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A recent smattering of viral videos across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok are telling people to avoid eating packaged, pre-shredded cheeses, claiming that the powdered substance they’re covered in to prevent clumping is actually “wood shavings,” “bark” or “saw dust.” Source: Today In the comments sections of such videos, many viewers have shared their alarm at the claims, even saying that they’ll no longer buy shredded cheese. But what do dietitians think? “These kinds of videos stir up fear in viewers who are already sceptical about our food system and aren’t sure who to trust,” registered dietitian Kristina Cooke told TODAY.com. “When information is not coming from a scientifically sound and credible source, it’s almost like playing a game of telephone that gets out of hand.” The most important thing to know about the claims is that both pre-shredded and block cheeses are healthy and safe to eat, experts say The powdery or finely grained substance that coats pieces of packaged, shredded cheese is an organic structural compound called cellulose (sometimes labelled as cellulose gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, or microcrystalline cellulose). As a food additive, it prevents the cheese from clumping together in packaging. “It’s also used in some products as a calorie reducer, an anti-caking agent, a thickener, and to add texture,” Caroline Susie, a registered dietician and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told TODAY.com. And because the compound absorbs excess moisture, it also helps prevent mould growth, thereby extending the shelf life of some products. The cellulose used as a food additive is usually made from wood pulp or cotton lint, according to the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, an independent food and health watchdog group. “The edible cellulose … used in food is extracted and removed from the non-edible portion,” explains Cooke. “(It) is molecularly the same cellulose that exists in virtually all plant matter.” In fact, cellulose has the important function of giving plant cells the rigidity they need to maintain their shape, so varying amounts of it are found naturally in all plants and plant-based foods. The CSPI rates cellulose as safe to consume. In addition to shredded cheese, cellulose is sometimes added to: Bread Ice cream and other frozen desserts Pancake syrup, condiments and sauces Granola bars Yogurt Dried spices Processed meat Meal replacement shakes Fiber supplements Cellulose is naturally found in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. “Celery is especially high in cellulose,” Amy Goodson, a nutritionist and registered dietitian at The Sports Nutrition Playbook, told TODAY.com. “If you’ve ever had stringy pieces from celery stuck between your teeth, you’ve experienced cellulose firsthand.” In either natural or additive form, cellulose is “generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration,” says Jen Messer, a registered dietitian and president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. If it wasn’t, she says it wouldn’t be approved by the agency nor be allowed in literally thousands of products sold in grocery stores across the country. She says humans lack the enzymes to break cellulose down, so it passes through the digestive system without being absorbed. Cellulose also counts as dietary fiber, though Messer says the amount added to shredded cheese “is so negligible it doesn’t contribute significantly to your daily fibre intake.” In larger quantities though, naturally occurring cellulose plays a vital role in digestive health and helps promote regular bowel movements. It can also help improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels and aid in feelings of fullness, called satiety, which is why it’s often added to meal replacement shakes.

An online survey involving more than 3000 architects and luxury home builders across the US has found that many architects and builders still say they lack knowledge of smart home planning and have difficulties finding reputable partners. Source: Timberbiz The Bravas LLC survey results underscore the growing importance of early-stage collaboration with integrators in the luxury home market, highlighting enhanced project outcomes and increased homeowner satisfaction. Bravas is the United States’ premier provider of smart technology for luxury homes. Twenty percent of respondents said high costs associated with smart home solutions represent a significant challenge faced when integrating smart home technologies, followed by 19% saying they lack knowledge and training on smart home tech; difficulty finding reliable vendors and products; and compatibility issues with existing home systems. Greater accessibility to the right integrators can help architects and builders. While only 19% of architects and builders said they regularly work with custom integrators on smart home projects – 60% said sometimes – the majority of respondents (31%) said they need better access to skilled custom integrators. Another 30% said they need access to more reliable custom integrators who stand behind their products. Of those architects and builders who are currently partnering with custom integrators, 23% said they get the most value out of the integrators’ expertise and solutions, along with help with setup and servicing. Another 22% said they benefit from the integrators’ understanding of advanced tech offerings, and ability to help plan out architectural needs. Furthermore, architects and builders are increasingly relying on custom integrators for a variety of key strategic areas. The majority (28%) said they rely on integrators during the initial design and planning phase. “The results of this survey shine a spotlight on the increasingly essential role that custom integrators play in the overall design and construction of luxury custom homes,” said Mark Goldman, Chairman & CEO of Bravas. “By partnering with a reputable nationwide custom integrator offering advanced product solutions, reliable warranties, and superior lifetime service, architects, builders, and designers gain access to a wealth of expertise and innovation, ensuring seamless integration of advanced technologies that enhance the functionality, security, and aesthetic appeal of luxury homes,” he said. “By collaborating early on, architects, builders, and designers can deliver a superior, future-ready living experience that meets the discerning demands of their clientele. This collaboration not only elevates the home’s market appeal but also provides clients with a tailored, intuitive living environment, ultimately setting a new standard in luxury living.”

Washington faces significant social and economic risks if anti-forestry groups are successful in pushing the Board of Natural Resources and candidates for Commissioner of Public Lands to close an additional 77,000 acres of public working forests in western Washington, known as Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state trust lands. These public working forests also provide clean water, wildlife habitat, climate change mitigation and recreational opportunities. Source: Timberbiz This proposal would have far-reaching consequences, severely impacting public schools, local public safety agencies, public health services, universities, and other essential community services. These impacts are detailed in a new backgrounder provided by the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC). Under the state constitution and law, DNR state trust lands are required to be managed to provide revenues to defined beneficiaries, which include public schools, local public safety agencies, and various community services. The proposal also threatens jobs throughout Washington and would lead to devastating outcomes for the state’s infrastructure and economy. Currently, nearly 800,000 acres of state trust lands in western Washington are already off-limits to timber harvesting under a science-based, landscape-scale Habitat Conservation Plan developed by state and federal scientists. Key Impacts of closing 77,000 acres of public working forests: Public Services at Risk: Beneficiaries of state trust lands would lose $1.35 billion in timber revenue over 15 years, while state, county and local governments would lose $400 million in tax revenues generated by forest sector businesses. Critical public infrastructure, including K-12 school construction, university funding, fire departments, libraries, and hospitals, would be jeopardized. Job Losses: The closure would result in a reduction of 3.85 billion board feet of timber, significantly impacting the state’s forest industry, which generates $36 billion annually in economic output to the state. An estimated 9,200 jobs would be lost, harming the livelihoods of thousands of families. Threatens Infrastructure Needed to Reduce Wildfire Risk: The loss of DNR timber puts the mills and forest contractors needed to treat overstocked, fire-prone forests at risk of closure. Reduced Forest Health Funding: The Department of Natural Resources would lose $500 million in revenue, putting funding for agency staffing and forest health activities at risk. Impact on Housing: The lost timber volume is equivalent to enough lumber to frame over 450,000 homes, exacerbating our regional housing crisis. Thurston County is already experiencing the impacts of closing state trust lands from timber management. Estimates from DNR show that junior taxing districts have lost at least $11.36 million due to political decisions to set aside these public working forests: School Districts: Griffin, Olympia, Rochester, and Tumwater school districts have lost $7,324,198 in funding. Fire Departments and County Services: The West Thurston Regional Fire Authority and county services have lost $2,444,922 in revenue. Other Services: The Timberland Regional Library and the Port of Olympia have seen significant revenue decreases, losing $762,703 and $289,072, respectively. “The proposed closure of these public working forests will have drastic social and economic consequences without benefiting our environment,” said AFRC Government Affairs Manager Heath Heikkila. “As we are already seeing in Thurston County, political decisions to close more state trust lands from management are harming public schools and local services. We urge the Board of Natural Resources and candidates for Commissioner of Public Lands to stand with working people and working forests by rejecting this harmful proposal.” While anti-forestry groups claim these set asides will benefit our climate, a recent case study of a DNR timber harvest makes clear that proposals to set aside more DNR state trust lands will actually increase CO2 emissions as the supply of Washington-made wood products is reduced and carbon sequestration slows in these older forests. Reducing harvests from DNR working forests means we either build with wood substitutes (“substitution”) or ship our wood in from elsewhere (“leakage”).  Both are bad for our climate and environment.