Salad Safety, Probiotics Overload & Almond Milk Truth | Dr. Oz | S10 | Ep 6 | Full Episode
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Today, is salad safe to eat again?
Recall.
This lettuce recall is nationwide.
Outbreaks.
Parasite outbreak triggers recall.
Contamination.
Contamination is widespread.
We go inside the lettuce industry.
The leaders of today's top brands answer the tough questions.
Plus, can you overdose on probiotics?
New headlines raise the question, is it too much of a good thing?
Coming up next.
Oh, oh, oh.
Y 'all ready for season 10?
yeah
I love you guys
If you hesitate at the salad bar or think twice before buying bagged salad, maybe, maybe you wonder, is it safe to eat salad again?
Consumer confidence is down when it comes to lettuce safety, and it's no wonder.
It seems like every day there's another new headline about a foodborne illness outbreak with lettuce as the culprit.
So today, for the first time, we're going straight to the source.
In just a few minutes, you will hear directly from the lettuce industry leaders who are out there.
We're going to find out what they're doing to keep your salad safe.
Take a look.
The romaine scare hit hard with epic panic over the E. coli outbreak, leaving seizure salad and rap lovers afraid.
Ever since the romaine lettuce scare last year, I've just been very unsure if I should feed my family romaine lettuce.
I've read the headlines and now I'm horrified.
Is it less safe to buy bags of lettuce or heads of lettuce?
Every year, one in six Americans get sick from food.
That's 48 million people.
And lettuce is frequently implicated.
More people getting sick from lettuce linked to an E. coli outbreak.
This year, the largest E. coli scare in over a decade stemmed from people eating greens grown in this part of the country: Yuma, Arizona.
But those Yuma greens were sold nationwide.
People in 36 states got sick.
Almost 100 were hospitalized.
And five even died before that crisis was over.
And just this month, the FDA and CDC, along with state and local officials, wrapped up their investigation into another multi-state outbreak linked to greens.
This time, it was cyclosporiasis.
From salads consumed at McDonald's.
But officials weren't able to identify a single source of contamination.
From romaine to all the salad greens you love.
Today, lettuce industry insiders and brands are answering your questions.
Let's look at what foodborne illnesses look like.
This little parasite here looks like the Death Star from Star Wars.
It's called cyclospora, which recently caused a large outbreak.
Thought to be linked to fast food salads.
I mean, this thing, there's not bacteria there.
Little protozoa, little parasites.
Then there's salmonella, right?
You've heard of salmonella.
It has these little hair-like things.
They're known as cilia that help them move through your system.
It's one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States.
It's not so pretty when it's inside of you.
And then there's this little guy, elegantly swimming.
See him, like, motoring along here, right?
It's called E. coli.
This is the bacteria behind the romaine outbreak earlier this summer.
Again, these are spectacular species, but not when they're attacking you.
So when you eat something contaminated by one of these bad boys, you'll feel it.
Most people just get vomiting, they'll get diarrhea.
But a few thousand Americans do die from the effects of foodborne illness every year.
So it's important we track these outbreaks.
We ask Consumer Reports Chief Scientist James Dickerson to help us understand what happened with lettuce.
I should point out, during the romaine outbreak last summer, Consumer Reports advised consumers to stop eating romaine even before the government issued warnings.
So you're ahead of the game.
And thank you for being there.
Do you think we're just reporting this more often?
Are we truly having more foodborne outbreaks?
So the simple answer is we're not entirely sure.
It could be a little bit of both.
We certainly have rapidly growing population.
We have more sources of food.
But there's more media coverage, so it could be really a combination of both.
And why is lettuce so problematic?
I mean, it's the best food for us.
Why is it the culprit?
So as you mentioned, the Center for Disease Control stated that 20% of all foodborne illnesses related to E. coli particularly come from leafy greens.
The thing is that there's nothing intrinsically wrong with lettuce.
No, it's what we're doing to it.
Walk me over here and show me the major steps of contamination.
And James, you know this area really well, so we're going to break it down.
There are basically five ways that lettuce, poor old innocent lettuce, because it's usually a bystander, gets contaminated.
Okay, step number one has to do with these beautiful wildlife.
Wildlife.
They trounce around our fields and near our fields.
They might fly overhead and leave things, if you know what I mean.
Yes.
Darn birds, rabbits.
The next thing.
It's the water sources.
And so water can get easily contaminated.
The sprinkler systems can get contaminated.
And this, we believe, is the source for the recent E. coli outbreak in Yuma, Arizona.
Contaminated canal water.
So both the tubes, but also where they get the water from.
Water from, exactly.
And then the people making the harvest.
Certainly.
We have our workers that have gloves and boots.
They're tools, they're handling the food each and every time, exactly.
Next, we have the factories.
Now imagine, food coming from all around the country, coming into one location.
And if you have just one potential source of contamination, it could cross-contaminate the entirety of the food system.
And then lastly...
It's that last part of the farm to table.
Last mile.
Last mile, which is your grocery store all the way to your home.
All these sources of contamination.
James, thank you very much.
Very, very helpful.
Thank you so much.
So this alarms me so much because there's a lot of fear amongst consumers like you when it comes to eating leafy greens.
And they're so essential to healthy eating that I don't want to take them away from you.
So for the first time, a lettuce industry insider is appearing here for you.
Please welcome Scott Horsfall, who's the CEO of California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
That's the group that creates the regulations that keep salads safe for us, folks who are the salad lovers like me, appreciate what you do.
So you say it comes down to a culture of food safety and how we actually grow our lettuce and produce the product.
Explain, what does that mean?
To me, Dr. Oz, a culture of food safety exists.
When everybody in an organization, from the management to the farm worker to the supervisors, they all recognize that protecting public health is their number one priority.
And I'll give you one example.
The industry used to be based on speed.
What's really changed in the last decade or so is that if a worker spots an issue or a potential issue, even if it slows down production, even if it means...
Say, a machine needs to be cleaned and sanitized, they're commended for that.
And to me, that's what a culture of food safety on the farm is all about.
So break it down for us.
You brought us some exclusive views of what it actually looks like.
There's a harvest training video.
What you're trying to use to change the culture.
So what are the safety measures actually taken?
We're going to start off with water since it's the probable culprit in the latest outbreak.
Right.
There's a lot of focus on water from the recent outbreak.
So we've always required all of our members to test their water.
They test it every month.
But we've just recently added some changes to our standards.
For situations like what we just went through, and we're going to see more water treatment, for instance, so that farmers can be even more sure that they're using water that's safe and adequate.
And what about animal contamination?
Animal contamination is a real issue.
We grow products outdoors.
There are a lot of environmental concerns.
From rodents to birds to you name it.
And so farmers will, every day, they do an inspection.
If they see any signs of animal encroachment, they'll mark that part of the field off.
Occasionally, not often, they may walk away from an entire field, but they will not harvest anything that's...
And what about us, human contamination?
Well, we harvest most leafy greens by hand still, so workers are very important in that process.
So we have a host of requirements for workers.
Handwashing is really important.
We've created a handwashing app that growers can use to train their workers.
Everything is being done to make sure that the product is as safe as it could be.
Scott, thank you for trusting the process, for taking an insider's look into our living rooms.
I think it'll help address some of the fears consumers have.
Now, when we, you know, I've said this many times, we believe that when it comes to what you eat, you have the right to complete transparency.
So today, we're actually holding a salad summit for the first time ever.
One of the biggest brands, Dole, is actually here, answering your questions directly.
Stay with us.
He would say, shut up or I'll kill you.
All new Oz, True Crime Tuesday is back.
How new DNA science helped crack the case of the Golden State Killer.
This guy is the devil on Earth.
That's coming up tomorrow.
Thank you.
A lot of you are worried about recent lettuce recalls, but fear and food should never go together.
So today we're hosting a first-of-its-kind salad summit.
We want to create a safe space for you to interact directly with the people who know your produce best.
So we have invited three representatives from the salad industry to answer questions from our audience members.
First, I want to welcome to our salad salad panel, Natalie Dyson.
She is the Vice President of Food Safety and Quality at one of the biggest lettuce brands, Dole.
John Bolts is also joining us, the first Vice President for Arizona Farm Bureau, and he's also a grower.
Knows firsthand what it takes.
Food safety consultant who knows about food germs at restaurants, grocery stores, and especially in your home.
So Natalie, there are a lot of misconceptions, a lot of fear around foodborne illnesses.
Why was it so important for Dole to be here today?
Well, I think as consumers, when you hear about...
Food safety issues or recalls or things like that in the news.
It's easy to forget we have a really safe food supply in this country.
And for Dole, we're committed to transparency.
We're committed to being an innovator and a leader in the industry.
And we really wanted the opportunity to come and talk to everybody about the standards that we have and the practices in the U.S. that are really designed to protect the consumers.
We invest millions of dollars every year, like many companies do, in In research, in innovation, in expertise, just to make sure we're producing safer products.
Give me an example of what you do at Dole to make the food supply safer, to make salad easier for people to trust.
Well, we have robust controls all the way through the continuum.
It starts in the field, so we have practices that our growers adhere to in the field, during harvest, during transportation, cooling, all the way through our processing facilities.
Everything is intentionally designed with those controls to ensure that the product is kept safe.
And John, if I could turn to you.
You're a grower.
Yes.
You speak for growers.
We just saw a video about food safety tactics, things that I could imagine some workers using and some not.
How do you make sure that everyone's trying to follow the rules, even though they may seem not applicable to them?
Well, Dr. Oz, the best thing that we can do is rely on the best science.
So as a grower, I go to...
Preeminent minds in that field of science, like those at the University of Arizona that are leaders in the world in food safety and pathogens and keeping them out of our food.
And we work hand-in-glove with them, and we develop training for our employees, and we work through the whole process.
And it's really important.
It's something that we're passionate about as a grower, and we just love providing safe food for people.
That's what we do.
You're okay with some questions now from the audience?
Absolutely.
All right.
So, Nicole, you're going to go first, and I understand you have a question for Natalie and John.
I haven't eaten lettuce since the outbreak.
Is lettuce safe to eat again?
Absolutely.
You know, we are consumers, too, and we eat the product, and we serve it to our families, and the health and nutrition benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables far, far outweigh any perceived concerns that there are associated with these products.
I absolutely agree.
Eating leafy greens is absolutely safe.
And I just wanted to say, you know, the lettuce that I grow in my fields that is shipped all over the United States and Canada, it's on your plates at restaurants.
You take it home to your family.
Dr. Oz, that's the same lettuce that I harvest in my fields and take home to my family.
Let's go next.
Jasmine?
Hi.
Is eating bagged lettuce less safe than eating regular heads of lettuce?
No.
All lettuce comes from the same place.
It's all grown the same way.
It's all harvested the same way.
It's really a matter of convenience for customers.
Can you address something that I read about sometimes, which is that when it's pre-bagged for you or washed, someone has to touch it.
So how do you know it's not getting contaminated then?
Actually, human hands don't actually touch the product.
We take a lot of care during the wash process and during handling to ensure that there is not going to be any contamination.
We can save some time.
I've been shying away from it.
Joan, you've got a question.
Hi.
What can we do when we take lettuce home to make sure that we clean it properly?
So research shows that if you do have E. coli on the lettuce, the bacteria itself actually goes into the crevices within the lettuce, so you can't wash it off.
But there are things that you can do to keep lettuce safe.
You actually can wash it in a colander.
The colander actually prevents it from touching the bottom of the sink, where you might have some dirt from whatever you've been washing before.
After that, you're going to move it to a cutting board.
Now, it's not just the cutting board.
You want to make sure the surface is clean, your hands are clean, right?
You just touched your cell phone.
I went to the restroom.
Wash it.
The knife is clean.
And then after you chop it for your salad, and let's say you're eating it later, you need to chill it in the refrigerator and then serve it.
So finally, I'm going to give an idea on this, and I think everyone should be listening carefully, too.
90% of us, 90% of all the people who hear my voice don't eat enough fruits and vegetables.
So you can't be afraid of salad because it just takes us down the wrong path.
In fact, I think not eating lettuce can be a bigger health problem than the occasional outbreak, although I don't want to have a problem with either.
So when you see a scary headline, find out the breed of lettuce and switch to another kind for a few weeks.
That's what it takes to clean it out of the system.
When we do that, at least we'll keep eating our greens, making sure our families are healthy, and give the industry a chance to catch up to whatever problem afflicted that breed of lettuce.
I want to applaud all of you for being here.
I know it takes a big amount of trust to come on our set.
You came on television.
You faced these sessions.
Thank you very much.
Healthy dialogue between consumers and the food industry is the only way to ensure healthy and safe food, so we'll keep doing it for you.
We'll be right back.
Are you taking your probiotic all wrong?
We're revealing the biggest mistakes you may be making, and if all this good stuff is actually causing your bloat and brain fog, it's all coming up.
That's next.
Bloat and brain fog.
The two things you dread the most.
There's hammering on you.
Now, new headlines raise the question.
Could probiotics actually be the blame?
Is this a tough one for me because my favorite probiotic of all is that.
It's Greek yogurt.
And I have it every day.
I know you take your probiotics a number of ways throughout your day.
Some of you take pills or yogurt.
Kefir smoothie, kombucha, right?
Is it adding up to be too much of a good thing?
That's why a new report raising questions over whether probiotics may be doing more harm than good caught my attention.
Can you overdose on probiotics?
Take a look.
We are in the midst of a probiotic craze, with consumers everywhere turning to them to solve their digestion dilemmas.
When we started this show a decade ago, One of the most popular probiotic sources, Greek yogurt, had only 1% of the market.
But now it has skyrocketed to 52% of all yogurt sales.
And that's a good thing.
But could we be overdoing it?
Recent findings suggest we might be.
The study out of Augusta University in Georgia found that some adults taking probiotic supplements and eating probiotic-rich foods were experiencing negative side effects.
Feelings of confusion and difficulty concentrating.
And issues with gas and bloating.
Some reported that their episodes of brain fog were so bad that they had to call out sick from work.
Today we're busting open the lid and revealing what this news means for you.
So I've assembled a probiotic power team to help us break this down.
Max Nugervir wrote the book on the brain-gut connection.
He's here in our gut lab with women who suffer from bloat and brain fog.
They've agreed to stop their probiotic intake for a week as a social experiment.
In just a few minutes, Max will reveal if it made a difference.
And Dr. Raj is here to help us take a deep dive into this new study.
She's a gut health expert and author of What the Yuck!
Nice picture, by the way.
So you looked at the study.
Is this hype or do we need to be worried about this stuff?
Well, this is a very remarkable study because we've been talking about probiotics for years now and how great they are, but this raises the question, can you get too much of a good thing?
So this study looked at 30 people who had brain fog and then 8 people who did not.
They all had abdominal pain, bloating, distension, gas, and they actually told them to stop taking probiotics and see what happens.
Many of them actually felt better.
So the question is, were the probiotics causing the problem?
However, I have to say, I have some issues with this study.
It was a very small sample size.
There were a lot of other factors involved.
Many of these people actually took antibiotics as well.
So is that what actually made them feel better?
So I got curious about this because I wanted to understand what the thought process was.
So let me explain it all to you.
So we set up some surveillance cameras inside the gut.
Right?
Inside the gut.
To show you what's supposed to happen when you take a probiotic.
Now, normally you take the probiotic up in your mouth, right?
It comes down through the swallowing tube, the esophagus, into the stomach, right?
And it's supposed to pass right through your small intestine and set up shop in your colon, right?
Where they work really hard, right?
To digest your food.
Now, according to researchers, in some people, those bacteria don't make it to your colon.
Instead, they get stuck way up high in the small intestine, right?
And they camp out there.
But they still want to eat what we're eating, which is a problem because they're doing it way ahead of when they're supposed to, and they eat more than they could ever get to in your colon, which leads them to create basically a waste environment that ferments and builds up with gas and a substance called D-lactic acid.
And that's putting a target for bloat on your belly.
That's the theory.
So Dr. Raj, what happens when there's a buildup of gas?
And D, lactic acid in your small intestine.
We'll pretend this is a small intestine.
Exactly.
So imagine this is your small intestine.
Your small intestine is not used to having a lot of gas in it.
It feels very uncomfortable.
That bacteria is being fermented.
It's actually going to produce gas.
You feel like you can't button those pants.
That awful feeling like you're absolutely going to pop.
Some people hate that sound.
But yeah, I mean, it can be very uncomfortable.
So here's the big question, right?
Do probiotics seem to actually cause bloat?
If they do, why does it happen in everybody?
Why do some people take probiotics to get better from bloat and brain fog and others get worse with it?
Well, we are all different.
Our bodies are all different, including our guts.
Not everyone reacts the same to a certain probiotic.
If you're not feeling great on this one, let's take a break and try a different one.
Dr. Rush, thank you very much.
Thank you.
Okay, now we understand how probiotics can cause some bloat in folks, but what about the brain and gut connection?
So let's talk to Max about this.
Some of you studied quite a bit.
You asked viewers suffering from bloat, but also this brain-gut connection, to go on a probiotic elimination diet.
It would be hard, I think, for a lot of us to do that, right?
But you wanted to see if their symptoms would be reversed, right?
Were you happy with it?
Yeah, I mean, I think that the results that you're going to find are very interesting, to say the least.
But, you know, Dr. Oz, what's so fascinating is that the gut influences the brain in such an interesting number of ways.
In fact, the gut is often referred to as the second brain.
Let's see what actually happens in practice.
So, we've got each member of our social experiment standing behind their traditional source of probiotics.
Thank you all for being here.
Thank you.
So, I guess, I will start with you.
I'm really impressed.
I even saw across the studio how much variety you have.
I love you have sauerkraut in there, not just Greek yogurt.
We've got a lot of sources.
That's good.
What was hard to give up?
Was it more difficult than you thought?
Yeah, it was actually difficult to give it up, but it actually helped me, though, because I actually was less bloated and I had less fogginess.
And Ariana, you also have a couple different sources.
How was it for you?
I was actually the opposite of her.
Like, I miss this.
This was, like, the hardest thing I've had to do because, like, I got all the symptoms back.
So, like, that's not a good thing.
So I got a surprise for everybody.
I actually took the probiotic elimination challenge myself.
I was curious because I eat lots of probiotics.
And it's not that easy for a Turkish kid to give up Greek yogurt.
Take a look.
I'm gonna miss you my friend.
*sad music*
So it's the afternoon.
I usually have lots of energy, but I can really tell the difference I didn't have yogurt this morning.
like all the little embers in my body have gone out.
It's worth it.
I failed with a massive fail.
Actually, Dr. Raj, you say maybe it's...
A good thing that I failed, that I kept eating my probiotics.
I do, and I don't want people out there to run to their fridges and throw out their Greek yogurt.
That's not what we're saying here.
Actually, if you were feeling well on your probiotic regimen, then we say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Keep doing what you're doing.
I like it.
And most people out there will benefit from probiotics.
You hear everybody?
Everyone out there, most of you are probably like me.
We can still eat our Greek yogurt and all the other probiotics we're talking about.
God bless you.
Max.
For the folks out there, and I don't think there are many, but there are probably some who should think about elimination, how do you identify them?
As a first line of defense, I would say removing the probiotics is worth a shot.
You know, if your probiotics are not working for you, then try eliminating them from your diet.
It's a very simple elimination-style approach.
One week?
One week.
Try it for a week.
Try it for a week.
And if your symptoms don't clear up and resolve, go see your doctor.
All right, when we come back, are you taking probiotics all wrong?
There's a whole different issue.
Are you taking them with the wrong stuff?
And what's the right amount for you?
We'll tell you after the break.
Thank you very much.
An all-new Alzheimer's alert.
The latest Alzheimer's breakthroughs that you've been seeing in the headlines.
Could your body type determine your risk?
That's going to surprise you.
Which one?
All-new Oz.
That's coming up on Wednesday.
Wednesday.
We're back asking, are you taking probiotics all wrong?
Our experts, Dr. Raj and Max Luguvier are here with probiotic mistakes you could be making.
These are going to surprise you.
The first probiotic mistake you may be making is that you're getting your probiotics from only one source.
Why is that a problem, Max?
Well, Dr. Oz, you see, your gut, like any healthy society, benefits from a broad range of voices.
Diversity is key, right?
So the same thing goes for probiotic bacteria.
If you're getting your probiotic bacteria from only one source, that's not going to lead to the best scenario in the gut.
You want to make sure that you're getting your probiotics from a broad array of sources.
So here we have...
We have kombucha.
We have Greek yogurt.
We have a probiotic-containing supplement.
Alright, next probiotic mistake that many of you guys are making is you're not pairing your prebiotics and your probiotics.
So probiotics, you know what those are, right?
Those little bacteria that are in your gut.
Prebiotics, what are they and why are they so critical?
Right, so prebiotic is anything that promotes the growth of probiotics.
So, of course, why wouldn't you want to enhance those probiotics that you're already taking by pairing it with a prebiotic?
It's a power duo.
You can get prebiotics from anything that really contains fiber, blueberries, which I know you love.
But bananas, and really you want to get those both into your diet every day, pro and pre.
Max calls these brain berries.
You know I love my blueberries.
He does.
Here, have another one.
It's a present from the show.
Next probiotic mistake that a lot of you guys are making is you're taking your probiotic with heartburn medicine.
Let me take a step here.
Heartburn medicine, I get why so many folks take it, but it does cause a lot of interactions, and it's particularly a problem with probiotics.
Right, so there is a concern that if you're reducing the acid, which is what these medicines do, you're going to have an overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestine.
Now, does that mean when you take a probiotic, you're even adding to that problem?
Maybe for some people.
I would say if you're already taking your antacids and your probiotics and you feel fine, keep doing what you're doing.
And the final one's gonna really surprise you.
There's a big mistake that a lot of us are making because...
Done right, it's not a mistake.
Done wrong, it's a big problem.
You're taking your probiotic with hot coffee or tea.
Now, Max, hot coffee and tea generally I thought were good for the gut.
Yeah, so absolutely.
Independently, coffee and tea are very good for the gut.
Most people are surprised to hear that coffee is actually beneficial, but I've looked into the research, you know, and I'm definitely a fan of coffee.
The issue is that these scalding beverages can, the same way they can burn our skin, can also burn these delicate probiotic bacteria that we want.
So my recommendation is to separate your consumption.
I'll toast to that.
Hey.
Raj, this is to you.
Thank you so much.
Wonderful folks to have on the show.
Max and Dr. Raj, we'll be right back.
Is there hidden dairy in your nut milk?
We did the testing.
Find out what our investigation uncovered next.
Current recall is sounding the alarm for nut milk lovers nationwide.
The number one selling brand of almond milk reported traces of cow's milk in their product and pulled them from the shelves.
What does this mean for you?
Today we investigate, is there hidden dairy in your almond milk?
Joining me is investigative reporter Mara Scabacompo, who looked into this.
Give us the headlines, if you don't mind.
What was the big manufacturer of almond milk who decided to voluntarily withdraw their product?
Yeah, the company is Blue Diamond, and it's their vanilla almond breeze.
Now, Blue Diamond is the top seller of almond milk in the country.
It's the most popular by far.
They issued this recall because of the possible presence of dairy in the almond milk.
Now that may sound like a small thing, but if you have a dairy allergy, it can be very dangerous.
In fact, the company itself said that this possible contamination had the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions for people who have dairy allergies.
And let me speak to this.
Blue Blue Diamond, they did the right thing, right?
They rectified the situation as soon as they found out about it.
And I want to commend you all for doing that.
But I want to get back to this almond milk issue.
Companies do the right thing.
Do we have any idea of what kind of risks it could offer?
Yeah, it was a very wide reach.
There were 145,000, more than 145,000 cartons recalled.
These were half-gallon cartons.
And you can see it was shipped to 28 states.
That's more than half the country.
So it's a very wide reach.
So let's look into what the real issues were, because I want to look at who buys almond milk and which of these issues are affecting our viewers.
So we asked our viewers why they like almond milk.
Folks, just like you, right?
Here are the responses.
I prefer the taste.
I'm on a paleo diet.
It's lowering calories, dairy sensitive, and allergic.
It's these two groups at the bottom that are most concerning to me.
That's what gets me nervous, because these issues can be life-threatening.
They'll make you sick, especially if you've got dairy allergies.
Take just a tiny little bit, as you were mentioning, where it can be a main problem.
And some folks really rely on this nut milk.
So trust is an important issue.
Did anyone get sick from half the country basically being exposed to this almond milk contamination?
Yeah, the company said they received reports of one person getting sick, and luckily it was not very serious.
that person did not require medical attention or hospitalization.
But again, as you noted, those dairy allergies can be very serious.
So, Kat, let me ask a question I'm sure everyone is thinking.
How did this happen?
You know, we don't exactly know for sure.
Here's what we do know.
Hood is Blue Diamond's parent company.
They're a major dairy producer.
And it's been reported that they were manufacturing dairy, cow's milk, and the almond milk at the same facility.
The only thing the company will tell us is that it was caused by human error.
That's what we know.
We don't have the specific details of what that human error was.
We've all seen labels on food products where cross-contamination could be a risk, especially if there's an allergen that could cause a big problem.
You've all seen this, right?
It'll say it may contain traces of milk or, this is pretty common, made in a facility that also processes tree nuts.
Now, did Blue Diamond have a little warning label like this, a potential contamination?
We went out and we checked.
The Blue Diamond almond milk did not contain a warning label, warning of potential traces of milk.
And on the flip side, Hood's milk, that is possibly manufactured at the same facility as the almond milk, didn't contain a warning label about the possible presence of tree nuts.
So if dairy and nuts are being, first of all, they're pretty common, period, right?
They're produced in a lot of places, and they can cause bad allergies that folks might need to know about.
So is there a warning requirement?
Is it required by facilities, by the U.S. government, or anybody else?
You know, we reached out to the FDA and we spoke to them about this exact issue.
Here's what they told us.
They recommend that companies include these allergen labels when products like this are being manufactured in the same facility, but it's not a requirement.
What they did tell us, though, is that it's the company's responsibility to make sure there's no cross-contamination.
So we reached out to Blue Diamond for a statement, and they referred us to their press release, which we're going to post on dros.com, so you can find out much more about the recall.
The next thing I wanted to do was figure out, is there hidden...
So, Mara, ready for the results?
Yeah, absolutely.
Take it away.
All right, so of the five brands that we tested, we found the presence of dairy in none of them.
In none?
None.
It's good.
So right now, people can breathe easy.
That's fantastic.
Yeah, it's very good news because this concerned a lot of people who are trying to avoid dairy.
I'm happy.
It's very reassuring.
I want to point out that Blue Diamond was actually in this as well, so they seem to have fixed their issue.
Kudos to everybody all going around.
Up next, why the FDA is going through war with non-dairy milks.
It's a huge debate you won't want to miss.
But first, if you want the safest and healthiest dollar milk...
The best thing to do is make it yourself.
We have a video showing you how and it's easier than you think.
Thank you.
you you
Here's your daily show.
You got milk?
Well, if you're an almond milk lover like that little girl we just saw, the answer isn't so simple anymore.
The FDA has soured their stance on how non-dairy milk should be labeled, and it's been called an all-out war.
The dairy industry is pushing to remove the word "milk" from popular non-dairy alternatives, like almonds, soy, and coconut.
Claiming they're not really actually milk.
But milk makers say consumers are going to be confused.
So how much does one word really matter?
I've got two containers here, alright?
One is almond milk, the other one is almond beverage.
So, quick quiz.
Always remember, I want someone to be honest here.
Are you an honest person?
I think so.
You look honest.
What do you think about these?
Would this be at all confusing for you?
A little bit, because when I see beverage, I think of sugar or maybe processed versus milk.
I mean, I know it's non-dairy, but it's more familiar, I guess.
Is that your mom?
That is my mom.
Let's see what a word of wisdom.
What do you think?
I like almond milk, and the wording wouldn't make any difference.
So if I just showed you almond beverage, you'd be okay with it?
Yeah.
Wouldn't confuse you at all?
No.
All right, so it's a mix.
We'll see.
How many of you might think almond beverage isn't the same as almond milk?
I mean, it's most of the audience.
Okay, here.
Here's a little gift for you guys.
Enjoy it.
So to be clear, these are the exact same products.
The only thing that's changed is that almond milk has been rebranded almond beverage.
I wanted to hear both sides on this debate.
So we set it up with Dr. Joel Kahn, author of The Plant-Based Solution.
He's here to argue that nut milks should just be labeled milk.
And then we've got nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author, the 10-Day Belly Slim Down, Kellyanne Petrucci, who says they should not.
Dairy milk is the only true milk.
So, Dr. Khan, you have to go first.
Don't take it easy on her.
She'll come after you.
You've got 45 seconds to defend your beliefs.
Convince us that milk should be labeled as milk and not something different.
Got it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Dr. Oswald.
Simply put, it is just silly to think that milk has to be a cow secretion.
I call it utter nonsense.
And actually, when the FDA director a few weeks ago pointed out that almonds don't lactate, he was really buckling under pressure of a shrinking dairy industry that's still 20 times larger than the plant-based industry.
They're crying over spilt milk overall.
But this does actually make a difference because there's health consequences.
The number one food allergy in infants and children is dairy.
90% of people in some populations can't digest milk sugar and feel bad.
And finally, in my field, people are flying away from milk because they're trying to reduce the risk of heart disease.
It is a very broad term, the word milk.
We don't need new terms to confuse the public.
The bottom line, call it milk, whether from plant or animal, and just let the food industry have a cow over it.
That was pretty good.
That was 45 and a half seconds.
Thank you.
Dr. Kahn made some good points, Kellyanne.
We'll turn it to you.
45 seconds.
Defend your argument that there's a difference.
Yeah, so Dr. Kahn, you made some good points, but you seem to be having a cow over this.
So let's help straighten this out.
Here is the problem.
The problem is that a lot of these companies, these companies that are producing these alternative milks, they're placing them on the shelves next to regular milk.
Can you see how this can be confusing to the public?
Because here's why.
The nutrient density of the two products are drastically different.
They shouldn't be compared at all.
So really, it's telling the consumer something.
That's not true.
And if you really dig in deep, say if you look at almond milk, it's only 2% almond, and the rest actually is all water.
So what you're actually getting is almond water.
So can you understand how this is really disheartening to all those hard-working dairy farmers out there?
Not good.
I mean, it's not the same product.
It's like calling a potato chip a pork chop.
All right.
Dr. Kahn, she threw one last little drive at you, so you get to defend yourself.
Make it short.
Wounded and bleeding, but I'd say again, there's many health benefits of plant-based milks, and what the consumer doesn't need is new terms they don't get, like nut juice.
Call it milk.
Plant or animal, one term for all.
All right.
Audience, let me just pull you guys real quickly.
Who out there thinks they ought to both be called milk?
Put your hands up.
And who thinks they should all be different beverage for the nuts and milk should be called from dairy cow's milk?
So it's like the U.S. population split 50-52.
I can't say anything else either.
No, that's okay.
I like it.
It's a debate.
It's how it's going to be settled.
You guys, make some noise out there.
We want to hear from you.
So you can vote at drras.com.
Should almond milk be considered milk?
Here are the results so far.
71% yes.
29% say no.
Oh my goodness.
All right, you guys vote.
We'll be right back.
He would say, shut up or I'll kill you.
All new Oz.
True Crime Tuesday is back.
How new DNA science helped crack the case of the Golden State Killer.
This guy is the devil on earth.
That's coming up tomorrow.
Dr. Oz, I know you're trying to catch up with me.
Okay, so you hit the 10 mark.
I think that's pretty good.
10 mark.
We did that around 1996.
So...
You got a ways to go, but you're really, really going strong.
I'm proud of the work that you do, not just on the show, but your dedication to making a sense of wellness and well-being for everybody in the country and throughout the world.
I'm proud of you, the courage it takes to get up every day and to say what you say and do what you do.
All I gotta say is keep doing it,'cause you got 15 more years to catch up.
Oh my goodness.
I wasn't allowed.
I wasn't allowed to see any of these videos.
They knew I'd get emotional.
But I want to thank Oprah.
Your mentorship means the world to me.
I'm very grateful for this platform to inspire people all over the world.
Take folks on a health journey.
They wouldn't be able to go on and take their health into their own hands.
It wouldn't happen without you.
So, bless you.
Over the past 10 years, I've seen all of your health transform before my eyes.
You've seen it yourselves.
And I'm going to keep moving forward.
I want you to keep coming with me.
Because together, we're going to make the next 10 years ahead of us the happiest and healthiest of our lives.
Does that sound good?
I know we can do it.
We're just getting started.
So I asked some celebrity friends of the show to share with us what they want their next 10 to be like.
Take a look.
In the next 10 years, I hope I'll still be doing what I love: directing, writing, and recording.
I feel very fortunate to have music as a creative way to express my feelings.
I see myself in the next 10 years super happy, super healthy, and changing the world.
Maybe saving a puppy or stopping human trafficking, but no matter what, inspiring the world and giving back to the world all the great things it gave to me.
Seriously?
Ten years?
That would make me 96?
Just to be here.
I just hope to be here to do everything that makes me happy.
I'm gonna look very carefully in the mirror and see what aging has done to me.
And I'm gonna do everything in my effort.
Massage and exercise and good food and non-smoking and non-drinking.
I'm gonna try and make myself look as good as possible.
Really doing things that impact the world.
You know, I don't want to just...
You know, be in front of the camera and be behind the camera for self-serving purposes.
I really want to do things that impact society.
Dr. Oz, I just want to say that for the next 10 years, I hope I continue to age backwards like you are.
I love what they're saying.
I love that all of you are sharing your next 10 goals with me on social media using the hashtag MyNext10.
And I've seen some of you pledge all kinds of things, from adding an evening walk to your routine, To making plans to see that friend you follow on Facebook but lost touch with in real life.
And a lot of you plan on crossing that dream trip off your bucket list to the next 10. I'll be following all your posts with my next 10 hashtag.
And responding to myself with some little notes of encouragement.
And I'll send messages to you as well.
But when it comes to goals, there's nothing like a little motivation, is there?
Something to sort of nudge you along.
So how about this?
All year long, we will be surprising a few creative and lucky viewers with the best posts and best ideas, and we'll give you all some gifts and some surprises, including trips to Iceland.
That's right.
I took my son there.
It was one of the best trips of my life, and you get to do it now.
Our friends at WOW Airlines, the low-fair airline that everyone is talking about, are going to send 15 of you and a guest, that's 30 people total, on that dream vacation you've been putting off.
While airlines will fly you out to relax in those healthy hot springs that you're always seeing on Pinterest to get some of that thermal healing, it's worth it.
And I always, I want you guys to get more sleep.
Keep saying that.
So Radisson Hotels will provide you with three nights hotel accommodations in Iceland at their Radisson Blue 1919 Hotel in Reykjavik, located in the heart of that beautiful city next to the North Atlantic and accessible to both city and countryside attractions.
Let everybody remember.
It's just the beginning.
We're going to keep doing this because together, change is happening.