Food Scorecard Examples
Apple Juice
Nabisco Saltine Crackers
TacoBell Burrito
Directions:
Choose one item from your Food Diary. Give it a beginning health and environmental impact score of 10. Then, estimate its health and environmental impact using the scorecard below. In most instances you will not be able to find exact data to compute the item's score, so take your best guess. Sometimes you can learn about an item by looking at the manufacturer's web site.
Scorecard:
• Subtract no points if the food is produced within a 50 mile radius of where it is sold to consumers and it is produced without petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and added antibiotics and hormones.
• Subtract 1 point if the food item contains high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) because this substance is produced in factories from corn grown using high-intensity methods. Consumption of HFCS is related to the risk of overweight and obesity.
• Subtract 1 point if the food item contains or is prepared with polyhydrogenated vegetable oil (from one or more sources) because this substance contains trans-fats which contribute to heart disease.
• Subtract 1 point if the food item contains or is prepared with soy oil because soy is grown using high-intensity methods.
• Subtract 2 points if the food item is a prepackaged animal product (hot dogs, supermarket beef products, chicken, pork) because the animals are raised in concentrated-animal feeding operations (COFAs).
• Subtract 1 point if the food item is transported from where it is produced more than 200 miles from to where consumers obtain it because of the use of petroleum as fuel.
• Subtract 2 points if the food item is transported from where it is produced more than 700 miles from to where consumers obtain it because of the use of petroleum as fuel
• Subtract 1 point if the food item is packaged in plastic or paper wrapping or box or carton because fossil fuels are used to make the wrapping.
Apple Juice
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 66 percent of the apple juice and apple juice containing products (e.g., blended juice) consumned in the United States is imported from China. After harvesting in China, the apples are crushed and made into a concentrate that is sold to large multinational food and beverage companies. The concentrate is shipped to the U.S. where it is mixed with water (industrial?) to make juice. The juice is put into plastic ontainers and shipped to stores.
Score:
Begin with 10 points
-2 points because the item is shipped over 700 miles (China to California = 6,200 miles).
-1 point because the container is plastic, which required petroleum to make.
Total score = 10-3 = 7
Nabisco Saltine Crackers
The Ingredients label lists enriched white flour, soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil (trans-fat). Crackers produced at Nabisco's main bakery in Chicago, at 1,800,000-square-foot the largest in the world, must be shipped 2136 miles to Livermore.
Score:
Begin with 10 points
-2 points because the item is shipped over 700 miles (Chicago to Livermore).
-1 point because the container is paper which required petroleum to make.
-1 point for containing enriched flour
-1 point for containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
-1 point for containing soy oil
-1 point for containing polyhydrogenated vegetable oil (trans fat)
Total score = 10-7 = 3
The Taco Bell web site lists ingredients for its products. The tortilla for the burrito is made with enriched white flour and soybean oil. Beans are cooked in canola oil). The cheese is cheese. The Taco Bell web site says that franchisees must obtain supplies from approved suppliers. Taco Bell franchisees can purchase supplies from The United Foodservice Purchasing Co-Op (UFPC), which is a company set up to secure the most favorable pricing for necessary items. The UFPC web site lists large companies as suppliers, suggesting that supplies are trucked from central locations to individuals Taco Bell stores. The U.S. Department of Agriculture web site says that North Dakota is the major producer of pinto beans in the United States. The TacoBell web site says that every year the company sells 3.8 billion corn and flour tortillas, 62 million pounds of pinto beans, 295 pounds of seasoned ground beef, 106 million pounds of cheese.
Score:
Begin with 10 points
-1 point for containing enriched flour
-1 point for containing soy oil
-2 points because the ingredients are shipped over 700 miles (North Dakota to Livermore ~ 1500 miles).
Total score = 10-4 = 6
