Bay Area Bites » Mike Kahn http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites Culinary Rants & Raves from Bay Area Food Professionals Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:32:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 Where’s the Beef? A Vegetarian Ponders His Last Twinkie. (video) http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2013/01/02/where%e2%80%99s-the-beef-a-vegetarian-ponders-his-last-twinkie-video/ http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2013/01/02/where%e2%80%99s-the-beef-a-vegetarian-ponders-his-last-twinkie-video/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:19:18 +0000 Mike Kahn http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=53636 Watch the video to find out the surprise Bay Area Bites blogger Mike Kahn got when he picked up some Hostess snacks and found that a number of them might contain beef fat. ]]> Hostess Twinkies2012 has come to a dramatic close. We have battled through the end of the world, the fiscal cliff, devastating storms and mass shootings. But I wanted to close the year on a somewhat lighter note, although it does relate to the unfortunate turn of events that forced Hostess Brands, Inc. to shut its doors. Really, what could be lighter than a cream-filled Twinkie?! (You may take that as a rhetorical question or respond to it in the comments section.)

Watch the video to find out the surprise I got when I picked up some Hostess snacks and found that a number of them might contain beef fat. Yep, it’s a real pickle for a vegetarian with a sweet tooth hankering for his childhood treats one last time.

Where's the Beef? Vegetarian Ponders His Last Twinkie

]]> http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2013/01/02/where%e2%80%99s-the-beef-a-vegetarian-ponders-his-last-twinkie-video/feed/ 0 Hostess Twinkies Where's the Beef? Vegetarian Ponders His Last Twinkie Food Labeling: How to Identify Conventional, Organic and GMO Produce http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2012/11/20/food-labeling-how-to-identify-conventional-organic-and-gmo-produce/ http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2012/11/20/food-labeling-how-to-identify-conventional-organic-and-gmo-produce/#comments Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:34:47 +0000 Mike Kahn http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=51586 What can you tell from those numbers on fruit and vegetable stickers? The price look-up (PLU) code system used by most produce distributors has the side benefit of allowing consumers to identify conventional and organic produce at the grocery store.]]> What can you tell from those numbers on fruit and vegetable stickers?

The price look-up (PLU) code system used by most produce distributors has the side benefit of allowing consumers to identify conventional and organic produce at the grocery store. Even though the defeat of Proposition 37 means that genetically engineered information will not be added to labels at this time, PLU codes do have the potential to identify genetically engineered produce. This video shows you how to read PLU codes to unlock the information that is already right at your fingertips.

How to Use Price Look-Up Codes on Produce

    Using Price Look-up Codes (PLUs), the Nutshell:

  • PLU codes are four digit numbers that identify different types of produce. For example, #4011 is the code for a standard yellow banana.
  • The number 9 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is organic. For example, #94011 is the code for an organic yellow banana.
  • A number 8 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is genetically engineered (GE). For example, #84011 is the code for a genetically engineered yellow banana.
  • PLU codes and their organic prefixes are in wide use but GE codes are rare at best.
]]> http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2012/11/20/food-labeling-how-to-identify-conventional-organic-and-gmo-produce/feed/ 3 How to Use Price Look-Up Codes on Produce