More scary nutritional nonsense
March 14th, 2008 by Tess
So in my research I discovered this prof who has written a book called “The End of Food,” where he rails against big Agra business and tells us in detail what we already know in general: it’s all about the profits, baby.
His research can be summed up thusly:
Right now, if you go to the produce section of any supermarket - any one at all – and buy fruit or vegetables, or cottage cheese, or meat, you would have to eat something like five times as much of that food to get the same amount of vitamins and minerals as your parents or grandparents got in the 1950s.
The quote is from this interview in a pro-organic website. Admittedly biased, but he says it breaks down like this-
Taking statistics from the USDA comparing a tomato in 1963 to a tomato now shows that 100 grams of ‘fresh’ tomato has:
30.7% LESS Vitamin A
16.9% LESS Vitamin C
61.5% LESS Calcium
11.1% LESS Phosphorus
9% LESS Potassium
9% LESS Niacin (B3)
10% LESS Iron
1% LESS Thiamine (B1)
65% MORE Lipids (fats)
200% MORE Sodium
Vitamins E and K are not measured, nor are essential micronutrients like molybdenum and selenium.Broccoli has lost 45% Vitamin C.
80% of the tomatoes grown in Florida now comprise only 5 varieties, and one of those 5 counts for 35.9% by itself (the variety is Fla. 47).
In 50 years, the Canadian potato has lost 100% Vitamin A, 57% Calcium, 50% Iron, 50% Riboflavin (B2) and 18% Thiamin.
Apparently, tomatoes make out pretty badly because they’re bred for durability not nutrition- they need tough skins so they can be bumped around while driven 1000mi to market.
I suppose I could rip out my hibiscus and plant my own garden, go completely organic, and know that it’s all covered.
On the other hand, maybe I’ll just buy the pricey supplements and go even more regularly to the Crescent City Farmer’s Market.
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