Another week has ended and the news has been pouring out like water from a barrel and these articles are the ones that few got to see or hear.
Locally–Lots of rain and a bit cooler temps….some think it is depressing but we will go 2 months with little to no rain and extreme heat…..so I enjoy the time before the burn.
The Coast has seen shootings increase…..shootings with death and injuries…..last week we had one shooting a day for 5 days.
Personal—I had my infusion yesterday and it makes me feel like crap so my weekend will be sucky at best.
Still waiting on information for Sue’s estate…..it is slow going and every time I talk to someone it brings up more emotions that I try to keep under wraps.
Enough chit chat…..
I live in the Gulf South and we have many eateries that are proud to display ‘fresh gulf seafood’….but is that accurate?
It would be reasonable to expect Gulf Coast shrimp on your plate when dining by the water in the South, but many restaurants are serving imports sourced from thousands of miles away—without lowering their prices. As Brett Anderson writes for the New York Times, a newly developed genetic test that can quickly pinpoint seafood species is revealing just how common seafood mislabeling has become. Dave Williams, a commercial fisheries scientist and founder of SEAD Consulting, has been using his test at randomly chosen restaurants in the South since late 2024 to make clear the scope of the fraud.
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, only eight out of 44 restaurants tested were serving local shrimp, despite restaurant decor and menus that suggested otherwise. SEAD found a 77% fraud rate in both Wilmington, NC, and Savannah, Georgia. The article’s figures don’t stop there: Half the shrimp consumed in the US was sourced from the Gulf just 40 years ago; cheaper imported shrimp, mainly from Asia and South America, now make up more than 90% of the US market. It’s making it increasingly impossible for American shrimpers to make a living. To wit, in 2013, Louisiana harvested 57 million pounds of white shrimp, valued at $128 million. In the last year, a nearly identical amount was worth only $54 million.
And yet restaurants “are charging historically high prices for shrimp cocktails,” notes Anderson. To add insult to injury, a 2020 LSU study found two-thirds of imported shrimp in Baton Rouge contained banned veterinary drugs.
Keeping with the food thing…..
Aside from dusty powders and chalky shakes, there are a bunch of (actually) delicious foods that are naturally packed with protein — and we’re not just talking about eggs. While the humble egg does have a reputation for being an incredibly great source of this vital nutrient, anything from a can of tuna to a handful of nuts or a bowlful of grains can deliver just as much if not more dietary protein. What you might not know, however, is that certain vegetables also teem with loads of protein, especially edamame.
From keeping you satiated to building muscle and regulating metabolism, protein helps the body function at its finest, which is why consuming enough is so important. Although a large egg can provide a generous 6 grams of protein, edamame boasts even more. With an average of 18 grams of protein, all it takes is 1 cup of savory edamame to reap its protein-packed benefits. But that’s not the only thing that makes the vegetable great.
Along with having an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, edamame is rich in nutrients (namely, vitamin K and folate) and antioxidants that support cardiovascular health by lowering inflammation and cholesterol. Not to mention that the vegetable is also chock-full of fiber. Protein and health perks aside, edamame tastes incredible too. Grassy and nutty with a subtle sweetness, edamame has an incredibly complex flavor profile coupled with a velvety texture that proves pretty hard to resist, which brings us to our next topic.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1844594/high-protein-vegetable-edamame/
I have tried these and I personally will stick to eggs for protein.
Do you eat fast food regularly? Then this story is for you….
We all eat them — ultraprocessed foods such as frozen pizza and ready-to-eat meals make our busy lives much easier. Besides, they are just darn tasty — who isn’t susceptible to hot dogs, sausages, burgers, french fries, sodas, cookies, cakes, candy, doughnuts and ice cream, to name just a few?
If more than 20% of your daily calorie intake is ultraprocessed foods, however, you may be raising your risk for cognitive decline, a new study found.
That amount would equal about 400 calories a day in a 2,000-calories-a-day diet. For comparison, a small order of fries and regular cheeseburger from McDonald’s contains a total of 530 calories.
The part of the brain involved in executive functioning — the ability to process information and make decisions — is especially hard hit, according to the study published Monday in JAMA Neurology.
Men and women in the study who ate the most ultraprocessed foods had a 25% faster rate of executive function decline and a 28% faster rate of overall cognitive impairment compared with those who ate the least amount of overly processed food.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/health/dementia-ultraprocessed-food-wellness/index.html
That study could explain so many things that have been asked.
One of the more famous eateries was one that was found tom be fooling the public and was given a hefty fine.
In medical news….something that I am dealing with prostate cancer….
Scientists have discovered a set of markers in urine for prostate cancer, an advance that could lead to a simpler and better method to diagnose the deadly condition.
Prostate cancer is one of the leading global causes of death among men, with hundreds of thousands succumbing to the malignant condition each year and over a million new cases diagnosed annually.
However, its diagnosis remains a challenge due to the lack of specific signs of an early tumour in the body. Currently, a blood test called the PSA is used to detect the cancer by measuring the level of a protein produced by the prostate gland.
Elevated levels of the protein prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could indicate prostate cancer, but also other non-cancerous conditions.
Screening based on PSA often leads to false positives and unnecessary biopsies, and sometimes even missed diagnoses.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/prostate-cancer-diagnosis-urine-test-b2742202.html
Now we move on to the health stuff….
If a person suffers from diabetes then they have heard of Ozempic…..to help control blood sugar but it is also used for weight loss and now it may have other medical uses…
Experts exploring what other conditions semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, might help apart from diabetes and weight loss say the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial suggest it may reverse a common liver disease. Some 15 million US adults have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), an advanced form of fatty liver disease in which too much fat is stored in the liver, causing inflammation, cell damage, and scarring, per the New York Times. Many sufferers require liver transplants. The study, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at 800 mostly white patients with moderate or advanced levels of liver scarring. The majority had Type 2 diabetes and almost 75% were obese.
Among participants who received semaglutide injections over 72 weeks, almost 63% saw the fat and inflammation in their livers disappear with no worse scarring, compared to around 34% of participants who received a placebo, and almost 37% saw less scar tissue with no worse inflammation or fat buildup, compared to around 22% among the placebo group. Ozempic and Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk, sponsor of the trial, is asking the FDA to approve Wegovy as a treatment for MASH, with a decision expected as early as late this year. There’s only one FDA-approved treatment for the disease, and it only helps about 25% of patients, a doctor tells NBC News.
Eli Lilly, maker of competitor drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound with the active ingredient tirzepatide, has also found early promise in its studies testing tirzepatide as a MASH treatment. While it’s possible semaglutide reduces inflammation in the liver, study author Dr. Arun Sanyal of Virginia Commonwealth University says weight loss was a key driver of change in this trial. Participants in the semaglutide group lost 11% of their body weight on average, compared to 2% with the placebo group, and had lower blood sugar and insulin resistance, which likely contributed to better liver outcomes, per the Times. Participants in both the semaglutide and placebo groups also received nutrition and exercise counseling.
Do you eat or drink so-called diet stuff? If so then this may interest you.
Erythritol, a sugar substitute often found in “sugar-free” or “healthy” foods and drinks, may not be as safe as many people think.
According to new research that will be presented at the 2025 American Physiology Summit, erythritol could hurt brain and heart health by damaging tiny blood vessels and interfering with a key compound that keeps blood flowing smoothly.
Erythritol is commonly used in products like sugar-free energy drinks, protein bars, and snacks because it has very few calories and doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels the way regular sugar does.
This makes it popular among people trying to manage diabetes or reduce their sugar intake. But recent studies have raised concerns about its safety. Some earlier research has already linked erythritol to a higher risk of serious heart problems, including strokes.
https://knowridge.com/2025/05/popular-sugar-substitute-may-harm-heart-and-brain-health/
Finally–the news is buzzing with tariff news and this one piece needs to be front and center….there is a possible crisis brewing because of this trade stuff….and it will hit families hard in the coming weeks and months….
President Donald Trump‘s trade war is triggering alarm among global paper suppliers — one that could lead to a dreaded shortage in US supermarkets of a household staple: toilet paper.
Suzano SA, the world’s largest exporter of pulp, said US levies are disrupting shipments of the key raw material used in making toilet paper and other hygiene products.
The Brazilian company, which produces bleached hardwood pulp used by many American manufacturers, reported a 20% drop in US-bound exports in April compared to the same time last year.
Brazil, like other US trading partners with the exception of China, currently faces a 10% universal tariff on exports.
The warning comes as memories of the 2020 toilet paper shortages, sparked by panic buying and pandemic-related logistics snarls, remain fresh for many consumers.
Remember the panic during Covid? Then be prepared.
Sorry guys but that crappy feeling has returned so I shall close it down for this Saturday….
I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend…..and as always…..Be Well and Be Safe….
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
Sorry to hear that your treatment has hit you hard. Rest up and relax, old friend.
I don’t like Edamame beans at all, so they are off my list. My wife has T2 Diabetes and Fatty Liver Disease, but her clinician does not recommend Ozempic to treat them, not so far anyway.
I can imagine the forthcoming rush on toilet paper, and the warring customers battling for multi-packs in your supermarkets!
Best wishes, Pete.
I thought the Gulf was a mostly dead zone due to BP spill and oxygen depleted and nothing much grows or breeds there. Is that true ? Wouldn’t any seafood be contaminated from there ? I think there are over 300 oil drilling platforms in the Gulf in the arc from tip of Texas almost to western tip of Florida panhandle. Is that true ? Pretty dangerous as none of them are really hurricane or earthwake immune which the industry claims. Do we really know where any seafood actually originates ? I think congress passed a law some time back where source of seafood no longer need be labeled on supermarket packaging. Would never eat talipia as I heard mostly from China, farm raised in confined contaminated pools and fed human waste. Seems much of seafood production has shifted to DC as a sickening “fishy” smell emanates from there these days.
The product is suppose to be labeled with country of origin….but with the guy in the WH I am sure that will change since they are gutting the consumer protection laws….oil spill mostly effected Mississippi and Florida the most and a bit of Louisiana….chuq
And Pete, wait until you see how Americans wildly overreact to it – and it’s a shortage caused by the disastrous economic policies of our absolutely disgraceful President and his inept cronies!
Thanks Pete…..still a little down today….at least there would be a real reason for the panic buying. chuq
I do all my hoarding in advance so I have toilet paper enough for at least 2 years to come. Been doing that since the pandemic.
There is always something about this, that. and the other thing that is “bad” for us. As the frequent saying goes … moderation in all things.
Good advice…..when it comes to health always consult a doctor…..chuq
First and foremost, I hope your side effects from treatment aren’t too unpleasant and I appreciate eyou keeping us updated on that. As fr food: my Grandfather was a Shrimp Fisherman in the Pacific Northwest, and for several years I spent my summers working with him…that industry is long gone now, and oyster beds are now all commercialized there as well – we used to wander the beaches and just pick them up! Ultra-processed food is everything you say it is, and so easy to spot: if the ingredients not he packaging are not familiar then they are not food! Another terrific read!
THanx John….our shrimp industry is tested year around and the results are pretty good but the oysters suck…..chuq
In Washington now many of the oysters are grown on hung nets in the sound…allowing lots of free water flow and multiple rows of netting to increase the yield!
A stellar idea….but how do they control poachers? chuq
That’s a great question! Not sure!
I ask because we have oyster reefs and there is always poaching…..chuq
To determine if shrimp served in a restaurant is local or not in a shrimp-producing state, consider these steps:
Ask the Restaurant Staff: Politely inquire about the shrimp’s origin. Ask if it’s locally sourced from your state’s waters (e.g., Gulf shrimp in Louisiana or Texas) or imported. Reputable restaurants should know their suppliers.
Check the Menu or Website: Look for specific terms like “Gulf shrimp,” “local wild-caught,” or the state’s name (e.g., “Georgia white shrimp”). Imported shrimp is less likely to be labeled with such detail.
Understand Local Shrimp Characteristics:
Species: Learn the common local species. For example, Gulf states produce white (Litopenaeus setiferus), brown (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), and pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum). Imported shrimp are often farmed species like Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).
Appearance and Taste: Local wild-caught shrimp often have a firmer texture and sweeter, briny flavor compared to the softer, milder farmed shrimp from overseas.
Seasonality: Local shrimp are seasonal. In Gulf states, prime seasons are typically spring (brown shrimp) and fall (white shrimp). If a restaurant claims “local” shrimp out of season, it’s questionable unless they’re using frozen stock.
Price Point: Local wild-caught shrimp are often pricier due to higher harvesting costs. If the shrimp dish is unusually cheap, it’s more likely imported, as farmed shrimp from Asia or Latin America are less expensive.
Certifications or Labels: Look for certifications like “Certified Wild American Shrimp” or state-specific branding (e.g., “Louisiana Certified Seafood”). These indicate local sourcing.
Traceability Programs: Some states have traceability initiatives. For example, Louisiana’s “Trace My Seafood” program lets restaurants provide QR codes linking to the shrimp’s origin. Ask if the restaurant participates in such programs.
Physical Clues:
Size Uniformity: Imported farmed shrimp are often uniformly sized, while wild-caught local shrimp vary more.
Shell or Head: If served with shells or heads, wild shrimp may have darker, more vibrant shells compared to the paler farmed ones.
Smell: Local shrimp often have a fresh, ocean-like smell, while imported shrimp may have a faint chemical odor from preservatives.
Research Suppliers: If the restaurant shares its supplier’s name, check if they’re a local seafood distributor. States like Louisiana, Texas, or South Carolina have well-known local seafood companies that prioritize wild-caught shrimp.
Be Skeptical of Vague Claims: Terms like “fresh shrimp” or “ocean shrimp” don’t guarantee local sourcing. Imported shrimp dominate the U.S. market (over 90% of shrimp consumed is imported, often from Asia), so assume imported unless proven otherwise.
Challenges: Restaurants may not always know or disclose the exact origin, especially if they buy from large distributors blending local and imported shrimp. Mislabeling can also occur, though this is less common in states with strong local shrimp industries.
Pro Tip: Visit restaurants near fishing ports or those partnered with local fishermen’s co-ops, as they’re more likely to serve authentic local shrimp. For example, in Louisiana, check for restaurants affiliated with groups like the Louisiana Shrimp Association.
If you want real-time info, I can search X posts or the web for specific state programs or restaurant practices. Let me know your state for more tailored advice!
That visit does not guarantee truth…..one of our ‘5 star’ eateries was caught using foreign seafood….hefty fine and loss of stars…..but since consumer protection is not a priority for Donny and the slugs this too will disappear. chuq