Notices by Shaula Evans (shaulaevans@zirk.us)

A study led by researchers at Ocean Conservancy and the University of Toronto a found #microplastic particles in 88% of protein food samples tested. The samples were drawn from 16 different #protein types destined for U.S. consumers, including seafood, pork, beef, chicken, tofu, and three different plant-based meat alternatives.

Two links follow, plus thread.

1. Summary https://oceanconservancy.org/newsroom/press-release/2024/01/08/its-not-just-seafood-new-study-finds-microplastics-in-nearly-90-of-proteins-sampled-including-plant-based-meat-alternatives/

2. Study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123022352?via%3Dihub

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#Food

I had read about the study but only just tracked down the study itself and read it. I'll share some of the parts that interested me in this thread.

I flag these kinds of threads as cursed knowledge and put them behind a CW because I know it's easy to get overwhelmed polycrisis and you may not be able to handle food becoming even more complicated.

It's worth doing what you can to avoid microplastics -- with available spoons, on an opt-in info basis.

Foods pick up microplastics during processing. Not just ultraprocessed foods, but any kind of food handling. Think about conveyer belts, machinery, gloves worn by food workers. Plastic is everywhere.

I am aiming for minimally processed foods as much as I can for myself. (Your mileage and spoons may vary.) 3/n

I did a call to catch up with an old and really dear friend tonight and it absolutely fed my heart.

The worked at US AID until the layoffs in February and they are looking for new jobs in international development, related fields, and/or anything that uses their broad skill base.

Question follows in thread below. 1/n

#AskFedi #InternationalDevelopment #InternationalRelations #USAID

A question for people who work in International Dev or similar (and only those people pls):

Do you have any field-specific tips for looking for work in those areas? Not generic job search advice, but are there for example job boards for those fields, or opportunities/avenues my friend's not aware of, etc.?

I have of course recommended they join Fedi, too.

I'll pass on any specific insider tips. Thank you. 2/n

My friend has a Master's Degree in International Dvelopment Studies, significant international experience, a great resume and references. They are currently US-based (DC area) and open to international relocation. They speak multiple languages and are open to learning more.They're suitable for managerial-level positions.

*No one needs to know any of the above to answer my post, I'm just trying to prevent some of the questions in my replies. I don't have more info to share at this time.

3/n

If anyone's interested, I'd love to put together a watch party series for Masto friends who are interested in screenwriting and film (/TV) -making, where we watch, pause, and talk abut how the show is doing what it does.

[I don't mention it often, but among my other hats, I'm an international award-winning filmmaker.]

I don't have a stable schedule these days so can't set anything up at the moment, but maybe in the new year if there's interest.

Let me know.

*This is more of a wish/hope/dream than a plan at the moment, but I'd be really open to doing it if/when my schedule permits.

I need to pick up some new freelance work (or revenue streams) in the new year as things are shaping up.

Perhaps I could look at a premium version of this (an educational watch party) for one-on-ones, small groups or open enrollment.

If there's interest and we could make the finances work for everyone, I'd give it thought. (I need to pay my bills, I don't want to lock anyone out, surely there's a creative solution in the middle.)

Reminder: I narrate romance audiobooks (link in bio) and spicy audiobooks, too.

I promote the spicy books on an alt account to keep a tiny fig leaf between my real name and that performer alias. But! If you'd like a link to that catalogue or you'd like to follow me on the other account, I'd truly be delighted. Just drop me a DM and I'll set you up.

(Yes, this post absolutely exists in the dynamic tension between good opsec and surviving capitalism.)

A friend got me a gift subscription consumerlab.com for researching supplements. I am blown away by it. I wish I'd had access to this info years ago.

https://www.consumerlab.com/

@thatkatharine Two years or so back I looked up an old friend who is intelligent, highly educated, was always someone I thought of as compassionate, and who now works in pastoral care.

I mentioned I was seriously struggling with the isolation of my life and lack of human touch with no end in sight.

I still get waves of rage that this person lectured me on how *I* needed to understand that in 2020, lockdown had been difficult for people.

Two whole weeks.

I was beyond 3 years of iso.

WTH.

Spray meat with vinegar before grilling to prevent the health risks that come from charring!

(I randomly came across this info while reading up apple cider vinegar so I am sharing for the BBQ aficionados amongst us.)

via https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/apple-cider-vinegars-review/apple-cider-vinegar/

#Food #Meat #FoodSafety #CookingTips #BBQ #Grilling

I've just watched a show in which a male character's hair radically changes colour partway through the series.

No justification is given.

It wasn't about the character. Presumably the actor needed a different hair colour for a different gig, and the series producers just rolled with it.

I always get a kick out of it when that happens.

I'm really tired of living in a world where I increasingly hear that "doing things right has been deprecated".

Himalayan Pink Salt is popular in healthy eating circles -- and it shouldn't be. (I'm so sorry.)

A 2023 study found coarse Himalayan pink #salt mined from the ground had the most #microplastics, followed by black salt and marine salt.

Do yourself a favor: let go of your emotional investment in the magical properties of things that are actually bad for you & buy yourself some plastic-free salt. Please.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9813175/

#Food

Microplastics research is up-ending what I had previously thought were the "best" in whole categories and ranges of foods, not just salt. But the worlds of #food, nutrition and health advice are not keeping up.

Even if previously trusted authorities are letting us down, I do my best to avoid #microplastics. Microplastic research doesn't know everything yet but we do know that microplastics cross the blood-brain barrier and that's more than enough for me to take them seriously.

@Suzdal92 This reminds me of the time my mom was trying to get my brother to hang up the phone and come to dinner. He was talking to a girl and yelled down the stairs, utterly exasperated, "Mom, we're at a critical stage in our relationship."

He was 11.

I just learned about the EWG food scores database. This is 100% my jam (as it were). How did I not know about this before???

I'm happy to share this great resource about ingredients, packaging, pesticides and more.

https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/

#EWG #food #nutrition #foodsafety

Congratulations to my friend director/producer Sam Mirpoorian on the incredible awards run for his short documentary Saving Superman and this week's new twist: gaining Brendan Fraser (yes, *that* Brendan Fraser) as an Executive Producer.

Saving Superman is a contender for the Academy Awards Best Documentary Short finalist list. If you're an Academy voter, please check out this remarkable, heart-warming little film!

https://variety.com/2025/film/awards/brendan-fraser-saving-superman-documentary-short-1236573613/

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#FYC #ForYourConsideration #Oscars #BrendanFraser