Daniel Lubetzky

by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

A recent article in the NY Times announced that Mayor Bloomberg is asking for a federal bar on purchasing soda with food stamps.  The argument goes that people are restricted from buying cigarettes, beer and wine, and other potentially harmful substances, so why not prohibit sugary drinks? This effort is just another in the recent string of attempts against obesity and diabetes.

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For years, Forbes has published a list of billionaires that reflects the cult of money we live in.  We lionize wealth.  Why? Wealth accumulation is only a means to an end.  What are you going to do with that money should matter to society much more.   Why is it that so many people forget that? At least partly it’s because our society glorifies financial success, and ranking it is relatively easier as you are dealing with a very easy measure: money accumulated.

It would be far more interesting, though, if a publication or organization measured and praised the social impact of the greatest contributors to civilization. For example, Mohammad Yunus from Grameen Bank, who is nowhere to be seen on the Forbes list, would rank quite high because of the enormous impact he has had on society.  Bill Gates would too, given how much of his wealth he has given out and in such methodic ways to try to impact society. 

My friend Martin Varsavsky forwarded me a list published by BusinessWeek that is a useful start – ranking the most generous philanthropists within the Forbes 400 list. 

What we need now is to take it to the next level, asking a trusted third party to develop a way to take donations into contribution as the BusinessWeek list does, but to not stop there.  To add a measurement for the way the money is given out, whether there is a social innovation or model that helps advance society in the process.  For example, the Skoll Foundation is among those responsible for supporting social entrepreneurship and making it “cool.” So it’s not just the enormous amount it has invested (donated) into the space, but also the way it has gone about doing it.  That counts more than just writing a check, assuming the process and the platform are well thought out and innovative.  And even if someone doesn’t donate money, but they create models to benefit humanity, whether through better health systems like Paul Farmer, or through the many innovations that social entrepreneurs from India and South East Asia (including several impressive ones selected by the Schwab Foundation) have introduced to truly impact their countries.

Celebrities also have a currency – fame, and the power to use it effectively.  So here again, we could turn blind worship of celebrities into appreciation for those that, rather than paying the dues their publicist asked them to, sincerely engage in ways that are sustained and impactful.  George Clooney comes to mind, but there are dozens others who truly dedicate themselves to make this a better world.

If Fast-Company Magazine or TIME Magazine could create a formula that is sufficiently consistent, transparent, and simple while robust, it could become the basis for others to start rallying around and quoting and praising those truly worthy of adulation.

People that truly want to change the world do not do it for the sake of a popularity contest.  Changing the world is not easy, so if you just want to be popular in today’s society there are shortcuts to think you can get there.  So this list is not intended to impact those people.  For that there is education – helping people find purpose in their lives.

But for our society as a whole, which is so obsessed with Hollywood celebrities, political power, and financial wealth, a credible list that focused peoples’ attention on the contributions people are making to society could help start changing the discourse.

And to make this platform truly inspiring and accessible to high school students and not just people already in a position of influence, a supplemental list could be created that would track the CREATIVITY AND MAGNIFICATIONAL IMPACT of just one simple action or relatively modest behavioral change within every person’s reach.  The power of the internet can be the great equalizer.   With Do The KIND Thing, the KIND Movement is trying to inspire unexpected acts of kindness that are the most KINDTASTIC – truly transformative and impactful.  Ideally we can start putting a spotlight on how “the average citizen” can make a far-greater-than-average contribution to their community.  It would be great if society could find effective platforms to praise those who step out of their zones of comfort to make others a bit better off, to show how a 15-year old can change the world, one idea at a time.

Cone Communications is behind another study that claims consumers buy products because of their social mission – this time emphasizing mothers and young people are at the forefront of this trend.  As much as I am a committed social entrepreneur whose life is dedicated to find creative ways to advance social goals using market mechanisms, I have from my experience always been skeptical of this claim.  There are enormous benefits to being socially conscious, not the least of which is that it gives you meaning.  And it attracts the best team to join you on your journey, and generates loyalty, goodwill, word of mouth, media attention, and more.  But purchases ultimately are made by consumers primarily based on whether a product fits their personal lifestyle, and price, quality and taste are foremost facts when these choices are made.  That said, I do sense over the last 15 years that consumers are becoming more educated and supportive of socially conscious ventures, particularly when they can be seen to be sincere.  So whatever the actual behavior has been, it certainly is shifting more and more towards enlightened capitalism.

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

In a recent article in Food Business News, Mintel International recently came out with a report titled “Attitudes Toward Sodium and High Fructose Corn Syrup Reduction,” which proves that companies working to develop products with reduced sodium and less amounts of high-fructose corn syrup are excelling. The report quotes an article in the New York Times which claimed that the amount of American’s avoiding this substance has risen by 13% in 2010 alone.  It goes without saying that the companies who will be most successful will be those that heed the preferences of their consumers.

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Given all the bad publicity that Chinese companies have gotten for the lax standards and unethical practices employed by the food industry there, resulting in numerous deaths due to consumption of poisoned milk, honey, baby formula, and other food products, it is not surprising that Chinese manufacturers and importers of Chinese food products would not want to publicize the origin of the source of their products.

But it doesn’t make it less ethical.

And the FDA, US Customs and other US agencies do not do nearly enough to protect consumers against these deceptive and dangerous practices.

People often get surprised when they learn that some of the food they may be eating may be manufactured in China, because the manufacturers go very far to try to hide this.  The labels of Mrs. Mays products hide their “Made in China” claim with tiny print on the far side under the wrapper foil. I learned this when analyzing their packaging after they tried (unsuccessfully) to copy our products’ packaging, names, and features.

But the challenge can be even more elusive with the import of raw materials – like honey or peanuts.  And the challenge is no less critical to manufacturers, because of the high incidences of contamination of raw materials in these products from China.

Now a great website, TrueSourceHoney.com, aims to help consumers and food manufacturers trace where honey comes from.  As reported in Food Business News countries like “Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Mongolia raise few bees and have no history of producing honey in commercial quantities, yet have recently exported large amounts of honey to the United States,” much of it counterfeit from China. 

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Food Business News reports that despite knowing that diets full of fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of leading diseases, many Americans are still slaking on their fruits and veggie consumption.  The Center for Disease Control found that only approximately 33% of adults  eat fruit two or more times a day, and only 26% eat vegetables three or more times a day. While there are initiatives working to boost this number, it is important for Americans to internalize the benefits of being KIND to your body (and of course to your taste buds and the world as well)!

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As this latest study confirms, obesity rates across America continue to rise to epidemic proportions.

As obesity rises, so does diabetes, and countless other threats to health.

The above study observes the need for more exercise and better eating. But the way our modern lives are structured, people are increasingly consuming junk food on the go.

This is why it is vital to create innovative solutions that provide consumers healthful choices on the move, without sacrificing taste, wholesomeness or convenience.

It is so easy to say it, but as we test at KIND every day, coming up with more solutions that are true to our commitment of using only premium all natural “ingredients you can see and pronounce” that are “KIND to your body, your taste buds and the world” is not that easy.  It has taken us years, but beyond our award-winning line of KIND Fruit & Nut bars, we are working on a few very exciting fronts that should not just help counteract these societal problems, but also yield DELICIOUS healthy options!

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

This fascinating article breaks down what goes on in your brain during exercise. According to studies, exercise increases Noggin, a protein that facilitates neurogenesis, the production of brain cells.   This proves again that there are manifold benefits to adopting healthy habits!

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Thanks to a great article by Stuart Elliot, KIND gained New York Time’s fame yesterday.  Check it out to learn more about the KIND movement, our unique business model, and Daniel’s unbounded energy to surprise complete strangers with random acts of KINDness!

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Our Mango Macademia bar got a great shout out from Glamour Magazine for being tasty and kind to your weight loss effort!

Afternoon Snack: Mango + Macadamia Nuts = A Really Tasty Bar

I have a thing for mangoes and macadamia nuts. Together, I just learned, they combine to create something that’s really, truly delicious. A bar to add to your must-try list …

Loving the mango macadamia nut bar from KIND bars. It has a mellow, fruity flavor, and its packed with chunks of macadamia nuts–my favorite.

The nutrition stats: 190 calories and 12 grams of fat. A note on the fat content: As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t fret about fat that come from nuts. Remember, we’re talking about monounsaturated fats here–the good fats. Yes, you’ll get some saturated fat too, but it’s less troubling than the kind that comes from fried food or meat. So, let’s lot get in a tizzy about fat grams here.

Plus, I love that this bar is a great source of calcium, fiber, and that it’s high in folic acid and vitamin D3!

Enjoy!

P.S. Lots and lots of more bars reviewed by Vitamin G, here.