Have fun at the outlet malls on Black Friday? McDonalds Outlet Store Opens

Happy Holidays from Rick and Julia. We we very careful to stay away form all the Black Friday hype and enjoyed the long weekend with our family and friends. Thursday with the kids and neighbors, yesterday with Julia's sister for lunch and a movie, Old Dogs. Today is Sunday light. A trip to the organic veggie stand and then to Soquel for breakfast. Please enjoy todays' post. I found this funny article and just had to share. I'm still laughing and hope you will too!

'Not Quite Perfect' McDonald's Opens In Illinois Outlet Mall

GURNEE, IL—Hungry shoppers at the Gurnee Mills outlet mall can now get a name-brand lunch at a bargain-basement price, thanks to the Monday opening of McDonald's first "Not Quite Perfect" outlet store, offering imperfect and irregular items from the fast-food giant's menu.

Enlarge Image The new outlet store.

"It's true that consistency is part of what makes McDonald's the leader in the fast-food industry, but so is good value," said Brian Landers, manager of the McDonald's outlet. "When customers see the low, low prices, they're more than willing to give our Six-Piece Quarter Pounders and Fish McGriddles a try. The food's a little different at this McDonald's, but it's really very close." Continued Landers: "Now, who's ready for factory seconds?!"
Located next to a Levi's outlet store offering mis-stitched and off-season apparel, the McDonald's outlet will be the destination for all products that do not meet the strict requirements of the restaurant's 30,000 regular stores worldwide.
"McDonald's prides itself on having exacting standards for its products," Landers said. "But throwing away all-carrot Salad Shakers, parallelogram-shaped hash browns, and McRibNuggets seemed so wasteful. With more of our customers struggling to make ends meet, we knew people would appreciate the opportunity to buy these slightly irregular products at irresistibly low prices."
In addition to factory mistakes, the outlet will offer items that were tested in limited markets but never received a wide release.
"We had a warehouse full of meat patties made in the shape of our golden-arch logo," Landers said. "A young, quickly fired executive thought it would be a good idea to make an 'M'-shaped burger, but it was expensive to produce, and depending where you took a bite, you had a very good chance of getting no beef. Plus, who's going to open up a burger just to look at the oddly shaped meat patty? Now, we're thawing them out and serving them up for only 30 cents apiece."
Landers said that, while a number of customers have been wary, the prices are so astounding that "people always come back for more."
"I've seen more than one person approach our firm-serve cones with skepticism," Landers said. "But at 20 cents each, we can hardly keep them in stock."
Landers added, "Once they get over the mental block after eating a flash-frozen pyramid of vanilla ice cream, customers realize they just can't beat these prices."
The outlet store, at 32,000 square feet, is the largest McDonald's in the world. In addition to serving irregular meal items, the outlet store houses irregular McDonald's decor.

Enlarge Image A $1.99 value meal available at the "Not Quite Perfect" McDonald's.

"These aren't the traditional McDonald's color schemes," Landers said, gesturing to chairs and tables in puce, mottled gray, and army green. "And while some customers make comments about our posters—a printer placed a black child's head on top of a white, elderly cashier's body—well, I think they look very nice once you get used to them." The outlet also features a shop that sells irregular McDonald's products like boxes of frozen foot-long fries and bags of unsweetened orange-drink syrup.
"The bulk-foods section of the shop hasn't caught on as well as we'd hoped," Landers said. "We think that may be in part a question of functionality. Our 10-gallon buckets of McRib sauce, for example, are reasonably priced, but most people don't have condiment pumps at home. Of course, even those who do are sometimes disappointed to find relish inside."
The outlet's PlayPlace features not-quite-perfect McDonaldland icons.
"Parents worry about our ball pit, but those triangular balls meet Illinois minimum-safety requirements," Landers said. "What we've really gotten complaints about are the statues of the McDonaldland characters. Ronald McDonald's eyes were put in wrong so he's looking in two different directions, our Grimace is pink, and for some reason, the Hamburglar has no teeth."
In spite of the few complaints, most outlet patrons say the bargain prices are well worth enduring the irregular food.
"It's not like the meat's tainted," said Mack Vesper, a longtime McDonald's customer. "A Quarter Pounder on a half-size seedless bun tastes just as good. And, while the gray Shamrock Shake took some getting used to, once you realize that you're getting all the flavor at an eighth of the price, you adapt. Besides, who looks at the color of the shake once you start drinking it?"
Some customers said the "Not Quite Perfect" McDonald's is not for them.
"I'll never take my children there again," said Anita Sibakis, mother of three. "They opened up the Happy Meal and there were headless Mulan figurines in there. It scared the bejesus out my youngest."

Is Natural, Organic? Is Organic, Natural? Are you being ripped off?

Conversations From the Corner Office
-Posted by Rick Irrgang
11.25.09

Thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving feast on Thursday bought my attention to a neat little article from the Health Freedom Alliance. We go out of our way to consume organic products at home. What you read below might make you wonder if our food producers are on our side or not. I know Whole Foods has been bashed in the past for "creatively" mis-lableing food. Don't think conspiracy, think greed and hoping we don't get to know all the facts. Todays post has some interesting facts. I hope you enjoy this post.
If you would like to know about what we do to help protect our family, write to:
rick@livesafeandhealthy.net
-Rick and Julia Irrgang

Food company giant Dean Foods got caught trying to fool customers into thinking the Silk brand soy milk they produced was organic. At one point up until early 2009 the milk was made with organic soybeans. But then Dean Foods switched to conventional soybeans which most of the time are grown with pesticides. But somehow they forgot to mention this to anyone. They kept the same bar codes on the milk cartons and kept the label the same, only quietly switching the word “organic” with “natural.” And of course they kept the price the same. Because the bar codes were kept the same even some retail grocery stores were just as fooled as the consumer. Said one store owner. “We don’t want to be part of customer deception.” It appears that consumers need to be more careful then ever in distinguishing between organic and natural labels. (NaturalNews) Until early 2009, Silk brand soy milk was made using organic soybeans. But earlier this year, Dean Foods (owner of the Silk brand) quietly switched to conventional soybeans, which are often grown with pesticides. But they kept the same UPC bar codes on their products, and they kept the product label virtually the same, only replacing the word “organic” with “natural” in a way that was barely noticeable. They also kept the price the same, charging consumers “organic” prices for a product that was now suddenly made with conventionally-grown soybeans.
Many retailers and consumers never noticed the bait-and-switch tactic, so they kept buying Silk, thinking it was still organic. The shift on the product label from “organic” to “natural” wasn’t well understood by consumers, either. Many consumers continue to think that the term “natural” is basically the same as “organic,” when in fact they are almost opposites. The term “natural” is entirely unregulated, and almost anything can be claimed to be “natural” even when it’s sprayed with pesticides or treated with other chemicals.
This bait-and-switch ploy continued throughout 2009 until a few watchdog organizations started to catch on to the covert switch. In late October, the Cornucopia Institute (www.Cornucopia.org) accused Target stores of misleading consumers by advertising Silk products using the old “organic” labeling even though the product being sold in stores was not organic. Cornucopia’s Mark Kastel accused Target and Dean Foods for “blurring the line between organic and natural,” thereby confusing consumers while boosting profits from the more lucrative sales of non-organic products sold at organic prices. (http://www.cornucopia.org/2009/10/o…)
Meanwhile, a Sunflower health food store in Texas also found itself caught up in the bait-and-switch tactic. It had been reordering Silk for months, thinking the product was still organic. But now, after discovering the scam, the store posts a hand-written sign in front of the Silk products, warning consumers with this message: “Silk is no longer organic.”
“We don’t want to be part of customer deception,” said the store owner in a Star-Telegram interview.
According to that same story, food retailers in California, Delaware and Texas were also duped by Silk’s bait-and-switch scheme, only discovering the switch to conventional soybeans months after the switch was covertly made. Dean Foods, you see, never bothered to tell retailers they had switched from organic to conventionally-grown soybeans. They just quietly made the switch but kept the same box design and UPC codes, perhaps hoping no one would notice. And the ploy worked!
“Dean has only added to the marketplace confusion between ‘natural’ and ‘organic,’ as they definitely do not mean the same thing, and ‘natural’ requires no verification whatsoever,” said Consumer Reports senior scientist Urvashi Rangan (see Star-Telegram article link below).
Labeling deception
Dean Foods is one of the big food giants that serves processed, factory-made foods and beverages to the American people. It’s the parent company of Horizon Organic, the so-called “organic” milk maker that’s been caught up in a web of deception exposed by the Organic Consumers Association

Dangers of Bisphenol A/BPA in Plastic Bottles, Well Established

Conversations from the Corner Office
-Posted by Rick Irrgang
It's been a few days since my last post. I was thinking about plastic bottles today. Why?.... Because 2 million of them find their way to U.S. Landfills every hour. EVERY HOUR!!!
Most of them have dangerous chemicals leaching from them and most the nasties find their way to the human body. Julia and I have a simple, yet effective way to help you stop throwing the bottles away. Want to learn more? Give us a call at 928-830-2251
-Rick and Julia Irrgang
 
Dangers of Bisphenol A/BPA Well Established Three recent studies fuel criticism already scorching the FDA for its failure to respond to the petition by AAHF/ANH-USA regarding exposure of children to bisphenol A/BPA. Research by the University of Rochester, published in the Journal of Andrology, found that males exposed to phthalates — found in dental sealants, composite fillings, soft plastic water bottles, baby bottles, vinyl flooring and PVC shower curtains — suffer a reduction in testosterone, feminizing their behavior. Male babies exposed to high levels of these chemicals, used to soften plastic, are much less likely to play typical boys’ games as they mature.

A study funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that Chinese factory workers exposed to huge amounts of BPA have significant risk of increased sexual dysfunction. The five-year study, the first designed specifically to test the effects of BPA on humans, discovered that workers exposed to BPA had four times the risk of erectile dysfunction and seven times the risk of ejaculation difficulty.

Consumer Reports funded a study confirming that BPA leaches into the food in nearly all metal containers (these cans are lined in soft plastic), even those cans marked “BPA-free” or “Organic.”

The FDA, which earlier had declared BPA safe for all uses, is now reconsidering. A new recommendation is expected as early as Dec.1, 2009.

Lead in Lipstick?

Conversations from the corner office:
- Rick Irrgang


A few days have gone by since posting to the blog. Sort of a mental slump for lack of better words. Julia reminded me today how grateful we should be that we use the safest personal care products on the planet. That prompted us to post an interesting article about lipstick.
We are outraged by this and hope you will be too. If we can't reach them (the cosmetic industry) by voice, we certainly can with our wallet. Show them you care by switching brands to one that is safe for you and your family.
If you would like to know more about safe cosmetics and personal care products, email me at rick@livesafeandhealthy.net

Lead in Lipstick

Lead in lipstick? Turns out, the ur­ban legend is true. In October 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 33 popular brands of lipsticks at an independent lab for lead content. The results: 61 percent of lipsticks contained lead, with levels ranging up to 0.65 parts per million. Lead-contaminated brands included L'Oreal, Cover Girl and even a $24 tube of Dior Addict. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration promised it would conduct an investigation, but dragged its feet in doing so. It took nearly two years, pressure from consumers and a letter from three U.S. Senators, but in 2009 the FDA released a follow-up study that found lead in all samples of lipstick it tested, at levels ranging from 0.09 to 3.06 ppm – levels four times higher than the levels found in the Campaign study. No Safe Dose The recent science indicates there is no safe level of lead exposure. “Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels. The latest studies show there is no safe level of lead exposure,” according to Mark Mitchell, M.D., MPH, president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice. “Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, reduced school performance and increased aggression. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, because lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development,” according to Dr. Sean Palfrey, a professor of pediatrics and public health at Boston University and the medical director of Boston's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. “Since recent science suggests that there is truly no safe lead exposure for children and pregnant women, it is disturbing that manufacturers are allowed to continue to sell lead-containing lipsticks." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states: “No safe blood lead level has been identified.” The agency suggests avoiding all sources of lead exposure, including lead-containing cosmetics. (Read CDC's lead exposure prevention tips.) Status Update The FDA released a follow-up study in 2009 that found much higher levels of lead in lipstick than reported by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007. A state bill to ban lead from lipstick passed the California Senate in 2008, but died after a massive industry lobby effort. What You Can Do Because lead is a contaminant not listed on lipstick ingredient labels, it's next to impossible for consumers to avoid. But don't let that dissuade you from doing something: E-mail, call or write to the companies that make your favorite lipstick shades and tell them that lead-free products are important to you. Send friends and family an e-card letting them know about this issue. Sign our petition for safe cosmetics.

Neways and Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide

Conversations from the corner office:
by Rick Irrgang.
If you'd like to know more about this, please email me at rick@livesafeandhealthy.net

Neways stays ahead with leading products and technology. Today I'd like to share some great information about a few of Neways products.
Eliminator, Radicate and Radiance ToothPaste.
Let's start with a brief tutorial about the star of the show, Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide:
Enjoy, Rick and Julia Irrgang

STABILIZED CHLORINE DIOXIDE


There is a lot of interest in Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorine Dioxide lately and that interest has inspired a multitude of questions, like:

"Is there a difference between Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorine Dioxide?"

"What is the difference between Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorine Dioxide?"

"How safe is Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide?"

"How does Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide work if it is "stabilized?"

"How long will Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide keep?"

"Is Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide corrosive?"

"Which oral/dental and household products contain Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide?"

So, here we endeavor to provide some answers.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide differs from Chlorine Dioxide and is very safe. Chlorine Dioxide is a gas. Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide (SCD or Stabilized ClO2, and also known as Anthium Dioxide and Sodium Chlorite) is a salt form in solution with bicarbonate.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is activated when it encounters microbes or bacteria. Neways’ Research & Development staff has performed several tests on substances that activate SCD. Bacteria themselves activate SCD, although slower than acids and other inorganic substances. After a person consumes a meal high in sugars and starches, invisible bacteria on the tooth surfaces and gums begin to feed on residual food particles. As the bacteria work, they secrete potent acids that dissolve the hard calcium and phosphate mineral matrix of the tooth enamel. These bacteria also produce metabolic enzymes that break down the connective tissues and gums. Without proper oral hygiene, these bacteria leave unhealthy cavities and stains, as well as, inflamed and bleeding gums. In addition to causing tooth decay, these same bacteria are responsible for the production of volatile sulfur compounds. Volatile sulfur compounds are byproducts of the bacterial fermentation of food residue and are one of the major sources of bad breath.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is registered with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as an excellent bactericide, fungicide and antimicrobial agent. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) have approved use of Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide in food processing plants for sanitizing and controlling bacteria and mold.

To make Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, Chlorine Dioxide is taken and manufactured in a liquid state with the pH on the base side. Then various Sodium Carbonate complexes are added into the formulation. These complexes link up with and bond on the Chlorine Dioxide to stabilize it. It changes from an aggressive unstable material, to one that is extremely mild, very stable, and yet has all the desirable features that Chlorine Dioxide possesses.

Chlorine Dioxide is an unstable aggressive material that can damage mucus membranes in the mouth.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is very safe in comparison with other disinfectants. Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is so safe that the EPA rates its toxicity level the same as water. It will not damage gums, even if they have been cut. It has no effect on fillings and possesses no harmful properties that a dentist should worry about. On the contrary, it is very effective on keeping the mouth extremely clean.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide was first developed to be used on cankers. So for soft delicate tissues where there may be problems with bacteria or other microbials, Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is a superb product. It also breaks down the food films so that these organisms don't have anything to feed upon and grow and multiply. This would be very important when you look at potential infections.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is safe in storage and use, and carries no hazardous label on personal care products. It is a latent form of Chlorine Dioxide which permits controlled release under conditions of use.

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

pH 7.5+.2
Stability shelf-life exceeds one year
Solubility completely miscible with water
Corrosion non-corrosive to metals in dilution normally used
Toxicity non-toxic 0 rating (EPA rating scale 0-4)

NEWAYS' SUPERIOR STABILIZED CHLORINE DIOXIDE PRODUCTS:

Eliminator® Mouthwash, not a "cover-up," but an odor eliminator and freshener...with more uses than just a mouthwash. UltraShine Radiance® Toothpaste, working to protect and remineralize tooth enamel for cleaner, whiter appearing teeth.

Radiance® Toothpaste, cleans the teeth and gums with stabilized chlorine dioxide which helps eliminate bacterial growth and tooth decay.

Radicate, big cleaning power for the most demanding projects in the home, office, car or hospital, yet gentle and safe enough to use on children's toys, bottles and pacifiers.

QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND COMMENTS:

Question: What is the difference between Eliminator® and Radicate (other than the word, "mouthwash")?

Answer: Radicate has Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide and water. Eliminator® has a peppermint oil added as a flavor. Eliminator® is better suited (concentration-wise, etc.) for use with the body, where Radicate is more useful as a cleanser and deodorizer.

Question: Why is there a warning on the Radicate? I thought Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide was safe to put in the mouth and on the skin?

Answer: Because we are marketing Radicate as a cleaning product, federal regulations require that we have certain warnings on the label whether they apply or not. In looking at an MSDS for Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, I notice that there is no health hazard mentioned for topical use, and only “mild irritation” for the eyes and “gastric discomfort” is mentioned for eye contact and ingestion of a 100% concentration of the chemical.

Question: What is the difference between Stabilized Anthium Dioxide (CLO2) and Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide (CLO2)?

Answer: Anthium Dioxide is exactly the same as Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide. Anthium Dioxide is a trade name for this. Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide is the actual chemical name. Regardless, the chemical formula is still exactly the same (ie. CLO2).

"Stabilized chlorine dioxide," the same ingredient in Eliminator® and Radicate, is a highly effective disinfectant. In this CNN article note that a gas form of chlorine dioxide is being used to clean up anthrax exposure.

Recognizing Utah’s most outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations, Neways Inc. won the "Best of State" medal for merchandising - Personal Care Products & Cosmetics.

--Utah's Best Of State awards.

"I've looked at hundreds of company's cosmetics, personal care products and dietary supplements. Usually, in spite of all the hype, I am disappointed. But Neways is different. They are producing truly safe and healthy formulas that we rank among the best in the world today. Indeed, they're the only network marketing company doing so. I give 110% support to Neways. You can't do better than offering the Neways' formulas. They're great for the world, for the environment, and for your body and home. What a great way to make a living! You really will profit, both materially and spiritually from your Neways association and involvement.

--David Steinman, Co-author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, and The Breast Cancer Prevention Program, chairman of Citizens for Health, publisher of 3 of the largest, most popular health letters in the US: "The Doctor's Prescription for Healthy Living," "Pharmacist's Choice" and "The Doctor's Oral Enzyme Health Letter."

"Neways has pioneered and succeeded in providing consumers with cosmetics and toiletries free of cancer-causing and harmful ingredients and contaminants. I warmly congratulate them on their accomplishments."

--Dr. Samuel Epstein, founder of the Cancer Prevention Coalition and author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, The Politics of Cancer and The Politics of Cancer Revisited

National Organic Standards Board Votes to Crack Down on Labeling Fraud

Conversations from the corner office:

It's never to late:
As an avid Neways product distributor and user, I'm happy we don't have to read labels. For 20 years, Neways has stood on the firm ground of honesty and integrity in label and in content. www.livesafeandhealthy.net.
For the rest, its good to know that things are changing for the better, or at least we hope.
Posted by Rick and Julia Irrgang
Nov. 13th 2009

Alert Updates of the Week

National Organic Standards Board Votes to Crack Down on Labeling Fraud

Victory on Organic Body Care and Cosmetics Products

In a milestone victory after years of work by the OCA and the organic community to demand an end to blatant labeling fraud in the organic marketplace the National Organic Standards Board voted 12 to 1 at their November 2009 meeting to direct the USDA National Organic Program to enforce the law for organic personal care products - just as they do for organic food. This means that shampoos, body care products, and cosmetics that claim to be organic but are not certified would be forced to drop their organic label and advertising claims, or else reformulate their products (getting rid of petrochemicals and problematic synthetic ingredients) to meet "USDA Organic" or "made with organic ingredients" standards.
The Organic Consumers Association is initiating a letter-writing campaign asking the USDA to take quick action on the NOSB recommendation. While we wait for the USDA to begin enforcement actions, we're calling on consumers to boycott fake, falsely labeled organic body care brands, and instead to buy only USDA certified organic products.

LEARN MORE AND TAKE ACTION

Will Anyone in Their Right Mind Actually Buy Into These Three New Vaccines?

Posted by: Rick and Julia Irrgang
November 12. Maybe I should of posted this on Friday the 13th

A storm has erupted over the announcement last month that an experimental AIDS vaccine tested in Thailand proved modestly effective. It was billed as a major scientific advance — the long-awaited hard evidence that it is possible to inoculate people against AIDS. But now the trial has been called into question in a way that is overblown and possibly destructive.
But this isn’t the first time the efficacy and safety of a vaccine has been called into question. The government recently announced that $10 million of stimulus money would be used to fund a phase 3 clinical trial of a promising anti-smoking vaccine produced by Nabi Pharmaceuticals of Rockville, Md. However, another company working on a similar vaccine has not been so successful.
Cytos Biotechnology Ltd. said this week that a trial of its nicotine vaccine had failed to reduce smoking behaviors. The study, which is continuing, involved 200 smokers who were motivated to quit. The researchers found that the vaccine, designed to bind nicotine in the blood and prevent it from reaching the brain, was safe and well tolerated. But apparently it did not stimulate high enough levels of antibodies to produce the desired response.
The moment evidence was found that obesity may be linked to a virus, opportunistic drug company researchers dove into developing an “obesity vaccine.” Now researchers say their obesity vaccine could be ready for market in five years. Searching for genetic clues to the obesity epidemic, in the hopes of developing a vaccine against it, is not the answer.

Sources:

  New York Times October 18, 2009

  New York Sun August 21, 2007

  Los Angeles Times October 6, 2009

  Bloomberg September 28, 2009

  PreventDisease.com September 29, 2009