Kitchen Gossip

Sweetbreads are to me (with foie-gras) the most delicious of all the offal meats!
But where are they from exactly?
Here's the Larousse Gastronomique article about it:
Sweetbread: The culinary term for the thymus gland (in the throat) and the pancreas (near the stomach) in calves,lambs and pigs, although the latter is not much used. Thymus sweetbreads are elongated in shape, pancreas sweetbread are larger and rounded. Lamb and calves sweetbreads are considered to be superior; they can be used in fillings and ragouts for moulds and vol-au-vent. Sweetbreads need to be blanched, refreshed and cooled before use; they can be fried, roasted, grilled, broiled, poached, cooked au gratin or on skewers.


Butter-fried sweetbreads, flamed with cognac.
Bartlett pears, Bleu d'Auvergne, mixed greens and beets.
The dressing is made of the cooking juices and a reduction of fig flavored balsamic vinegar.
I came across the thesis on the web, I think you might want to read.
It is about a one man's war on macdonald's
[PDF]
by RAS Freeze - 2002 - Related
articles - All
6 versionsAnd this one I research intentionally, because awareness of all need to be risen to this subject.With Monsanto's
terminator
technology, they will sell seeds to farmers to plant
... If the
technology is transmitted through recessive
genes, we could see
...www.ethicalinvesting.com/monsanto/terminator.shtml
- Cached
- Similar
- This articles tell you all about "trans-fat"Trans
Fats www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3045792 -
Monosodium
Glutamate
(MSG)
Many
people recognise monosodium glutamate (MSG) as the additive used, for example,
in some Chinese and Japanese food, but few know what it is, let alone what its
effects on the body are. Now a new report focuses on how monosodium
glutamate may be just one of the causes of the Slow Poisoning of America.
In
fact, MSG (which is often disguised by names like "hydrolyzed vegetable
protein" or "HVP", "yeast extract" or "autolyzed
proteins") is, like aspartame, a member of the group of chemicals
known as "excitotoxins" (the clue is in the name!). These toxic
compounds are known to interfere with brain chemistry and have been implicated
in many neurological diseases, such as brain cancers, MS, fibromyalgia,
depression and hyperactivity (ADHD). In fact, they overexcite brain cells to
the point of cell damage and even cell death.
MSG
has also been linked to obesity and, indeed, many products that contain MSG now
also contain horrific chemicals like "high fructose corn syrup"
(whose purpose is to make you chemically addicted to the food in the same way
as sugar).
Monosodium
glutamate is the sodium salt of the amino acid glutamate, and is a commonly
used flavor enhancer, regarded by the FDA as "generally safe",
meaning that food manufacturers can use as much of it as they like. It
has been around for many years, and is found not only in take away meals from
Chinese restaurants, but many other food sources, in which it is listed as
either "monosodium glutamate", "MSG" or "hydrolyzed
vegetable protein".
In
a recent book on the subject, Dr Russell Blaylock reported that MSG also causes
severe disturbances in the endocrine system, affecting levels of hormones such
as LH (Leutenising hormone), GH (growth hormone) and prolactin. (Excitotoxins
by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 263)
Another
recent work stated that "The stress-induced abnormalities in blood-brain
barrier permeability suggest differing MSG effects dependent on existing states
of relaxation or stresses. The suggestive evidence for MSG-induced
neuroendocrine effects is substantial, coupled with the observation of
increased obesity in children." ( In Bad Taste by George R Schwartz MD, page
39)
In
short, MSG is a leading cause of obesity and may well be implicated in many
other conditions. It should be avoided at all costs, just like its chemical
relatives.
Autolyzed, hydrolyzed, glutamate, glutamic
acid,
hydrolyzed, autolyzed
HIDDEN SOURCES
OF PROCESSED FREE GLUTAMIC ACID (MSG)
NAMES
OF
INGREDIENTS THAT CONTAIN ENOUGH MSG
TO SERVE AS COMMON MSG-REACTION TRIGGERS
The MSG-reaction is a reaction to free
glutamic acid that occurs in food as a consequence of manufacture.
MSG-sensitive
people do not react to protein (which contains bound glutamic acid) or
any of the minute amounts of free glutamic acid that might be found in
unadulterated, unfermented, unprocessed, food.
These
ALWAYS contain MSG
Glutamate
(E 620)
|
Glutamic
acid
(E 620)
|
Monosodium
glutamate
(E 621) |
Monopotassium
glutamate
(E 622) |
Calcium
glutamate
(E 623)
|
Monoammonium
glutamate
(E 624)
|
Magnesium glutamate
(E 625)
|
Natrium
glutamate (natrium is Latin/German for sodium) |
Gelatin |
| Calcium
caseinate |
Sodium
caseinate |
Textured
protein |
| anything "hydrolyzed" |
any
"hydrolyzed ... protein" |
Yeast
nutrient |
| Yeast
extract |
Yeast
food |
Autolyzed
yeast |
Vetsin
|
Ajinomoto
|
|
These
OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing
| Carrageenan |
Maltodextrin |
Malt
extract |
| Natural
pork flavoring |
Citric
acid |
Malt
flavoring |
| Bouillon
and Broth |
Natural
chicken flavoring |
Soy
protein isolate |
| Natural
beef flavoring |
Ultra-pasteurized |
Soy
sauce |
| Stock |
Barley
malt |
Soy
sauce extract |
| Whey
protein concentrate |
Pectin |
Soy protein |
| Whey
protein |
Protease |
Soy
protein concentrate |
| Whey
protein isolate |
Protease
enzymes |
Anything
protein fortified |
| Flavors(s)
& Flavoring(s) |
Anything
enzyme modified |
Anything
fermented |
Natural
flavor(s)
& flavoring(s) |
Enzymes
anything |
Seasonings
(the word "seasonings") |
These ingredients
work synergistically with MSG to enhance flavor
(If they are present for flavoring purposes, so is MSG)
Disodium
5’-guanylate
(E 627)
|
Disodium
5’-inosinate
(E 631)
|
Disodium
5'-ribonucleotides
(E 635)
|
In
ADDITION...
The not so new game is to label
hydrolyzed
proteins as pea protein, whey protein, corn protein, etc. If a pea, for
example, were whole, it would be identified as a pea. Calling an
ingredient
pea
protein
indicates that the pea has been hydrolyzed, at least
in part, and that processed free glutamic acid (MSG) is present.
Relatively
new to the list are wheat protein and soy protein.
Disodium guanylate and disodium
inosinate
are expensive food additives that work synergistically with inexpensive
MSG. Their use suggests that the product has MSG in it. They would
probably
not be used as food additives if there were no MSG present.
MSG reactions have been reported
from
soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, and cosmetics, where MSG is hidden
in ingredients that include the words "hydrolyzed," "amino acids," and
"protein."
Low fat and no fat milk products
often
include milk solids that contain MSG and/or contain Carrageenan, guar
gum, and/or locust bean gum. Low fat and no fat versions
of ice cream and cheese may not be as obvious as yogurt, milk, cream,
cream
cheese, cottage cheese, etc., but they are not an exception.
Protein powders contain glutamic
acid,
which, invariably, would be processed free glutamic acid (MSG).
Amino acids are not always listed on labels of protein powders.
Drinks, candy, and chewing gum are
potential
sources of hidden MSG and/or aspartame and neotame. Aspartic acid,
found
in neotame and aspartame (NutraSweet), ordinarily causes MSG type
reactions
in MSG sensitive people. Aspartame is found in some medications,
including
children's medications. Neotame is relatively new and we have not yet
seen
it used widely in the United States. Check with your pharmacist.
Binders and fillers for medications,
nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription,
enteral
feeding materials, and some fluids administered intravenously in
hospitals,
may contain MSG.
According to the manufacturer,
Varivax–Merck
chicken pox vaccine (Varicella Virus Live), contains L-monosodium
glutamate
and hydrolyzed gelatin, both of which contain processed free glutamic
acid
(MSG) which causes brain lesions in young laboratory animals, and
causes
endocrine disturbances like OBESITY and REPRODUCTIVE disorders later in
life. It would appear that most, if not all, live virus vaccines
contain some ingredient that contains MSG.
Reactions to MSG are dose related,
i.e.,
some people react to even very small amounts. MSG-induced reactions may
occur immediately after ingestion or after as much as 48
hours. The time lapse is typically the same for any one
individual.
Note: There are additional
ingredients
that appear to cause MSG reactions in ACUTELY sensitive people. A list
is available by request.
Remember: By FDA definition, all MSG
is "naturally occurring." "Natural" doesn't mean "safe."
"Natural"
only means that the ingredient started out in nature.
Lies and deception:
How the FDA does not protect your best
interests.
Did you know that many retired FDA officials go to work as special
advisors to the pharmaceutical and food industries?
It's true. Federal agencies like the FDA—which were created to protect
consumers—often behave like branch offices of companies like Monsanto,
which they are supposed to regulate. And when the names and dossiers of
the individuals who work with allies in Congress and the White House to
oppose food safety measures are revealed, the picture becomes even more
sinister.
The fact is, it has been widely reported that FDA (Federal Drug
Administration), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and USDA (United
States Department of Agriculture) officials are frequently rewarded
with lucrative jobs at the companies they were regulating.
Conflict of interest
This insidious conflict of interest exhibited by the U.S. food and
pharmaceutical industries has been going on for almost half a century.
Mark Gold, founder of the Aspartame Toxicity Information Center in
Concord, New Hampshire (
mgold@holisticmed.com)
provides an overview of the situation in his "Analysis of the influence
of the Aspartame Industry on the Scientific Committee on Food."
1
"In the United States, corruption of governmental and scientific
committees by the food industry was disclosed in the late 1960s and
early 1970s. In an article in the journal Science (1972), it was
revealed that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Food Protection
Committee was being funded by the food, chemical and packaging
industries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was relying on the NAS
Committee for 'independent' information. The Chairman of the NAS
Subcommittee investigating monosodium glutamate (MSG) had recently taken
part in research partially funded by the MSG manufacturer. Another
member of the Subcommittee became a spokesperson for the MSG industry.
(Science 1972) Other members of the Subcommittee had ties to the MSG
industry.
Since that time numerous governmental committees have
been corrupted by the placement of food industry-funded consultants on
these committees."
2,
3
The revolving door
A recent report by the Edmonds Institute lists names of the possible
hundreds of men and women who move in and out of "revolving doors" as
Federal regulators and directors, commissioners and scientists at the
companies they are supposed to regulate.
4
Close relationships between regulators and those they regulate are
always a cause of concern because the conflict of interest inevitably
results in the quality of regulation and oversight of a technology being
compromised … which inevitably results in the promotion of foods and
drugs that are frequently unsafe.
The Edmonds Institute has been researching these relationships for some
time. Here are some examples:
Margaret Miller … former chemical laboratory supervisor for
Monsanto, … now Deputy Director of Human Food Safety and Consultative
Services, New Animal Drug Evaluation Office, Center for Veterinary
Medicine in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
5,
6
Michael Taylor, former legal advisor to the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Bureau of Medical Devices and Bureau of
Foods, later executive assistant to the Commissioner of the FDA,…still
later a partner at the law firm of King & Spaulding where he
supervised a nine-lawyer group whose clients included Monsanto
Agricultural Company, … still later Deputy Commissioner for Policy at
the United States Food and Drug Administration, … and later with the law
firm of King & Spaulding … now head of the Washington, D.C. office
of Monsanto Corporation.
5,
6
Margaret Miller, Michael Taylor, and Suzanne Sechen (an FDA "primary
reviewer for all rbST and other dairy drug production applications")
were the subjects of a U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO)
investigation in 1994 for their role in the FDA's approval of Posilac,
Monsanto Corporation's formulation of recombinant bovine growth hormone
(rbST or rBGH). The GAO Office found "no conflicting financial interests
with respect to the drug's approval" and only "one minor deviation from
now superseded FDA regulations". (Quotations are from the 1994 GAO
report).
The FDA and Monsanto: Strange bedfellows
Monsanto was required to submit a scientific report on rBGH to the FDA
so the agency could determine the growth hormone's safety. Margaret
Miller put the report together, and in 1989 shortly before she submitted
the report, Miller left Monsanto to work for the FDA. Guess what her
first job was? Strangely enough, to determine whether or not to approve
the report she wrote for Monsanto! The bottom line is that Monsanto
approved its own report. Miller was assisted by another former Monsanto
researcher, Susan Sechen.
But in an article titled "Not Milk: The USDA, Monsanto, and the U.S.
Dairy Industry" Ché Green, founder and director of The ARMEDIA
Institute, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization focusing on
farm animal issues in the United States, writes that, "The results of
the study, in fact, were not made available to the public until 1998,
when a group of Canadian scientists obtained the full documentation and
completed an independent analysis of the results. Among other instances
of neglect, the documents showed that the FDA had never even reviewed
Monsanto's original studies (on which the approval for Posilac {rBGH}
had been based), so in the end the point was moot whether or not the
report had contained all of the original data."
7
And as though the FDA didn't already exhibit enough audacity it handed
Michael Taylor the responsibility to make the decision as to whether or
not rBGH-derived milk should be labeled. (At the time, Michael Taylor,
who had previously worked as a lawyer for Monsanto, was executive
assistant to the Commissioner of the FDA.)
In 1994, Taylor ended up writing the rBGH labeling guidelines that
prohibit the dairy industry from stating that their products either
contain or are free from rBGH. Even worse, to keep rBGH-milk from being
"stigmatized" in the marketplace, the FDA ruled that the labels of
non-rBGH products must state that there is no difference between rBGH
and the natural hormone.
8
According to journalist Jennifer Ferraro, "while working for
Monsanto,Taylor had prepared a memo for the company as to whether or not
it would be constitutional for states to erect labeling laws concerning
rBGH dairy products. In other words, Taylor helped Monsanto figure out
whether or not the corporation could sue states or companies that wanted
to tell the public that their products were free of Monsanto's drug."
9
The current situation
Monsanto is suing Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy for labeling their milk
"Our Farmers' Pledge: No Artificial Growth Hormones." According to
Monsanto, Oakhurst Dairy does not have the right to let its customers
know whether its milk contains genetically engineered hormones. What
hogwash! Oakhurst says they've been labeling their products like this
for four years, in response to consumer demand.
Although rBGH has been banned in every industrialized nation in the
world except for the United States, Monsanto continues to claim that
rBGH-derived milk is no different from the natural stuff, despite
documentation that rBGH milk contains substantially higher levels of a
potent cancer tumor promoter called IGF-1.
This poses a serious risk to the entire U.S. population, which is now
exposed to high levels of IGF-1 in dairy products, since elevated blood
levels of IGF-1 are among the leading known risk factors for breast
cancer, and are also associated with other major cancers, particularly
colon and prostate.
10
In 1994, Monsanto sued two dairies and threatened several thousand
retailers for labeling or advertising milk and dairy products as
"rBGH-free." Despite Monsanto's intimidation tactics, more than 10% of
U.S. milk is currently labeled as "rBGH-free," while sales of organic
milk and dairy products (which prohibit rBGH) are booming.
And just to add insult to injury, in recent months a Monsanto-funded
front group, the Center for Consumer Freedom, has launched a smear
campaign against organic dairies, including Organic Valley, claiming
they are defrauding consumers.
11
How Monsanto's policies have become U.S. policy
Prior to being the Supreme Court Judge who put G.W. in office, Clarence
Thomas was Monsanto's lawyer. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Anne
Veneman) was on the Board of Directors of Monsanto's Calgene
Corporation. The Secretary of Defense (Donald Rumsfeld) was on the Board
of Directors of Monsanto's Searle pharmaceuticals. The U.S. Secretary
of Health, Tommy Thompson, received $50,000 in donations from Monsanto
during his winning campaign for Wisconsin's governor. The two
congressmen receiving the most donations from Monsanto during the last
election were Larry Combest (Chairman of the House Agricultural
Committee) and Attorney General John Ashcroft. (Source: Dairy Education
Board)
What can you do?
- Contact your state representatives and let them know your views.
- Educate yourself about what is really in our food.
Three recommended books:
Eric Schlosser, "Fast Food Nation" New York: Harper Collins, 2002.
Marion Nestle, Food Politics: "How the Food Industry Influences
Nutrition and Health." University of California Press, March 2002.
Marion Nestle, "Safe Food: Bacteria, Biotechnology, and Bioterrorism."
University of California Press, March 2003.
- Eat only organically grown and produced food. Sadly and
unfortunately, we cannot trust the FDA or USDA to ensure the safety of
our food.