Comments on: Chipotle Restaurants And The Pigness of The Pig http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:36:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Shaun http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2412 Shaun Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:42:53 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2412 I'm glad a place like this exists in our junk food culture, and I admire their efforts in going the extra mile to serve Real Food, so I was doubly disappointed to learn that they use hydrogenated oils in their tortillas. While browsing around their site, I noticed that they mention the tortillas have a "negligible amount of trans fats," so I enquired about what was adding that negligible amount, and my worst fears were confirmed: "Thanks for writing us. Yes, we do have hydrogenated oil in our flour tortillas. It is .46 grams per serving to be exact. The FDA says if you have less than .5 grams per serving, that means you have "Zero Trans Fats". But we like to be honest. Just so you know, we've been trying to get Trans Fats out of our tortillas for quite some time, but the tests do not yield the results we need yet. We'll keep trying. Thanks." Sincerely, Lyn I hope they try harder. I'm sure many people are under the impression they're getting all-natural food when they eat there, but that's just not the case, obviously, with these plasticized oils, no matter how negligible. I'll continue eating there, but I'll be skipping the burritos from now on. I’m glad a place like this exists in our junk food culture, and I admire their efforts in going the extra mile to serve Real Food, so I was doubly disappointed to learn that they use hydrogenated oils in their tortillas. While browsing around their site, I noticed that they mention the tortillas have a “negligible amount of trans fats,” so I enquired about what was adding that negligible amount, and my worst fears were confirmed:

“Thanks for writing us. Yes, we do have hydrogenated oil in our flour tortillas. It is .46 grams per serving to be exact. The FDA says if you have less than .5 grams per serving, that means you have “Zero Trans Fats”. But we like to be honest.
Just so you know, we’ve been trying to get Trans Fats out of our tortillas for quite some time, but the tests do not yield the results we need yet. We’ll keep trying.
Thanks.”

Sincerely,
Lyn

I hope they try harder. I’m sure many people are under the impression they’re getting all-natural food when they eat there, but that’s just not the case, obviously, with these plasticized oils, no matter how negligible. I’ll continue eating there, but I’ll be skipping the burritos from now on.

]]> By: Walter Jeffries http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2411 Walter Jeffries Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:52:34 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2411 Bravo. We can raise pigs without grain, without confinement, out on pasture. I get told it is impossible. But we've been doing it for years. It works and the pork is the best. Kudos to Chipotle Restaurants for supporting pastured pig farming. Bravo. We can raise pigs without grain, without confinement, out on pasture. I get told it is impossible. But we’ve been doing it for years. It works and the pork is the best. Kudos to Chipotle Restaurants for supporting pastured pig farming.

]]> By: Organic Consumer who Cares http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2410 Organic Consumer who Cares Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:07:34 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2410 I HIGHLY recommend reading this blog from Denver Fair Food. Denver is where the Chipotle HQ is located and it's a smart read for anyone concerned with Chipotle's "Food with Integrity" stance: http://denverfairfood.blogspot.com/2009/06/further-reading-for-chipotle-mexican.html I HIGHLY recommend reading this blog from Denver Fair Food. Denver is where the Chipotle HQ is located and it’s a smart read for anyone concerned with Chipotle’s “Food with Integrity” stance:

http://denverfairfood.blogspot.com/2009/06/further-reading-for-chipotle-mexican.html

]]> By: karen c. http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2409 karen c. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:36:16 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2409 Wow, thanks so much for this article. I actually stopped eating at Chipotle (when forced to eat fast food) due to their ties with McDonald's and as PP stated the suspect "all natural" claims. I was relieved to find out that both were inaccurate. THANKS AGAIN! Wow, thanks so much for this article. I actually stopped eating at Chipotle (when forced to eat fast food) due to their ties with McDonald’s and as PP stated the suspect “all natural” claims. I was relieved to find out that both were inaccurate. THANKS AGAIN!

]]> By: Angela http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2408 Angela Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:38:15 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2408 Thanks for the story. I love Joel as he is such a great role model for the type of farmers that we desperately need. In terms of working to have sustainable meat, I applaud Chipotle Thanks for the story. I love Joel as he is such a great role model for the type of farmers that we desperately need. In terms of working to have sustainable meat, I applaud Chipotle

]]> By: Raine Saunders http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2407 Raine Saunders Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:38:01 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2407 Yes, it's true that you simply cannot win all fronts on the eating out frontier, and on the rare occasion that I do eat out, I never order anything with grains or tortillas, unless they happen to be corn (on rare occasions, again, because of GMOs). I just thought that since Steve Ells was conscientious, he might be making an effort to have some of the other components in the food served at his restaurants safe as well...but just didn't know the answer to that question. It is my dream to be able to walk into a restaurant some day and know that every component is conscientiously prepared from sustainable foods. I know that's pie-in-the-sky, but one restaurant here in Boise is doing about 85% of that, as most of their food is locally sourced, sustainable, and organic. I never eat their grains, even though they are organic, because they are all probably rancid. But I can feel safe eating all meat and vegetables there because it's all sustainable and organic. Now that's an honorable goal to be reaching for (as Joel Salatin might say!). <abbr><em>Raine Saunders Yes, it’s true that you simply cannot win all fronts on the eating out frontier, and on the rare occasion that I do eat out, I never order anything with grains or tortillas, unless they happen to be corn (on rare occasions, again, because of GMOs). I just thought that since Steve Ells was conscientious, he might be making an effort to have some of the other components in the food served at his restaurants safe as well…but just didn’t know the answer to that question. It is my dream to be able to walk into a restaurant some day and know that every component is conscientiously prepared from sustainable foods. I know that’s pie-in-the-sky, but one restaurant here in Boise is doing about 85% of that, as most of their food is locally sourced, sustainable, and organic. I never eat their grains, even though they are organic, because they are all probably rancid. But I can feel safe eating all meat and vegetables there because it’s all sustainable and organic. Now that’s an honorable goal to be reaching for (as Joel Salatin might say!).

Raine Saunders

]]> By: KristenM http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2406 KristenM Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:21:15 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2406 Raine -- The way I see it, when I eat out, I'm definitely making compromises. So, I try to do the best I can. In my book, the highest nutritional priorities go to meat & dairy being well-sourced (from grass-fed, wild, or free-range animals). If I can't get that, it's at least nice to know the meat/dairy is from animals raised w/o the use of antibiotics or hormones. My next priority in eating out is trying to avoid trans fats (so no foods fried in veggie oil) and eating as few yellow oils (corn, soybean, canola, etc.) as possible. My next priority is to try to eat as few grains as possible because they are ALL going to be improperly prepared. (I'll sometimes allow rice, depending on the rest of the meal and what else I've eaten that day/week.) I have zero hope of getting organic veggies & fruits, so I simply try to avoid the most pesticide-laden fruits & veggies (not the crops that use the most pesticides, but the plants that have the most residual pesticides in them after washing) like peaches, strawberries, and leafy greens. Now then, that's just an order of priority for me, my own personal rules for eating out without feeling especially guilty. I don't eat out very often, but when I do, I try to do the best I can based on those priorities. So, by those priorities, a carnitas burrito bowl (the innards of a burrito w/o the tortilla) at Chipotle is looking pretty good, particularly if I saddle it with guacamole & sour cream. Raine — The way I see it, when I eat out, I’m definitely making compromises. So, I try to do the best I can. In my book, the highest nutritional priorities go to meat & dairy being well-sourced (from grass-fed, wild, or free-range animals). If I can’t get that, it’s at least nice to know the meat/dairy is from animals raised w/o the use of antibiotics or hormones. My next priority in eating out is trying to avoid trans fats (so no foods fried in veggie oil) and eating as few yellow oils (corn, soybean, canola, etc.) as possible. My next priority is to try to eat as few grains as possible because they are ALL going to be improperly prepared. (I’ll sometimes allow rice, depending on the rest of the meal and what else I’ve eaten that day/week.) I have zero hope of getting organic veggies & fruits, so I simply try to avoid the most pesticide-laden fruits & veggies (not the crops that use the most pesticides, but the plants that have the most residual pesticides in them after washing) like peaches, strawberries, and leafy greens.

Now then, that’s just an order of priority for me, my own personal rules for eating out without feeling especially guilty. I don’t eat out very often, but when I do, I try to do the best I can based on those priorities.

So, by those priorities, a carnitas burrito bowl (the innards of a burrito w/o the tortilla) at Chipotle is looking pretty good, particularly if I saddle it with guacamole & sour cream.

]]> By: Raine Saunders http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2405 Raine Saunders Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:57:02 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2405 Almost two years ago, my husband said he heard a report on NPR about these restaurants using sustainable meat, so it made our traveling experiences just a little easier since then. Of course, I always think about stuff like this, but...I wonder how their tortillas are made (and where does their rice come from)? I always think about GMOs when I go to restaurants and public places, and I know Steve Ells is conscientious, but I didn't hear anything about that in the report. I don't want to be the naysayer, but I just know that in any other case, if it's not otherwise labeled, it's probably GMO. <abbr><em>Raine Saunders Almost two years ago, my husband said he heard a report on NPR about these restaurants using sustainable meat, so it made our traveling experiences just a little easier since then.

Of course, I always think about stuff like this, but…I wonder how their tortillas are made (and where does their rice come from)? I always think about GMOs when I go to restaurants and public places, and I know Steve Ells is conscientious, but I didn’t hear anything about that in the report. I don’t want to be the naysayer, but I just know that in any other case, if it’s not otherwise labeled, it’s probably GMO.

Raine Saunders

]]> By: Mary P. http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2404 Mary P. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:26:38 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2404 Thank you so much for posting this, I loved it! I will now patronize Chipotle's :))) Thank you so much for posting this, I loved it! I will now patronize Chipotle’s :) ))

]]> By: Organic and Thrifty http://www.foodrenegade.com/chipotle-restaraunts-and-the-pigness-of-the-pig/#comment-2403 Organic and Thrifty Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:30:33 +0000 http://www.foodrenegade.com/?p=956#comment-2403 Great post, FR!!! I love Chipotle, but was avoiding their pork because I thought it couldn't possibly be raised "the good way"! Thanks so much; this is the one restaurant I actually will eat at, too! Yay! Catherine, (above) I would love to know more details about this restaurant you speak of! Sounds like the makings for a great blog post!!!! <abbr><em>Organic and Thrifty Great post, FR!!!

I love Chipotle, but was avoiding their pork because I thought it couldn’t possibly be raised “the good way”! Thanks so much; this is the one restaurant I actually will eat at, too! Yay!

Catherine, (above) I would love to know more details about this restaurant you speak of! Sounds like the makings for a great blog post!!!!

Organic and Thrifty

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