resin and pack your own cartridges, but this is more expensive and time consuming.
When you combine this filter with a reverse osmosis membrane, you should be able to remove most of the radioactivity in your water. Most RO membranes state that they remove around 85-98% of radioactive particles by themselves. However, this efficiency declines over time as the membrane ages. Be sure to follow the instructions about how often to change your filters. Here's an example of one mfgr's claims about what their RO membranes remove. http://www.purepro.info/pdf/Membranes.pdf
With the zeolite resin used in the Anti-Rad catridge mentioned, the Cs137 is more preferentially removed than the Sr90 due to the chemical interactions involved. Zeolite also removes ammonia,(which can limit uptake of the Cs127 and Sr90), to that is why the KDF material is incuded in the cartridge... to adsorb any ammonia before the water hits the zeoite portion of the cartridge. If you plan to build your own system, use a KDF filter BEFORE your zeolite filter to maximize isotope adsorption.
I have not read anything (other than the Anti-Rad web site) that indicates whether zeolite can remove other radioactive isotopes. However, regarding Uranium, Radium and other ionic radioactive contaminants, I provide the following link for your consideration http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/document...
The basic gist of the above link is that ionized radioactive particles can be removed via a mixed bed filtration system that uses two different specialized resins to capture anions and cations. This create ultra pure water that has few disolved solids. These filters also capture calcium and magnesium, and thus create water that is "aggressive" (aka acidic) because all the buffering minerals get removed along with the radioactive particles. A mixed bed water filter cartridge should take out most of the other radio particles that the zeolite does not capture (e.g Barium, Uranium, etc.) The water from the mixed bed resin will be sufficiently acidic to corrode metals (over time) and leach lead from any solder joints that the water might pass, so use PVC or PEX tubing/fittings to be safer.
Note that there is some controversy about whether drinking de-ionized water is a good thing or not. I have not had time to sift through all the info thats out there to reach my own conclusion about the merits (or lack thereof) of de-ionized water. If you choose to use a mixed bed deionization cartridge, you might want to read this first http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutdemineralized.pdf
Summary:
A high quality RO membrane should remove 85-98 of all the particles.
Add the AntiRad filter cartridge to an RO system and you can be pretty sure that you will eliminate 99% of the Cs and Sr.
Add an ion exchange catridge and you will remove most of the remaining particles, but will end up with acidic water as a result.
What removes the rest?
Thanks for the info, Bill. BTW, do you know what removes the rest of the radionuclides?
ZERO-ZERO H2O
.
Perfectly pure 0/0 (Zero-Zero) water is not generally all that great for drinking. Most people think it tastes too flat.
We need the stuff for medical and a few industrial processes.
A commercially available, consumer grade RO unit 'will get it', for household purposes. These systems typically contain a 'paper' filter and an activated charcoal filter. The paper filter takes out everything down to about 5 microns and the carbon filter takes out just about every chemical.
That prefiltered water then passes over a very slightly porous reverse osmosis membrane. The RO membrane takes essentially all the disolved salts and ions. About 75% of the water runs down the drain and about 25% of the water is purified into the under sink tank.
For rediculously high water purity, there are ion exchangers and/or distillation units that take RO quality water to Zero/Zero. I have set up some fairly involved water purification systems for very special applications. But the RO water is more than good enough for me and my loved ones.
If you want to spend the money, virtually any RO distributor can also install, ion exchangers, deionizers and/or distillation units.
When I've asked about whole
When I've asked about whole house reverse osmosis sytems some people have said that it makes the water so acidic that it'll leach the lead and other toxins from your plumbing. This has discouraged me in getting a whole house system. Should I reconsider?
reverse osmosis
Actually it doesn't take radiation out of water. There are specific mediums that you have to use to remove radiation from water, and then you have a problem when the canister that the medium is in gets "hot" and you need to get rid of it and change it. The sources that say that reverse osmosis removes radiation, are incorrect. It may remove some of the largest particles, but it by no means gets it out or reduces it to any real extent.
Idiot or worse
.
Jane is a typing health hazard, whether this drivel is due to ignorance, bad judgment or actual malice.
Any functional consumer grade Reverse Osmosis unit in service today, if pump-fed ocean water from the Fukushima shoreline would remove the salts and radionuclides. The resulting water would be quite drinkable and safe.
It would be prudent to test such water, prior to piping it into a grade-school cafeteria. It would also be prudent to wear a radiation suit to change the input filters and the RO membrane. Then dispose of these expendables/consumables in a lead-lined radiation hazard box.
haha
Thanks Bill. Your humor and info is appreciated!
Jane....would u mind posting
Jane....would u mind posting where u got info that reverse info doesnt remove radioactive particles? Thank u!!!
Yes Jane, please let us
Yes Jane, please let us know. It is such an important subject! Thanks!
How to keep track of all of this?
I feel like I will lose my mind trying to keep track of brands and dates etc. How do you all plan on doing this?
Start with the foods you
Start with the foods you currently are use to eating. Stock up on them first then find alternatives when necessary. There are so many options of food if we step out of the box and try new ones. When one door closes another opens.
Baby jarred food, Earth's best
Does anybody know about baby jarred food? What expiration date should I look for in order to be on the safe side? Did anybody call earth's best yet?
Call the company to find out
Call the company to find out their shelf life. I think baby food lasts 3 years from date of manufacture.
I called, and it is actually
I called, and it is actually 2 years.
What do u guys think about
What do u guys think about watermelon, oranges, and other fruits in which u have to peel or have a thick rind???
I was also curious about
I was also curious about this.... Also, any thoughts on grains and corn?
So many things to think about at the grocery store now.
Costco has large bags of
Costco has large bags of flour that can be frozen and stored long term. The label is Harvest Flour from ConAgra Foods. It is good for a yr or more from the best buy date. ?? I am sorry, I have been calling so many food Co that I lost track but remember that it was very long time from Best Buy date. Their number is 1-800-851-9618...they were friendly and helpful. We froze 2 large bags of bread and regular flour in separate freezer bags. I am not sure about next year's crop of wheat but it is hard to say when that wheat will enter the food chain...so I may be baking my own bread! Every little bit helps I hope.
I asked a growery worker in
I asked a growery worker in the dairy departemnt if he knew when their butter was made--he looked at me like I was crazy!
Look on the side or bottom
Look on the side or bottom of the label. I think it has a shelf of 6 to 12 months from date of package. It'll be on the label and you can call the company. I've gotten that look too.
Flour isn't exactly healthy.
Flour isn't exactly healthy. Some of the healthiest stuff is sprouts. Get a hold of seeds, like chia, alfalfa, wheat, millet ect. and sprout them. Grow your own wheat grass--it's like 70% protein. Get a mascerating juicer to juice wheatgrass. Also, grow lots and lots of cilantro--it removes radiaoctive isotopes from your intestines if you've eaten radioactive food.
Thanks for passing this
Thanks for passing this info. along. H
Hmm...I know I want to give
Hmm...I know I want to give my family the benefit of fresh food and southern hemisphere makes me nervous considering large amounts of pesticides they use. Definitely avoiding dairy, green leafys, berries, etc. But not sure how to feel about the other produce.....what about carrots and potatoes?? Peaches, plums, grapes will be coming soon....how about those???
If you get organic from the
If you get organic from the southern hemisphere you'll be getting the best you can get for now.
Berries
Why are you avoiding all berries? One of my research sources indicates that Raspberries do not store Cesium-137.
Re: Berries
Hi Anonymous,
Can you tell us where you researched this?
Kelloggs Shelf Life
Found this about Kellogg's products.
http://www.fafh.com/pdf/MIL/MIL_Food_Safe_Letter.pdf
I just contacted Lifeway
I just contacted Lifeway (they make kefir products) and they said "our products are safe - there's no radiation in them" and then pointed me to this press release
http://www.lifeway.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=kcfN%2fJNLx%2bA%3d&tabi...
Of course, the press release doesn't say anything except that they are taking their lead from EPA. This is the trend with all of these healthy organic companies that don't seem to think they need to do any independent testing. But then put out press releases ASSURING the public that their product is absolutely safe. She even said "oh, we're in the midwest so we are not affected"
"Where is my milk from" website -- type in your carton code
This site shows you where you're milk is from. Doesn't talk about package date and I know we're all avoiding it, but I found it interesting nonetheless.
http://whereismymilkfrom.com/
What a great site - I
What a great site - I wouldn't mind drinking liquid milk again soon if I knew it wasn't from here.
Hothouse Tomatoes and Cucumbers and other items
Thank you to everyone for posting their research on "safe foods" list. Here are some additional items that I have found...
1. Hothouse Cucmbers and Tomatoes:
Eurofresh Farms: Located in Arizona. They use a HEPA filtration system to filter their indoor air. They water with well water that is filtered through a reverse osmosis filtration system. They test their water for radioactive particles, radon, and heavy metals. Their internal detection guidelines exceed FDA standards. They mentioned that the FDA have allowable levels of contaminants that Eurofresh does not allow. Check out their video on their website. Looks like they put a lot of resources towards keeping out contaminants. Eurofresh products are available at Whole Foods Markets and I've also found them at my local Albertson's market in Southern California.
2. Peanut, Almond, and Other Nut Butters, and Tahini:
Once Again Nut Butter, Inc.: They bottle all their nut butters and tahini one year prior to the "best by" date. Their Organic, roasted tahini is made in the US.
3. Food for Life sprouted products. We buy their Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted whole grain cereal (my kids love this with bananas and fruit mixed in), english muffins, breads, tortillas. Their breads, english muffins and tortillas can be freezed (Whole Foods Market does this).
Code: L0321
Year of production: K or L
K = 2010
L = 2011
0321: Take the last number and add it to the first three numbers. This gives you 33, which is the julian date.
L0321 = Packaged on the 33rd day of 2011.
4. Heinz Ketchup: Specifically, I called for the Heinz Organic Ketchup, but the code should apply to all:
Example:
QP0M01: bottled December 1, 2010
QP = Plant code, Made in Ontario, Canada
0 = Year bottled, 2010
M = Bottled in December (A=January, B=February, C=March, D=April, E=May, F=June, G=July, H=August, J=September, K=October, L=November, M=December, note the letter "I" is skipped)
01: Day of month bottled, 1st
5. Bob's Red Mill: All items are packaged two year prior to "best by" date, and last for two years after the "best by" date. Best if you freeze. Located in Oregon.
6. Cereal:
Cascadian Farms. Multigrain Cereal, organic: packaged 310 prior to "best by" date. This specific cereal is produced in Canada. Country of origin varies with their products.
7. Frozen Veggies and Fruits:
Columbia River Organics, All items from the US
Packaged two years prior to "best by" date
8. Eggs:
Pasteurized Egg Whites in a carton: Organic Valley. Packaged 90 days prior to "best by date."
Whole Foods (stores)
This is Whole Foods' statement on monitoring products from Japan for radiation.
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/04/products-from-japan/comment-pag...
You can leave a comment or opinion.
Vegetables
Windset Farms grows all their vegetables in a greenhouse. They sell this brand at Costco. Contact the company to find out where else it is sold.
www.windsetfarms.com
Rainwater
The company sounds wonderful, but their statement says they “collect rainwater for irrigation” and they “recirculate the rainwater used in irrigating the plants.”
Are they filtering the rainwater before it's used to water the plants?
The "head grower" there told
The "head grower" there told me they collect rainwater during their rainy season and filter it through a reverse osmosis filter and also use city water to water the plants. The water is sent directly to the roots so it is not dripped on the plant itself. Basically they use city water and filtered rainwater when it's available. They do not filter the city water.
Any other brands? Cascadian
Any other brands?
Cascadian farms is a good brand of frozen vegetables, but the trouble is that often they are pretty tiny and expensive for families. What about brands found in Costco? Costco already carries plenty of all natural and organic brands.
Earlier I talked to a manager at Trader Joe's, she said that much of the frozen foods they have there have been sitting around for awhile already.
She said though that you can ask customer service if you have the production code in hand to tell when it was packaged, I encourage you all to try that.
Also, what are we going to do when contaminated ingredients start entering packaged and frozen foods?
Get a dehydrator or canner
Get a dehydrator or canner and start storing some for use during the next couple years. Or get another freezer to add for more storage room.
I have to agree a little
I have to agree a little with the previous comment. I have been trying very hard to choose "safe foods",exclude dairy, etc. But the routes of exposure are overwhelming....what about when my children go put to play? Do I not let them dig or roll in the grass? Do I stop them from riding their dirt bikes and other activities that generate dust that they may inhale? How about the sandbox at preschool?.....the list is endless. I guess we can just stay informed, take what small steps we can to lessen exposure, and place the rest in His hands.
I agree with you! There is
I agree with you! There is just so much that we can do to reduce the exposure, but we cannot avoid it. The rest is in God's hands. He takes care of his children when nobody else does.
And then what...??
I am not discounting your concern here but I don't see how buying pre-Fukushima foods is a plausible long-term solution or even an option for many of us. CS-137 has a half life of 30 years.
Unless you wrap your entire house in plastic, filter your air and water supply, have a walk- in freezer or a green house for the next 30 years and never leave you are bound to be exposed somehow (everyone on earth has been exposed to Chernobyl whether through inhalation or ingestion). I don't see how posting a "safe list" of pre-Fukushima foods will do anything other than spark panic-buying.
The entire west coast did NOT suffer the same levels of radiation. In fact intercontinental US milk supply suffered higher exposures. Look at the EPA website's RadNet data. Current and past tests show no radio nucleotides in Oregon or Seattle/Tacoma area milk. Intercontinental US states show much higher concentrations: Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee have more, even triple the amounts. Vermont milk actually tested positive for CS-137 on one occasion. Though I am unclear why it did not show up again because of it's long half life. Maybe that cow was pulled from testing??
I am so disappointed in the human response here: shun the affected? Every man for himself? I am for self-reliance and being prepared but it seems to me this is everybody's problem now and FOREVER as long as we deem profit more desirable than human life regarding technological atrocities like nuclear power, nanotechnology, biowarfare. These are just awful choices being made in the name of profit and we can and must do better for ourselves and our children. Otherwise we are silently assenting to extinct ourselves and make the planet uninhabitable for all life. Very sad. Wish instead that we were filled with a deep and abiding desire to protect all life and insist that corporations and government make it their imperative.
Hi. I am not suggesting
Hi. I am not suggesting pre-Fukushima foods as a long term solution, nor that it solves anything, nor that it absolves anyone from fighting against unsafe sources of power, nor anything else.
Essentially, I'm being pragmatic. I can't do much about cesium. However, from what I've heard, it isn't taken up by children's bodies as quickly or in as large quantities as the iodine, which is immediately sucked in and stored in the thyroid for about 100 days.
I-131, with a half life of 8 days, is almost completely gone in 81 days. I'm figuring doing this till 81 days past the dates when this site shows MDA levels, for as many foods as I'm able to control. That's not everything, and it may not be enough, but it's the best I can do.
I'm not promoting this, or what I'm doing, as a plan for anyone. Just being open in case it's helpful to people trying to avoid the worst of it, especially for kids.
I think we all agree with
I think we all agree with you - or at least I do - but I don't know that it's an either/or. I mean, I have been fighting for years to make our government more responsive to people than to corporations and have also been supporting organizations like Media Matters that fights against corporate controlled monopolized media (i think we can all see the fruits of our corporate owned monopoly media during this crisis. Investigative journalism is DEAD in this country exept for a few brave souls on the internet and they will soon also be crushed when Congress does away with Net Neutrality).
BUT, I also have a small child and I am certainly going to do everything I can to make smart food choices right now to protect him. It may indeed be blowing against a gale, and if this crisis doesn't end, and soon, then you are right we will have no truly safe food choices. But, all we can do is what we can do right now.
My "safe" foods list/Just found this:
'My "safe" foods list thread originator: Your foods are similar to our food choices excepting the dairy stuff (for now).
Here's something I just found, take it or leave as possible good ideas for 'sourcing' foods and some respondents at the link mention New Zealand as a good source for frozen meats:
http://enenews.com/fukushima-forecast-series-radiation-clouds-hit-west-c...
(SEE LINK FOR EVERYTHING)
Noah
April 21, 2011 at 3:47 am · Reply
AREAS WHOSE FOOD PRODUCTS MAY NOW CARRY RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT
Helpful Quote from Vesica.org
The Entirety of the Northern Hemisphere around the world is affected by fallout, as well as the Pacific Ocean.
Most Serious: Japan, Pacific Ocean, and Pacific Rim States
Most Contaminated food areas of North America (based on fallout wind spread patterns charted by European scientific research agencies) in order of likely intensity of contamination, starting with the most contaminated:
Entire Pacific Coast (note that much of the produce in North America comes from this region, especially California)
Northern U.S. States close to Canada, and Canadian areas close to the U.S. (including Toronto etc.)
Eastern States
Central States of the U.S., and Far Northern areas of Canada
SAFEST AREAS OF ORIGIN FOR FOOD PRODUCTS
The majority of contamination is in the northern hemisphere and the Pacific Ocean region. Most of the Southern Hemisphere has little to no fallout (the exception is the Southern Hemisphere in the Pacific; Australia for example is finding radioactive fish in the ocean, so although they may not get much atmospheric fallout they are affected by the massive contamination of the Pacific Ocean.)
Also note that radioactive contamination is being found on non-food products being imported from Japan.
Safest Areas of Origin for food products:
Central America (avoid items from the Pacific Coast area of Mexico)
South America
Africa
Europe is also far less contaminated that North America, although it is also experiencing significant fallout; so it is a better source for products than North America, however not as good as Southern Hemisphere sources. (However some South American produce may contain high levels of pesticides not allowed to be used in the U.S. or Canada.)
ITEMS OF SPECIAL CONCERN FROM AFFECTED AREAS
Most affected:
All Ocean-Derived Products from the Pacific Ocean: the Fukushima accident dumped millions of times the normal background levels of radiation into the Pacific, where it is affecting the entire ocean (most toxic near Japan and bordering areas, but now reaching to the US West Coast: debris from the Tsunami in Japan is also expected to start washing up on the West Coast in the near future.) There are already reports of Pacific Fish showing radioactive contamination.
This indicates a need to be cautious regarding:
All Pacific Ocean Fish
Sea Salt or Ocean Minerals derived from the Pacific
All Pacific Seaweed and Sea Vegetables (order Atlantic Ocean seaweed at http://www.theseaweedman.com )
Milk and all Dairy Products (butter, cheese etc.) from all animals: Cows, Goats, and Sheep (Dairy products have the most intense immediate absorption of radiation from fallout). Radioactive contamination of milk has been found throughout the United States, especially on the West Coast.
Any plant with a large surface area exposed to the air while growing: The most intense radiation absorption in plants is through rain falling directly on the leaves of the plant, where it is directly absorbed. Rainwater absorbed through the earth into the plant is already of much lower radiation intensity due to the filtering affect of the soil.
All broad leaf plants and plants with large surface areas grown in the open air (rather than in greenhouses) are the most contaminated, for instance Salad Greens, Spinach, Cabbage etc. Contaminated crops in California (carrying radioactive iodine and cesium) have already been confirmed by UC Berkeley.
[Carrots and other root vegetables are less contaminated due to growing underground.]
Water from Rainwater or Open Lake type catchments: instead drink bottled water, or water from underground wells or other underground sources (radiation is greatly reduced when the particles have to travel through the ground.)
PREGNANT (OR BREASTFEEDING) WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD ESPECIALLY BE CAREFUL REGARDING THESE ITEMS COMING FROM FALLOUT AFFECTED AREAS
-Off my menu: All Seafoods because the oceans really are a military and industrial sewer! Yes, I will miss Anchovies on my pizza, fishsticks, red snapper, tuna (even 'chicken of the sea' is no longer 'worthy,'crab, fake crab (made with Pollock, an ocean fish), clam chowder, Nori Seaweed,Caviar etc... See: http://pstuph.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/can-ocean-currents-transport-radi...
The Naval Radiological
The Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory used a citric acid rinse as one of the many methods used to try to decontaminate radioactive ships which had been used as targets for nuclear bomb testing. See http://www.sfweekly.com/2001-05-09/news/fallout/3/
Maybe washing our spinach and veggies in a Citric Acid bath might help remove Cesium? I don't know if it would work since a BRAWM member in a previous post had said that CS 137 tends to "bond" to solid surfaces. I'm not sure where you can get Citric Acid but you can buy Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C Crystals) in powder form at Trader Joe's. Citric Acid has one more Oxygen atom than Ascorbic Acid but maybe they'll have a similar affect? I don't know, just a thought. Trader Joe's also sells a product called "Fruit and Vegetable Wash" by Environne which contains grapefruit seed and lemon-orange extract along with other natural cleansing agents. I don't want to promote specific products but you can look up other veggie wash products online. It might be nice if a BRAWM member would weigh in to let us know if using rinse agents on our food is a "Fruitless" endeavor - pardon the pun.
Europe is actually far MORE
Europe is actually far MORE contaminated than the U.S., although the contamination dates to Chernobyl, and the level is patchy, depending on rainfall and wind patterns while the isotopes were airborne.
Some sheep in the UK still have to be checked for radiation levels before sale; the limit is 1000Bq/kg. Vast swaths of the former Soviet Union are still heavily contaminated.
Chernobyl has provided a LOT of data on what is safer and what isn't. Specific plant species uptakes of various isotopes are known, as are techniques to decrease uptake. The same is true of different animal species. For instance, goats uptake more than cows.
Going forward, provided there isn't another major release of isotopes, the problem will be biological concentration as plants, then animals, selectively take chemicals into their cells. Again, areas in Europe have BEEN having a much greater problem than we currently do. We just didn't have it staring us in the face, so most of us aren't educated on the subject. Yet.
Personally, I'm salting my food with 'lite' salt for the potassium content and taking a calcium supplement. If supplementation works to cut isotope uptake for plants, milk cows, and meat animals, it ought to help me too.
I'm ALSO going to be paying close attention to the voting history of every candidate in every election. No one who supports nuclear power will EVER get my vote. We have to shut the technology down. No one should be allowed to contaminate the entire planet with something that can destroy DNA for generations.
Is the citrate form of
Is the citrate form of potassium and calcium what you're taking? There are a lot of things that have been studied that show help in removing radioactive particles. Fiber is one. Flax, apple pectin, citrus pectin, seaweed and baking soda and so many other things.
I used to eat Viactive, but
I used to eat Viactive, but since I started avoiding corn syrup that's off the menu. I found Adora at whole foods. Real chocolate, plain old sugar, and they taste like good chocolates. They use Calcium Carbonate, which for people with normal stomach acid is absorbed well.
Eggshells are a very balanced, well absorbed calcium carbonate supplement; ironically proven in Japanese studies to be very beneficial to bone health. Of course that depends on what the chickens have been eating. I assume they'll uptake cesium and strontium just like we do. The same is true of seaweed and iodine; if the seaweed is growing in contaminated water, it will concentrate the iodine and be worse than nothing.
For potassium I've just been salting with plain old Morton's lite salt.
Apples are just plain good, in tons of recipes or eaten raw out of hand. So is homemade candied citrus peel.
Birdseye Frozen Vegetable Manufacture Dates
Hi,
Birdseye frozen vegetables follow the following convention for their packing dates:
Only the first 5 digits of the code are needed:
YPPMD
Where Y = year, 0=2010, 1=2011
Where PP = plant (don't care)
Where M = month, 1-9,O,N,D Where 1 is January and D is December
Where D = Day, A-Z,1,2,3,4,5 Where A is 1 and 5 is 31
So March 11, 2011 would be 1XX3KXXXX
Just bought 40 gallons of pre-fukushima organic apple juice bottled in Washington State that my 5-year-old autistic son drinks. I figure why take the chance. We'll drink it soon enough either way.
Have a happy day.
Another Anonymous
Thank you so much.. I have
Thank you so much..
I have small children also and have my own list which I will share with the list as soon as I can organize it and find time.
We live in Ca and I am very worried about the food supply ...especially for children.
Thanks again.
Are these foods still
Are these foods still available?