Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Farmwashing

McDonald's has come out with an ad that makes it look like its potatoes come right from this pleasant little farm and straight to your plate.  It's a new trend in advertising called "Farmwashing" that supposed to make giant companies (Walmart too) appear to just love the local farmer or producer.  Here's the McDonald's ad and you can read the rest of the story from Grist here.


You won't believe what happens to those potatoes after they leave the farm...
... and what is sodium acid pyrophosphate?


(I reposted this from an earlier date because I wanted my readers to have an opportunity to see it)


5 comments:

  1. I'd never heard this term before. Very interesting.

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  2. MSDS sheet here: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924954

    You'll note if you look through the sheet, that most sections are marked "unknown". They can apply this stuff, call it food, but no one really knows what happens with prolonged exposure. Not cool. :(

    Potential Acute Health Effects:
    Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant). Hazardous in case of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly
    hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive). Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin
    inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering.
    Potential Chronic Health Effects:
    CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
    DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. Repeated or prolonged exposure is not known to aggravate medical condition.

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  3. That's awful. McDonalds is one of the many places on my list of " never ever visit".

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  4. Thank you Laurie! I can't believe that someone actually thought it would be o.k. to put that on FOOD.

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  5. Thank you for posting this Sharon. It's yet another reason that we are so thankful for our truly local farmers! We are proud to be providing potatoes to the Genesee Environmental Center with no added ingredients!

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