Sabrina's Crossing -- An athlete's life on the road: European vs. American lifestyle

Showing posts with label European vs. American lifestyle. Show all posts

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Subway Food Fight

Click to sign the petition!

I always try to find the right balance between sharing my own thoughts and things that are going on in my life, with things I come across that I think are worth sharing.

You can go ahead and put today's entry into the 'things I think are worth sharing' category.

Previously, I've written about the US Food Supply in comparison to the European food system.

There are particular American companies that have made it a practice to alter their products' recipes for the European market (because of their usage of banned ingredients), meanwhile leaving the potentially harmful ingredients in the same foods distributed in the US.

Why the altered recipes?
Many times, recipes are changed because a banned (in the European Union, that is) ingredient is used. For example, the US version of Betty Crocker Red Velvet cake has artificial colors, which are banned in the United Kingdom because they are linked to hyperactivity in children, food cravings, and obesity. In order for that product to be sold on European shelves, the recipe needs to be reformulated to match stricter foods laws.

In the US, there are no such bans, so Betty Crocker leaves the questionable ingredient in, more-often-than-not because it is the cheapest way to produce the food.

Other times, they alter the recipe in Europe simply to avoid a genetically modified organism label being slapped on their product. In the EU, GMOs are required to be labeled. To avoid that stigma, recipes are altered, and genetically modified ingredients are removed.

So they can adjust their recipes for overseas distribution, but refuse to do the same for their American consumers.

This happens across the board with processed foods -- from cereals, to candy, to chips. The recipes are altered to provide safer products for European consumers. While in the US, companies continue to produce their foods in the least expensive way, with little regard to public health (hello, FDA?).

Consumer action in action. It works!

There's a woman who goes by the name Food Babe leading the charge against these companies. Don't let the cutesy nickname fool you, the Food Babe is one tough cookie. She takes these huge corporations head-on, and doesn't back down.

In the last year alone, consumer interest, participation, and outrage has lead to Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Kraft, General Mills (Cheerios), Gatorade, and even Johnson & Johnson to change their ways.

They've become more transparent, and they've listened to the consumers. That's an incredible starting point.

The Food Babe versus Kraft Mac & Cheese
Almost one year ago, the Food Babe set her sights on Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. In the US, the recipe contained the artificial food dyes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. In the EU and UK, these dyes are not in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese because they are considered harmful and were removed due to consumer outcry.

The Food Babe started a petition, over 300-thousand people signed it, and soon enough, Kraft listened to its challengers, and removed the artificial dyes from some of their products.

New Challenge
Now, just last week, the Food Babe has re-focused on Subway and their breads.

Even Jimmy Fallon is in on the fight against yoga mat breads.

She discovered that Subway makes bread with an ingredient called azodicarbonamide. This ingredient can be found in almost all the breads at Subway in the US, but not in Europe, Australia or other parts of the world.

Azodicarbonamide is the same chemical used to make yoga mats, shoe soles, and other rubbery objects. Given those uses, it probably isn't meant for human consumption.

Subway uses this ingredient as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner which allows them to produce bread faster and cheaper without considering the following health consequences and facts:

The World Health Organization has linked it to respiratory issues, allergies and asthma.
When a truck carrying azodicarbonamide overturned on a Chicago highway in 2001, it prompted city officials to issue the highest hazardous materials alert and evacuate people within a half mile radius. Many of the people on the scene complained of burning eyes and skin irritation as a result.
The U.K. Health And Safety Executive has recognized azodicarbonamide as a potential cause of asthma.
When azodicarbonamide is heated, there are studies that show it is linked to tumor development and cancer.
Not only is this ingredient banned in Europe and Australia, but you also get fined 450,000 dollars if you get caught using it in Singapore and can serve 15 years in prison.

Go here to join over 90,000 others, and ask Subway to remove azodicarbonamide, because we deserve the same safer ingredients Subway serves in other countries.

Subway has responded to the Food Babe, saying that they they would be removing azodicarbonamide from their breads 'soon'. However, they did not respond when asked for a timeline, or a new ingredient list.

Healthy versus Safe
While none of these foods scream healthy, sometimes convenience takes precedence. And that's why many of these foods are consumed, because they are convenient.

We all want to be able to make a nice home cooked meal for our families all the time. But sometimes, we're in a time crunch, or we're tired. It's in the those times, we might call on these products. So we might as well make sure they're safe, right?

All anyone is looking for is a safe food supply. Why a recipe is deemed harmful in one country, yet allowed in another, is beyond me. That's a blog for another day.

The foundation is there, the recipes have been altered around the world. Now, all we need is the execution in the US.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Running Down A Dream: Cope's Journey to the NBA

Chris in Aalst, Belgium.

Every August, hundreds of American basketball players, both men and women alike, head overseas to start their seasons anew.

The game may be the same, but I have found that the motivations are different.

NBA vs. WNBA Dream
From my perspective, women seek out the experience: of living abroad for a couple of years, while continuing to play the game they've grown to love. Salaries are less, and because the WNBA season does not coincide with the traditional basketball season, it is more of a choice for women to make the jump overseas to continue their playing career.

Playing in the US hasn't always been an option for women, yet they've been heading overseas to play basketball for decades -- long before the WNBA was ever around. The WNBA was not the ultimate dream.

In Trier, Germany.

Maybe the motivation is changing, however. And the dream of young girls today is to play in the WNBA, and never experience Europe.

For boys, who play basketball and grow up watching the NBA, donning an NBA uniform is their dream. It's the ultimate goal. And it always has been.

If they are not one of a handful of athletes selected every June in the NBA draft, they head overseas as well.

They bid their closest friends and family members farewell for eight months, and chase that dream. Searching for just one opportunity that might lead to their big break back home.

While a good living can be made abroad, the dream remains inside: to return to the US, and play in the NBA.

There are varying levels of leagues in Europe, and throughout the rest of the world. Some you might call semi-pro, while others are on par with the talent seen in the NBA. Along with every other level in between.

Chris Copeland has seen them all. Literally. But he never lost sight of his dream of putting on an NBA jersey.

Colorado days.

Cope's Story
Chris was a freshman at Colorado when I was a senior. I can't really say how much I saw Chris play during that 2002-2003 season. Busy, diverging schedules as student-athletes didn't allow for too many games.

But I saw enough, through practices and a handful of games, to know Chris was a basketball player. A gym rat. A hooper.

He was skilled. Had great fundamentals. Was big and had a great shot. And had a feel for the game you couldn't teach. He also had a lot of work to do, but the most important thing, the foundation, was there.

Fast forward seven years later to the 2009-2010 season. While we both played in Germany, I saw Chris play twice. I couldn't believe the strides he had made in his game since I'd last seen him play at CU.

In basketball, being a 'tweener' isn't a good thing. You essentially have no position. While at Colorado, Chris was a tweener. He was a big three, and a small four. He had a great face-up game, but lacked the speed and quickness needed to excel as a small forward. And his post game was non-existent. So he was a face-up four.

In the seven years that had passed since I'd last seen him play, while finishing his eligibility at CU, and though stints in the D-League, and stops in low-level Spanish and Dutch leagues, Chris developed and worked on his weaknesses. He went from being a tweener, to being versatile. And versatility is a huge asset in a basketball player.

The player I saw in Germany resembled the kid I remembered at CU in looks, and looks alone. But his game suggested he had changed a great deal. Immediately I could tell he had diligently worked on his post game.

A threat from the wing, or in the post.

His German team, Trier, ran their entire offense through him on the block. He demanded a double-team every time he touched the ball.

Chris was essentially his team's play maker from the power forward position. Guard him one-on-one, he'd attack (and usually score). Double him, and he'd make the pass to an open teammate. Guard him with a big man to take away his post game, and he'd simply step outside and exploit his advantage there.

Cope made it look easy. He was racking up the points and accolades, and turning heads in Europe.

Chris and I, again, found ourselves in the same corner of the world in the 2011-2012 season. While I played in Dunkerque, I saw him play last season, in Belgium for Aalst (which I blogged about last year). And again, I saw huge growth in his game, and more-strikingly, his confidence and approach off the court.

On the court, Chris continued to dominate and score points in bunches. Off the court, Chris threw himself into the NBA world. Constantly studying games and players. He had a one-track mind: the NBA or bust.

His dream was alive and well. And seemingly closer and closer to becoming reality.

After seeing him in Belgium, I knew if he got an opportunity, he'd make it happen. Which is exactly what happened.

Summer league in Vegas.

The Opportunity
The summer of 2012, Chris finally got the chance every professional player waits for: he signed a non-guaranteed contract with the New York Knicks.

He headed to summer league in Las Vegas, where he quickly began making his mark. And then to training camp in October, where he'd compete to make the Knicks final 15-man roster.

At any point, Chris could have been cut.

But just as he'd worked his way up from lower level pro leagues, to more prominent leagues each and every season in Europe, he stayed the course. On November 2, 2102 against the Miami Heat, five full seasons after finishing his eligibility at Colorado, Chris was a rookie in the NBA.

Our Convo -- Catching Up With Chris
In a 25-minute phone conversation in early-April, I caught up with my fellow University of Colorado Buffalo. To hear his thoughts about his journey to the NBA. To see what the trip has been like, in his own words.

Chris and I a couple years back in Germany.

I frantically typed as I tried my best to play the part of reporter while interviewing a friend. An odd, but fun conversation.

There have been a few stories recently on Chris, so I wanted to focus on something I'm familiar with: comparisons between Europe and the game in the States -- the NBA.

What did you focus on improving the most, from the time you finished at CU, until last summer?
Most recently, my focus has been on the defensive end. But since graduating, I've been try to improve all areas of my game. Ball handling, become a better athlete, my quickness. Before I thought I knew it all, but really became a student of the game.

Was there a time where you lost sight of the NBA, and thought you couldn't make it?
Every day. When you're overseas you have your up days and your down days. You have games where you go 0-fer and you question yourself. You say to yourself: so-and-so was overseas, and he would never have gone 0-fer. A little doubt creeps in along the way.

But I always was confident, and knew I could make it. I am blessed to have a great circle of people around me.

When did it really hit your radar -- that the NBA was possible, it was right there in front of you, and you just had to grab it?
Summer league. I finally got the opportunity then, it was like, 'It's up to you. and you just gotta get the job done...'

Biggest difference between the European leagues you've played in, and the NBA...styles, level of play?

Had to double in the post.

Athleticism. Everyone is bigger, faster, stronger, quicker.

How has your approach to practice changed? To games?
I'm working as hard as I have ever worked. I'm in the weight room, I'm shooting a ton of extra shots, getting extra workouts in.

In Europe, if you wanted to get extra work in, it was just you on your own, or maybe one of your teammates wanted in too. Now, if I want to shoot, I can grab two coaches and shoot as much as I want. So I've probably put in as much work on my own now more than ever.

What has changed for you from your most recent season in Europe, to this season? Role on team? Mentality? Individual goals? How have you adjusted from going from THE man on a team, to one of the last guys to make the roster?
It was a big time adjustment. But I knew what was expected. I was expected to be the 15th man. I just wanted to be in the NBA though, and put on a jersey. I was willing to sacrifice everything just to get there.

Knick huddle.

How has that changed over the course of the season as you've proven yourself?
You reach one goal, and then you set new ones. I've always had extremely lofty goals. I have new goals now...not going into too much detail, but it'll revolve around me doing a lot more work on the court.

How stressful was training camp? Does it compare to anything you had experienced before?
The most stressful training camp I ever went through. You always feared you could be cut any day. I had no contract. I understood that if you're not on your game, you could get sent home.

What about your experience overseas helped you this season?
You develop that sink or swim mentality. You find out quickly in Europe, if you don't play well, they'll get rid of you. I'd been through that before, so that carried me through the whole training camp process.

Being in Europe also helped me realize the attention to detail that's needed. I had coaches who had us going through two-a-days all year round out there. But then my most recent coach was more relaxed. I found I needed something in the middle. So I learned how to train. Every player is different, and needs something different. But I learned what I need to be successful, training wise.

Again, in Germany.

What kind of adjustments have you had to make going from being in small European towns to playing in New York?
It's dope, it's nerve wracking, it's fun. But America's my home, and this was my dream ever since I picked up a basketball as a little boy.

At the same time, it's difficult because you know everyone is watching. But my faith in God has helped me get through.

Compared to your days in Europe, day to day, what is different for you?
The stores are open later. Restaurants are open all the time. That was the always the weirdest thing for me to adjust to in Europe. Siestas, banks closing midday, etc. Everything is more accessible, more available in the US.

Is there anything that has surprised you along the way?
How cool my teammates are. Coming in, you heard stories. So you may have thought they would be the most difficult to deal with. But they're looking out for me. Some guys with bad reps have been the coolest to me.

First, and most-recent, 'wow' moment?
The stars (celebrities) who have come up to me and have said 'I'm a fan yours'. And then I just say to them nooooo, I'm a fan of yours. That's been pretty wild.

Post-game duties in Aalst.

Do you and your teammates talk about Europe?
Not really. With guys who have been overseas before, like Melo and Amare, we talk about places to visit. We don't talk about the basketball really.

But with guys who've also played in Europe, Pablo (Prigioni) and James (White), we exchange some battle stories every once in a while.

Knowing you, I already know the answer to this, but would you change anything about the path you've taken thus far?
No, it was tough. But I've made so many great relationships in my time overseas, it makes it that much sweeter.

What's the one word of advice for someone who's trying to do what you've done?
It's difficult. Be focused. Be prepared for some dark days, you'll go through a lot of trials. But it can happen if you stay focused, and keep your eye on the goal.

This is a guy who is the epitome of a gym rat, a basketball junkie. But not every gym rat makes it. There are dozens of guys who, just like Chris, if they get the opportunity, will turn heads. But they might not ever get that chance.

For Chris is was, and continues to be, work ethic and focus plus the opportunity, and finally, making the most of that opportunity.

Putting in the extra effort on the court.

Chris refused to quit. He had all the reasons and all the opportunities to throw in the towel on the NBA, and be satisfied with stardom in Europe. But he wanted more.

So this lifelong Trail Blazer fan no longer checks the Portland box score first thing in the morning. That honor is now reserved for Cope and the Knicks. It's been fun watching his journey from afar -- his is a very special, and inspiring story.

If I've learned one thing about Chris, it's not to doubt him. He continues to grow and improve as a player, and the basketball world continues to take note. Just this past month he was named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for April for his torrid end to the regular season.

Just a taste of things to come? If you listen to Chris, he'll be on the court, putting in the work. I, for one, am excited to see what he's got in store for us next.

RELATED POSTS:

An Unexpected Boost

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Rookie to Veteran

Our scudetto dinner -- celebrating our championship!

Somewhere along the line I went from rookie on the team, to team vet. The team 'baby', to team 'mom'. The young and spry one, with her whole career ahead of her, to the not-so-spry-one, with her career coming to a close.

I don't know exactly where the transition point occurred, but I've been fully towards the side of 'experienced' for quite some time now.

I look back on the things I did, the way I was as a rookie, or a younger player, and laugh a little. I recognize the ways I have changed as my career has progressed, and of course you think you've changed for the better.

Even so, it's always fun to look back.

One thing you always wish you could do is ease the growing pains of the the younger version of yourself. To educate her on a few things: the expectations on the court, the ways of the leagues, how to be better prepared, how to take care of her body, and living abroad in general.

But I suppose that's the whole point of being a rookie. It's your time to learn. Nearly every experience is a new one. And no one can give you the answers. You have to figure it out for yourself, and adjust accordingly. You either figure it out, or you head home.

Mental Adjustments

Warming up for my first game as a pro!

I was blessed with an amazing team my rookie year in Italy (Como). We had an incredible group of professionals who couldn't have been better role models for me. I was lucky to have them to learn from. And I think it was my two years in Como that really shaped me as a professional, and set the tone for the rest of my playing career.

I looked up to my older, more-experienced teammates, and admired them a great deal. I remember wondering how they 'did it' on a day-to day basis. Their consistency. They were always there, physically and mentally. No matter what. I strived to match them.

So between my rookie year in 2003-2004 and now, I've hopefully grown into a player the younger girls on my recent teams look at in a similar manner.

I've never been the 'team mom' type, and I never will be. I'm not the rah-rah cheerleader. But I will lead by example.

La Comense strolling the streets in Sicily.

As a rookie, I didn't understand the expectations that were on me as a player. I was happy to be on a successful team. I saw the team's success as my own success. But at some point, the team (president, management, coaches, sponsors) wanted a high individual return on their investment.

It took me several years to figure out, especially as a foreigner, you have to produce, statistically speaking. If you're on a winning team, all is well. But the second your team loses and you're not meeting individual expectations, there will be hell to pay.

It wasn't college anymore. We had a team system, but it wasn't nearly as strict as the one I had played in at Colorado. It took some time, and some adjusting, but after several rough patches, I got through it.

I took everything on a day-to-day basis my first few years. I didn't see much of the big picture. If I wasn't playing well, was home sick, or had just had a spat with my coach, it was the end of the world. Now, I brush it off, and know things will bounce back in the other direction as long as I keep plugging along.

Celebrating our championship!

I also went from from not understanding at thing, whether it'd be specific things in practice, how leagues/championships function, or just day-to-day life as an American in Europe.

On the court, this where I relied on my teammates again. If I didn't understand (because of language), I had to pay extra attention to them, to figure out what was going on. Practice wasn't going to stop just for you. I eventually learned Italian, and didn't have to rely on watching to understand.

But the same can be said for my on-the-court adjusting with every team I've ever been on (eight countries in 10 seasons means a lot of different languages!).

I learned the importance of the league championship because of how my teammates reacted. We won the Italian Championship my rookie year. And I didn't quite understand the magnitude of it until I realized just how important it was to my teammates. It was rare. And the only championship I've won as a pro.

My team vets -- they showed me the ropes!

Another mental shift was probably the most important one I made. It was what allowed me to make a career out of basketball. It was realizing it was okay for me to be a basketball player.

Prior to understanding this, I felt pressure to being doing something more 'grown up', and to know exactly what I wanted to do when I was done playing. While in my head I thought, 'I am doing what I want to do'!

Now, I understand that a career as basketball player is a short one. And it's not a career that everyone gets the opportunity to experience, so I am making the most of it. And while life after basketball is still a daunting one, I'll tackle it, just as I've tackled every other crossroads in my life.

Anything For a Little Extra Sleep
I remember timing, to the last possible second, when I'd have to leave the house for practice. Heaven forbid I get there too early. In Como, I'd get caught on a regular basis, at the train tracks on my way to the gym. And each time, I'd freak out that it'd make me late. Thankfully, I never was.

Or timing my morning routine to a T, so I didn't have to get up a second too early. At some point I started setting my alarm two hours before practice, no matter what.

My German team in the oldest gym ever. At least it seemed like it.

I used to look at, morning practice especially, as something you just had to 'get through'. Your body was tired. You were sleepy. It wasn't even a full practice. You just had to get through it for an hour or so, and then you could hurry back home, have lunch, and try to have a nap before evening practice later in the day.

Now I look at any practice as a chance to get better. If I'm going to be there, I might as well either get a good workout in, or sharpen up my skills, and make it worth my time. Also, being ready for practice means getting there in plenty of time, so you no longer find me waiting until the last possible moment to leave my apartment.

One rookie mistake I never made was being late to practice. Something like that is international, and I had been well-trained in my four years at Colorado.

Physical Adjustments
Mental and physical adjustments go hand in hand. My first few years, I was very insecure as a player. I was unsure of my game, and how I was going to contribute to my team. Every week was different. I was inconsistent. And I felt the pressure to play better.

Maybe as I grew to understand the expectations placed on me, I've grown to have 100% confidence in what I do, and how I play. I'm comfortable with what I do on the court, and the things that I bring to my team. I'm not trying to be someone I'm not. I just try to be the best player that I can be.

Wolfenbüttel, Germany.

This might go without saying, but like many rookies, I never stretched. Before, during, or after practice. Now, there's really not a time I'm not stretching. Ask my teammates. You have to take care of your body if you want to last in this profession.

Another huge change has been my attitude about my conditioning. Until my third year as a pro, I never did any extra work during the season. Whatever we did in practice, I though, that was enough for me.

Over time, I grew to take pride in my conditioning, and my body. I learned that my body was the way I earned a paycheck. And an unhealthy body wasn't going to do me any good.

The same can be said for my eating habits. Across the board, I've become a much healthier person from the time I was a rookie, until now.

Off the Court
Adjusting to life in Europe off the court had just as many bumps as my on-the-court adjustment did. In my first years abroad, I complained constantly about the things you couldn't get in Europe. The midday closures. How impossible it was to get anything done (it took a month to get a phone line -- and internet -- installed in my house, for example). I'd get 'America sick' very easily.

Adriatic Sea -- in Croatia.

To be honest, I have no idea how I survived my first two years in Italy. For one, I had dial up internet (no Skype, etc)! And 10 TV channels (all in Italian). I guess that explains why I can speak some Italian. And again, a testament to my teammates.

I think my life was much more structured my first few years as a pro. We had two-a-days every day, the entire season. This was my life: practice, eat, rest, eat, practice, eat, sleep. Then do it all over again the next day.

These days, I try (try, being the operative word) not to sweat what I can't control. I appreciate the pace of life in Europe a whole lot more than I did when I first played in Italy. Things are much simpler.

I distinctly remember having countdowns (until the day I got to go home), and eagerly crossing days off the calendar. Sometimes the countdown started as high as 70 days! It wasn't that I disliked my time in Europe, it was that I felt that I was constantly 'missing out' on something since I was always gone.

Hanging with teammates in Poland.

Now, I'm not really in any hurry. I've found ways to meaningfully make use of my days. And I no longer feel like I'm always missing out because I'm in Europe. I look at my experience here just as as valuable, if not more so, than anything I would be doing in the US.

I remember the day I got my first pay check as pro. My coach was actually the one who pointed it out to me. Up until that point, it didn't dawn on me, that I was actually a professional basketball player. I loved the game, loved to play, and I was just proceeding with the next step in my career.

And I've been extremely blessed to do so. I look at my years in Europe as an enormous time for individual growth. You learn to believe in yourself because it's just you out here. Day in, and day out, you're the only one you can really rely on.

Though my ten seasons in Europe, I've probably experienced every scenario you can as a basketball player, positive and negative, on the court and off. I've learned to make due, adjust, and have had an overall positive experience, no matter what. And it's made me a better-prepared, more well-rounded person because of it.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Horsemeat Controversy

Easy to make jokes about horsemeat in the food supply.

Today's entry is short and to the point. And basically me just tossing out an idea.

I'm sure you all have heard about the horsemeat scandal that is spreading throughout Europe. It's made its way from Iceland and Ireland, to the UK, to Spain, Italy and France, and most recently, to the Czech Republic.

It's hit the newsstands worldwide. And I get it, it's big news. You want to get what you pay for (truth in advertising). If you think you are buying beef, you want it to be beef. And definitely not beef, with traces of other types of meat mixed in.

Pardon my ignorance for a moment, but humans basically eat every sort of meat in the world, right? So what's the big deal about horsemeat? Not that I really want to eat it, but is it because they didn't know they were eating horsemeat?

That's the one aspect of this hubbub I don't understand. I think it has made such big waves because it's also about people not knowing what they're eating. And to me, that brings up an all too familiar topic: GMOs and GMO labeling.

Eating 'blindfolded' is nothing new.

I for one, don't want to knowingly, or unknowingly, eat horse (though I'm betting I have). Just the same, I don't want to knowingly, or unknowingly, eat genetically modified or chemical-covered foods.

My point is, we don't know what we eat ALL the time!

Maybe this is me making too big of a jump. That it's not the same thing. But to me it is.

Being in the dark about what we're eating is the same. No matter if it's a type of meat, or a chemical or a genetically modified food. Eating with a blindfold on, is eating with a blindfold on.

This illustrates the bigger issue: food safety and the food supply.

Tell me if I'm off-base.

LINKS:

Mark Bittman on Horsemeat Scandal

Horsemeat Scandal Timeline

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Follow Up: Banned Ingredients Remain in the US Food Supply

Tweet
I came across an article this morning that touched on a topic I wrote about last week: food companies removing GMOs from products distributed in Europe, but leaving them in the same products sold in the US.

Only this article is much-more detailed, and covers, not only GMOs, but also a whole list of ingredients that are banned around the globe, but remain in the American food supply.

Please read the in-depth article by Vani Hari via 100 Days of Real Food. If you're like me, you'll find yourself deeply disturbed, upset, and searching for things to do.

Once you've read the article, pass it along to friends and family! We cannot allow these practices to continue. Look what is at stake!

Thanks,

LINKS:

Food Babe Investigates: How Food Companies Exploit Americans with Ingredients Banned in Other Countries

Banned Ingredients Still Remain in the US

Monday, February 11, 2013

European Super Bowls

Getting settled in to watch the big game in Germany.

Last Sunday, many of you had a big bash to watch the Super Bowl.

I watched the big game too, but I can hardly call my watch-party a 'bash'. See, it was the middle of the night.

Just like celebrating Thanksgiving in Europe, the people around me dictate what kind of Super Bowl party I'm going to have. And not too many people want to destroy their Monday, and possibly their week, just for the sake of an American Football game.

Schedulers don't have the European NFL fan in mind when slating the biggest game of the season to kick off at 12:30 in the morning. I know, I know, Europe is hardly a hotbed for American Football fans. And definitely not in the target group. But as an American overseas, there's no way I'm missing the Super Bowl!

My Super Bowl XLVII 'party'!

So I stay up all night, and watch the big game.

I've always tried to find a way to watch, no matter where in Europe I was. Either with a group of friends who were just as excited to watch the football extravaganza, or by myself. It doesn't matter. I always want to watch!

As of a couple years ago, it got a lot easier when I found ways to watch a live broadcast online. Before then, it was hit or miss. You either had to have a satellite package with a channel that carried the game, or you had to find a place in town that would stay open all night, and show the game.

Here are a few memorable Super Bowl moments from my Euro days:

Italy -- My second year in Como, in 2005, some friends and I made an Irish Pub in Cantù stay open through the night so we could watch the game. This was the Janet Jackson 'wardrobe malfunction' Super Bowl, and the European crowd hardly bat an eye. It was fun to watch the game with people from all over the world. There were a few other Americans in the crowd, but our watch-party definitely had an international flavor!

New Orleans vs. Indianapolis -- on the big screen!

In between Italy in 2005, and when I played in Sweden in 2009, I don't remember getting to watch the big game. Unfortunately, that was before people started streaming live channels/sporting events online. I wasn't in an area where I had a place to watch it (or others around me who wanted to watch). And I never had a satellite package with a channel that aired the game live.

I was so deprived!

Germany -- In 2010 we watched the New Orleans/Indianapolis Super Bowl at the local movie theatre. It was probably the coolest way I'll ever watch the big game (unless I somehow get to watch it in-person in the future!).

The local movie theatre in Wolfenbüttel was one of our team sponsors (we actually watched game film on the big screen on a regular basis there too. THAT was scary occurrence sometimes! Imagine yourself making errors on the gigantic screen.)

This is the last I saw of Super Bowl XLVII -- lights out for me too!

Some teammates and I, and some of the men's team, had the entire theatre to ourselves. And we got to go get some popcorn too! (In Germany, the 'common' popcorn is kettle corn -- there's some trivia for you!) The only downfall was that we had to listen to German commentary. But not a bad trade-off!

More often than not however, I watch the Super Bowl on my computer, in bed. If it's not a good game, as was the case this year, I can go to sleep right away! Though, if there hadn't been a 35-minute blackout, I may have stayed up for the whole thing.

Beyonce Halftime show.

Obviously, I always prefer that it's a good game. If I'm going to put my sleep schedule out of whack, it might as well be for a competitive game! The downside of watching the entire thing, obviously, is that I'll be up til four or five in the morning.

No one, outside of myself, in Dunkerque or Sweden, the most-recent stops in my playing career, has been too interested in watching an American football game into the wee hours of the morning. So being the sports junkie that I am, I watch it solo.

It's not quite the same, but I enjoy it regardless. I couldn't exactly call myself a football fan if I didn't tune into the Super Bowl! What's the most memorable way you've watched the big game?

Friday, February 8, 2013

M&M Analysis: Altered Recipes in Europe Remove GMOs

The two wrappers.

I had a brilliant idea for a blog. At least I thought I did. It was a little exploratory project I thought would be interesting.

I had two empty wrappers of Peanut M&Ms: one from Europe, and one from the US.

I'd previously read articles about how food companies such as Kraft, Kellogg's, Heinz, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have altered recipes, and removed GMO ingredients, for distribution in Europe. So I wanted to see that practice in action.

Obviously, these two wrappers would illustrate those changes, right? I simply had to translate and compare the ingredient lists from each wrapper.

As it turned out, there was nothing glaringly different! I was bummed, and thought my project was a failure.

Then the light bulb went on: there weren't any differences on the labels because the US still does not require genetically modified foods to be labeled (while countries in the European Union do)!

The ingredient list: basically the same. Or so it seems.

Different Label Requirements

In the US, genetically modified sugar or canola oil, for example, is listed simply as 'sugar' and 'canola oil'.

In countries where GMO labeling is required, the ingredient list says 'genetically modified sugar' or 'genetically modified canola oil'.

In France, where I got the 'Euro-edition' wrapper, GMOs are required to be labeled. So the question is: why weren't the ingredients listed on my two Peanut M&M wrappers different?

Changing Recipes and Removing GMOs
Well, that's simple. Because the candy company, Mars in this case, has altered its recipe and has taken out the genetically modified ingredients for European distribution. They want to avoid having the GMO label on their product, so they adjust.

So they can do it! They just choose not to for their American consumers! To be honest, I find the practice extremely disturbing.

Together Hershey's and Mars make up 70% of the US chocolate market, and spent $1.1 million combined to defeat California Right To Know (Proposition 37) last election. They would rather spend money to oppose labeling, than listen to the demands of US consumers and label GMOs.

My goal isn't to take away your joy, and ruin your candy experience. I love Peanut M&Ms just as much as the next person. I just want to show that the food companies can make the same products without putting genetically modified ingredients in them.

"There's nothing sweet about GMOs".

Nothing Sweet About GMOs
They're not going to make any changes on their own however. They need a push. And it seems it needs to be a big push.

We, as consumers, need to keep providing that push, and ask that genetically modified ingredients be removed from our food, just as it has been done in Europe.

The push comes in the form of the 'there's nothing sweet about GMOs' campaign. It's simply asking Hershey's and Mars to break their ties with GMOs, and to remove them from products offered in the US.

Why no GMOs?
I have previously written several posts (links listed below) that go into greater detail, but first and foremost: consumption of GMOs have never been proven safe. They have never been tested long term, and we are just now witnessing the potential health hazards that GM foods have on our health: spikes in infertility, obesity, Diabetes, Autism, Parkinson's, asthma, cancer, etc rates since GMOs' wide-spread introduction in the US in the late-1990s.

There are environmental impacts as well: biodiversity loss, an increase in pesticide use, the emergence of super weeds that are threatening our farmlands, and the unintentional contamination of non-GMO and organic crops.

And if you're curious, here are 10 GMO Ingredients in Candy:

Sugar (GMO Sugar Beets)

High Fructose Corn Syrup (GMO Corn)

Corn Starch (GMO Corn)

Soy Lecithin (GMO Soy)

Soybean Oil (GMO Soy)

Modified Food Starch (GMO Corn)

Fructose, Dextrose, Glucose (GMO Corn)

Cottonseed Oil (GMO Cotton)

Canola Oil (GMO Canola)

“Other” Ingredients (Isolates, Isoflavones, Food Starch, Vegetable Oil)

I suppose my failed blog idea wasn't such a failure after all. Candy is just one small example of international companies changing their product to reflect the demands of their consumers; in Europe. It's done in many other products including soda, cereal, and other packaged foods.

Here's my question: why can't American consumers enjoy the same 'luxuries' as European consumers?

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Paris, The Odds & Ends

Five minutes from my apartment -- Notre Dame by night.

Continued from my previous Paris post...let's get right to it!

Where I Stayed
Since I was going to be in Paris for such a short time (roughly 35 hours), I didn't want to waste time traveling in and out of the city center to/from my hotel. And a decent hotel in the midst of all the action is pretty pricey, so I decided to find an apartment to rent for a night (via AirBnB).

The flat I rented was amazingly small -- we're talking maybe 15 ft x 10 ft. I can't imagine living in such a confined place all the time. I would never want to be there cause it was SO small! But I understand that the cost of living is high, and rent is extremely expensive in Paris, so people make living quarters out of anything.

Ready to hit the ground running for the day!

A benefit to renting an apartment was that I'd be able to bring food with me since it would have a fully equipped kitchen (even though the kitchen happened to be in the same room as the 'living room' and the 'bedroom'). That made my mornings easier as I could have filling breakfast before heading out for the day.

The apartment in the Latin Quarter gave me everything I needed: centrally located, clean, quiet, a hot shower, and most importantly, a place to lay my head for the night!

A Few 'Sorrys'

Entry at Stadium Paris. Too bad this is all I saw.

I tried visiting Stadium Paris (another Nike store) on Saturday, only to, essentially, be turned away because the person misunderstood 'what I wanted to see', and sent me 'upstairs' -- to nothing. I'm still trying to figure out what he thought I said, and where exactly he was sending me. It was freezing and snowing, and had just turned dark, so I chose to cut my losses and head back home.

I was in Paris for one night, and I had Chipotle for dinner. Sorry! It's the first time I've run across a 'Mexican' (American) place while in Europe. And since I won't see anything like that in Dunkerque, or anywhere else I'll be in the next several months, I had to treat myself. 11 euros for a chicken burrito, by the way!

I'm so artistic. ;)

The same can be said for Starbucks. I wouldn't normally go twice a day for two days straight, but since my apartment didn't have a coffee maker, and I won't see a Starbucks (or the like) til I'm back Stateside, I had to indulge!

I did go to the Louvre, but I didn't go inside. I went inside the Pyramid, does that count?!? Sorry!

I took a pretty boring boat tour from Pont Neuf. I usually love boat tours, but this one was nothing special. In fact, it was probably the least favorite thing I did while in Paris.

Downpour during the boat tour. At least I was undercover!

The timing of the boat tour was perfect however. Midway through, it started raining, then sleeting and finally snowing. Had I been out in the elements, I would have been drenched, and the rest of my afternoon would have been ruined! So I guess it was a life-saver that day.

In my opinion, you can see the sights just as well, if not better, from walking along the Seine. Of course, being on a boat is convenient, and gives you a chance to rest your
legs while still actively seeing a few things. But
I can't say I recommend it!

Rainbow over Pont des Arts.

Shoulda, Coulda, Wouldas

One thing I kind of wanted to do, that I couldn't fit into my itinerary, was to visit the Catacombs of Paris. Maybe next time!

I also wish I could have explored Île Saint-Louis and Le Marais neighborhoods a little more thoroughly.

And I had read about seeing a panorama of the city from inside a department store on
Boulevard Haussmann, but I didn't get there
until too late in the day, and it was already closed.

So there are a few items to put on my agenda for next time!

French flag flying high on Île Saint-Louis.

Random Travel Thoughts
Paris, by far, flies the most French flags I've ever seen. At any give place, you are sure to find the French flag flying high!

Traveling by train is so easy and convenient! I wish we had the same smooth-running systems in the US.

They need to put the metro maps inside the subways up higher on the walls. Many people, including myself, broke their backs trying to bend down at a weird angle to read the lines and connections.

I wonder if they taste as delicious as they look.

For the second time in less than a year, I learned that a 'big, bad' city was neither big nor bad.

Like New York City, Paris somewhat intimidated me. One thing Manhattan had on Paris was that English is the first language spoken (though I'm sure some people might argue otherwise). Once I got my bearings, and learned the layout of the city, just as I had in New York, I felt quite
comfortable in the City of Lights.

Looking down Passage des Panoramas.

Solo-travel does have its perks. You get to do whatever YOU want to do. And you don't have to worry about alienating anyone you're traveling with (hey, it happens!).

But for me, solo travel does have its downside. After a couple days of disconnected looks from hundreds and hundreds of people everyday, I find that I get antsy and actually miss personal interaction! It was the same this summer when I visited New York.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit to the City of Lights. I love experiencing the international flavor that you get in a big city like Paris. And of course the sights of the city are incomparable!

As always, lots of pictures below!