Did you know that, according to the Union for Concerned Scientists, about 70 percent of the antibiotics in U.S. are fed to pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens and other animals raised for food? It’s been a long time in coming, but it seems that Americans are finally paying attention to what happens to animals behind closed shed doors. Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), those mega-animal-farms famous for stuffing animals full of questionable feed and antibiotics and confining them to cramped, unsanitary quarters, never to see the light of day—are ripe (pardon the pun) for re-evaluation and stringent regulation. Now with possible links to swine flu and MRSA outbreaks, the U.S. government is considering greater regulation of antibiotics fed to animals, particularly those given to promote growth rather than to combat disease. more

So it’s not my imagination: More and more people are finding they have an inability to tolerate gluten. (Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats.) A new Mayo Clinic study supports ever-growing anecdotal evidence that celiac disease has increased dramatically in the past 50 years … and not just because of better diagnosis and awareness. According to Dr. Joseph Murray, lead researcher quoted in the press release: “Celiac disease is unusual, but it’s no longer rare. Something has changed in our environment to make it much more common. Until recently, the standard approach to finding celiac disease has been to wait for people to complain of symptoms and to come to the doctor for investigation. This study suggests that we may need to consider looking for celiac disease in the general population, more like we do in testing for cholesterol or blood pressure.”

And this is just for celiac disease, a true autoimmune allergy, not simply a sensitivity. My son “merely” has an intolerance, and there’s no reliable test for that — the only way to tell for sure is to go off gluten and see if you feel better, which he did — and he developed it as an adult. My pet theory is that the “something” that has changed in our environment, leading to increased adverse reactions to foods, is the corruption and overprocessing of our entire food supply. What do you think?

If you’re defining raw food as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds that have not been heated above 104 degrees, then processed and packaged food can be raw. It may not be as fresh as what you’re picking up at the produce stand, but it’s a growing trend that’s no longer restricted to cacao and fruit juices. You’ll now find “raw” energy bars and even supplements. Though you may equate the term with something that has popped off a tree or vine directly onto your plate, it’s not always possible to get all the nutrients or sustenance you need, in the time frame you need it, in the exact shape that nature provided it (yes it’s July now but it won’t be for long). Here are some companies that are redefining raw products, maintaining maximum levels of enzymes and nutrients in packaged foods and vitamins. more

As much as I love my job, there are some days I would do anything to change the fact that I’m still sitting in the same chair that I was four hours ago. Anything to relieve the mind-ache I get from reading hundreds of emails. It’s times like these I could eat an entire bag of potato chips, just for the sensory boost. Or more chocolate. Or another latte. (It really has nothing to do with being hungry.) A 30-minute jog or quick sunshine break is much more invigorating (see this article on lunchtime workouts), but when work deadlines suck the time away I’ve got to get creative to fight off the urge to nosh. Here are three things that banish thoughts of potato chips and that help me get that second (or third or fourth) wind. more

One of DL’s new contributors, Elana Amsterdam, who blogs at Elana’s Pantry (look for her gluten- and dairy-free dinners in our upcoming Oct issue), just came out with an excellent cookbook, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook, available in stores July 28 (or preorder on Amazon or Powells). Elana’s use of blanched almond flour (not to be confused with almond meal, delicious but coarser) intrigues me because Elana uses it as a stand-alone GF flour, instead of flour mixes I often find in GF recipes, which require buying several different flours. I can vouch for her outstanding gluten-free goodies (I blogged about her awesome chocolate-chip cookies in April ‘08), and this lovely cookbook, full of enticing photos, has my mouth watering: Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Smoked Salmon Tart in an Herb Crust, Strawberry Shortcake … yum. I’m especially anxious to try her Scrumptious Sandwich Bread — I still think a great sandwich bread is the holy grail of GF baking.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program now offers a mobile-friendly website or a free iPhone application detailing smart seafood choices by region. The app allows you to search fish and other seafood choices by name. Both will tell you if your dinner choices are on the “Best Choice,” “Good Alternative,” or “Avoid” list.

Brought to our attention by Lia Huber at the Nourish Network.

This recipe for Butter Lettuce and Apple Salad with Seared Scallops came to the rescue last night; it’s ready in less than 30 minutes, it’s absolutely delicious, and all I had to buy were scallops (because I was making the salad as an entree, I used five per person). Everything else in the recipe I already had on hand, except for shallots; I used red onion instead. My husband and I enjoyed it with a delightful bottle of 2006 Geode Chardonnay, sourced from earth-friendly, sustainable vineyards in northern Santa Barbara County. I got a sample of this wine a few weeks ago and was happy that they even packaged it in wildflower-growing paper, which I’ve planted in my yard. The wine itself is lovely; not too heavily oaky, crisp but lush, and perfect with our fresh summer salad.

When I bike by the community gardens just north of my house I can’t help but slow down to see what the farmers are harvesting or what new plants are sprouting up. The fields of green plants are a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Now, lawmakers are catching on to the community garden craze and are taking promising steps to promote the urban havens. U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington just introduced HR 3225: The Community Gardens Act of 2009 to “establish community gardens, promote healthy lifestyles and educate and train the public on the importance and value of community gardening.” Meanwhile, Rep. Doris Matsui of California introduced a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Community Gardening Awareness Month.

It’s surprising how many benefits can come from digging in the dirt. more

The FDA has issued an easy-to-read document on the Safe Use of Flea & Tick Products for Pets.

“Organic pet food sales, up 63% last year, are growing at nearly three times the rate of human organic food sales, says the Organic Trade Association”.  Good article in USA Today about the growing organic pet food market.