More Hip Than Hippie #258 - No No Nanofood!

"Officially, the FDA says there aren't any nano-containing food products currently sold in the U.S. Not true, say some of the agency's own safety experts."

75% of American adults know little or nothing about nanotechnology, yet it affects our everyday lives. A three-part series by AOL News entitled The Nanotech Gamble spells out the science as well as the money behind it and the risks it poses, especially in food. The Hipsters put on their lab coats and examine the issue. Also, Dori books the Chicken Chick, Val sings her favorite song ever and Joan Jett still rocks!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: How can you go wrong with something called Hop Juice? This potent 9.4% Double IPA from Left Coast Brewing Co. is a big-ass bottle of delicious!

Chocolate: We love, love, love the creamy magnificence of Dagoba Chocolate. However, we've learned not to mix beer with Mint in any way. After quaffing our Hop Juice, we merrily munched the dark chocolate and organic mint with rosemary essence. And it was good.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! If you have a toddler, you need a Munchie Mug. This spill-resistant snack cup keeps those cereal nuggets out of your seat cushions with a soft fabric flap that's easy on little hands. No more picking pretzels off your pants! (Unless you enjoy that sort of thing...)
• Big screen green. When you head to the movies this summer, look for biodegradable, compostable 3D glasses. Let's hope they don't cost as much as a ticket to a 3D movie.

Hip News

• Pop secret. PepsiCo is on the lookout for the next sweet thing. They're racing to find a calorie-free natural sweetener for carbonated drinks before lawmakers put a tax on sugary beverages.
• Bad buzz. After a bad winter, honeybees are still in decline. A new study shows their pollen and hives are laden with pesticides.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Banish the bugs! If ants are invading your home, try putting out some corn meal. They'll take it back to the nest for a family feast...and a fatal case of indigestion.

No No Nanofood!

'Nanofood' describes food which has been cultivated, produced, processed or packaged using nanotechnology techniques or tools, or food to which manufactured nanomaterials have been added. Untested nanotechnology is being used in more than 100 food-related products currently on the shelf.

• Nanotechnology is the science of matter that's too tiny to see.
• Potential benefits of nanotech include the ability to trace outbreaks of foodborne diseases.
• Nanotech particles are already found in products such as sunscreen, bandages and clothing.
• A British report called for more studies of the risks of nanofoods, citing safety shortfalls and corporate secrecy.
• A poll by Hart Research indicated most Americans are unaware of nanotechnology or its use in food.

Listener E-mails

• Brian in Tennessee shares the latest bad news about HFCS. Liver scarring? Really?
• Katie in Texas loves her round sock dryer and gives a plug to Austin's own Yarn Harvest.
• Shaun in Australia offers a clip from Futurama that solves global warming! He also recommends watching Bill Gates' energy discussion at the TED talks, and extols the virtues of the KeepCup.
• Jay found an article about new designs for fish farms that use other sea creatures to consume waste.
• Sara in Virginia sent us 9 Surprising Uses for Beer. Yes, we remember Body On Tap!

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