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 Did you know that the fat in animal products can be a source for fat-soluble environmental toxins such as DDT and other pesticides? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Kari Hammerschlag, MS, Deputy Director of Friends of the Earth’s food and agriculture program. Hammerschlag discusses animal fats as potential reservoirs for fat-soluble environmental toxins, our new dietary guidelines, and how agricultural practices influence public health.  Related Websites:   https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/5582564-toxic-load-industrial-meat/

Did you know that there is clinical evidence showing that collagen peptides may help support joint function, skin and bone health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Shiloah Kviatkovsky, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Kviatkovsky discusses collagen’s role in the body, dietary sources of collagen, and what the research shows re the benefits of collagen supplementation. Related Websites:   https://ortho.uams.edu/shiloah-kviatkovsky-ph-d-cissn/

Did you know that a gluten-free diet doesn’t have to limit your quality of life? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Jessica Lebovits, RD, Registered Dietitian with expertise in celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders. Lebovits discusses symptoms of celiac disease, and ways to navigate a gluten-free life, including strategies for grocery shopping, label reading, restaurant dining, parties and even kissing. Related Websites:   Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University: https://celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu/

Did you know that according to a recent Pew survey, more than 70% of American adults are concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals in their food and drinking water? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Stacy Malkan, co-founder and editor at the nonprofit public health research group, U.S. Right to Know. Malkan describes how chemical industry lobbyists influence federal policy to favor profits over public health, and exposes the Trump administration’s relationships with Bayer/Monsanto. Related Websites:  https://usrtk.org/pesticides/tracing-bayers-ties-to-power-in-trumps-washington/ 

Did you know that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto/Bayer’s herbicide, Roundup,  is an endocrine (hormone) disruptor, and antibiotic that negatively affects our gut microbes? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her continued conversation with Lee Evslin, MD, FAAP, board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, former hospital CEO, and author of Breakfast at Monsanto’s: Is Roundup in our food making us sicker, fatter, and sadder. Evslin reviews research on glyphosate, and how glyphosate gets into our food system, water, air and urine. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that the presence of glyphosate and other toxic herbicides in food products is the main hazard to children’s health associated with the consumption of GMO-based foods. (Part 2 of 2) Related Websites: Retraction of Monsanto study: https://www.science.org/content/article/journal-retracts-weed-killer-study-backed-monsanto-citing-serious-ethical-concerns

Did you know that even low-level exposures to commonly used pesticides pose harm to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Lee Evslin, MD, FAAP, board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, former hospital CEO, and author of Breakfast at Monsanto’s: Is Roundup in our food making us sicker, fatter, and sadder. Evslin discusses his work in Hawaii which spurred a state ban on the neurotoxic pesticide, chlorpyrifos, and how the chemical industry attempts to discredit even physicians. (Part 1 of 2) Related Websites:  https://www.washington.edu/news/2012/12/19/american-academy-of-pediatrics-issues-policy-statement-on-pesticide-exposure-in-children/

Did you know that cuts to SNAP will affect farmers’ incomes, rural economies and the ability of underserved populations to access fresh, local food at farmers’ markets? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her continuing conversation with Kelly Verel, Co-Executive Director at Project for Public Spaces, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing public spaces to life through planning and design. Verel further describes assorted types of public markets and the ways markets boost economic resilience and public health. (Part 2 of 2) Related Websites:  Benefits of public markets: https://www.pps.org/article/the-benefits-of-public-markets

Did you know that public market spaces, including farmers’ markets, are vital for regional economic resilience and public health?  Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Kelly Verel, Co-Executive Director at Project for Public Spaces, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing public spaces to life through planning and design.  Verel discusses the multiple benefits of public markets, market challenges and successful models. (Part 1 of 2) Related Websites:  https://uwm.edu/architecture/marketplaces-where-food-access-health-and-economic-impacts-grow/

Did you know that each year, more than 500,000 Americans visit the emergency room due to kidney stones; it’s estimated that approximately 1 in 10 people will develop a kidney stone in their lifetime? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Melanie Betz, MS, RD, “The Kidney Dietitian,” who will explain the reasons why the incidence of kidney stones is rising and discuss how to prevent and treat kidney stones through diet. She’ll also bust myths regarding traditional dietary approaches for preventing stone formation. She has written extensively on this topic: https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/six-easy-ways-to-prevent-kidney-stones Related Websites: https://www.thekidneydietitian.org/category/blog/kidney-stones/

Did you know that the U. of MI offers a free webinar series titled: “Food Literacy for All”? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Amanda Edmonds, MS, sustainable food systems consultant and instructor at the University of Michigan. Edmonds explains the scope of food systems, defines food literacy, and describes the objectives the U. of Michigan’s free webinar series, which is open to all, with access to webinar recordings. The webinar series is a community-academic partnership featuring an evening lecture series where weekly guest speakers address challenges and opportunities of diverse food systems. Related Websites: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/sustainablefoodsystems/foodliteracyforall/

Did you know that the Tyson meatpacking company reaps enormous profits on the backs of immigrant, prison, and in some cases even child labor? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with James Beard award winning writer, Alice Driver, PhD, author of Life and Death of the American Worker: The Immigrants Taking on America’s Largest Meatpacking Company. Driver describes the life-threatening and thankless work inside Tyson facilities in Arkansas and beyond. She discuses unsafe working conditions, common injuries, lack of COVID protection, and more. Related Websites:   https://www.alicedriver.com/Theme music: Kevin MacLeod 

Did you know that cost, convenience and taste almost always beat out health when it comes to making food choices? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Nutrition Scientist at Stanford University. Gardner, who served on the 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, discusses the latest edition of our Dietary Guidelines, including the new confusing graphic of an upside-down pyramid. He explains the science behind protein requirements, and discusses dairy fat, seed oils, and how to make the best food choices to promote health while emphasizing the importance of enjoying delicious food.  Related Websites:   https://med.stanford.edu/nutrition/news/press/2025_2030_Dietary_Guidelines

Did you know that The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, and the International Year of the Woman Farmer? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Seth Itzkan, environmental futurist and cofounder of Soil4Climate, an international nongovernmental organization advancing the science, policy and practice of soil restoration through regenerative grazing and agroforestry practices as a climate solution. Itzkan discusses the role ruminants play in agriculture, soil restoration and sustainability. For state policies on soil health, see: https://nerdsforearth.com/state-healthy-soils-policy/ ; and for the  Friends of the Earth report on the misconceptions on  No-Till Farming, see: https://foe.org/resources/rethinking-no-till/ Related Websites: www.soil4climate.org

Did you know that eating well doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive?  Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian a.k.a. “The Veggie Queen.” Nussinow, an author, chef and culinary instructor, discusses ways to improve nutrition and lead a healthier, happier life. She provides specific information on mushrooms, fermented foods, fiber, gut and brain health.  Note: for information on safe mushroom hunting, see the North American Mycological Association: https://namyco.org/ Related Websites: https://www.theveggiequeen.com/

Did you know that the new GLP-1 drugs may be helpful for overcoming certain eating disorders? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Mary Anne Cohen, LCSW, psychotherapist and Director of The New York Center for Eating Disorders. Cohen provides tips on overcoming emotional eating, and explains how GLP-1 drugs may help quiet “food noise.” She also addresses the role of social media in disordered eating and body image. Related Websites: www.emotionaleating.orgTheme music: Kevin MacLeod