| Chinese New Year fete a cultural feast
In her native China, Amy Liu would be visiting relatives, sitting down with them for meals on multiple days to celebrate the upcoming new year. But on Sunday -- New Year's Day on the lunar calendar -- she and about 600 others will be extending that tradition to the community at large, with a potluck dinner at Amador Valley High in Pleasanton as part of the fourth annual Tri-Valley Chinese Culture Day. "It's kind of an extended family," said Liu, a volunteer with the Pleasanton-based Chinese American Cooperation Council, which is holding the event. It is the first time a potluck has been part of this event, most of which is free to the public. It is expected to draw about 2,000 throughout the day to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The upcoming year is 4705, represented by the pig on the 12-animal zodiac.
Hunt Private Equity Group buys seafood distributor
DALLAS Hunt Private Equity Group, Inc. announced the acquisition of Poseidon Enterprises Inc., one of the largest privately held seafood distributors in the U.S. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Poseidon Seafood is a distributor of a complete line of fresh and frozen seafood with a full range of products, packaging and distribution capabilities to food service and retail establishments throughout the Southeast. Through Poseidon's subsidiary, Bright Water Seafoods, the company prepares crab cakes, smoked seafood, seafood spreads, salads, dips and other ready-to-eat seafood products. Poseidon, founded in 1986 by the LaVecchia family, will remain headquartered in Charlotte. Hunt Private Equity Group is one of the Dallas-based private equity groups affiliated with Hunt Investment Corporation, which is part of the Hunt Consolidated, Inc.
GM seeds are blowing in the wind
Genetically modified foods are dangerous. They create self-propagating genetic pollution. Scientists are adding novel characteristics to foods, tomatoes that wont rot quickly, corn and cotton that produce their own pesticides and soybeans that are herbicide tolerant. It is vital to look beyond short-term benefits and think through consequences outside the laboratory. Weird manipulations present technology that uses genes from viruses, bacteria, plants, animals and even humans to create new life forms that dont occur in nature. Accidental cross-pollination between conventional crops and wild relatives is a reality.Lab animals fed GM food showed damage to virtually every system studied, said Jeffrey Smith, who collaborated with more than 30 scientists on his forthcoming book, Genetic Roulette: The documented health risks of genetically engineered foods.
Study: Some Baby Bottles May Pass Toxic Chemicals To Child
One group is cautioning parents that some baby bottles may be passing toxic chemicals into their childs food and drink. A study released by an environmental policy group said new tests at the University of Missouri found that some bottles can leach potentially harmful levels of a toxic chemical called Bishenol A, also called BPA. BPA is used in making polycarbonate plastic food and drink packaging. The chemical has been linked to developmental, neural and reproductive problems. .
The key to weight loss: Motivation
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Jennifer Morganstern and Tone Benestad floundered for years struggling with obesity, looking for the secret formula to help them lose weight.Depression and stress had dragged them into obesity as they used food to suppress negative emotions."I spent 10 years eating and drinking," said Morganstern, 40, of Olympia. "I tried every antidepressant out there." She said she lacked motivation. .
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