Food Sleuth Radio

Did you know that over 30 percent of consumers say most of their meals are eaten alone? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Mike Kostyo, MA, Vice President of Menu Matters, LLC, and “trendologist.” Kostyo will discuss food and societal trends for 2025, including flavor, travel, trade and GLP-1 drugs. Kostyo says one way to address our national epidemic of loneliness and disconnection is to share more meals with others, and he encourages us to enjoy new food experiences in 2025. Related Websites: https://menumatters.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrkostyo/

Did you know that Chef Sean Sherman’s James Beard award-winning restaurant, Owamni, in Minneapolis, MN features decolonized foods? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Sean Sherman, a.k.a. the “Sioux Chef.” Chef Sherman discusses the meaning of colonization and describes his mission to develop and promote Indigenous foodways throughout North America. Related Websites: https://seansherman.com/ www.natifs.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OoJeZqmh8E

Did you know that PFAS refers to a class of chemicals that are ubiquitous in our environment but pose significant health risks? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Kyla Bennett, PhD, JD, Director of Science Policy for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Bennet discusses the toxicity of PFAS, how and why they get into our water, soil, food and bodies, and ways to avoid and control exposure. Related Websites: Green Science Policy Institute: https://greensciencepolicy.org/harmful-chemicals/pfas/ https://peer.org/author/kyla-bennett/page/2/ Petition to EPA: https://peer.org/petition-tell-epa-to-get-pfas-out-of-pesticides/

Did you know that sewage sludge or biosolids when applied to farmland can contaminate soil, water and food with PFAS? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Bill Pluecker, Maine House of Representatives, farmer and Public Policy organizer for the Main Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. PFAS are a class of toxic chemicals known as “forever chemicals.” Representative Pluecker will explain the impact of PFAS contamination on Maine farmers, responsible parties, ways to prevent further contamination and potential farmer compensation. Related Websites: https://barnraisingmedia.com/the-farm-bill-must-support-farmers-affected-by-pfas-contaminated-sewage-sludge/ https://civileats.com/2024/12/18/why-are-pesticide-companies-fighting-state-laws-to-address-pfas/ https://pfasproject.com/ www.mofga.org

Did you know that specific nutrients can help aid our immune system in preventing and treating the symptoms of cold, flu and Covid 19? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Jacob Mey, PhD, RD, Registered Dietitian and nutrition researcher at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, as they delve into the best diet and nutrition approaches to support our immune system through the cold and flu season and beyond. For resources from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center see: https://www.pbrc.edu/training-and-education/community-health-resources/ Related Websites: The Role of Nutrition in Mitigating the Effects of COVID-19 from Infection through PASC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9961621/#B72-nutrients-15-00866 Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ImmuneFunction-HealthProfessional/ Too much zinc and copper deficiency: https://thewaitingroom.karger.com/knowledge-transfer/zinc-oversupplementation-and-copper-deficiency/ Emerging Nutrition Approaches to Support the Mind and Muscle for Healthy Aging: file:///C:/Users/Dan/Downloads/rpn.2204022.pdf

Did you know that neonicotinoids are among the most ecologically destructive pesticides we’ve seen since DDT? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Dan Raichel, J.D., Executive Director of the Pollinators and Pesticides Initiative at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Raichel discusses the widespread use of, and harm from, neonicotinoid use in agriculture, lawns and gardens, and New York state’s Birds and Bees Protection Act. Learn how “neonics,” the widely used neurotoxic class of pesticides, cause harm to bees, pollinators, birds, soil microbes, fish, and mammals including humans. Related Websites: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/daniel-raichel/new-york-enacts-nation-leading-law-protect-bees-birds-and-people www.nrdc.org Saw Mill River Audubon presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI9IZtMYQXw

Did you know that 1 in 3 Americans have pre-diabetes? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES, CPT, Registered Dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified personal trainer. Palinski-Wade discusses the role of sleep, stress and key nutrients to control blood glucose and reduce belly fat. Related Websites: www.erinpalinski.com https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/communication-resources/1-in-3-americans.html

Did you know that dieting is one of the greatest contributors to weight gain? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Supatra Tovar, Ph.D., RD, clinical psychologist, Registered Dietitian and author of Deprogram Diet Culture: Rethink your relationship with food, heal your mind and live a diet-free life. Tovar explains how and why diets are doomed to fail and ways we can harness the power of our thoughts to help achieve a healthful weight. Related Websites: www.drsupatratovar.com (http://www.drsupatratovar.com/) www.anew-insight.com (http://www.anew-insight.com/)

Did you know that GERD is one of the most common Gi disorders in the United States? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with John Pandolfino, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine, and Director of the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Institute, Chicago, IL. Pandolfino discusses symptoms and treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including drugs, diet, and the gut-brain connection. Related Websites: https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/gastroenterology/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease/treatments

Did you know that organic farming is climate-smart agriculture? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Abby Youngblood, Executive Director of the National Organic Coalition. Youngblood discusses the multiple benefits of organic food and farming, plus the potential challenges and policy advocacy opportunities related to the Farm Bill, and incoming Presidential administration. Related Websites: www.nationalorganiccoalition.org

Did you know that 50 percent of all food produced in the United States is handled at some point by migrant farm workers? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Marita Canedo, coordinator of the Milk with Dignity Program for Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based advocacy organization with a mission to empower the immigrant farm worker community and organize for economic justice and human rights. Canedo will discuss the exploitation of immigrant dairy farm workers and routes to empowerment and justice – through solidarity, not charity. Related Websites: Silenced Voices: https://migrantjustice.net/videos Migrant Justice: https://migrantjustice.net/about Milk with Dignity: https://migrantjustice.net/milk-with-dignity-campaign

Did you know that nearly all non-organic, commercially grown corn and approximately half of soybeans, cotton and wheat seeds are treated with neonicotinoid pesticides? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Rebecca Raney, investigative journalist at U.S. Right to Know. Raney discusses her series of articles on neonicotinoids, a class of systemic neurotoxic insecticides tied to bee and other pollinator deaths (as well as harm to soil and human health), and how pesticide companies shape bee research agendas and manage public perceptions to deflect attention away from neonicotinoids as a driver of the current bee crisis. Related Websites: https://usrtk.org/category/bees-neonics/ Tracking the Pesticide Industry Propaganda Network: https://usrtk.org/pesticides/tracking-the-agrichemical-industry-propaganda-network/ Birds and Bees Protection Act: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-birds-and-bees-act-nation-leading-legislation-protect-new-yorkers-and

Did you know that gas stoves pose health hazards, especially to vulnerable populations? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Mark Vossler, M.D., cardiologist, and President-elect of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Vossler discusses the unhealthy air pollution from gas stoves, related health risks, including causing and exacerbating asthma, vulnerable populations, and ways to mitigate risks. Related Websites: Rewiring America: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/ Gas Stove Pollution Fact Sheet: https://psr.org/resources/gas-stove-pollution-fact-sheet/

Did you know that in September, the Appalachian region was surprisingly hit by Hurricane Helene which destroyed mountain communities and farms, disrupted their water infrastructure, and impact their tightly-knit, well-connected regional food system. Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Molly Nicholie, Executive Director of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. Nicholi will discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene on the region’s food system, as well as recovery efforts. Related Websites: asapconnections.org

Did you know that community networking is key to taking steps toward mitigating climate change? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Marianne Krasny, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Civic Ecology Lab at Cornell University and author of In This Together: Connecting with your Community to Combat the Climate Crisis. Krasny explains “network climate action” - the power of our social networks in making collective lifestyle changes and instituting policies for mitigating climate change. Related Websites: https://cals.cornell.edu/marianne-elizabeth-krasny webinar series: https://www.civicecology.org/prd

Did you know that agroecology offers a holistic approach to agriculture? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Alexis E. Racelis, PhD, Professor of Agroecology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Racelis discusses the impact of climate change on agriculture in his unique geographical region in south Texas, and the potential benefits of agroecology and regionalized food systems. Related Websites: https://www.rgvagroecology.com/ “Planet Hunger: Inside the Global Food Crisis,” by Jeff Goodell: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/ukraine-food-crisis-1367826/ TX sugar mill closure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMXbebDCnQw

Did you know there are probably millions of cases of foodborne illness every year in the U.S.? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her conversation with Don Schaffner, PhD, food microbiologist, Distinguished professor, and Extension Specialist at Rutgers University. Schaffner discusses Covid -19 and food’s unlikely route of Covid exposure, handwashing specifics (time and water temp.), and specific foods he avoids and why. (part 2 of 2) Related Websites: https://www.riskyornot.co/ - Eating expired baby carrots: https://www.riskyornot.co/episodes/625-eating-expired-baby-carrots http://foodsafetytalk.com/

Did you know that pregnant women should avoid deli lunch meats due to the risk of listeria-related foodborne illness? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Don Schaffner, PhD, food microbiologist, Distinguished Professor, and Extension Specialist at Rutgers University. Schaffner discusses his research on handwashing, characteristics of listeria and the recent Boar’s Head lunch meat recall, and food safety related to power outages. (Part 1 of 2) Related Websites: https://www.riskyornot.co/ Historical perspectives on handwashing: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144018/ Boar’s Head meat recall CDC updates: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0828-listeria-outbreak-deli-meats.html

Did you know that there are efforts to weaken the organic label? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Max Goldberg, MBA, Founder and Editor of Organic Insider newsletter covering the organic industry, and administrator of the Organic Food Industry group on LinkedIn. Goldberg discusses gene editing, regenerative agriculture, and food labels consumers can trust. Related Websites: www.organicinsider.com

Did you know that organic farming is both regenerative and climate smart? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Thelma Velez, PhD, Research and Education Program Director at the Organic Farming Research Foundation. Velez explains USDA’s organic label, and how organic farming practices benefit planet and people. She shares challenges faced by organic farmers, confusion over the “regenerative” label, and describes OFRF’s new tool kit explaining how organic farming is truly “regenerative.” Related Websites: Organic Farming Research Foundation: www.ofrf.org Organic is Regenerative Toolkit: https://ofrf.org/organic-is-regenerative/ National Organic Research Agenda (2022): https://eorganic.org/node/35366