New seafood study reveals fishy results. Do these “obesogens” make me look fat? Swing States: How a handful of states will decide the 2012 presidential election. And the Pulitzer for fiction goes to...no one. The Huntington Library celebrates America's railroad history.
New seafood study reveals fishy results
More than half of fish and seafood in Los Angeles is labeled incorrectly, according to a new study by Oceana, an international non-profit organization that works to protect the world's oceans.
Oceana tested 119 seafood samples from 74 restaurants, sushi bars and grocery stores around Southern California. Red snapper was found to be mislabeled 100 percent of the time, often substituted with Tilapia, Pollock or another species of rock fish. In 87 percent of cases, white tuna turned out to be escolar, a type of snake mackerel that is also known to cause gastrointestinal issues in some people.
“It was quite surprising to us that of the 47 different species of fish that the FDA allows to be called ‘snapper,’ we didn't find on example of that in our substitutions,” said Kimberly Warner, senior scientist for Oceana. “Our sampling was targeted in sushi restaurants, and certainly on the snapper and white tuna side of things, there was quite a bit of mislabeling … there may be an issue with mistranslation of names from Japanese to English.”
It's not clear at what point species substitution takes place, but here in California, a bill has been put forward that would require restaurants to accurately label seafood and include details of its country of origin.
Peter Huh is president of the Pacific American Fish Company, a major importer and wholesaler of seafood In Los Angeles. He says the problem lies in the retail level, not with wholesalers or distributors.
“To be very frank, I think this problem is because of lack of education … I think there is some economic fraud going on in the restaurant level,” said Huh. “I am a pescetarian consumer myself, and I eat seafood four or five times a week and it’s frustrating when the restaurants misrepresent the product. I don't know if they do that intentionally or unintentionally. I think if you look at it, the majority of the incidents are because of the retailers not understanding the proper name.”
Unless you’re a seafood aficionado, it may be difficult to tell whether you’re getting red snapper or a substitute. So what can a normal consumer do to avoid purchasing a substitute fish?
Chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence restaurant in Los Angeles says to avoid purchasing from grocery stores. “For me, I don't purchase fish at supermarkets,” said Cimarusti. “Go to Santa Monica Seafood in Santa Monica...go to go to people who make it their life's work. We look for everything in one place and it’s not always to our benefit.”
Ocean did not release the names of the restaurants and grocery stores it found to be serving a substitute fish. However, Warner says the problem can be fixed if the government regulates the seafood market more closely.
“With increased vigilance, at various local and federal levels, you can crack down on this,” said Warner. “There's a lot of different things that need cracking down on, but there are limited resources that are available.”
WEIGH IN
What concerns do you have about the fish you eat and where it comes from? Do you ask questions about the fish that is served in restaurants? Have you cut back on your fish consumption over concerns surrounding the source? When it comes to your children, are you mindful of what fish you feed them and how often? Or perhaps you're a restaurant owner; how do you ensure the quality and the source of your fish and seafood?
GUESTS
Kimberly Warner, Senior Scientist, Oceana, the ocean advocacy group that did the fish labeling study.
Peter Huh, President, Pacific American Fish Company, a major importer/wholesaler here in Southern California. His wife Jihee Huh is on SCPR’s Board of Trustees.
Michael Cimarusti, Proprietor and Executive Chef, Providence, a Michelin-starred (two stars) seafood restaurant on Melrose Ave.
Do these “obesogens” make me look fat?
As Americans’ waistlines continue to grow, so too does the research into what makes us fat. Mostly, we think it’s about calories in, calories out. As in, when we consume more calories than we burn, we gain weight. But according to new research into the science of fat, this energy balance model might be overly simplistic.
There’s a relatively new field of research looking at the possible link between chemicals in our environment and obesity. Researchers call these substances “obesogens” and say exposure to them might be altering our metabolism and how we store fat.
Two such “obesogens” are High Fructose Corn Syrup and bisphenol-A or BPA. Rats who were fed High Fructose Corn syrup for a Princeton University study, gained more weight than those fed sugar water, even though the caloric intake was the same. BPA is a chemical we’re all exposed to because it’s found in many foods and packaging. Researchers from UC Irvine say that animals exposed to such chemicals in lab studies developed more and bigger fat cells.
How reliable is this research into obesogens? Are we packing on the pounds because of the potato chips or the plastic containers we use to store our food? If so, should food manufacturers be required to spell out more clearly what chemicals are in our foods and packaging?
Guests:
Bruce Blumberg PhD, Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Dr. Adrienne Youdim, Medical Director, Cedars-Sinai Weight Loss Center
Swing States: How a handful of states will decide the 2012 presidential election
We've yet to find out - officially at least - who the Republican presidential nominee will be, but there is already talk of which states will hold the key to the White House come November. There are nine significant swing states; Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. Some political commentators have also put Arizona, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Michigan in the mix.
Among the issues concerning voters in these states: Home foreclosures. Unemployment. Slow economic recovery. Yesterday, in a bid to secure a win, the presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, announced his search for a vice presidential running mate; it's believed that Senator Rob Portman of Ohio is on his shortlist of candidates.
A Republican presidential hopeful has failed to win an election without the Buckeye state. On the part of President Obama's camp, efforts are being put into securing Arizona, traditionally a red state which has voted Democrat once since President Truman was in office.
What are the main election issues for you? Why do you think these states have so much sway? Do you feel at a disadvantage being in a state that won't receive as much attention from the presidential candidates as some of the swing states?
Guests:
Mark Barabak, National Political Writer, LA Times
David Mark, Senior Editor, Politico.com and author of “Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning”
And the Pulitzer for fiction goes to...no one
For the first time in 35 years, there's no Pulitzer Prize winner in the fiction category. Publishers, writers and booksellers were dismayed by the snub. The Pulitzer jury had picked three finalists: "Swamplandia!" by Karen Russell, "Train Dreams" by Denis Johnson and "The Pale King" by the late David Foster Wallace.
The prize is given out "for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life." Sig Gissler, administrator of the Pulitzers said, “Whenever [the Pulitzer board members] make a decision, it’s not meant to be a statement about fiction in general. It’s just a statement that none was able to receive a majority.” Since 1917, there have been 11 times fictional works haven’t passed muster.
Was there no great American novel last year? Is this an indictment of the publishing industry?
Guest:
David Ulin, Book Critic, Los Angeles Times
The Huntington Library celebrates America's railroad history
In January of 1845, New York merchant Asa Whitney proposed an outrageous idea to the U.S. Congress: the construction of a railroad spanning two-thirds of the country from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean.
The dream of a transcontinental railroad grabbed the nation’s attention and imagination, both of which became focused on the American West. Eventually, this led to the era of Manifest Destiny during the 1860s.
The railroad symbolized more than just transportation, it also effectively transformed America from a pre-agrarian society to one that would soon embrace industry and manufacturing. What were the implications of the transcontinental railroad on the country’s workforce, economy, indigenous peoples, immigration policy and on our own ideas about travel, leisure and nationhood?
To examine these questions, as well as the lives of those who imagined, invented and worked on the burgeoning railways, The Huntington is mounting an exhibition, “Visions of Empire: The Quest for a Railroad Across America, 1840-1880,” which runs from April 21 through July 23 in the Mary Lou and George Boone Gallery.
Guests:
Peter J. Blodgett, H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington and curator of “Visions of Empire: The Quest for a Railroad Across America, 1840-1880”
William Deverell, Professor at University of Southern California and Director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Janet Fireman, Editor of the journal “California History” at the California Historical Society, Adjunct Professor of History at University of Southern California and Curator Emerita at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
New seafood study reveals fishy results
More than half of fish and seafood in Los Angeles is labeled incorrectly, according to a new study by Oceana, an international non-profit organization that works to protect the world's oceans.
Oceana tested 119 seafood samples from 74 restaurants, sushi bars and grocery stores around Southern California. Red snapper was found to be mislabeled 100 percent of the time, often substituted with Tilapia, Pollock or another species of rock fish. In 87 percent of cases, white tuna turned out to be escolar, a type of snake mackerel that is also known to cause gastrointestinal issues in some people.
“It was quite surprising to us that of the 47 different species of fish that the FDA allows to be called ‘snapper,’ we didn't find on example of that in our substitutions,” said Kimberly Warner, senior scientist for Oceana. “Our sampling was targeted in sushi restaurants, and certainly on the snapper and white tuna side of things, there was quite a bit of mislabeling … there may be an issue with mistranslation of names from Japanese to English.”
It's not clear at what point species substitution takes place, but here in California, a bill has been put forward that would require restaurants to accurately label seafood and include details of its country of origin.
Peter Huh is president of the Pacific American Fish Company, a major importer and wholesaler of seafood In Los Angeles. He says the problem lies in the retail level, not with wholesalers or distributors.
“To be very frank, I think this problem is because of lack of education … I think there is some economic fraud going on in the restaurant level,” said Huh. “I am a pescetarian consumer myself, and I eat seafood four or five times a week and it’s frustrating when the restaurants misrepresent the product. I don't know if they do that intentionally or unintentionally. I think if you look at it, the majority of the incidents are because of the retailers not understanding the proper name.”
Unless you’re a seafood aficionado, it may be difficult to tell whether you’re getting red snapper or a substitute. So what can a normal consumer do to avoid purchasing a substitute fish?
Chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence restaurant in Los Angeles says to avoid purchasing from grocery stores. “For me, I don't purchase fish at supermarkets,” said Cimarusti. “Go to Santa Monica Seafood in Santa Monica...go to go to people who make it their life's work. We look for everything in one place and it’s not always to our benefit.”
Ocean did not release the names of the restaurants and grocery stores it found to be serving a substitute fish. However, Warner says the problem can be fixed if the government regulates the seafood market more closely.
“With increased vigilance, at various local and federal levels, you can crack down on this,” said Warner. “There's a lot of different things that need cracking down on, but there are limited resources that are available.”
WEIGH IN
What concerns do you have about the fish you eat and where it comes from? Do you ask questions about the fish that is served in restaurants? Have you cut back on your fish consumption over concerns surrounding the source? When it comes to your children, are you mindful of what fish you feed them and how often? Or perhaps you're a restaurant owner; how do you ensure the quality and the source of your fish and seafood?
GUESTS
Kimberly Warner, Senior Scientist, Oceana, the ocean advocacy group that did the fish labeling study.
Peter Huh, President, Pacific American Fish Company, a major importer/wholesaler here in Southern California. His wife Jihee Huh is on SCPR’s Board of Trustees.
Michael Cimarusti, Proprietor and Executive Chef, Providence, a Michelin-starred (two stars) seafood restaurant on Melrose Ave.
Do these “obesogens” make me look fat?
As Americans’ waistlines continue to grow, so too does the research into what makes us fat. Mostly, we think it’s about calories in, calories out. As in, when we consume more calories than we burn, we gain weight. But according to new research into the science of fat, this energy balance model might be overly simplistic.
There’s a relatively new field of research looking at the possible link between chemicals in our environment and obesity. Researchers call these substances “obesogens” and say exposure to them might be altering our metabolism and how we store fat.
Two such “obesogens” are High Fructose Corn Syrup and bisphenol-A or BPA. Rats who were fed High Fructose Corn syrup for a Princeton University study, gained more weight than those fed sugar water, even though the caloric intake was the same. BPA is a chemical we’re all exposed to because it’s found in many foods and packaging. Researchers from UC Irvine say that animals exposed to such chemicals in lab studies developed more and bigger fat cells.
How reliable is this research into obesogens? Are we packing on the pounds because of the potato chips or the plastic containers we use to store our food? If so, should food manufacturers be required to spell out more clearly what chemicals are in our foods and packaging?
Guests:
Bruce Blumberg PhD, Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Dr. Adrienne Youdim, Medical Director, Cedars-Sinai Weight Loss Center
Swing States: How a handful of states will decide the 2012 presidential election
We've yet to find out - officially at least - who the Republican presidential nominee will be, but there is already talk of which states will hold the key to the White House come November. There are nine significant swing states; Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. Some political commentators have also put Arizona, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Michigan in the mix.
Among the issues concerning voters in these states: Home foreclosures. Unemployment. Slow economic recovery. Yesterday, in a bid to secure a win, the presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, announced his search for a vice presidential running mate; it's believed that Senator Rob Portman of Ohio is on his shortlist of candidates.
A Republican presidential hopeful has failed to win an election without the Buckeye state. On the part of President Obama's camp, efforts are being put into securing Arizona, traditionally a red state which has voted Democrat once since President Truman was in office.
What are the main election issues for you? Why do you think these states have so much sway? Do you feel at a disadvantage being in a state that won't receive as much attention from the presidential candidates as some of the swing states?
Guests:
Mark Barabak, National Political Writer, LA Times
David Mark, Senior Editor, Politico.com and author of “Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning”
And the Pulitzer for fiction goes to...no one
For the first time in 35 years, there's no Pulitzer Prize winner in the fiction category. Publishers, writers and booksellers were dismayed by the snub. The Pulitzer jury had picked three finalists: "Swamplandia!" by Karen Russell, "Train Dreams" by Denis Johnson and "The Pale King" by the late David Foster Wallace.
The prize is given out "for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life." Sig Gissler, administrator of the Pulitzers said, “Whenever [the Pulitzer board members] make a decision, it’s not meant to be a statement about fiction in general. It’s just a statement that none was able to receive a majority.” Since 1917, there have been 11 times fictional works haven’t passed muster.
Was there no great American novel last year? Is this an indictment of the publishing industry?
Guest:
David Ulin, Book Critic, Los Angeles Times
The Huntington Library celebrates America's railroad history
In January of 1845, New York merchant Asa Whitney proposed an outrageous idea to the U.S. Congress: the construction of a railroad spanning two-thirds of the country from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean.
The dream of a transcontinental railroad grabbed the nation’s attention and imagination, both of which became focused on the American West. Eventually, this led to the era of Manifest Destiny during the 1860s.
The railroad symbolized more than just transportation, it also effectively transformed America from a pre-agrarian society to one that would soon embrace industry and manufacturing. What were the implications of the transcontinental railroad on the country’s workforce, economy, indigenous peoples, immigration policy and on our own ideas about travel, leisure and nationhood?
To examine these questions, as well as the lives of those who imagined, invented and worked on the burgeoning railways, The Huntington is mounting an exhibition, “Visions of Empire: The Quest for a Railroad Across America, 1840-1880,” which runs from April 21 through July 23 in the Mary Lou and George Boone Gallery.
Guests:
Peter J. Blodgett, H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington and curator of “Visions of Empire: The Quest for a Railroad Across America, 1840-1880”
William Deverell, Professor at University of Southern California and Director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Janet Fireman, Editor of the journal “California History” at the California Historical Society, Adjunct Professor of History at University of Southern California and Curator Emerita at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County