Carrots and Cherry Tomatoes (8/16/11)
8/16 (6:48pm): We just finished testing a sample of carrots and a sample of cherry tomatoes, both from a local organic farm that has supplied most of our strawberry samples. No radioactive isotopes from Japan were detected.
Mark [BRAWM Team Member]
Can you tell us 1) if these were hothouse tomoatoes/carrots?
Or were they grown outdoors in soil known to have radiocesium?
Good news IF these were in the soil which is known to have been contaminated but pretty lacking in any definitive scientific meaning if they were not grown outdoors in soil that was exposed.
In any case - I am hoping that this means the samples were "clean" and that the radiocesium etc is not bioaccumulating in observable amounts.
One final question:
2) since cherry tomatoes absorb less water and grow more quickly (i.e. less absorption time and matured more recently I imagine) would it not be worth it to test larger tomatoes (known to have been grown outdoors) and a few other plants such as cucmbers, peppers, squash,?
I am still wary of results which are too small to represent a wide possible sampling of potentially contaminated foods BUT..
I am still very grateful for this report ...
re:produce
Thanks for the update on tomatoes and carrots and especially your continued efforts to test and disclose.
Please post any ongoing findings for other produce commonly shipped to local grocers such as:
Lettuces, Celery, Parsley, Cilantro and other greens, grasses ( ie: Asparagus, Corn varieties including popcorn especially since Corn is used in animal feed and in many packaged and processed foods finding broad distribution throughout the food supply see the movie documentary 'King Corn' on Netflix or elsewhere if you can find it, Lemon Grass etc.) and herbs (commonly from Salinas, CA and elsewhere throughout the US)
In addition to carrots, what about other root vegetables such as Beets, Cassava,Celeriac,Parsnips, Radishes, and especially the most widely consumed Potatoes (commonly grown in CA, WA, OR and Idaho/many repackaged under the 'From Idaho or WA')
-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...
"Good news IF these were in
"Good news IF these were in the soil which is known to have been contaminated but pretty lacking in any definitive scientific meaning if they were not grown outdoors in soil that was exposed."
Thank you for exploring this Bill. We have beautiful organic heirloom tomato plants growing in our SoCal radiated soil, several of which are cherry tomatoes. We haven't touched one yet. We will not compromise with "just a little bit" of radionuclide contamination and our food /water regiment is very strict.
But if those that BRAWM tested were grown in contaminated soil, I'm going to have a cherry tomato feast.
It is stated that these
It is stated that these tomatoes are from the same farm that supplied most of the strawberries (which originally tested positive)...therefore, this soil has seen some rainout.
Same farm does not mean same soil
not necessarily, which is why I asked.
Hothouse tomatoes or carrots may have been grown in soil which was uncontaminated while strawberries may have been.
It is a simple question to get an answer to: were these grown outdoors in soil known to be contaminated or not remediated?
IF they were outdoors near strawberries then BRAWM should know and be able to answer.
I am URGING BRAWM to do some more tests from food KNOWN to be grown in contaminated soil where possible and get all the data associated with the farm practice for the produce tested.
I WANT it to be good news, believe me, BUT I am not at all relieved due to the absence of real substantial and relatively comprehensive data.
If soil is KNOWN to have been contaminated and foods grown show no detection now that is good news. But keep testing!
Big hug
and kiss of appreciation to all on the BRAWN team. Professionally speaking, of course.
sorry...
BRAWM, not BRAWN. Must be subconcious....
Mark- The BRAWM team's
Mark-
The BRAWM team's efforts are very much appreciated. Thank you.
I am somewhat taken back that no one else, university-wise, has even shown an interest in testing. This is a rare (and let's hope it stays that way) opportunity to do this type of science.
Have a good evening, and thank you again.
Thank you team for keeping
Thank you team for keeping us informed!!! THANKS!!!
Great news! Thank you! Will
Great news! Thank you! Will you be checking potatoes too? It would be great to know whether eggs, chicken, and beef are safe too?
Thank You!
Thank you for testing the cherry tomatoes & carrots!
Please consider testing POTATOES...as they supposedly are large bio-accummulators of Cesium.
I also am very curious about
I also am very curious about potatoes....
Thanks BRAWM team for your continued work!