Non GMO: Why Labels on Genetically Engineered Foods Won’t Cost Consumers a Dime

This November, voters in Washington state will decide on citizens’ ballot initiative I-522 which would require mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients. The initiative embraces the spirit of California’s Prop 37 initiative, which was narrowly defeated last year following a campaign which saw the $8.7 million in donations raised by supporters of the bill nearly matched by Monsanto’s $8.1 million contribution to the $45.6 million opposition campaign. Pepsico, Inc, owners of the Frito-Lay brand, spent $2,145,400 to keep California residents in the dark about GMO ingredients in their products.

In anticipation of another massive campaign by Monsanto and the biotech industry, Zack Kaldveer and Ronnie Cummins of the Organic Consumers Association dispute biotech’s favorite talking point: That labeling would be burdensome and costly, and lead to higher food costs for consumers.

From the OCA analysis Why Labels on Genetically Engineered Foods Won’t Cost Consumers a Dime:

Playing to consumers’ fears of higher food costs makes good strategic sense, especially in tough economic times. But the argument doesn’t hold water, say food manufacturers and retailers who already have systems in place for verifying non-GMO...The system involves using chain-of-custody, legally binding affidavits, not expensive testing.
The beauty of the affidavit system is that it offers retailers and manufacturers a simple, easy way to comply with a regulatory model that provides consumers with the right to know what’s in their food without increasing grocery costs…

Read the whole article, and more on the GMO labeling debate, at OrganicConsumers.org. And rest assured, at Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, we will never have to put a GMO label on our products, because we use only natural, organic, kosher, gluten-free,non GMO ingredients.

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4 Reasons to Invite a Whale to Your Next Party

Everyone likes to throw a memorable party. Here are four reasons why you should include a whale in the festivities:
Decorating
There’s nothing worse than having to blow up balloons. Best case is that you end up with the unpalatable taste of latex in your mouth. Worst case is you become lightheaded and pass out, reviving some time later to find you missed the party completely. But have no fear - a single breath from a blue whale can inflate more than 160 dozen balloons.

Jump, Jive, and Whale
What’s a party without an impromptu visit from the local authorities? At 188 decibels, the whistle of the blue whale is the loudest sound produced by any animal. That’s sure to make your party the envy of your friends (and the scorn of your neighbors).

Life of the Party
To be the life of the party, you need some unique talent. Maybe you can breathe fire. Maybe you juggle. Maybe you’re just reall y good at laughing. The fact is, everyone loves a good secret talent, and this is why you should invite a whale to your next party. Sometimes, whales will rise to the surface and blast a fountain of watery mist, called a "blow." Not only will this majestic fountain add to the ambiance of your event, but it will come in handy when your fire breathing routine accidentally sets the curtains ablaze.

There’s no Such Thing as Bad Karaoke
All whales speak - they moan, groan, squeak and sigh. It may not sound very pleasant to the ear, but neither does Karaoke, and that is inexplicably popular at parties. Nothing says highlight of the night quite like singing a duet of Loveshack by the B-52s with a whale.

Despite all the benefits, maybe having a whale at your next party is a bad idea. Whales probably aren't house trained, and even if they were, they would make an incredible mess of the back yard. Instead, why not add Whale Tails chips to the guest list? These playful and healthy snacks are sure to get the party started. With three varieties to choose from, there will be something for everyone. To learn more, contact us today!

Drink Your Healthy Snacks For Optimum Nutritional Benefit

In an effort to consume foods that are high in nutrition, that also taste good and have the added benefit of being convenient, we can sometimes find that our choices are limited.  Many times we will need to look away from any foods that are heavily processed because so much of the nutritional value can be loss during the "manufacture" of the food.  To realize the most nutritional benefit from any food, the best way to eat it is as close to raw as possible.  One of the most convenient ways to consume raw foods is through the use of a juicer or a blender.

You may have seen the infomercials that tell us how amazing the health benefits are from juicing. However, you do not need to purchase an expensive juicing machine because many of the same types of benefits can be achieved using the more versatile home blender.  There are differences between the two methods, but both methods offer far more benefits than eating processed and chemical laden foods.

Let's examine the two methods and we will see that there are benefits to both processes.

The Juicer
When you juice fresh fruits and vegetables you remove all the water and nutritional value and are left with the fibre.  Your normal digestive processes require more work to break down that fibre so by removing it your body will have an easier time absorbing the nutrients.  The juice actually provides a higher concentration of nutrients than if the fruits and veggies were consumed whole.

When you are dealing with digestive issues and sensitivities, juicing can be especially helpful in reducing stress to your digestive system.  Rather than experiencing the slow release of nutrients you would see with a slower digestive process, juicing delivers a nutritional "punch" that is instant and powerful.

Be cautious about consuming only fruit juices because they are high in natural sugars and in great quantities they can lead to difficulties in how your body maintains blood sugar levels.

The Blender 
When you are using a blender you will use the entire fruit or vegetable including all of the fibre removed when juicing.  The blender does chop the fibre into extremely small pieces which makes it much easier for the body to digest.  The fibre also slows the digestive process which means a more even release of nutrients throughout the day.  The fibre also means the smoothie you make will be more filling and therefore keep you from feeling hungry again sooner.

The volume of the food you process in a blender means that you will be getting more servings for each dollar spent.  Also, you can pack more servings of fruits and veggies into a single serving of juice than you can into a smoothie.

A smoothie for breakfast is an excellent way to begin your day or as a between meal "snack" which helps us resist the more unhealthy choices we might make.

When the goal is to detoxify or to heal, this nutrient-rich way of eating is much more effective at restoring your body from the cellular level.  Try and consume your fresh juice or smoothie as soon as possible because just the exposure to air and light will start to diminish the nutritional value.

Whale Tails Tortilla Chips are healthy snacks made with a minimum amount of processing so that the nutritional value remains high.  They are a perfect compliment to your fresh squeezed juice or smoothie.  We would love to introduce you to all of our healthy snack choices so please, contact us for more information.

Pig Makes Big Splash For Marine Life

Sunshine, beach, waves, a board, and....a pig??  Yes, a surfing pig has become the latest online viral hit. Matthew Bell posted a video, captured with a board-mounted GoPro camera, on Youtube last month, showing himself hitting the waves with his two-month-old pet pig Zorro.

"We've had a couple of pigs and I always thought it would be fun to surf with one," Bell told the New Zealand Herald. 

Figuring it "could be a fun idea" to teach a pig how to ride his longboard, he soon realized that Zorro took to it..well, like a pig takes to water.  Of course, their first appearance on the beach was exactly what one would expect, beachgoers looked at them like they were crazy. Matthew found himself fielding such questions as whether pigs can swim (apparently they stick their snouts up in the air and go for it!).

It wasn't long before the piglet became a hit on Mt Maunganui's Main Beach.

Since the video posted, 27-year-old Matthew and Zorro have been featured in newspapers, TV shows, and websites around the world. However, going viral isn't the focus of this innovative surfer and his porcine companion. They're utilizing all of this new found media exposure to draw attention to the group Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM), hoping to increase awareness of Maui's marine life, especially the critically endangered dolphin.

So, the next time you're at the beach, watching the surfers catching waves,enjoying your Whale Tails Chips and salsa, and think you see a pig on a longboard...you could be right!

To share your great Whale Tails experience, contact us!