♪♪ >>> HI, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M RAVEN SANTANA IN FOR DAVID CRUZ.

NEW JERSEY IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS, AND FOOD IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT A NEW SERIES ON OUR NETWORK LOOKING AT THE WAYS FOOD, HISTORY, AND CULTURE CONNECT IN THE STATE.

I'LL HAVE THE SHOW'S HOST ON A BIT LATER.

BUT WE BEGIN FIRST WITH THE LATEST ON THE NATIONWIDE BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD BY NOW, YOU MAY HAVE TO DRIVE HOURS TO FIND BABY FORMULA OR EVEN SCOUR THE COUNTRY FOR A CAN OF IT.

AND HERE IN NEW JERSEY, GOVERNOR MURPHY THIS WEEK EVEN DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER FORMULA TO PREVENT PRICE GOUGING.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT?

MY VERY IMPORTANT GUEST, DR. CARR, PEDIATRICIAN AND SECTION CHIEF FOR PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL MEDICINE AT RUTGERS, NEW JERSEY, MEDICAL SCHOOL IS HERE TO GIVE PARENTS THE BEST AND SAFEST ADVICE.

SO, DR. CARR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND I WANT TO KNOW, IS THIS A CRISIS, AND WILL IT GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER?

>> HI, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

IT IS A CRISIS AND I THINK I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, OUR GOVERNOR, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT NOW FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS AND WEEKS, AND THINGS, IT SEEMS LIKE, IT IS IF NOT GOING TO GET BETTER RIGHT AWAY, IT'S AT LEAST GOING TO EASE DOWN.

WE SHOULD HAVE FORMULAS BACK IN STOCK VERY SOON.

YES, IT WILL TAKE WEEKS FOR IT TO GO BACK TO NORMAL, BUT THINGS WILL START GETTING BETTER SOON BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO HAVE THE FORMULAS BACK INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> SO, WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING STEPS, BUT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, I MEAN, PARENTS CANNOT FIND FORMULA ANYWHERE.

I KNOW PERSONALLY, MY HUSBAND WENT TO SEVEN DIFFERENT STORES AND COULD NOT FIND FORMULA FOR OUR CHILD.

SO, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP PARENTS OUT HERE.

CAN YOU MIX AND MATCH SIMILAR FORMULA TYPES?

A SENSITIVE FORMULA ONE, WITH THAT COMPANY VERSUS ANOTHER?

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR PARENTS WHO ARE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE, CAN'T FIND ANYTHING THEY TYPICALLY USE, AND NOW NEED TO FIGURE OUT PLAN B?

>> YES.

SO, YOU CAN GIVE DIFFERENT FORMULA IF YOU DO NOT FIND THE RIGHT FORMULA THAT IS REQUIRED BY YOUR BABY.

IF YOUR BABY DOESN'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL NEEDS, THEN YOU CAN GO WITH THE REGULAR FORMULAS.

YOU CAN GO WITH THE GENERIC FORMULAS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STORES, WHICH IS THE WALMART, THE TARGET, AND EVERY GENERIC FORMULA THAT'S AVAILABLE THERE.

THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN GO, EVEN FOR ANY FORMULA THAT YOU FIND, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT'S FOR THE SENSITIVE BABIES, IF YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT IS FOR THE PREMATURE BABIES, A FORMULA THAT IS A LITTLE HIGHER CALORIE THAN WHAT YOUR BABY NEEDS, SO YOU CAN GO FOR THE OTHER FORMULAS, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU RUN IT BY YOUR PEDIATRICIAN AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING YOUR BABY WILL TOLERATE.

>> OKAY, SO, WE KNOW A BIG THING IS PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO OTHER MOMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, EITHER TO SEND OR TO ASK FORMULA.

SOMETIMES PAYING FOR IT, SOMETIMES IT'S DONATED.

SO, IF YOU GET, LET'S SAY, AN OPEN CAN OF FORMULA FROM A FRIEND, HOW LONG CAN IT LAST?

AND IF YOUR FORMULA IS EXPIRED, HOW BAD IS IT TO USE AFTER THE DATE?

>> OH, IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO GET AN OPEN CAN FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

I MEAN, LIKE ANY OTHER FOOD YOU GET FROM OUTSIDE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT -- HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO LAST, AND HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN OPENED FOR.

SO, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD GET AN OPEN CAN FROM ANY OTHER PERSON, EVEN IF YOU KNOW THE PERSON.

SECONDLY, IT'S LIKE A REGULAR FOOD.

IF THE FOOD IS EXPIRED, WE DON'T USE IT.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE GIVING TO THESE SENSE, YOU KNOW, BABIES.

BABIES CANNOT TOLERATE ANYWAY, SO YOU SHOULDN'T BE GIVING ANY EXPIRED FEEDS TO THESE BABIES.

TOTALLY, NO.

>> GOT IT.

>> YOU SHOULD USE ALTERNATIVE IN THOSE CASES.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN NOT GIVE EXPIRED FORMULAS.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN NOT GIVE OPEN CANS BUT YOU DO HAVE TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

>> RIGHT, AND HONESTLY, DR. CARR, IT SEEMS LIKE A SILLY QUESTION, BUT I THINK PARENTS ARE SO DESPERATE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- THEY'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THAT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'VE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE TYPES OF THINGS, SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE ON AND YOU'RE ANSWERING THESE AND YOU'RE CLARIFYING THESE KIND OF MYTHS OR KIND OF, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS.

SO, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

SOME HAVE EVEN MENTIONED MAKING HOMEMADE -- SOME HAVE EVEN MENTIONED MAKING HOMEMADE FORMULA.

SO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NO AGAIN, RIGHT?

IT'S ANOTHER ABSOLUTE NO.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE MAKING FORMULAS AT HOME.

FIRST OF ALL, LIKE ANY OTHER THING YOU'RE DOING, THE RISK OF CONTAMINATION IS THERE.

OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE VERY CAREFUL AND YOU TRY TO AVOID THAT, AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE MIXING THINGS, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CONTENTS THAT YOU ARE MIXING, SO YOU CAN HAVE MACRONUTRIENTS IN THEM, YOU CAN HAVE INCREASED SODIUM.

THAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOUR BABY SICK BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE GIVING DIFFERENT ELECTROLYTE CONTENTS TO THESE BABIES.

IT HAS TO BE WORKED IN THE RIGHT WAY AND THEN ONLY IT CAN BE GIVEN TO THE BABIES.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL DOING THAT.

AND DOING THAT AT HOME IS NOT AT ALL ADVISABLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO NOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO ORDER FORMULAS FROM PLACES LIKE GERMANY, EUROPE.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL FORMULAS AND ONES SOLD HERE IN THE U.S.?

>> SO, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING FROM OUTSIDE, THERE IS A WEBSITE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, WHICH IS CALLED HEALTHYCHILDREN.ORG, AND THAT GIVES YOU THE REPUTABLE ONLINE RETAILERS THAT CAN GIVE YOU FDA-APPROVED FORMULAS, SO IF YOU REALLY NEED TO GET SOMETHING FROM OUTSIDE, YOU DO NEED TO GET IT FROM A RELIABLE RESOURCE.

YOU JUST CANNOT GET IT FROM ANY RESOURCE THAT YOU FIND FROM ANY RETAILER, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THESE FORMULAS ARE FDA APPROVED OR NOT.

SO -- AND IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT MACRONUTRIENTS THAT YOUR BABY NEEDS, SO I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT.

>> VERY GOOD POINT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT PRICE GOUGING.

WE KNOW IT'S GOING ON.

I HAVE HAD PARENTS TELL ME, A CAN THAT WAS ONCE $44 IS NOW $87.

ONLINE.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE IT, IF YOU SEE IT, IS THERE ANYTHING SOMEONE CAN DO?

>> YES, I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING ON THAT.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN ACTIONS TAKEN ON THAT, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE DONE, AND IF IT IS DONE, THEN IT SHOULD BE REPORTED.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE I COVERED THIS WEEK WAS MILK BANKS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MOMS ARE NOW THINKING, LIKE I SAID, OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, AND THEY ARE NOW THINKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY GOING TO A MILK BANK TO SEE IF THAT'S AN OPTION.

SO, CAN YOU CLARIFY, CAN MOMS DO THAT?

>> SO, THERE IS MILK BANK ASSOCIATION THAT YOU CAN CALL.

SO BASICALLY, THESE ARE MILKS THAT ARE COLLECTED FROM THE MOTHERS WHO DONATE THEM, AND THEN THESE ARE TESTED AND CLEARED FROM ALL INFECTIONS, BACTERIAL AND VIRUS, BEFORE THEY ARE DONATED AND THEY ARE GIVEN TO THE BABIES.

SO, THEY'RE -- LIKE YOU HAVE BLOOD BANKS.

IT'S SIMILAR TO THAT.

YOU HAVE MILK BANKS WHERE THE MOTHERS HAVE DONATED, IT'S BEEN TESTED, PROVED BEFORE IT IS GIVEN TO YOUR BABY.

SO, YES.

THEY ARE EXPENSIVE.

EVERYBODY CANNOT AFFORD THEM.

BUT OF COURSE THAT IS ONE OF THE CHOICES IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, AND THEN YOU CALL THE MILK BANK ASSOCIATION AND YOU CAN GET THE MILK BANK FROM THERE.

I DON'T -- WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING MILK SWAPS.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO GENERAL POPULATION AND, YOU KNOW, OH, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO CAN GIVE ME THE MILK.

THAT IS A NO BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PREDICT WHAT INFECTIONS, BACTERIAL OR VIRUSES YOU CAN BRING WITH THAT MILK AND GIVE IT TO YOUR BABIES.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS -- THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, BECAUSE WE KNOW -- NO, WE DO KNOW A LOT OF MOMS, AND I THINK IT'S ALL DONE WITH GOOD INTENT, DR. CARR, TO BE HONEST, AND THEY'RE SAYING, HERE, I HAVE -- >> I HEAR YOU.

YES.

THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO, CAN YOU JUST OUTLINE FOR MOMS WHO ARE LISTENING TO THIS, OR PARENTS WHO ARE LISTENING TO THIS, AND WERE THINKING ABOUT THIS, AS AN OPTION, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

IN SOME -- AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, MY FRIEND DID IT, IT TURNED OUT FINE, EVERYTHING WAS ALL GOOD.

BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES, RIGHT, WITHOUT A MEDICAL CHECK?

>> YEAH.

THE MISTAKES HAPPEN ONLY ONCE.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, RIGHT?

SO, THERE ARE DIFFERENT INFECTIONS THAT BABIES CAN GET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, HIV, HEPATITIS, ALL THESE -- THE MOTHERS ARE INFECTED WITH THESE, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY TRANSMIT.

SO THE BLOOD BANK CLEARS THE MILK FROM EVERY POSSIBLE INFECTION AFTER DETECTING IT AND IT IS SCREENED, BASICALLY, FOR EVERY INFECTION THAT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO YOUR BABIES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCARES IS HIV.

CMV IS ANOTHER ONE.

SO YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING IT FROM THE RIGHT PLACE.

CAN IT HAPPEN TO EVERY MOTHER?

NO, IT WOULDN'T.

BUT IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOUR BABY, SO WHY TAKE THAT RISK?

>> DR. CARR, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS SHORTAGE AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OPTIONS ABOUT HOW PARENTS CAN FEED THEIR CHILDREN?

>> I THINK THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAVE RESOURCES NOW.

THIS ACTUALLY STARTED CREATING THINGS THAT CAN HELP THE PARENTS.

THERE ARE WEBSITES THAT YOU CAN GO TO, EVEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS COME UP WITH HHS.GOV/FORMULA, THE WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN GO THERE.

YOU CAN JUST PUT YOUR ZIP CODE AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL OUT WHERE THE FORMULAS ARE.

THEN YOU CAN CALL FEEDINGAMERICA.ORG.

THAT'S ANOTHER ORGANIZATION AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE AP.ORG, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE BIG WEBSITES, AND THEY ARE GOING TO HELP YOU.

YOU CAN CALL THE MANUFACTURER HOTLINES.

THEY ARE GOING TO HELP YOU.

OF COURSE I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS SLAMMED WITH QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS AND YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT WAS DONE WAS NOW WIC HAS STARTED GIVING YOU EXTRA FORMULAS.

THEY USED TO BE A RESTRICTION ON HOW MUCH THEY WILL GIVE YOU, AND WHAT FORMULA YOU CAN GET FROM THEM, SO THAT HAS BEEN LIBERALIZED NOW, SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO THE WIC AND YOU CAN GET THE FORMULAS FROM THERE.

>> AND DR. CARR, FOR MOMS WHO HAVE NOT GIVEN BIRTH YET, WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS, SEEING IT ALL PLAY OUT, SOME OF THEM ARE GETTING NERVOUS ABOUT IT, I MEAN, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THEM?

>> YOU HAVE TO TAKE DAY BY DAY.

YOU HAVE TO -- IT IS A CHALLENGING SITUATION.

I'M SURE ALL PARENTS ARE IN A PANIC SITUATION.

BUT I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH IT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE RESOURCES.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT.

IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER.

STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO DIFFERENTLY.

YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE TALK ABOUT YOU CANNOT GIVE COW'S MILK TO THESE BABIES BEFORE A YEAR, BUT NOW THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, YOU ARE IN A CRISIS SITUATION, SO CAN YOU DO THAT?

YES, YOU CAN DO THAT.

YOU CAN GIVE COW'S MILK TO A BABY WHO'S ALMOST 1 YEAR OLD.

IS IT RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS?

NO, IT IS NOT.

BUT IF YOU ARE IN A CRISIS SITUATION, CAN YOU DO IT?

YES, YOU CAN DO IT.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE SAY, NO, THIS IS NOT IDEAL, BUT WE ARE NOT IN A SITUATION RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN UNTIL WE GET INTO AN IDEAL SITUATION AGAIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY TO GIVE COW'S MILK TO THE BABY -- TO A BABY WHO'S ALMOST 1 YEAR OLD.

IT'S OKAY TO GIVE FORMULA TO THOSE BABIES.

THESE ARE SMALL THINGS YOU CAN DO.

IF YOUR BABY'S AROUND 12 OR 6 MONTHS OF ABLE, MAYBE GO TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN, MAYBE YOU CAN START GIVING SOLID FOODS TO YOUR BABY AT THAT AGE.

THAT'S GOING TO DECREASE YOUR FORMULA REQUIREMENT, AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT FORMULA LAST FOR YOU FOR A LITTLE LONGER TIME THAN IT WOULD OTHERWISE LAST.

EVERY MOTHER COUNTS.

EVERY BABY COUNTS.

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU HIT IT ON THE NAIL.

ALL MOTHERS COUNT.

WHETHER YOU'RE BREAST-FEEDING, WHETHER YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, FORMULA FEEDING YOUR CHILD, EVERYONE'S IN THIS TOGETHER, RIGHT, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING SOMEHOW.

SO, THE TIPS ARE VERY HELPFUL FOR PARENTS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, DR. CARR, AND IT WAS GREAT HAVING YOU.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> SO, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A WARNING.

IF YOU'RE ON A DIET, PLEASE LOOK AWAY, BECAUSE I HAVE THE HOST OF THE NEW SERIES "TABLE FOR ALL," MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, BUKI, WHO IN MY HOUSE, GOES BY UNCLE BUKI.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

>> THANK YOU, WORK WIFE.

>> WORK HUSBAND.

SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT LAST NIGHT'S EPISODE.

I WATCHED AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I SUDDENLY BEGAN CRAVING EMPANADAS, CUBAN SANDWICHES.

WALK US THROUGH HOW THIS SHOW CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THESE EPISODES ARE JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE TALKING TO EVERYONE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE SHOW THAT I THINK WAS A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND.

THIS STARTED MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS BACK.

WE WERE JUST PITCHING IDEAS, THINKING OF HOW WE COULD REALLY UPLIFT NJ PBS AND ITS BRAND AND THE SHOW AND THANKFULLY THANKS TO MY GODPARENTS, JOLIE, SUZY HERNANDEZ, EUGENIA HARVEY, THE SHOW BECAME WHAT IT WAS AND WE REALLY WORKED HARD ON HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENT PEOPLES AND GROUPS AND FOODS AROUND THE STATE.

>> TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH FOOD AND HISTORY INTERSECT BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF THIS AS WELL.

>> YES.

SO, I WOULD SAY, WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO BE GIVING A HISTORY LESSON.

WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW.

BUT WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT DIFFERENT CULTURES AND REALLY HOW THEIR DIETS, HOW THEIR FOODS INTERSECTED WITH WHO THEY ARE, IT REALLY JUST BECAME A HISTORY GETTING IT FIRSTHAND, LEARNING ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OUR ROLE IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND HOW OYSTERS PLAYED A BIG PART IN OUR DIET AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT SOME OF THESE OYSTER FARMERS WOULD CARRY FREED SLAVES ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER.

SO, YOU JUST -- IT JUST BECAME A HISTORY LESSON AND IT'S SOMETHING I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS JUST AMAZING TO WATCH.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM JUST WATCHING THAT ONE EPISODE.

TELL ME ABOUT -- I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING TO SENATOR BOOKER IN A FUTURE EPISODE, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW POLITICS AND FOOD -- ARE THERE POLITICS IN FOOD?

>> THERE ARE BIG POLITICS IN FOOD.

AND YOU KNOW ME, I'M NOT A FAN OF POLITICS.

I'M NOT.

BUT CORY BOOKER, WHO IS JUST GRACE AND GRACIOUSNESS PERSONIFIED, SAT DOWN WITH US AND REALLY TALKED ABOUT HIS ROLE AS THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AND WHAT HE IS DOING TO NOT ONLY STOP BIG AGRICULTURE, WHICH IS REALLY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR MOM AND POP FARMS OUT THERE BUT REALLY JUST THE FOOD SYSTEM AND HOW IN 2022, IN PLACES LIKE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY CITY WHERE A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT CAN COST YOU $3,000, THERE ARE FOOD DESERTS, PLACES WHERE YOU CAN'T GET FRESH PRODUCE.

SO WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT AND WHAT HE'S DOING, POLICY-WISE, AND LEGISLATION-WISE, TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT.

>> SO, THE VIEWERS WATCHING MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN BUKI COMES OVER, HE'S A VERY DIFFICULT GUEST TO PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT?

LET'S GET INTO IT.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

HE DOESN'T LIKE TO DRINK ALCOHOL, SO I CAN'T OFFER HIM WINE.

HE DOESN'T DRINK COFFEE, SO I CAN'T OFFER HIM THAT.

AND THEN HE HAS ALL THESE ALLERGIES LIKE NUT ALLERGIES.

SO I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE BENADRYL IN THE HOUSE JUST IN CASE.

SO, BUKI, HONESTLY, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, HOW AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO A FOOD SHOW?

>> WELL, THE FUNNY THING IS THAT NO ONE CARES THAT I HAVE A NUT ALLERGY.

IT'S MORE SO, YOU DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL?

NO, I WISH I DID.

I WISH I COULD ENJOY A COCKTAIL WITH THE REST OF YOU, BUT I JUST DON'T LIKE THE TASTE OF ALCOHOL.

BUT I'LL TAKE A CHAI TEA.

THE FUNNY THING IS THAT I THINK IT WILL RESONATE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WITH A FOOD ALLERGY.

NOW, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE CELIAC DISEASE, THEY ARE ALLERGIC TO NUTS WAY WORSE THAN I AM.

DON'T LET IT STOP YOU.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ALLERGY, DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T ENJOY INCREDIBLE INDIAN FOOD, INCREDIBLE FILIPINO FOOD.

MAYBE THERE ARE A COUPLE TWEAKS BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE ISSUE.

YOU CAUGHT ME ON ALL MY CHEAT DAYS BECAUSE USUALLY I'M PLANT-BASED BUT IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PALATE.

YOU'RE ALWAYS UP TO TRY STUFF, BUT GOING INTO THIS, DID YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT ALL THESE TYPES OF FOOD TASTED LIKE?

ARE YOU A FOODIE?

>> I'M NOT AS BIG A FOODIE AS SOME PEOPLE ARE.

I DO LOVE FOOD.

I HAVE THE STOMACH OF A VERY HEFTY MA I WILL SAY.

BUT I LOVE FOOD.

I'VE TASTED A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT FOODS BEFORE BUT NOT IN THIS WAY.

PERFECT EXAMPLE, THE EPISODE COMING UP NEXT WEEK IS INDIA.

I'VE DEFINITELY HAD INDIAN FOOD BEFORE, THE DAAL, THE DIFFERENT CURRIES BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF INDO CHINESE AND THESE WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS TOOK ME TO THIS PLACE IN LITTLE INDIA IN JERSEY CITY.

I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN THE FLAVORS.

IT WAS LITERALLY HALF CHINESE, HALF INDIAN, SMOOSH IT TOGETHER, INCREDIBLE FLAVORS, INCREDIBLE JUST DELICIOUSNESS.

IT'S SOMETHING I'VE NEVER TRIED BEFORE, AND I WILL BE BACK AGAIN.

>> SO, NOW, MY -- THIS IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TASTED A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.

BUT -- AND YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS TO REMEMBER, THERE'S A CAMERA IN HIS FACE, SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TASTE SOMETHING BAD?

>> WELL, I LIVE BY THE SHOW MUST GO ON AND FIX YOUR FACE.

BUT I WILL SAY, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH.

THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF, AND I ACTUALLY SAID TO JOE LEE, OUR GM, I HOPE I LIKE EVERYTHING.

BUT THIS SEASON HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE MEAL THAT I HAVE TRIED FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS' KITCHENS AND RESTAURANTS THAT HASN'T BEEN SUPERB, 10s ACROSS THE BOARD, A-PLUS.

I WAS WORRIED, BUT EVERYTHING WAS REALLY GOOD.

>> SO, TELL EVERYONE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF FOOD AND KITCHEN YOU GREW UP IN AND EATING.

>> SO, I GREW UP IN A NIGERIAN HOUSEHOLD.

MY PARENTS, BOTH OF THEM, ARE FROM NIGERIA.

THEY CAME OVER HERE IN THE EARLY '80s.

THEY ARE FROM THE YORUBA TRIBE.

IT'S REALLY -- THERE ARE A LOT OF TRIBES, BUT IT'S YORUBA AND IBO AND THEY'RE YORUBA, AND WE GREW UP WITH SPICE.

I CALL MYSELF A SPICE ASSASSIN, BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY THINGS ARE SPICY, THEY'RE REALLY NOT.

WE GREW UP WITH A LOT OF STEWS.

WE ATE WITH OUR HANDS.

AND WE ATE A LOT OF RICE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT SORT OF YAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND TRIPE AND COW'S FOOT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, OH, MAYBE NOT.

BUT SO GOOD.

BEST RESTAURANT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD IS MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN.

>> OKAY.

AND THEN, I WILL SAY THE LAST EPISODE, I FEEL LIKE IT WAS EMOTIONAL.

DO YOU FEEL THAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, IT'S ALSO BEEN VERY EMOTIONAL?

IS THERE CRYING ALLOWED WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD?

>> YOU KNOW, THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THE SHOW IS, I DON'T EVEN CALL -- I DON'T CONSIDER IT A FOOD SHOW.

I CONSIDER IT A CULTURE SHOW, BUT OUR THROUGHLINE, THE THING THAT BINDS US ALL IS THIS FOOD.

SO, REALLY, WE'RE HEARING THE STORIES.

WE'RE HEARING INCREDIBLE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE'S JOURNEYS, HOW THEY GOT HERE, NOT ONLY TO STATES BUT TO NEW JERSEY.

YOU KNOW, THEIR LIFE STORIES, HOW THEY GREW UP, WHAT THEIR CULTURES ARE LIKE, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SHOW.

WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER FULLY, BUT THROUGH THIS FOOD, WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE MAYBE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDING AND MAYBE WE'RE NOT SO DIFFERENT AFTER ALL.

>> WELL, I GUESS, IS THAT THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY?

BECAUSE YOU ARE ENCOURAGING US TO EXPAND OUR CULINARY CURIOSITY FOR SURE.

YOU'RE SHOWING US ABOUT JERSEY AND THE FOOD AND THE HISTORY.

I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE DONE WATCHING THE SHOW, TO TAKE AWAY FROM ALL THIS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I DEFINITELY WANT THEM TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN FOR THOSE 30 MINUTES, YOU KNOW, WATCH ME DANCE UP A STORM, GET IN THE MIX OF IT, DEFINITELY WANT TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE, BUT ALSO, IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AND I MEAN, WE'VE -- WE'RE -- WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE VERY DIVISIVE, IT'S EITHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, YOU'RE THIS OR YOU'RE THAT.

THIS IS REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE IN A NEW WAY.

AND I REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO COME AROUND AND REALLY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT -- JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD MASHED POTATOES AND COLLARD GREENS IN YOUR HOUSE, THIS PERSON WHO HAD DOSA, IT'S NOT -- THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

FOOD IS LOVE.

AND IT'S A WAY TO REALLY BRING AWARENESS AND BRING UNDERSTANDING.

AND I HOPE EVERYBODY LIKES IT.

>> WELL, WE DO HAVE A CLIP OF NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE, SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT REALLY QUICK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> UP FIRST ON THE TOUR, SZECHWAN MERCHI.

>> SO, INDO-CHINESE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD OF IT.

SOMEBODY EXPLAIN.

>> INDO-CHINESE IS MY FAVORITE CUISINE.

I ORDER FROM HERE ALL THE TIME.

>> THIS IS OUR CHICKEN LOLLIPOP.

>> WOW.

>> SO THIS IS OKRA.

>> WOW.

AND WE'RE ONLY ON STOP NUMBER ONE.

>> STOP ONE.

>> ON THIS AMAZING TOUR.

>> I HOPE YOU CAME HUNGRY.

>> CHICKEN AND GREEN PEPPER.

>> I'M NOW FEELING THAT WARMTH IN MY THROAT.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHERE YOU TAKE THE SIP OF THE LASSI AND THAT HELPS.

>> CALMS IT DOWN.

THAT'S IT.

>> BUKI, FRIEND, I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL AND GREAT EACH EPISODE CONTINUES TO GET.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME, MY FIRST TIME HOSTING.

WHAT A GREAT GUEST YOU HAVE BEEN.

AND DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, EVERYONE HAS TO TUNE IN.

IF YOU'RE NOT TUNED IN, IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED IT, YOU'RE MISSING SOMETHING.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME, BUKI.

>> THANK YOU, RAVEN, AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE GIRLS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING TOO.

MY BIGGEST FANS, SIDNEY, MY GIRL, KENNEDY, MY GIRL, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING AND I'M GOING TO BRING YOU A SPECIAL TREAT FROM MY TRAVELS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAD OUR OWN PREMIER PARTY AT HOME.

SO, THANK YOU ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUKI, FOR JOINING ME, JUST GREAT CONVERSATION.

I HOPE EVERYONE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU AND THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, RAVEN, APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU CAN CATCH MORE OF "TABLE FOR ALL" WEDNESDAYS AT 8:00 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANKS TO DR. CARR AND BUKI.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE "CHAT BOX," "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," NJ "BUSINESS BEAT," AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

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