Cocoa Conundrum: Navigating Chocolate Safety with Consumer Reports' Food Safety Expert
03/19/24 • 59 min
In this episode, Samantha Cieslinski interviews Dr. James Rogers, the Director of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports. They discuss various topics related to food safety, including the importance of food safety for children, Dr. Rogers' personal and professional journey, staying active and motivated, parenting and communication, and the challenges faced in ensuring food safety. Dr. Rogers emphasizes the need for open communication with children and the importance of seeking help when needed. He also highlights the challenges of funding food safety testing and the dynamic nature of the food industry. In this part of the conversation, James Rogers discusses the testing and evaluation process at Consumer Reports, highlighting the organization's focus on risk-based testing and the selection process for products. He also explains the role of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods in ensuring food safety from farm to table. Rogers emphasizes the importance of balancing consumer education without causing unnecessary panic and dispelling common misconceptions about food safety. Lastly, he discusses Consumer Reports' motivation for testing chocolate products for heavy metals and the response from the industry and consumers. In this conversation, Dr. James Rogers discusses the testing of chocolate for heavy metals, specifically cadmium and lead. The testing revealed that one-third of the chocolate products tested had worrisome levels of these heavy metals. Milk chocolate generally had lower levels compared to dark chocolate. The contamination of heavy metals in chocolate is associated with the cacao levels and the source of the chocolate beans. Dr. Rogers emphasizes the importance of moderation and informed choices when consuming chocolate, especially for children. He also mentions other food safety topics, such as plastics in food and heavy metals in spices.
Consumer Reports -Instagram
Consumer Reports - Website
A Third of Chocolate Products Are High in Heavy Metals, CR's Tests Find
iwaspoisoned.com
askFSIS
The Running Wine Mom - Instagram
In this episode, Samantha Cieslinski interviews Dr. James Rogers, the Director of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports. They discuss various topics related to food safety, including the importance of food safety for children, Dr. Rogers' personal and professional journey, staying active and motivated, parenting and communication, and the challenges faced in ensuring food safety. Dr. Rogers emphasizes the need for open communication with children and the importance of seeking help when needed. He also highlights the challenges of funding food safety testing and the dynamic nature of the food industry. In this part of the conversation, James Rogers discusses the testing and evaluation process at Consumer Reports, highlighting the organization's focus on risk-based testing and the selection process for products. He also explains the role of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods in ensuring food safety from farm to table. Rogers emphasizes the importance of balancing consumer education without causing unnecessary panic and dispelling common misconceptions about food safety. Lastly, he discusses Consumer Reports' motivation for testing chocolate products for heavy metals and the response from the industry and consumers. In this conversation, Dr. James Rogers discusses the testing of chocolate for heavy metals, specifically cadmium and lead. The testing revealed that one-third of the chocolate products tested had worrisome levels of these heavy metals. Milk chocolate generally had lower levels compared to dark chocolate. The contamination of heavy metals in chocolate is associated with the cacao levels and the source of the chocolate beans. Dr. Rogers emphasizes the importance of moderation and informed choices when consuming chocolate, especially for children. He also mentions other food safety topics, such as plastics in food and heavy metals in spices.
Consumer Reports -Instagram
Consumer Reports - Website
A Third of Chocolate Products Are High in Heavy Metals, CR's Tests Find
iwaspoisoned.com
askFSIS
The Running Wine Mom - Instagram
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Lindsay Gunther of Fortis & Haven
In this episode of the Running Wine Mom podcast, host Samantha Cieslinski interviews Lindsay, the visionary force behind Fortis & Haven. Lindsay shares her journey of creating Fortis & Haven, a clothing line that provides comfort and accessibility for individuals undergoing medical treatment. The conversation covers topics such as personal struggles, parenting style, staying active, and overcoming challenges. Lindsay discusses the unique features and design elements of Fortis & Haven that prioritize comfort and accessibility. The episode concludes with a discussion on the challenges faced during the development of Fortis & Haven and how they were overcome. In this conversation, Lindsay discusses her clothing line, Fortis and Haven, which aims to meet the diverse needs of both adults and children undergoing medical treatments. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of research in understanding the specific needs of different medical conditions and incorporating feedback from individuals going through treatments. She also talks about the challenge of balancing functionality and aesthetics in the design process. Lindsay shares her future plans, including expanding the product line and partnering with nonprofit organizations and healthcare facilities. The name Fortis and Haven reflects the brand's mission of finding strength and comfort. Lindsay offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and highlights the impact that one person's passion and determination can have in making a difference.
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Author Heather Gudenkauf
In this episode, host Samantha Cieslinski interviews author Heather Gudenkauf. They discuss Heather's literary journey, her writing process, and the themes in her novels. They also talk about staying active, overcoming struggles, and parenting. Heather shares her love for books and how it influenced her decision to become a writer. They delve into the thriller genre and the importance of setting in Heather's books. They review two of Heather's novels, 'This Is How I Lied' and 'The Overnight Guest.' The episode concludes with an introduction to Heather's latest release, 'Everyone Is Watching.' Heather Gudenkauf discusses her new book, 'Everyone is Watching,' and shares insights into the setting, multiple perspectives, character development, and themes of the story. She reflects on society's obsession with social media and the dangers of making assumptions about public figures. The book is set in an isolated location where contestants must give up their cell phones and face dangerous challenges, all while being live-streamed to the world. Gudenkauf emphasizes the importance of getting to know the characters and the evolution of their secrets throughout the story.
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