What Doesn't Kill You

Paul Shapiro is Katy Keiffer’s guest on this week’s installment of What Doesn’t Kill You to talk about animal welfare and ag gag laws. Paul is the Vice President, Farm Animal Protection for the Humane Society of the United States. Shapiro’s work has helped enact farm animal protection laws in California, Arizona, Michigan, Maine, Colorado, Oregon, and Ohio. He’s also worked with dozens of companies, including some of the world’s top retailers, to improve animal welfare in their supply chains. Find out why the meat industry is trying to blow the whistle on whistleblowers. Learn more about poultry farming practices on factory farms, and how the treatment of chickens offers many food safety considerations. Learn how the meat industry intends to stifle media outlets through ag gag laws! This program has been sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. “This is problem because routine practices in the meat industry have become inhumane. This isn’t just a case of a few rotten eggs!” [7:05] — Paul Shapiro on What Doesn’t Kill You See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2005, after a long career in family medicine and as Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Raymond was appointed Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the next 3 years, Dr. Raymond was responsible for overseeing the policies and programs of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). In semi-retirement now, he writes several blogs on food safety, has consulted with law firms on foodborne illness cases, is a frequent lecturer on food safety and public health, and is a food safety and public health consultant for Elanco, the Animal Health branch of Eli Lilly. Doctor Raymond serves as a Board member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, and is engaged in volunteer work with that organization. Tune into this episode of Straight, No Chaser to hear Katy Keiffer talk with Dr. Raymond about antibiotics in the food chain. Find out how Dr. Raymond defines sub-therapeutic antibiotic dosages, and learn how the different chemistry of specific drugs leads to antibiotic resistance. How do resistant bugs develop due to human and animal medicine? Find out on this week’s installment of Straight, No Chaser! Thanks to our sponsor, Cain Vineyard & Winery. “We’re creating a problem as a human doctors. No one ever talks about over-prescription in human medicine!” [22:45] “The people who want to eliminate antibiotic use in the meat industry are people who don’t want us to eat meat and poultry!” [24:45] — Dr. Richard Raymond on Straight, No Chaser See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

49 million people in the U.S. – one in four children – don’t know where their next meal is coming from, despite our having the means to provide nutritious, affordable food for all Americans. Today’s guest on Straight, No Chaser is Peter Pringle, the editor of the Participant Guide for A Place at the Table, the recently released documentary about hunger in America. For 30 years Peter was a correspondent for The Sunday Times, The Observer, and The Independent, working in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union and the United States. He has also written for several US newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic and The New Republic. Among his many books, the most recent, besides this project, is Experiment Eleven about the discovery of streptomycin, The Murder of Nicolai Vavilov, Food Inc, Day of the Dandelion, and Those are Real Bullets. Tune in and find out what prompted Peter to explore these issues of hunger, and hear about some of the alarming facts he discovered in his research. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. “You should have a right to food. The government has a responsibility to make sure people are not hungry. It’s a public health problem.” [11:00] –Peter Pringle on Straight, No ChaserSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tune in for an in-depth conversation on food politics as Katy Keiffer chats with Wenonah Hauter, the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Her book Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America examines the corporate consolidation and control over our food system and what it means for farmers and consumers. She has worked and written extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues on the local, state, and national levels. Katy and Wenonah chat about everything from anti-turst law to the industrial meat system on a jam packed 30-minutes full of insight into our American food systems. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. “Food isn’t even look at as food any more, it’s looked at as money and something that can be traded.” [05:00] “I don’t think Americans want to eat fecal matter – even if the bacteria has been killed!” [17:00] –Wenonah Hauter on Straight, No ChaserSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gary Oppenheimer is connecting food producers with surpluses to food pantries across the world! This week on Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer is talking with Gary about his initiative, AmpleHarvest.org! Why is it so hard for communities to connect to food pantries in their area? Hear how AmpleHarvest.org plans to expand and reach more producers. Tune in to hear Gary talk about global food waste, and the percentage that can be attributed to the United States. Find out how local food can address the lack of fresh food in food pantries. Did you know that food waste creates three different environmental problems? Find out more about food waste, hunger, and the environment on this episode of Straight, No Chaser! Thanks to our sponsor, Fairway Market. “The number of food pantries has grown significantly because the need has grown significantly.” [5:20] “Food waste starts at the farm and ends in the kitchen.” [16:15] — Gary Oppenheimer on Straight, No Chaser See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens to our waste water and how does it get cleaned? Find out on Straight, No Chaser as Katy Keiffer chats with Jim Pynn, Superintendent at the Newton Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Get down and dirty as Jim explains the three steps in waterwaste treatment, including a very interesting process of using microorganisms. Find out what kinds of regulations are in place for businesses to account for chemicals in wastewater and learn how the city dealt with the effects Super Storm Sandy had on our wastewater infrastructure. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. “Modern waste water treatment plants were not meant for metals and petroleums. NYC has an industrial pre-treatment program. anybody with a business in NY has to report their chimerical usage to DEP and we have the right to monitor it. Any excess chemicals are the responsibility of the business.” [12:00] –Jim Pynn, Superintendent at the Newton Creek Wastewater Treatment PlantSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will “natural” health and medicine practices save the world? On this week’s episode of Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer chats with freelance journalist Nathanael Johnson about everything from microbes to community gardens. Nathanael’s first book “All Natural*: *A Skeptic’s Quest to Discover If the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing, and the Environment Really Keeps Us Healthier and Happier”, separates fact from faith when it comes to natural practices. Tune into today’s program to get more insight into the themes and ideas explored in the book. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery. “I grew up in a family that believed it was better to embrace nature rather than using technology to protect ourselves against nature.” [02:14] “Scientists say humans are super organisms – we’re not unique systems, we’re an incorporation of our environment in a very fundamental way” [05:45] –Writer Nathanael Johnson on Straight, No ChaserSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emily Meredith and Katy Keiffer talk about monitoring slaughter facilities and ag gag laws on this week’s Straight, No Chaser. Emily Meredith is the communications director for the Animal Agriculture Alliance. Established in 1987, the Animal Agriculture Alliance includes individuals, companies, and organizations who are interested in helping consumers better understand the role animal agriculture plays in providing a safe, abundant food supply to a hungry world. Emily is also a blogger for the industry blog, Meatingplace.com. Tune in to hear Emily and Katy talk about third-party audits, and if they would actually make slaughter processes more transparent. Do organizations like the Human Society hurt the livestock industry? Does Emily believe that animal abuse is systemic? Find out on this week’s Straight, No Chaser! This episode has been sponsored by Bi-Rite Market. “There is a huge disconnect between the consumer and the producer. This country is fed by less than 2% of the population.” [25:25] — Emily Meredith on Straight, No Chaser See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Dimin is in the business of sustainable seafood. On this week’s installment of Straight, No Chaser, Michael joins Katy Keiffer in studio to talk about the organization he co-founded, Sea2Table. Tune in to learn about the cod catch share in New England, and how recent restrictions are making some fisherman shake in their galoshes. Hear Michael and Katy talk about the history of fishing in New England, and why it’s not just a livelihood, but a culture. Learn why fisherman are in favor of traceable supply chains, and find out some surprising facts about the Gulf oil spill. How will Sea2Table change the food world? Find out on today’s Straight, No Chaser! This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. “Fisherman love to know where their fish is going to go. Traditionally, fish is a commodity, and they never know where their fish goes.” [10:10] — Michael Dimin on Straight, No Chaser See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maryn McKenna is talking resistant bacteria with Katy Keiffer on this week’s Straight, No Chaser! Maryn is an independent journalist and author who specializes in public health, global health and food policy, and a Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University. She is a blogger for Wired, a columnist and contributing editor for Scientific American, and writes frequently for national and international magazines including SELF, TheAtlantic.com, Nature, The Guardian, and more. Her work has also appeared in Health, China Newsweek, MSNBC.com, CNBC.com, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Boston Magazine, Chicago Magazine, the Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Heart Healthy Living and Georgia Trend among other publications. She is a regular contributor to the Annals of Emergency Medicine.She is the author most recently of SUPERBUG: The Fatal Menace of MRSA. Tune into this episode to learn how agriculture and human medicine are responsible for germs like MRSA. Hear why meat production facilities need to take more responsibility in the realm of food safety. How have today’s active lifestyles encouraged increased medical antibiotic usage? Find out on Straight, No Chaser! Today’s program has been sponsored by Tabard Inn. “The bacteria (from raw chicken) can get onto things that you might not be cooking to death- lettuce, for instance… We are putting a big burden on the consumer.” [9:45] “The rapid rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is due to overuse in all areas of human life.” [13:10] “Is properly raised food only something that people with money can afford?” [25:00] — Maryn McKenna on Straight, No Chaser See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.