The Daily Dish: Donations To Meals On Wheels Spike After White House Proposes Cuts
Donations to Meals on Wheels Spike After White House Proposes Cuts
Each year, 2.4 million elderly and disabled people across America rely on Meals on Wheels for life-saving nutrition when they're unable to shop and cook for themselves. On a typical day, the nonprofit organization receives about $1,000 in unsolicited online donations, but that all changed after President Trump's budget proposal last week threatened to cut federal funding for Meals on Wheels. Over a two-day period the public-private hybrid organization received $100,000 in unsolicited donations, showing the awesome power of helpful bystanders. Several independent scientific studies have shown that Meals on Wheels provides much more than food for those in need: A study in 2016 showed that home-delivered meals alleviate loneliness for elderly people who live alone, and a 2014 study proved that the overall health and food security of the meal recipients was improved.
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Monsanto Denies Manipulating Research on Safety of Glyphosate
A recent lawsuit against agritech company Monsanto has unveiled seemingly duplicitous internal emails between company executives that suggest Monsanto tried to ghostwrite research that confirmed the safety of glyphosate in order to "keep the cost down." Glyphosate is the controversial ingredient in Roundup, the Monsanto-produced herbicide that has been labeled a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer but deemed safe by other food safety agencies. Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Monsanto provided a detailed defense of both its company ethics policies and the safety of glyphosate. The most recent report from the United Nations published at the Human Rights Council last month refers to glyphosate as "less toxic and persistent compared to traditional herbicides" but notes: "Studies have indicated negative impacts on biodiversity, wildlife, and soil nutrient content. There are also concerns regarding human health. In 2015, WHO announced that glyphosate was a probable carcinogen."
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This Coffee Shop Is Staffed Entirely by Refugees
While the refugee crisis is being debated in high-level government offices in First World countries around the globe, one café is quietly doing its duty to give refugees a second chance. 1951 Coffee Company is a non-profit coffee shop in Berkeley, California, that just opened in January and is staffed entirely by refugees. The employees come from war-torn countries like Syria, Eritrea, Uganda, Afghanistan, Iran, Bhutan, and Myanmar, and many of them have only been in the country for two months, according to Fast Coexist. Founders Rachel Taber and Doug Hewitt came up with the idea of the 1951 Coffee Company after meeting at the International Rescue Committee. The refugees at 1951 not only work as baristas, but they also receive job training which they can use to go on to other parts of the coffee industry.
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Luna Lovegood Dishes Out Vegan, Harry Potter-Themed Treats
Luna Lovegood may be a fictional witch in the world of Harry Potter, but real-life actress Evanna Lynch is working her magic in the kitchen to bring witches, wizards, and muggles the vegan version of iconic Harry Potter treats in a new how-to video produced by PETA. Lynch starts off the tutorial with chocolate frogs, which she says are "dairy-free" and "frog-free" and have "healing powers," as most Harry Potter fans know. Next up is "Butterybeer," a sweet, non-alcoholic beverage that can be made with vegan ice cream. Lastly, Lynch shows viewers how to use vegan crescent rolls to make "Pumpkin Pasties," which can be baked and enjoyed in around 30 minutes.
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Costco's Private-Label Alcohol Sales Jumped Almost 50 Percent in Past Five Years
Despite falling short of projected overall profits during the holidays, Costco has one intoxicating reason for optimism — its private-label alcohol line is booming, with a 46 percent rise in sales in the past five years, according to Bloomberg. The wholesale-club chain's Kirkland Signature liquor brand has gained a following, with some customers comparing the products favorably to top-shelf alcohol. According to David Schick, lead retail analyst at Consumer Edge Research, the use of "very high-end producers" allows the company to set itself apart from other private labels.
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