Last week Whole Foods stunned the manufacturers of krill oil, “the new omega-3 wonder supplement,” by eliminating it from its 279 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. To their credit, Whole Foods believes the krill industry may be harming to the entire marine ecosystem by robbing seafood species of their basic food supply.
Not surprisingly, the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) — the krill oil trade organization — was furious. They claimed “foul”! And they insisted that the governing body that monitors krill fishing and fisheries, CCAMLR (short for the 25-nation Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) had approved their fisheries. To them, it’s just “not fair” that tree-huggers (or in this case, “fin friends”) are monitoring the impact of their exploitative practices on the oceans’ ecosystem. Hey, who needs regulation thse days, amyway?
Threatened species such as whales, penguins and seals depend on krill as their primary food supply. And it is krill which bestow the special health and healing benefits to fish that are rich in omega-3sadd omega-3s to fish — including wild salmon, tuna, shrimp, anchovies and sardines, plus many others. These fish populations are on the decline in the areas where krill harvesting is most prolific. Whole Foods seems to believe there’s a connection. Me too.
The Newest “Miracle Food”
As krill becomes the latest aggressively marketed “miracle food” — and also harvested as a source of food for farmed fish — some conservationists worry that CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee is being targeted for “influence” by political and economic interests. “Consensus has not been reached on the approach for an initial organization of krill catch limits,” CCAMLR states. Some member nations such as Korea and Japan consistently oppose putting scientific observers on krill fishing vessels. Does something smell fishy here? The over-fishing of krill is pulling the rug out from under all the fish species that depend on it as their basic food supply.
Hat’s off to Whole Foods for recognizing this — and for not joining in the latest marketing free-for-all. I’m shocked that people I respect (such as Dr. Joseph Mercola, among others) are selling krill oil without considering its environmental impact. Shame on them!
Ultimately, “Sustainability” Is About the Entire Life Cycle
“Sustainable” can have different meanings depending on who you are. In terms of food, Nature ultimately decides what is sustainable so I like the definition “sensibly far-sighted.” By using its market power, Whole Foods has clearly decided that krill harvesting is not “sensibly far-sighted.” After researching this in depth, I have to agree with them.
What’s So Good About Krill?
There is no denying the nutritional value of krill. This tiny shrimp-like creature has 300 times the antioxidant power of vitamin C and E, plus 48 times the essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, as other seafood. (This is because omega-3-rich seafood derives their EPA and DHA directly from krill). Numerous studies show that these omega-3 fats fight inflammation, the root cause of most chronic diseases. For a thorough look at the value of fatty acids and health go to: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/omega3fattyacidsandhealth.asp.
Seafood May Soon Be an Unsustainable Food Source
As I wrote last week, BP’s pollution of the Gulf of Mexico and the powerful Gulf Stream will likely contaminate the global seafood supply. Many impartial experts characterize the deterioration which will result as “dire.”
Dead sea turtles and other creatures are already washing ashore, an ominous sign of the death toll taking place in deeper waters. And it’s not just the oil. BP is using 100,000 gallons of chemical dispersants, further poisoning ocean life for generations to come.
The total ecological consequences of this catastrophe won’t be known for a while. But one reality is surfacing: Seafood in the near future may be too toxic to eat.
Because huge economic interests are at stake, I worry that “official” pronouncements will condone eating seafood “in moderation,” even though it may be contaminated and dangerous. This is like the Chinese government’s “blue sky days” when Beijing residents are given the all-clear to venture outside, even though air pollution levels are intolerably toxic — just not as bad as usual. I’m betting this will happen with coming “fish advisory warnings.” My advice is to buy and freeze as much fish as you can afford now — because the time is at hand when fish will be toxic, regardless of what the government says.
What Can You Do Now?
Hold your politicians’ feet to the fire. For example, Shell Oil is preparing to drill in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas this summer. The company says they are “committed to zero-harmful discharge.” Yet these waters are furiously turbulent most of the time. We are asking for another BP disaster up there. Express your outrage to your local representative — and contact Secretary of the Interior Salazar. who will be making the decision about Shell’s permit to drill by May 26.
But you can do more. On the positive side, continue purchasing local, organically-raised food. A sensible, far-sighted view of healthy, sustainable food means:
Buy organic. Organically-grown foods are known to be higher in all nutrients and they don’t depend on huge-carbon-footprint agricultural practices or toxic pesticides and fertilizers. The demand for this type of food is greater than ever. Right now organics amount to about 5% of US food sales. Make a commitment to put at least 5% (or more!) of organic products in your shopping cart every time you go to market. It’s simple economics: The more you buy organics, the more they will become available — and the lower their price will drop. More growers will be attracted to supplying this hot new market.
Support your local farmers’ market. Even if local growers aren’t fully organic and certified yet, their food still will be healthier. Conventional produce from California, Florida and foreign countries can lose up to 45% of their nutrients in transit between farm and table. Consider this when you purchase fruit from Argentina or greens from across the country. If you buy seasonally and freeze the surplus, you’ll sustain a nutrient-rich diet.
Eat grass-fed animal products. These contain much higher levels of omega-3 fats than feed-lot animals. Consider adding their organ meats to your diets, too. They are very high in essential fatty acids, as are eggs and other dairy products. Otherwise, be sure to buy wild-caught seafood only (also available as canned).
Investigate the Co-op Trade Initiative. This is an organization in the Southwest based on regional distribution centers called “food-sheds” in a play on the word and concept of watersheds. This concept expands markets for small farmers and availability of local foods for consumers. Consider starting or joining one in your region.
Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group. This is a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. A farmer offers a certain number of “shares” of his produce to the public. This is typically a box of vegetables, but other farm products such as honey may be included. Typically, the member receives a box, bag or basket of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. CSAs are offered throughout the US. To find one in your area, go to http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Advantages for farmers: They “sell” the food in advance, long before their 16-hour days in the field begin. They receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow. And they get to know the people who eat the food they grow.
Advantages for consumers: You’ll be developing a relationship with the farmer who grows your food. You receive fresh food regularly, with all the flavor and nutrition, and a tiny carbon footprint. The farmer introduces you to new vegetables and sometimes new ways of cooking. And you usually get to visit the farm during the season so your kids and grandchildren learn to love the food from “their” farm — even unfamiliar veggies.
Shop with sustainability in mind. The most important point about sustainability is this: There is no food choice that doesn’t have a consequence, and you can make a difference by keeping your food closer to home. A krill oil capsule might be extraordinarily healthy — but before rushing out to purchase any trendy “health” product, consider the cost to the planet, especially the endangered sustainability of the oceans’ ecology and its long-term food supply, too.
If humans are to survive as a specie, we must replace the “me first” and “profit now” mentality that is so predominant and seductive today (think Wall Street, the banking industry and Big Oil) in favor of the values that will foster a clean, diverse world for all our children.
You hold the power every time you visit the supermarket or your local farmer’s market. To find one in your area, visit the Farmer’s Market Finder on our Home Page at www.myhealingkitchen.com.
Send me your ideas and solutions at our forum.