Food Sleuth Radio

Katie Marx, a policy associate with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, dives into the alarming $2 billion spent annually on marketing unhealthy food to children. She discusses how influencers shape kids' eating habits through apps and games. The conversation highlights regulatory challenges in curbing this marketing, successful policies in other countries, and the insidious presence of advertising in schools. Marx advocates for stronger regulations and media literacy to empower kids and families against misleading food marketing.

Join the conversation with Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist and science communicator, as she discusses the link between climate change and bird flu, raw milk risks, science communication challenges, and strategies for promoting public health and preventing pandemics.

Did you know that plastic is made from fossil fuel, and has deleterious effects on planet and people?  Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Lisa Kaas Boyle, JD, environmental attorney, cofounder of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and executive producer of the documentary film, Overload: America’s Toxic Love Story. Boyle describes the injustice of fossil fuel and plastic pollution, the myth of plastic recycling, and the importance of citizen action and public policies.Related website:  www.lisakaasboyle.comMore Drinking Fountains, Fewer Plastic Bottles: https://law.tulane.edu/news/law-alumna-more-drinking-fountains-fewer-plastic-bottles

Did you know that the mundane advice dietitians give to “eat a variety of foods in moderation” is actually critical to both reaching nutritional adequacy and protecting us from contaminants in foods? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Kellie Casavale, RD, PhD., Senior Science Nutrition Advisor at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Casavale discusses ways to protect vulnerable populations, especially children, from heavy metal contaminants (lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic) in our food, with an emphasis on fish and seafood.Related website:  “Advice About Eating Fish and Shellfish:”https://www.epa.gov/choose-fish-and-shellfish-wisely/epa-fda-advice-about-eating-fish-and-shellfish https://www.fda.gov/media/102331/download?attachment “Closer to Zero: Reducing Childhood Exposure to Contaminants from Foods:” https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/closer-zero-reducing-childhood-exposure-contaminants-foods

Registered Dietitian Christina Badaracco discusses food as medicine and The Farm Bill, highlighting the need for national farm policies to support public health. She explores culinary medicine, teaching kitchens, and the impact of subsidies on food choices in relation to healthcare transformation through nutrition.

Did you know that 80 to 90 percent of all agriculture globally is based on annual grain crops? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Evan Craine, Ph.D., Research Associate at The Land Institute, who discusses the ecological benefits of perennial agriculture.Related website:  www.landinstitute.org https://kernza.org/new-kernza-food-drink-products-proliferate/

Dr. Omanjana Goswami from the Union of Concerned Scientists talks about soil health, human health, and water pollution from Tyson meat processing plants. They discuss the connection between soil and human health, impacts of nitrate pollution, corporate influence on policies, consumer choices in the food system, and the health risks associated with nitrate contamination in drinking water.

Dr. Pam Koch, a Professor at Columbia University, discusses child nutrition. She talks about teaching children to cook, the impacts of ultra-processed foods on child nutrition, empowering kids to make healthier choices, and the importance of hands-on cooking experiences to promote healthy eating habits.

Did you know that our brains play an important role in regulating appetite and food intake? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Marc Cornier, MD Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina. Cornier shares his research on the neurocircuitry related to appetite. He emphasizes that obesity is a chronic disease, and discusses the influence of high fat diets,  gut microbiota, hormones, exercise and brain activity on weight. Related website:  My Brain Made Me Overeat! So What Can I do About it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bne4VOHMOsw

Toxicologist Alexis Temkin from the Environmental Working Group joins the host to discuss the 2024 Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce. They cover pesticide residues on foods, benefits of organic farming, and the impact on vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. They emphasize the importance of making informed choices when shopping for produce.