(Re) Introducing Break the Silence
Exposing the BS of "food tech" while supporting workers
With a few new subscribers and a shift in my focus I thought this would be good time to re-introduce you to what you can expect from reading this newsletter.
First, why the name? When I started Break the Silence over a year ago, my aim was to cover the latest changes to NDA laws and other attempts to silence employees. While this is still part of what I talk about, I have since expanded to covering what I call “the BS of food tech”, especially as it relates to the vegan world. The concept of “break the silence” applies here too because the media is mostly falling down on the job.
Food has a critical role to play in just about every aspect of society: our health, the planet, how we treat workers and animals, not to mention, our very survival. My guiding principle is integrity. There is so much bullshit being shoveled that it's distracting us from what's really going on and how to fix it.
The problems are not just in food companies; too often the very non-profits who profess to saving the world are toxic to its own people and are shoveling much of the BS. This newsletter is for everyone who is being silenced.
Here are a few examples of past stories so you know what to expect:
Why is a Major Animal Rights Donor Giving Eat Just $16 Million?
Is Upside Foods Lying About its Biotech Chicken?
‘Alternative Protein’ Nonprofits Should Return Donations To FTX
How Being Legally Silenced Prolongs Workplace Trauma and PTSD
I may also occasionally send out emails that promote my services, because (surprise!) writing does not pay the bills. For example, I offer coaching to women being abused at work, and ombuds services to companies and organizations to help employees.
Why me?
I am a public health attorney who has spent my entire career exposing BS in the food industry. (More about me here.) I am also a workplace trauma survivor who lives with being legally forced to stay silent every day. I have spoken to many others in my situation. This has to change. It’s time to break the silence.
If this doesn’t interest you, feel free to unsubscribe below. If you like what what you see, please spread the word and share with others. Thank you.
Organic Soyfoods by Ted A. Nordquist
July 20, 2023
The book by Glen Merzer-Food is Climate points out that a plant-based diet is the most effective means of addressing climate change. Food waste and Planned Parenthood are also high on the list, far above many other alternatives.
The United States is the world’s second largest producer of soybeans, about 110 million metric tons per year, but 98% are genetically modified requiring vast amounts of round-up weed control. Less than 1% of US soybeans are organically grown. Most of these soybeans are crushed for oil and the protein is fed to animals, fish, and foul.
If 12% of these soybeans were converted to organic soyfoods such as edamame, soymilk, tofu, tempeh, yogurt, probiotic drinks and desserts, the available protein would feed the entire US population. If these organic soybeans were rotated with organic corn as was common practice before chemical fertilizers and pesticides were introduced, the available plant-based protein would be far more than is needed.
Today, millions of dollars are invested into exotic plant-based foods that look, feel, and taste like dairy milk, yogurt, cheese, hamburger, bacon, hot dogs, chicken, or fish to satisfy people used to the American diet. Few of these foods are organic or nutritionally balanced. To ignore the huge nutritional and economic advantage of organic soyfoods is not only unfortunate but an unforgivable misuse of our natural resources.