The Green Zone
KFMG 99.1 FM                                                       Des Moines, Iowa
May 26-30, 2008

MONDAY, May 26
Today's Tip: Buy meat from local farmers

Last week we received news of TWO meat recalls. The Department of Agriculture announced that JSM Meat Holdings Inc. is recalling ground beef that could be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The products were distributed for further processing in Iowa and other states.

And the USDA issued a public health alert for 808 pounds of ground beef products produced at Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. of Lexington, NE, because they may be contaminated with E. coli.

These recalls come at a time of heightened awareness and concern over the safety of the nation’s food supply.

The whole meat production system is out of whack, if you ask me. Gone are the days of rosy-faced butchers at the corner meat market. Meat from factory farms and feedlots is now mixed together to make ground beef. No one can keep track of where the beef comes from and where it goes. If there’s a problem—as occurred twice last week--It’s impossible to follow the trail from package to farm.

Why take chances? We live in one of the most productive meat states in the U.S. Iowa farmers are known for quality hormone-free hogs, grass-fed cattle, and free-range chickens. We have access to salt-of-the-earth producers at local farmers’ markets all summer long. Why not buy direct from them? Meat tastes a whole world better, and you can find out exactly how the animals are raised and cared for.

Buy local, direct from the farmer, and don’t worry about meat recalls from large, impersonal industrial producers.

TUESDAY, May 27
Today's word, Ziplock Bags

I love Ziploc bags. They are so darn handy for keeping sandwiches fresh and for freezing summer’s vegetables and fruits to eat all winter long. I reuse these bags religiously, washing them out and propping them up on wooden spoons in the kitchen to dry.

I’ve resisted giving up my Ziploc habit for a long time now, but I fear it’s time to say “bye bye baggie .” Plastic pollutes the environment throughout its life cycle, it never biodegrades, and nasty chemicals are known to leach into food.

Hoping against hope that Ziploc bags would somehow miraculously survive my scrupulous “green test,” I set out last week to find out just exactly what these bags are made of. It wouldn’t be hard, I thought, since federal law requires manufacturers to publish Material Safety Data Sheets for their products.

Well, come to find out that’s not entirely true. A category of items defined as “articles” is exempt, it seems, and do not require divulgence of information regarding content.

I also discovered that S. C. Johnson & Son (formerly Johnson & Johnson), which owns Ziploc Bags, touts them for use in the microwave, a definite “no-no” according to every scientific report I’ve ever read.

I finally found out that Ziploc Bags are made of polyethylene plastic resin (stamped PE on products). Products made with PE resin belong to the small group of so-called “good plastics.” Look for recycling codes of 2 and 4 to identify PE plastic.

I’m glad my beloved Ziploc bags aren’t known to leach nasty chems into the food I eat. But I hate the fact their manufacture and disposal is so incredibly harmful to Mother Earth. I’m looking for a more earth-based alternative, perhaps baggies made from soy or corn. Until I find one I like, I’ll use as few Ziploc bags as little as possible, and reuse them and reuse them and reuse them. And I’ll use more glass containers for freezing, and natural wax paper to wrap sandwiches.

WEDNESDAY, May 28
Today's TIp: Make Your Next Car a Green Car

There’s a revolution afoot in the auto industry as manufacturers scurry to respond to green demand. It requires a complete re-tooling in the manufacturing plant, a 180-degree change from Hummer to Fit. It’s fun to sit back and watch the change evolve.

I see several cutting-edge green machines zipping along the city streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, my second home, which touts itself as the most sustainable city in North America. In Vancouver, most of the taxis are Priuses, and wee Smart Cars can be found cruising my neighborhood every day.

My favorite car for style is the Mini-Cooper. It’s getting more fuel efficient every year.

Last year I almost bought a Honda Fit, the most fuel efficient gas-powered car currently on the market. It gets 38 miles to a gallon on the highway. Instead of buying one, I decided to wait a year or two to see how the technology progresses.

Last week Nissan announced it will have an electric car available to the public by 2012. It’s a cute, boxy-looking thing called The Cube. Designed for urban driving, it has a range of 100 miles, tops off at 75 miles per hour, and takes eight hours to recharge. Nissan hasn’t released a price yet, but it better be affordable.

THURSDAY, May 29
Adjust your water heater

Chances are you can turn down the thermostat on your home’s water heater a few degrees, and still have plenty of hot water for everyone’s daily shower, not to mention the dishes and laundry.

Installers and builders often think they’re doing homeowners a favor by jacking up a water heater’s temperature (commonly to 140 degrees F). Maybe such hardworking folks really appreciate a long, hot soak. But it’s not necessary for most households to keep the appliance set to anything over 120 degrees F.

Lowering the temperature from 140 to 120 would reduce your water heating costs by 6 to 10%, according to National Geographic’s Daily Green. Give it a try. Many people find that tweaking the dial can be addictive, and it’s easy to reduce the temperature further to 115 or even lower.

If you start to wonder why you need a tank at all, you may be ready for a tankless water heater. Or go solar. That’s the truly green way.

FRIDAY, May 30
Today’s Tip: Avoid plastic kids' toys

Lead contamination in toys prompted mass recalls last year, but toxic chemicals called phthalates are also widespread in toys and phthalates are still legal in most states.

Phthalates are the chemicals which make plastic toys and teethers soft and flexible, but when kids put them in their mouths, phthalates can leach from toy to child. Phthalates have been linked to birth defects, and are a risk factor for breast and testicular cancer. They have no place in our children’s toys, especially since safe alternatives exist.

California and Washington state have banned phthalates from toys, as has the European Union and 14 other countries. It’s time the U.S. did the same. Until that happens, it’s buyer beware in the marketplace.

What’s the wise consumer to do? Boycott plastic toys and teethers. It’s that simple. Select natural, earth-based alternatives, instead.