Store-bought veggie burgers -- beware?

[AdamSmith]

We need a Food Forum here.

Anyway, ughhh...

Think Twice Before Buying This Type of Burger

...by Food Babe

4th of July is right around the corner and I really can’t think of a better way to celebrate Independence Day than a good old fashioned BBQ. But I have to be honest here, attending a BBQ produces a bit of anxiety for me every time. Will the host serve only beef hamburgers and hotdogs? (I don’t eat beef or any type hot dog.) Will the meat be organic? Will there be vegetarian options? Will the cook char the meat to death and produce heterocyclic amines that are known to cause colon cancer?

Needless to say, I am honestly a little disappointed when the host decides to serve things I don’t eat but get even more anxious when they offer to pick up some veggie burgers from the store for me. I am downright frightened of the ingredients in those frozen meat flavored patties. My response to their offer is always “No, thank you, I’ll bring a dish” and here’s why:

• Neurotoxins & Carcinogens – The majority of store-bought veggie burgers contain some form of soy. Non organic soy is extracted using hexane, a chemical byproduct of petroleum refining. The food industry uses the hexane extraction method because it is cheap. Several studies have been published about the neurotoxicity of exposure of humans and animals to hexane, but the most alarming ones link exposure to brain tumors. Currently the FDA sets no limit to the amount of hexane that can be used in non-organic soy products and no one knows for sure how much residue is being consumed by the American public. If you want more info on this – the Cornucopia Institute released an excellent report about several popular veggie burger brands that use hexane. To quote top researcher Charlotte Valleys, “The bigger picture here is that hexane is being released into the atmosphere—since it’s an air pollutant. It leads to smog, which is ground-level ozone, which leads to a whole bunch of health problems, like asthma in kids. These effects are very real.” 
I don’t want this in my body or in the air I breathe – do you?

*Image taken from Cornucopia Institute’s report on hexane in soy

• Cheap Oils – If you see the words “canola oil, soy oil, corn oil, sunflower, and/or safflower oil” it is likely extracted with hexane too. But what further complicates this matter (if having a neurotoxin byproduct in your burger is not enough) is that the overconsumption of these cheap oils are causing an abundance of Omega 6 fatty acids in our diets. The imbalance of Omega 6 fatty acids increases the risk of inflammation, heart disease, obesity, and prostate and bone cancer.
• Textured Vegetable Protein, aka “TVP” – Several frozen veggie burgers available are developed using soy products and Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP). TVP is one of those foods I avoid at all costs and no one will ever convince me to eat something this processed. TVP is extracted from soy at a super high heat and made into a powder before it is “reshaped” into strips, chunks and granules and put back into food. The processing can also add artificial and natural flavors, MSG, colorings, emulsifiers and thickening agents, including nitrosamine, which is a carcinogen no one should be consuming. Does this picture of TVP look like nutritious nuggets of real food to you?

• Chemically Altered Flavorings & MSG – There are several hidden sources of MSG found in vegetarian meat substitutes. The food industry uses MSG to make processed food that is low in nutrition taste good, tricking your taste buds into liking something that isn’t real food. Futhermore, MSG increases your insulin response, tricking your body into thinking you can eat more than you actually should. And this is exactly how scientists make rats obese, by feeding them MSG laced food. I don’t know about you, but knowing there is a potential substance that can trick me into eating more food is reason enough to avoid this at all costs. But MSG is linked to all sorts of terrible reactions in humans like migraines, toxicity, and autoimmune disorders that you can read about in this tell all book about MSG.

• Full of Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMOs) – If the burger contains anything derived from corn or soy, you can almost guarantee it comes from genetically modified seeds unless it is certified 100% organic. Genetically modified foods have been linked to toxicity, allergic reactions and fertility issues and have not been studied for their long term effects on our health. Unfortunately, here in the US, companies can get away with including GMOs in our foods without us knowing it. If you want to know if GMO’s are in your food – support the Just Label It.org by signing their petition to the FDA

The Morningstar Farms Black Bean Burger, along with several other brands are guilty of every one of these points above. This burger is marketed as “healthy” and has even more questionable ingredients like caramel coloring (which is linked to cancer) and a slew of other chemical based preservatives. Knowing that I used to eat this particular brand many years ago on a weekly basis, absolutely disgusts me now. I don’t know about you, but I am tired of processed and convenience foods making a fool out of me…share this info with all your veggie burger buying friends and spread the word.

Cheers,

Food Babe

P.S. This is one of my favorite homemade veggie burger recipes ever.

http://foodbabe.com/2012/07/02/think-twice-before-buying-this-type-of-burger/

[RA1]

I know plenty of people who would ask, what is a veggie burger followed by I don't want one. I think I sort of fit into a middle group. If I eat meat, I prefer to know what it is. I love veggies but no disguise necessary. My sister has a recipe which she described to me as not tasting like squash at all. I am afraid I said, what is the point? She let me back in the house after only a minimum sentence.

You don't have to ask me twice about a food forum.

Best regards,

RA1

[wayout]

We need a Food Forum here.

You don't have to ask me twice about a food forum.

Totally in agreement with that

I was just looking at some frozen veggie burgers just the other day but hesitated to get them (too many in a package for something I wasn't sure I would like). After reading the above, I am glad I didn't buy them.

[AdamSmith]

Personally I am with you. But then for vegetarians, poor things, one could see making an exception.

There is a burger shack in York Beach, Maine, that serves the only really good (1) turkey burgers and (2) veggie burgers that I have ever tasted. Of course they have all the other kinds too, including a great buffalo burger. What is the place called...? Ah, senescence.

[RA1]

Fantasy of Flight, near Polk City, FL reputedly has a good veggie burger and the airport on Catalina Island has very good buffalo burgers. There is a very large herd of buffalo on the island provided initially by the Wrigley family which is self sustaining. So, the buffalo is not only good but fresh and local.

How much further away from ME can I get?

Best regards,

RA1

[Suckrates]

Thats WHY I am strictly a MEAT eatter !

[Guest CharliePS]

I've had the buffalo burger on Catalina--it's delicious. I have tried various veggie burgers and am generally disappointed in them.

On a side note, I have eaten a lot of Amy's vegetarian products and generally enjoy them, though the soups in particular tend to depend a little too heavily on onion for flavor.

Fantasy of Flight, near Polk City, FL reputedly has a good veggie burger and the airport on Catalina Island has very good buffalo burgers. There is a very large herd of buffalo on the island provided initially by the Wrigley family which is self sustaining. So, the buffalo is not only good but fresh and local.

How much further away from ME can I get?

Best regards,

RA1

[RA1]

CharliePS-

How did you get to Catalina Island? Just curious.

A trip by water has always looked interesting but I have always flown. Avalon looks interesting from the air and also the spot where Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned. I have a story about spotting a submarine on the far side of the island which I will relate if anyone cares to hear it.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

We need a Food Forum here.

P.S. So sorry! I forgot we already have a forum on the subject of distending our bellies.

I got taken by Oz & TY's sly tomfoolery in giving it the oh so innocent and guilt-assuaging name of Health, Nutrition & Fitness.

[Guest CharliePS]

CharliePS-

How did you get to Catalina Island? Just curious.

A trip by water has always looked interesting but I have always flown. Avalon looks interesting from the air and also the spot where Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned. I have a story about spotting a submarine on the far side of the island which I will relate if anyone cares to hear it.

Best regards,

RA1

I took the ferry from San Pedro with LA friends.

[RA1]

I took the ferry from San Pedro with LA friends.

OK. And, was it as interesting as I might have hoped it to be? 29 miles across the sea.............etc.

Best regards,

RA1

[RA1]

P.S. So sorry! I forgot we already have a forum on the subject of distending our bellies.

I got taken by Oz & TY's sly tomfoolery in giving it the oh so innocent and guilt-assuaging name of Health, Nutrition & Fitness.

Is that what you call eating to excess? OK, this might suffice but as you suggest it is not the ultimate forum.

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

Well, in Newspeak, it is perfectly labeled as is.

[wayout]

I have a story about spotting a submarine on the far side of the island which I will relate if anyone cares to hear it.

I, for one, would be interested to hear about that. Submarines fascinate me.

[AdamSmith]

Submarines fascinate me.

Ditto!

[AdamSmith]

P.S. Actually me too re submarines. This was cool...

High-school teen builds one-man submarine for $2,000

By Arion McNicoll for CNN

updated 8:53 AM EDT, Wed May 29, 2013 | Filed under: Innovations

(CNN) -- The submarine's body may be constructed from drainage pipes and the hatch from a recycled skylight, but according to its 18-year-old inventor, this single-person U-boat can plunge to a depth of 30 feet and has already completed three successful dives.

The Nautilus took high school inventor Justin Beckerman just six months and $2,000 to put together -- all while keeping on top of his homework.

"He has been building things since he was two years old," says his mother, Jess Beckerman. "If we tried to help him we would just get in the way and mess things up."

The submarine has ballast tanks to maintain its depth and equilibrium; air vents that bring oxygen down from the surface; a functioning PA and a range of emergency systems including back-up batteries, a siren, strobe lights, a breathing apparatus and a pump to fight leaks. The vessel can remain submerged for up to two hours and travels beneath the waves at one and a half miles per hour.

Beckerman says he is going to use it to "explore the lake, see fish and hopefully find a bit of history, like the cannons from my neighbors' historic house" that, he says, were dumped in the lake during renovations in the 1960s.

When he was younger, Beckerman began by making things out of balloons and string, but as the years went by his inventions grew in scale and complexity. At the age of 12, instead of complaining about having to help with the housework, he developed a remote-controlled car that could mop and vacuum.

Beckerman's website is a testament to his enormous productivity. It is a menagerie of home-constructed machines including boats, planes, architectural constructions, and prize-winning robots.

The materials he uses in his creations are often technological cast-offs from family and friends, or garbage scavenged from electronics recycling facilities. The Nautilus has regulators and pressure gauges from an old restaurant soda fountain that Beckerman found behind a shopping center. The two main batteries are from a child's ride-on toy, and its PA speakers are made from an old car stereo.

Beckerman says he decided to build the submarine because "I wanted to see if I could do it. It combined so many different aspects of things that I had worked on in the past." The Nautilus has the most ambitious wiring system Beckerman has installed since he constructed his tree fort -- a veritable forest castle that puts all other tree forts to shame.

Armed with more modern conveniences than many proper homes, the fort has a TV, wall-mounted speakers, desktop computer, air conditioning, shelving, and fluorescent lights. "It has everything a house should have," says Beckerman, "except a refrigerator and a bathroom."

The Nautilus is not Beckerman's first submarine. In fact, it is his fourth. The previous iteration could dive to five feet, but had a less sturdy frame constructed from plastic containers and duct tape. It was propelled by two motor scooter engines, connected to metal blades and two 12v batteries.

The new design improves on previous models in almost every way.

"I had an idea of how I wanted to sit. I realized that lying down would make the sub more streamlined -- so the drainage pipes seemed a natural fit," he said. But sacrifices to the original design had to be made along the way.

"The ballast tanks were originally going to be air tanks, but they were just too expensive. If I could have learned how to weld I would have made the whole thing out of metal. But that might be for the next one."

Asked if there are any particular challenges which are specific to being a young inventor, Beckerman responds plainly: "No. Other than the budget issues and all of my schoolwork and other obligations that get in the way."

If he had more time and money Beckerman says he would like to continue to add to the submarine. "I would love to add a robotic claw to the front. I would like to make the sub into a more useful thing with a basket the claw could put stuff into to pick up garbage and clean the bottom of the lake."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/29/tech/innovation/teenager-justin-beckerman-builds-working-submarine/index.html

[Suckrates]

P.S. Actually me too re submarines. This was cool...

High-school teen builds one-man submarine for $2,000

By Arion McNicoll for CNN

updated 8:53 AM EDT, Wed May 29, 2013 | Filed under: Innovations

(CNN) -- The submarine's body may be constructed from drainage pipes and the hatch from a recycled skylight, but according to its 18-year-old inventor, this single-person U-boat can plunge to a depth of 30 feet and has already completed three successful dives.

The Nautilus took high school inventor Justin Beckerman just six months and $2,000 to put together -- all while keeping on top of his homework.

"He has been building things since he was two years old," says his mother, Jess Beckerman. "If we tried to help him we would just get in the way and mess things up."

The submarine has ballast tanks to maintain its depth and equilibrium; air vents that bring oxygen down from the surface; a functioning PA and a range of emergency systems including back-up batteries, a siren, strobe lights, a breathing apparatus and a pump to fight leaks. The vessel can remain submerged for up to two hours and travels beneath the waves at one and a half miles per hour.

Beckerman says he is going to use it to "explore the lake, see fish and hopefully find a bit of history, like the cannons from my neighbors' historic house" that, he says, were dumped in the lake during renovations in the 1960s.

When he was younger, Beckerman began by making things out of balloons and string, but as the years went by his inventions grew in scale and complexity. At the age of 12, instead of complaining about having to help with the housework, he developed a remote-controlled car that could mop and vacuum.

Beckerman's website is a testament to his enormous productivity. It is a menagerie of home-constructed machines including boats, planes, architectural constructions, and prize-winning robots.

The materials he uses in his creations are often technological cast-offs from family and friends, or garbage scavenged from electronics recycling facilities. The Nautilus has regulators and pressure gauges from an old restaurant soda fountain that Beckerman found behind a shopping center. The two main batteries are from a child's ride-on toy, and its PA speakers are made from an old car stereo.

Beckerman says he decided to build the submarine because "I wanted to see if I could do it. It combined so many different aspects of things that I had worked on in the past." The Nautilus has the most ambitious wiring system Beckerman has installed since he constructed his tree fort -- a veritable forest castle that puts all other tree forts to shame.

Armed with more modern conveniences than many proper homes, the fort has a TV, wall-mounted speakers, desktop computer, air conditioning, shelving, and fluorescent lights. "It has everything a house should have," says Beckerman, "except a refrigerator and a bathroom."

The Nautilus is not Beckerman's first submarine. In fact, it is his fourth. The previous iteration could dive to five feet, but had a less sturdy frame constructed from plastic containers and duct tape. It was propelled by two motor scooter engines, connected to metal blades and two 12v batteries.

The new design improves on previous models in almost every way.

"I had an idea of how I wanted to sit. I realized that lying down would make the sub more streamlined -- so the drainage pipes seemed a natural fit," he said. But sacrifices to the original design had to be made along the way.

"The ballast tanks were originally going to be air tanks, but they were just too expensive. If I could have learned how to weld I would have made the whole thing out of metal. But that might be for the next one."

Asked if there are any particular challenges which are specific to being a young inventor, Beckerman responds plainly: "No. Other than the budget issues and all of my schoolwork and other obligations that get in the way."

If he had more time and money Beckerman says he would like to continue to add to the submarine. "I would love to add a robotic claw to the front. I would like to make the sub into a more useful thing with a basket the claw could put stuff into to pick up garbage and clean the bottom of the lake."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/29/tech/innovation/teenager-justin-beckerman-builds-working-submarine/index.html

Theres no Doubt, he GOES DOWN.

[wayout]

Now that is awesome. The kid has some real engineering talent. I'll beat hi to saying "I want a son just like that"

[Guest CharliePS]

OK. And, was it as interesting as I might have hoped it to be? 29 miles across the sea.............etc.

Best regards,

RA1

It was no more interesting than any other ferry ride I have taken (Staten Island, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, etc.--well, maybe the ones to Fire Island, but there all the excitement is on the boat itself).

[RA1]

I, too like submarines, both those with meat between bread and those that submerge beneath the ocean.

However, my story is about Catalina Island. I was in CA visiting with a 747 captain for UA. We decided to take my little Bonanza, a 4 place single engine aircraft, for a jaunt to Catalina Island for some sight seeing and, of course, a buffalo burger. We took off from Torrance, CA and flew out to the island with him regaling me with the story of here is where MS. Wood died, Avalon, etc. When we got to the far side of the island, we saw a submarine on the surface with some white smoke coming out of it. We circled and observed. No information was readily available about the country of origin or why the submarine was here, etc. We decided to call SOCAL which is the universal radar facility for Southern California and report what we saw. We had no intention of "stirring up anything" but SOCAL asked us if we could see any doors open on the top of the sub and if we could stay in the area. This request kind of surprised us but we said yes we could tarry and no we saw no doors open. Being on the far side of the island, I have to suppose that few flew over there.

After a few minutes SOCAL called back and said the Coast Guard was sending a helicopter to the scene. Please be on the alert for him as he will be at 1200 feet and, if you can, remain at 1500 feet. We acknowledged. After a few more minutes, SOCAL called and said there was a P3, which is a Navy 4 engine anti-submarine aircraft, would be approaching from San Diego, but he would be higher than 1500 feet, just be alert for him.

After a few minutes here came a P3 roaring overhead and below us a large Coast Guard orange helicopter. They both passed by and orbited for a few minutes. Then, SOCAL called once more and reported that the captain of the sub reported that he was a US sub and everything was OK or, in military parlance, OPS normal. I never did find out why he was just sitting still where he was and not moving. Also not flying any flag or otherwise identifying himself.

I am sure we pissed him off. After all, which sub wants to be found and have all those anti-sub aircraft fly overhead.

Best regards,

RA1

[wayout]

Interesting situation you found yourself in. The good thing is that the sighting of the surfaced sub was taken rather seriously and appropriate measures were taken.

[BigK]

Now that is awesome. The kid has some real engineering talent. I'll beat hi to saying "I want a son just like that"

Very good!

[BigK]

I eat the Veggie Patties from Don Lee Farms at Costco. So I checked out the ingredient list and it uses Soybean Oil. So is this product not bad for me?

The ingredient list is pretty simple: Fresh Vegetables (Onions, Celery, Carrots, Bell Peppers); Garbanzo Beans, Brown Rice Flour, Sunflower Seeds, Carrageenan, Soybean Oil, Rice Starch, Salt, Spice.

I'm not a big fan of veggies or cooking veggies so I sort of rely on these. Plus get 5g Protein (7.5g when I eat 1 1/2 patties).