Factory Farming

Are Hot Dogs Healthy? Exploring Their Nutrition, Risks, and Alternatives

Nobody’s claiming that hot dogs are a superfood, but many people assume that eating one (or a few) now and then isn’t a big deal. After all, they’re a beloved part of summer cookouts and baseball games — how bad could they be? Brace yourself — once you see what’s inside a hot dog and how it can impact your health, you might think twice before taking your next bite.

Ocean Robbins · April 30, 2025 · 13 min read

Is Raw Milk Healthy? Is It Safe? Separating Myths From Facts

Raw milk sparks heated debates — celebrated by some for its purported health benefits while condemned by others for its supposed risks. Does raw milk offer superior nutrition compared to pasteurized milk? Are there valuable probiotics in raw milk? Can lactose-intolerant people drink raw milk without symptoms? How dangerous are pathogens found in raw milk, and how common? This article dives deep into the controversies, separating fact from fiction so you can make an informed choice.

Ocean Robbins · April 23, 2025 · 13 min read

Are Eggs Healthy for You — And the Planet?

Chicken eggs are controversial. Some people call them a nutrient-rich superfood, while others say they can harm your health. Ovo-vegetarians consume them, but their vegan friends do not. Eggs aren’t flesh, and laying hens aren’t killed for their eggs, but they may still contribute to animal deaths and suffering. So, what’s the truth about eggs? Are eggs healthy, ethical, or sustainable? Can they be? And if you eat them, what are the best options?

Ocean Robbins · April 7, 2025 · 13 min read

Is Corn Healthy?

Corn is one of the most widely eaten foods in the world. It’s also incredibly versatile. You’ll find corn in baked goods and bread, popped as a snack, grilled on the cob, fed to cows, used to fuel cars, and as the base ingredient for a huge range of processed foods and additives. But is corn good for you? And how do you choose the healthiest corn to eat?

Ocean Robbins · June 21, 2024 · 12 min read

Plant-Based Milk: What to Consider When Choosing a Dairy Milk Alternative

Dairy milk consumption is at an all-time low, and the market for nondairy milk is rapidly expanding, offering an unprecedented variety of options. So, if you want moo-free milk, what should you keep in mind? And, which milk alternatives are best, considering flavor, uses, and environmental impact?

Ocean Robbins · March 1, 2024 · 16 min read

The Surprising Truth About Antibiotic Resistance, Factory Farms, and Food Recalls

Antibiotics are powerful drugs. And medical professionals often prescribe them. But the truth is, factory farms use the majority of antibiotics. And the overuse of antibiotics is causing antibiotic resistance — one of the most serious public health issues facing our world today. Learn more about the dark side of antibiotic use — and what this has to do with food recalls. And most importantly, learn what you can do about it.

Ocean Robbins · November 29, 2023 · 11 min read

Changing Lives Through Compassion: The Gentle Barn’s Extraordinary Mission for Animals and Humans

Our food system can be cruel — especially for the animals who are raised for meat, milk, and eggs. But in California’s Santa Clarita Valley, a farm animal sanctuary is looking to save both animals and people from trauma and abuse. In this touching interview with the founder of The Gentle Barn, you’ll learn about their inspiring work and discover a message of hope and heart for humanity.

Liana Minassian · November 3, 2023 · 17 min read

The Carnivore Diet: What the Research Really Says About its Impact on People and the Planet

Carnivore diets have moved from the extreme fringe into increasing prominence in parts of the nutrition and wellness world. These zero-carb diets contradict pretty much every mainstream nutritional theory. Yet their proponents claim an impressive and comprehensive array of benefits, from weight loss to remission of autoimmune disease to improved psychological health. So what does science say about the pros and cons of living almost exclusively on meat?

Ocean Robbins · September 1, 2023 · 14 min read

Is Bone Broth Good for You?

Why are so many people talking about bone broth? Let’s explore why health enthusiasts seem to be jumping on the bandwagon, what the research says about some of the most prominent bone broth benefits and claims, and the potential downsides of participating in this popular food trend.

Ocean Robbins · July 26, 2023 · 13 min read

How to Destroy a “Forever Chemical” – Scientists Are Discovering Ways to Eliminate PFAS, but This Growing Global Health Problem Isn’t Going Away Soon

Scientists created polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to make our lives easier. But in the process, they’ve created “forever chemicals” that are contaminating our soil, water, and bodies. Find out how scientists at Michigan State University are working on removing PFAS from our environment and food supply.

A. Daniel Jones and Hui Li · June 21, 2023 · 5 min read

Why Small Family Farms are Disappearing — and What it Means for Our World

At one time, small family farms provided most of the food eaten in the United States — and many of the livelihoods in communities across the nation. People knew where their food came from and how it was produced, and the profits mostly remained and circulated locally. These days, small family farms are in trouble. In this first article on family farms, we’ll take a look at the forces that threaten their existence and why their increasing loss is such a calamity for the food system.

Ocean Robbins · March 1, 2023 · 9 min read

What’s Causing the Global Food Crisis? (And How Plant-Based Diets Can Help!)

There’s a food shortage going on that’s unlike anything we’ve seen in the last 40 years. Billions of people around the world are now chronically hungry, and tens of millions may face imminent famine and starvation. So what’s going on that’s different from years past? And what, if anything, can we do as individuals to begin to make a difference?

Ocean Robbins · November 18, 2022 · 9 min read