Top 10 Food Trends This Year > Natural & Organic Is In

 
The Sterling Rice Group has identified the top food trends for 2013 when it comes to food and beverages.  Based in Boulder, The Sterling Rice Group collected data from food industry experts and trade shows in order to identify emerging trends in the organic and natural food space.  Remember that organic and natural DO NOT mean healthy.  Actually, most of these top 2013 food and beverage trends are not very healthy at all.  We probably will try them but just as a taste test.  The list of the top 10 natural and organic food trends for this year include:

#1 | South American Super Foods

 
We’ve already heard of maqui and maca, but the next new food trend for this year will simply be South American super foods incorporated into everything from beverages spipked with purple maize to snacks with acerola cherries, maca powder and maqui fruit.

#2 | Nutritional Desserts

 
Desserts have always been considered ‘unhealthy’ but they are addictive.  Now, companies are trying to promote the ‘nutritional’ desserts.  Remember that nutritional does not mean healthy either.  However, these wide array of functional desserts will try to tempt your taste buds and at the same time, give you an added nutritional blast.  From probiotics to detoxification and from added protein to fiber, these nutritional desserts will likely be one of the fastest growing food trends this year.

#3 | Nut Butter

 
We’ve all tasted and fell in love with Nutella, the first true nut based butter/spread.  However, other nut butters are being launched very quickly and is becoming one of the top 10 food trends this year.  With a dazzling mix of flavours that includes berries, banana, cacao, nuts, honey and seeds, these ‘flavored’ nut butters add a bit of variety to the traditional peanut butter.

#4 | Allergen Free Alternative Proteins

 
A growing trend in the snack space are high protein plant based snack foods that promote satiety boosters and are a great alternative to soy and dairy based products.  Another growing food trend in 2013 for these allergen free alternative proteins are gluten free products.

#5 | Vegan and Vegetarian Meat Products

 
As more consumers are turning towards vegetarianism or veganism, another top 10 food trend for 2013 are high-tech mock meats.  From pea protein to soybean products and even quinoa and quorn meatless grounds, this seems to be a trend that will be proliferating into more product categories in the next year.

#6 | Bubble Tea for the Western World

 
Another food trend for natural and organic beverages are chewy type drinks.  Much like Bubble Tea from Taiwan, the new Western chewy beverages incorporate superfoods like chia, flax or kombucha to give you a bit of a bite.  They also try to make you feel full so that’s probably another marketing angle for weight loss diet.

#7 | Fortified Upscale Water

 
If VOSS or Vitamin Water wasn’t enough, another top 10 beverage trend of 2013 are fortified, high-end upscale water.  The newest one on the shelves is BLK which is made of highly alkaline fulvic acid that provides a black hue to the fortified water.  It promises to counteract the acidity from processed foods and meats.  Wow, why not just eat better to begin with?

#8 | More Salad Green Products That Aren’t Salads

 
Another top 10 food trend this year is the use of leafy greens in various drinks, snacks and sweets.  We all know that both kale and arugula in addition to spinach and swiss chard are some of the most amazingly dense superfoods.  Now, consumers can enjoy a ‘full serving of veggies’ from a box.  Like it or not, healthy or not, these are definitely here.

#9 | Beverages with Higher Order Benefits

 
Not just functional (like heart health and weight loss), these new beverage lines will tap into your deep emotions, proclaiming high-order benefits such as calmness, inner peace and clarity.  Some of the new ingredients that will help consumers achieve this is turmeric based beverages.

#10 | Natural and Organic Foods Targeted Towards Men

 
From increased protein and fiber content to testosterone boosters, these brands and health foods targeted towards men follows the hugely successful foray of brands into the female product space.

UPDATE > The Organic Industry Chart > Who Owns Organic Brands?

 
Just Add Good Stuff recently published an article about how organic brands are being acquired by large conglomerate companies.  The original chart was published in 2002 and updated in June 2009 by Phil Howard, a respected professor of Agriculture at Michigan State University.  Since then, the Organic Food Industry Chart 2013 has been published.  And here are the scary findings.

As noted previously, many of today’s ‘organic brands’ are not independent.  On the contrary, our organic industry has been completely transformed through the acquisition of organic companies by larger conglomerates.  This is happening at a frightening pace and it’s surely not going to stop any time soon.  Here are the latest acquisitions of organic brands by conglomerates worldwide as outlined in the May 2013 Organic Food Industry Chart by Phil Howard.
 

PEPSI purchased Naked Juice in November 2006.

COCA-COLA purchased Odwalla in 2001 for $181 million and Honest Tea for $43 million (40% equity) in February 2008 and then full 100% equity in March 2011.

NESTLE purchased Sweet Leaf Tea in May 2011 and Tribe Mediterranean Foods for $57 million in September 2008 through the Israeli subsidiary Osern Group in which Nestle has 50.1% equity stake.

DEAN FOODS purchased Horizon Foods in July 1998 with 13% equity stake and 100% equity for $216 million in January 2004.  In April 1999, Horizon bought out The Organic Cow of Vermont (now under Dean Foods).  Also, Dean purchased Alta Dena in May 1999 and White Wave/Silk in May 2002 for $189 million in May 2013.

MONDELEZ (formerly a division of KRAFT) bought out Green & Black’s in January 2010 and Boca Foods in February 2000.  They also own 100% equity in Back to Nature in September 2003 but in August 2012 they sold a majority stake to Brynwood Partners.

PERDUE FARMS bought Coleman Natural (May 2011) which owns Petaluma/Rosie (January 2002), Hans (August 2003), Draper Valley Farms (August 2007).

DIAMOND FOODS bought Kettle in February 2010 for $615 million.

MILLER-COORS bought out Crispin in February 2012 which owns Fox Barrel (January 2010).

HILLSHIRE BRANDS (formerly Sara Lee) bought Aidell’s Sausage for $87 million in May 2011.

JAB/D.E. MASTER BLENDERS (formerly Sara Lee) bought Peet’s Coffee & Tea for $1 billion in August 2012 and Tea Forte in January 2012.

HERSHEY FOODS owns Dagoba as of October 2006.

SNYDER’S-LANCE owns Late July in a minority stake purchase in December 2007.

CAMPBELL SOUP CO. owns Wolfgang Puck (July 2008) and bought Bolthouse Farms for $1.55 billion in July 2012.

M&M MARS bought Seeds of Change in 1997.

CONAGRA bought Lightlife in July 2000 and RALCORP (private label organic foods) for $6.8 billion in November 2012.  Ralcorp also bought Lovin Oven and Bloomfield Bakers for $140 million in March 2007.

GENERAL MILLS bought LaraBar in June 2008, Food Should Taste Good in February 2012, Cascadian Farm in December 1999 which owned Muir Glen back in March 1998.

TREEHOUSE FOODS bought Naturally Fresh for $25 million in March 2012 and Sturm Foods for $660 million in December 2009.

POST FOODS (spinoff from Ralcorp in 2012) owns New Morning and Erewhon as of January 2013 and bought Hearthside Foods (cereal division) in May 2013 for $158 million.  Hearthside bought Willamette Valley Granola in May 2010 and Peace Cereal and Golden Temple in September 2011.

FOSTER FARMS bought Humboldt Creamery in August 2009 for $19.5 million.

JOHN B. SANFILIPPE & SEN bought Orchard Valley Harvest in May 2010 for $29.5 million.

DANONE (Dannon) bought 92% equity stake in Happy Family in May 2013 plus Stoneyfield in October 2001 (40% equity) and January 2004 (85% majority equity).  Stonyfield also owns Brown Cow (February 2003).  In November 2009, Stonyfield brand licensed to CROPP (Organic Valley) for fluid milk.

J&J SNACK FOODS bought Kim & Scott’s for $7.9 million in June 2012.

J.M. SMUCKER bought Millstone in November 2008, Santa Cruz Organic in 1989 and R.W. Knudsen in 1984.

KELLOGG bought Bear Naked and Wholesome & Hearty for $122 million back in November 2007.  They also bought Kashi in June 2000 and Morningstar Farms/Natural Touch in November 1999 for $307 million.

AB INBEV bought Goose Island for $38.8 million in March 2011.

MAPLE LEAF FOODS owns CANADA BREAD CO. (90% equity stake) which owns Olafson’s Baking Co (July 2002).

CARGILL formed an alliance with French Meadow to develop nutritionally enhanced ingredients in May 2002.  French Meadow is controlled by RICH PRODUCTS CORP (July 2006).  In addition, Cargill formed a joint marketing agreement with Meyer Natural Foods in June 2010.  Meyer owns Dakota Beef (December 2010).

HAIN CELESTIAL and CARGILL formed an alliance to develop nutritionally enhanced ingredients in August 2003.  Hain Celestial owns the following organic brands: Imagine/Rice Dream/Soy Dream (December 2002), Celestial Seasonings (March 2000 for $390 million), Westbrae/Westsoy/Little Bear/Bearitos (October 1997 for $23.5 million), TofuTown (June 2007), SunSpire/MaraNatha (March 2008), Walnut Acres (June 2003) which also owns Mountain Sun/ShariAnn’s/Millina’s Finest/Frutti di Bosco, BluePrint (November 2012), Ella’s Kitchen (May 2013), Earth’s Best (September 1999), Nile Spice (December 1998), Spectrum Organics (August 2005 for $33 million), DeBoles/Garden of Eatin’/Arrowhead Mills (April 1998 for $80 million) and Breadshop/Health Valley/Casbah (April 1999 for $80 million).

 
As you can see from this chart, many of today’s organic brands are now owned and operated by some of the world’s largest food processors and conglomerate chain companies.  This gives the consumer fewer independent organic brands to choose from.  You can also see the change between June 2009 to May 2013, with several notable and very large acquisitions of organic brands in the food industry.

This information is provided by Phil Howard, Associate Professor at Michigan State University.

I’M VEGAN… AND I’M GLUTEN-FREE!

 
It’s unbelievable how quickly time flies by. It’s now been close to 7 months since I went vegan and 4 months since I’ve gone gluten-free. I must admit that I am and feel healthier than ever and I’m so grateful for the incredible support from strangers, friends and family. It’s an experience that has changed my physical and mental health, diet, fitness and general well-being. Plus, it’s been a lot of FUN! This blog post is just an update on where I am in my quest for optimal health and well-being, some of the health benefits I’ve encountered, interesting things I’ve learned in the past six months and your most favourite Just Add Good Stuff Series posts. My May update on going vegan is located here.

My Vegan & Gluten-Free Experience > Revisiting the 10 Original Personal Benefits

 
In May, I updated my followers on 10 unexpected personal benefits since going vegan and I’m really happy to report that all of those things are getting even better.

1. I continue to sleep a lot better… sometimes up to 6-8 hours a night (compared with 1-2 hours before this year)
2. I’ve had only 1 migraine all year (and that was due to drinking too much the night before!)
3. Allergies to pollen, temperature and altitude change have gradually decreased.
4. My body weight has remained constant. The myths about the lack of plant based protein sources and complete amino acids in whole foods is really, just a myth.
5. My body fat content continues to drop. Still healthy though but seem more ripped.
6. I still haven’t had to take a nap in the afternoon. I don’t get the extreme tiredness at all nor the sugar spikes and troughs through the day.
7. My teeth are still white.
8. My digestion is consistent and healthy.
9. I’m more patient and a lot less anxious and it seems to be getting even better
10. My skin is still clear of acne and my hair is growing back. How’s that for a health benefit!

5 More Unexpected Health Benefits

 
In addition to the previous 10 unexpected personal benefits, I’ve also noticed a few more health benefits of note. They include:

1. I’m more focussed. I’ve always been efficient and focused when it comes to work and decision making, but since I’ve gone vegan, I find that I am less easily distracted and can focus for longer periods of time. Because of that, I’m more efficient and can get more work done within a shorter time frame.
2. I’m more positive and grateful for my health. Going both gluten-free and vegan has given me a more positive outlook on my health and well-being. By knowing that I’m doing everything possible to reduce my risk of disease and inflammation, I’m also focussing on being more positive throughout all facets of my life. This is a great mental health benefit.
3. My skin is smoother and healthier looking. I used to get really dry skin but since I’ve gone gluten free and vegan, it has a more natural hue and is more ‘radiant’. This is probably because I have a good balance of essential oils, minerals and vitamins in my diet that keeps my skin healthy and hydrated. Plus, I don’t even use any skin moisturizer.
4. My instances of bloating and cramps has diminished significantly. After decades of abusing my body through bad diet, I believe my body needed time to readjust and rid itself of all the toxins and build-up of bad cholesterol, fat and undigested or semi-digested food. After 5 months of veganism, I hardly get any bloating or stomach cramps. I believe my body has fully adjusted to this new whole foods plant based diet.
5. I feel as though I can conquer any challenge and face any adversity in my life now. The mental focus, discipline, constant action and commitment to health, diet and fitness has taught me a lot about what I am capable of doing and being. This has been one of the most important life lessons that I will never forget from my vegan experience.

My Vegan Experience > 5 Interesting Things I’ve Encountered and Learned Since Going Vegan

1. More people are asking me how long I’m staying vegan and gluten-free for. I don’t know if they are assuming that this is just a diet or fad… or something temporary. I just laugh because going vegan and gluten-free has been about a lifestyle change for me. It’s learning about nutrition and fitness and making sure that I do everything possible to live a healthy and prosperous life. The things I’ve learned will stay with me for life… so I often respond by saying: “This was a one year experiment, but the results and interest in veganism will stick with me for my entire life.” I should honestly respond by asking them: “So how long do you think you will continue killing yourself through an unhealthy diet. How long will you continue to eat processed or packaged foods? How long will you continue to eat fast food even when you know it’s unhealthy for you.” But I’m really not that mean…

 

2. My favourite SUPER FOODS now include the previous 10 as well as chaga, pomegranate, asparagus, turmeric, cumin, cilantro and parsley.

 

3. About 5 months into my vegan experience, I started ‘slowing down’. I became more lethargic and ‘slow’ in physical activities and focus. My dietician told me that I was probably deficient in Vitamin B-12 which is usually only found in meats and dairy products. So, I self diagnosed myself as being Vitamin B-12 deficient and started taking a Vitamin B supplement every morning. The difference was night and day. I will be publishing an article about Vitamin B-12 deficiencies and some common myth and misunderstandings about this very soon.

 

4. Just like my self-diagnosed deficiency in Vitamin B-12, I was probably also deficient in Vitamin D. Again, a vegan and gluten free diet doesn’t really bode well for adding these two essential vitamins into my body. Therefore, the most natural form of Vitamin D is through sunlight. I get out more often just to get 5-10 minutes of direct sunlight every day. It’s awesome.

 

5. My vegan and gluten-free diet actually does NOT cost any more than my previous unhealthy diet. I eat less but eat more nutritional food. So yes, by volume, I’m consuming more expensive foods, but I’m also eating and drinking a lot less. There are very few ‘empty calories’ in my diet now.

Great Response to our Just Add Good Stuff Series

When I first started Just Add Good Stuff, I wanted to present information in various ways that would touch people differently. From visual images to summarized nutritional info and from catchy/edgy quotes to helpful statistics, here are the highly successful Just Add Good Stuff Series that I’m so proud of:

• INFOGRAPHIC Series
• RECIPE Series
• QUOTE Series
• NOBODY ELSE CARES Series
• TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE Series
• JUICE BOOST Series

The Excuses Pile On…

 
In the past 7 months, I’ve heard hundreds of excuses from strangers, friends and family as to why they’ve never tried eating healthier or going vegan or adopting a fitness/training program. Some of these excuses include:

I don’t have time / I’m too busy
I don’t believe in veganism / Veganism is stupid
There’s no difference between conventional and organic foods… it’s just marketing
I’ve survived this long, so why change
Other people who eat meat survive until they are 100, so why can’t I
Eating healthy means I don’t need to exercise
I have a family so it’s not possible
I’ve got a full time job so it’s not possible
Eating just greens and whole foods is unhealthy

 
For me, making an excuse is just an easy way out. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to change or I’m too lazy, but making excuses for myself is no longer something I do.

In every decision I make, I take a different perspective and ask myself:

“How do it do this?”
“How do I make this change?”
“How do I make time”

 
You should also try it sometime.
 
 

A Valuable Lesson …

 
One of the most important life lessons in this entire vegan/gluten-free experience has nothing to do with eating well, exercising or learning about nutrition. On the contrary, the most valuable life lessons are how this vegan/gluten-free experience has taught me about:

Discipline
Taking Action
Self-Awareness
Dealing with Change
Commitment

 
Mastering all 5 of these skills will help in EVERY FACET of my life … not just health and fitness. People who make excuses and oppose change will likely never learn how to master these 5 skills. Going vegan will teach you and push you to the limit when it comes to these life lessons. Try it and see how well you do…

The Big 8 NO-NO Ingredients NOT Found in True Organic Foods

 
We believe that there is already a fundamental shift in how we’re selecting food and reading labels. With so many GMO products on today’s supermarket shelves that contain little or no nutritional value, many of us are turning our attention to locally grown organic raw foods. This article explores the Big 8 NO-NO ingredients that are usually found in processed and packaged foods. These Big 8 NO-NO ingredients are NOT found in truly organic foods… so memorize them before shopping!

By law in both Canada and the United States, organic foods are NOT allowed to contain any of these Big 8 NO-NO ingredients. This is supported by the US Department of Agriculture. Here is the Big 8 that you should be aware of (in no particular order):

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup (or any derivative of high fructose corn syrup)
2. Preservatives (unless organic)
3. Aspartame
4. GMO Ingredients (genetically modified)
5. Artificial Growth Hormones
6. Artificial Coloring and Dyes (including Red 40 and Yellow 5)
7. Pesticides (that exceed a certain specified amount as per food type)
8. Finely Textured Lean Beef Trimmings (this is often referred to as ‘Pink Slime’)

 
These Big 8 NO-NO Ingredients are prevalent in today’s food industry and supply chain, making it extremely difficult for any of us to discern unhealthy foods from nutritious foods. For instance, most packaged foods and products contain some levels of preservatives, aspartame, genetically modified ingredients and artificial coloring. Then you add high fructose corn syrup that is in more than half of todays’ supermarket products. Meats, dairy and seafood are often contaminated with artificial growth hormones and fresh produce usually contains extreme levels of pesticides and heavy metals. One study noted that there are more than 400 chemical pesticides used routinely in conventional farming. Plus, produce and meats are also subjected to numerous growth hormones and antibiotics.
 
In addition, many of today’s packaged foods are processed, heated and filtered, which completely strips away all nutritional value. Western societies also increasingly import processed/packaged foods from developing nations that have fewer food regulations. In many cases, food processors in these developing nations hide the true ingredients or are mislabeled before heading to our supermarket shelves.
 
So what can we do to protect ourselves as consumers? The Big 8 NO-NO Ingredients are a warning. If you see any of these ingredients on labels or if you suspect that the food that you are buying contains contaminants, please do not purchase it! The best way to combat the Big 8 NO-NO ingredients is to purchase locally grown, raw, certified organic foods. This will ensure that you are getting unmodified, clean and safe food. By law, organic foods CANNOT contain any of the Big 8 NO-NOs … so double check!
 

What are your thoughts?

HOT RECIPE > Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls

Soft, chewy and simply yummy, BLONDIES have taken the dessert and snack world by storm. A fantastic combination of nuts, dates, berries and seeds make these some of our favorite all-time desserts or mid-afternoon snacks and we want to share the recipe with you!

Introducing Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls. You can learn a lot from a recipe name. Firstly, yes, it’s Mike’s own blondie ball recipe. Secondly, the ingredients in Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls are completely raw and unaltered. In addition, they are also GMO-free and truly organic. We also try to source all ingredients from local markets and farmers. Thirdly, this is our take on the traditional ‘Blondie’, which is usually a ‘Blondie Square’ or a ‘Blondie Bar’. We’ve changed it and made the into 2-bite balls instead!

Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls Recipe, just for you

Please share with your friends and family!

Servings: 10 dessert balls
Preparation Time: 10 – 15 minutes

The Healthy & Organic Ingredients for Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls:

1 cup of cashews (organic, unsalted and dry)
1 cup of pistachios (organic, unsalted and dry) > you can substitute with pecans, walnuts or macadamia nuts
¾ cup of Medjool dates (organic and pitted, cut into smaller pieces)
1 tbsp of chia seeds (organic)
2 tbsp of sunflower seeds (organic)
1/8 cup of agave syrup (raw and organic)
1 tsp of lemon juice (freshly squeezed from organic lemon)
1 tsp of vanilla extract (organic if possible)
1/8 tsp of salt
0.5 oz of dried blueberries (organic and wild blueberries if possible)
0.5 oz of dried cherries (organic)
0.5 oz of dried cranberries (organic)
0.5 oz of raisins (organic)

Preparing Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls is easy and fun:

Step 1: Plug in your food processor
Step 2: Place all ingredients (except dry berries and raisins) into food processor
Step 3: Process until it becomes a bit sticky and wet
Step 4: Gradually add in the dried blueberries, cherries, cranberries and raisins and continue processing until the mixture becomes firmer*
Step 5: Form into balls and lay on a baking tray or plate
Step 6: Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or the freezer for at least 30 minutes)
Step 7: Enjoy and Share with friends

* The process usually takes 45-60 seconds.

 

 
 
In order to make Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls recipe lower in nut fat content, you can replace the cashews and nuts with old fashioned rolled oats (gluten free if possible). In addition, you can replace any of the dried berries with any type of unsulfured, dried organic fruit (such as mango, pineapples, coconut and freeze dried strawberries).
 
You will note that Mike’s Raw Blondie Balls get their sweetness from agave syrup (optional) and Medjool dates. These are much healthier than refined sugar. If you find that the dessert balls are too sweet, you can take out the agave syrup (as opposed to the dates which act as the binding agent for the balls).
 

RECIPE > Mango Coconut Dessert Balls (completely raw)

Looking to impress your friends and family with a healthy raw dessert? Are you vegan and want to learn more about nutritious dessert possibilities? Here is our first raw dessert ball recipe that is completely organic, raw, unprocessed and delicious! Welcome to clean eating at its best!

When it comes to dessert, it’s tough to find recipes that don’t contain a high level of refined sugars, processed ingredients, gluten and other foods detrimental to our health and well-being. However, our Just Add Good Stuff raw mango coconut dessert ball recipe is a dish that is completely vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free. This nutritious and addictive treat is great for dinner parties and also serves as a healthy snack for kids. The raw mango coconut dessert ball recipe is easy to follow and quick to prepare. Plus, there’s no cooking involved, so all of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other good stuff stay 100% intact! Below is the recipe and preparation details for our Mango Coconut Dessert Balls.

Raw Mango Coconut Dessert Ball Recipe

 
Please share with your friends and family!

Servings: 10-12 dessert balls
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Freezing Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Here are the ingredients for the Raw Mango Coconut Dessert Ball Recipe:

• 1½ cup of shredded coconut (organic, dried and unsulfured)
• 1 cup mango (organic, dried and unsulfured… approximately 100 grams)
• 1/8 cup agave syrup or maple syrup (works as binding agent, can be substituted using flax/water)
• 2-3 tbsp coconut oil (raw and virgin)
• 1-2 tsp lemon zest (organic)
• 3 tbsp mango nectar (pure, organic and no added sugar)
• ¼ cup of shredded coconut (for rolling, optional)

Here are the preparation directions for our Gluten Free, Vegan Dessert Ball Recipe:

Step 1: Plug in your food processor
Step 2: Place all ingredients (except for shredded coconut used for rolling) into food processor
Step 3: Process until it becomes a sticky wet dough
Step 4: Form into balls and roll in remaining shredded coconut (or lay the entire mixture into a baking pan and sprinkle the remaining shredded coconut on top)
Step 5: Place into fridge for at least 2 hours (or the freezer for 30 minutes)
Step 6: Enjoy and Share with friends

* Leave the mango coconut dessert balls in the fridge if not eaten straight away. You can leave the dessert balls refrigerated for at least 5 days. Or you can put them in the freezer to keep them longer. Thaw at room temperature before serving if this is the case.
 

 

 

So Who Do You Think Owns Organic Brands? You would be truly surprised and frightened by who actually OWNS ORGANIC!

We want to let you in on a little secret: buying and eating organic products doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s healthier or more nutritious. Most of the time, it does. But sometimes, organic brands and organic products are now what they seem to make out to be. Read all about it below:

At Just Add Good Stuff, we always promote self-education and awareness about what actually goes in and on your body. So we would like you to ask yourself … who owns organic? Who actually owns organic brands and who’s behind the clever marketing that is transforming our eating and buying patterns? The truth will scare you… it sure frightened us when we dug a bit deeper into the organics industry and how it is affected by the big conglomerates.

The frightening research that was published by Phil Howard, a respected professor of Agriculture at Michigan State, shows how the organic industry has changed over the past few years. So who owns organic? Did you know that organics and organic brands are now being gobbled up and taken over by the big conglomerates without the consumer even knowing? Well, Phil Howard embarked on researching which organic brands have been bought out and are now controlled by some of the 25 large conventional worldwide food processors.

He produced this Organic Food Industry Chart back in 2002 when the organic industry was at its infancy. This was also the first year in which the USDA first implemented the organic food labeling system/standard. In addition, Phil Howard also published an animated graphic on how the organic sector consolidation has taken place between 1997 and 2007.

Here’s some of his research in the ‘who owns organic’ question in the United States (and globally):

HEINZ is in strategic partnership with HAIN CELESTIAL. Hain Celestial is the maker of many ‘organic brands’ that include Celestial Seasonings, Soy Dream, Rice Dream, Arrowhead Mils, Garden of Eatin’, Spectrum Organics, Earth’s Best and Westsoy. In addition, Hain Celestial controls ShariAnn’s, Little Bear, Westbrae, Mountain Sun, Walnut Acres, Nile Spice, Casbah and Breadshop, which in turn are controlled by Heinz.

CARGILL also controls parts of HAIN CELESTIAL and FRENCH MEADOW

KELLOGG owns and controls BEAR NAKED, WHOLESOME & HEARTY (garden burgers), KASHI CEREAL and MORNINGSTAR FARMS (and Natural Touch, makers of many organic veggie burgers and vegetarian/vegan products).

GENERAL MILLS owns both CASCADIAN FARMS (organic produce) and MUIR GLEN (organic canned products).

CONAGRA owns both LIGHTLIFE and ALEXIA FOODS.

M&M MARS owns SEEDS OF CHANGE.

CADBURY owns GREEN & BLACK’S.

HERSHEY FOODS owns DAGOBA (organic chocolate).

KRAFT owns BOCA FOODS and BACK TO NATURE.

DEAN FOODS owns WHITE WAVE/SILK (organic soy products), ALTA DENA, HORIZON (maker of top selling organic milk products) and THE ORGANIC COW OF VERMONT.

NESTLE owns TRIBE MEDITERRANEAN FOODS (maker of top selling hummus in the United States).

PEPSI owns NAKED JUICE.

COCA-COLA owns ODWALLA JUICE.

Now, we’re not concluding that these organic products and fresh organic produce are unsafe, but as a consumer, wouldn’t you want to do more research into how this happened, and whether these so-called organics are truly unaltered, healthier and more nutritious than other brands that these conglomerates own? If these big global companies are buying out all the smaller organic produce and organic brands, they will have complete control over the organic industry… which to us, is quite scary.

There are, however, some independent North American certified organic food brands that are not yet owned by big companies (as of late 2009). These independent organic food brands total more than $25 million worth of annual sales (and growing) which make them likely acquisition targets in the near future. However, right now, here is a list of independent organic brands:

• Lundberg Family Farms
• Equal Exchange
• Nature’s Path
• Newman’s Own Organics
• Organic Valley
• Frontier Natural Products (includes Simply Organic products)
• Turtle Mountain
• Golden Temple (includes Yogi Tea and Peace Cereal products)
• Cedarlane
• Alvarado Street Bakery
• Applegate Farms
• Pacific Natural Foods
• Clif Bar (also includes Luna Bars)
• Traditional Medicinals
• Amy’s Kitchen
• Eden Foods
• Level Ground Trading
• Alter Ego Chocolate
• ProBar
• Galerie au Chocolat

GOING VEGAN > How Veganism Has Changed My Life

My Vegan Experience > What I’ve Learned by Going Vegan

Since embarking on my vegan journey this year, I’ve received incredible support from family, friends and strangers.  I have to admit that many people, including myself, were very skeptical about veganism and how I could manage without eating my favourite foods that included fast foods, fruit juice and lots of candy.  It’s now been more than 5 months since my vegan experience began and this article serves to talk about things that I’ve learned by going vegan and how my life has changed due to veganism.

My initial goals for going vegan and learning about veganism included the following:

1. Live a healthier and happier life through a vegan diet and vegan lifestyle

2. Educate myself on general health and vegan nutrition programs

3. Become more aware of what I’m putting into and on my body through making tough conscious decisions

4. Debunk myths about veganism or vegans that were unconsciously planted in my brain during my adolescence

5. Continue my ever changing fitness and core training routines

6. Learn to cook (both raw dishes and cooked meals) that follow a vegan diet

7. Talk to and research about vegans or people who have experienced going vegan

8. Watch at least one documentary per week about food, water, whole foods plant based diets, veganism, vegetarianism, physiology or happiness/emotions

9. Inspire those around me to adopt a vegan diet and to experience veganism (for perhaps 1 month at least)

I haven’t felt more physically and mentally strong since going vegan five months ago.  It’s been a life-changing experience so far, and this 1 year experiment may need to last a lifetime.  I’m really enjoying educating myself about veganism and what it means to be vegan in addition to becoming more aware of everything surrounding us when it comes to our food supply, diet and fitness.  All of these things contribute to a healthier and happier life and I’m very grateful to have embarked on this vegan experience at this point in my life.  If you are interested in learning more about my first 5 months of going vegan, please read below.

My Vegan Experience > 10 Unexpected Personal Benefits of Going Vegan

1. Going vegan has allowed me to sleep a lot better.  I’ve never slept through a night before (unless with harmful medication), but now, I get at least 5 to 6 hours of solid sleep a night.  I attribute this to my vegan diet and lifestyle.

2. Simply said: I don’t get painful migraines anymore.  I used to get at least a migraine every other day.  They were painful and crippling both physiologically and mentally.  I couldn’t work, play or relax.  I haven’t had a single migraine since starting my vegan diet!

3. I also used to get allergies throughout the year that were triggered by pollen, temperature or altitude changes.  These allergies were often debilitating, causing an unstoppable runny nose, itchy eyes and migraines.  I still get allergies, but certainly not as bad as before I went vegan.  If I get a runny nose or itchy eyes, I can take a half dose antihistamine and the allergy will disappear completely.

4. Since my vegan experience began, my body weight has continued to be very stable (around 155-160 pounds).  As an athletic person who weight trains, I certainly didn’t want to lose any body weight or muscle mass by cutting out animal based proteins and whey protein powders from my daily routine.  However, I’m pleased to say that I’ve found plenty of plant based natural protein sources to accommodate my protein needs for fitness.

5. Further to my body’s physiological changes, I’ve noticed that my body fat content has actually decreased since going vegan.  I’ve now got a more ‘defined’ body that actually looks ‘more muscular’ even though my body weight hasn’t changed.

6. By switching to a whole foods plant based diet, I no longer have extreme tiredness in the afternoon (I often had to take naps around 2-3pm).  I also don’t have the sugar spikes and troughs throughout the day, which has lead to a more balanced and healthy life.

7. My teeth are whiter than before.  Yes, that’s correct!  My teeth have increasingly become more white since cutting out candy, refined sugars and sugary drinks from my diet.

8. My digestion is better and I’m more regular (enough said).  I also don’t get heartburn, cramps or bloating anymore (enough said there too).

9. I’m a lot less anxious now.  Whether it was too much caffeine or refined sugars, I was always anxious about something: work, schedules, travel and everything else.  Now, I feel like I’m a lot calmer and more patient with everything… which is who I was when I was younger.  It’s nice to get this feeling back. It’s great to have control again.

10. My skin is clearer and my hair is healthier and shinier.  I’ve also noticed that other small things have changed gradually, including healthier looking skin, hair and nails.

My Vegan Experience > 10 Interesting Things I’ve Learned by Going Vegan

1. Never assume anything.  Always educate yourself in what matters most to you.  If it’s veganism or going vegan or health & nutrition in general, self-educate.  It’s a life changing skill, so work on it!

2. My top 10 superfoods include: spirulina, raw cacao, maca, papaya, kale, spinach, chia, hemp, flax, lemon.  These are followed closely by: banana, goji, almond, pistachio, wheatgrass, blueberry, ginger and broccoli.

3. Top 10 food products that are most susceptible to food fraud: milk, olive oil, honey, saffron, fish, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, black pepper and tea leaves.

4. Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables that are laced with pesticides: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, imported nectarines, peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries and sweet bell peppers.  This is followed closely by kale and summer squash.

5. Clean Fifteen fruits and vegetables that are the cleanest and contain the fewest pesticides: asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, sweet corn, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, mangos, mushrooms, onions, papayas, pineapples, sweet peas (frozen) and sweet potatoes.

6. The United States just approved a pesticide that has been linked to the Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD whilst the European Union just banned the same substance for at least 2 years.

7. Always buy organic, locally grown produce.  Not only are they the safest to consume, but they are also the healthiest when it comes to nutritional value.

8. Almonds, cashews and hazelnuts have the highest nutritional value when it comes to nut nutrition.  This is followed by pistachios and peanuts.  Of course, these nuts should be roasted and not salted.

9. There are always more healthy alternatives and substitutes for unhealthy foods and processed products.  Take for instance… baking and eggs are synonymous with each other.  However, you can easily substitute an egg with 1 tablespoon of flax with 4 tablespoons of water when baking.  Or, you can also substitute refined sugar with organic dates, coconut palm sugar, stevia or honey.

10. Our bodies require a lot less food (in terms of weight/quantity) when we focus on eating nutritious whole foods and plant based foods.  Our bodies are filled with more nutritious calories (versus empty calories) which tell us to stop eating sooner.  Because of this, we spend less money on food now when compared to the pre-vegan lifestyle.  Now that’s food for thought.

My Vegan Experience > 5 Other Funny, Weird and Wacky Things About My Experience Going Vegan

1. It has only been 5 months, but organic wheatgrass has NOT stopped my hair from turning grey, nor has it turned my grey hair back to black.  Perhaps it’s just a myth, or maybe I need to keep growing and eating wheatgrass to see these benefits.  In any case, I’m not taking wheatgrass so that I stop greying … my friends tell me that I look more distinguished and perhaps sexy with grey.

2. I buy all of my organic produce from a local market on my way back from the gym.  It’s a family run Chinese market that sources fresh, organic and beautiful vegetables and fruit that I can’t get anywhere else.  They refer to me as ‘The Papaya Man’.  But lately, I’ve bought more organic kale than papaya, and so they’ve changed my name to ‘The Healthy Kale Guy’.  They’ll probably end up just calling me ‘The Strange Vegan Guy’.

3. Because I wanted a true vegan experience, I decided to start a vegetable garden in my backyard.  One day, the topsoil (essentially, it was shit … but I hate to use that word, but it really was just shit) arrived and they dumped it all in the back lane that is used often by my neighbours.  Unfortunately for me, I had to spend hours shoveling this manure into my vegetable gardens … it was tough work, smelled really horrific, but hopefully it was worth it.

4. While going out with friends and family, I often felt like a ‘social pariah’.  I felt like an outcast and sort of ‘isolated’ from my friends because not many other people were going through my vegan experience at the same time.  In addition, many people often made fun of my vegan diet and veganism in general, which was hard to take at first.  However, as time went by, I realized that these people were manifesting their own fears and doubts about their own diet, nutrition and fitness.  In many ways, there were only trying to justify their unhealthy lifestyle by putting down veganism, which is unfortunate.

5. When I went vegan, I didn’t know what kale, Swiss chard, spirulina, raw cacao or maca were.  No idea.  Didn’t know if they were vegetables or fruits or meat or whole foods.  Things have changed.

I started my ‘vegan’ experience by gradually taking out the ‘bad stuff’ and ‘bad food’ in my diet while continuing to exercise at least 5 times per week.  I didn’t go cold turkey on things like organic meats (mainly chicken and beef), gluten or dairy products.  I did, however, go cold turkey on all candy and fast food from the beginning. It took about 30 days (1 month) to get from a very unhealthy lifestyle to a completely healthy vegan diet and nutrition program.

I understand that many people don’t have the support network, time or commitment to make a full scale life-long change to veganism, and that’s why I started Just Add Good Stuff.  I want to inspire people to take on a whole foods plant based diet as much as possible, but I also understand the complexities of everyday life that are so unique to every person.

Therefore, Just Add Good Stuff, is all about taking the ‘bad stuff’ out of our lives gradually while adding more ‘good stuff’.  By doing so, you can still enjoy life to its fullest … and in many ways, by taking care of your health first, you will be much happier, successful and healthier in everyday life.

I am proud to call myself a vegan.  Now, I challenge you…