June 25, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/health/nutrition/30recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
NY Times Recipe - Asparagus and Herb Lasagna
By Martha Rose Shulman
June 25, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/health/nutrition/30recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
June 25, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/health/nutrition/30recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Grist Article - Wall Street bets on JBS takeover of pork giant Smithfield
By Tom Philpott
June 29, 2010
"As the chart to the left shows, the great bulk of the meat consumed in the United States comes from just four large, powerful companies. Three of them -- Tyson, Smithfield, Cargill -- will be familiar to most readers; the fourth isn't exactly a household name. Over the last two years, a Brazilian beef-packing conglomerate called JBS has come barreling into the U.S. meat market, taking advantage of a weak dollar and economic troubles among top domestic players...."
http://www.grist.org/article/food-wall-street-bets-on-jbs-takeover-of-pork-giant-smithfield/
June 29, 2010
"As the chart to the left shows, the great bulk of the meat consumed in the United States comes from just four large, powerful companies. Three of them -- Tyson, Smithfield, Cargill -- will be familiar to most readers; the fourth isn't exactly a household name. Over the last two years, a Brazilian beef-packing conglomerate called JBS has come barreling into the U.S. meat market, taking advantage of a weak dollar and economic troubles among top domestic players...."http://www.grist.org/article/food-wall-street-bets-on-jbs-takeover-of-pork-giant-smithfield/
Food Safety News Article - Airline Food Lacks Adequate Safety Precautions
By Laurel Curran
June 30, 2010
"...Airline meals do not enjoy a reputation for excellence, and unfortunately taste is not all that this food appears to be lacking. As reported in USA Today, most airline food also lacks adequate attention to food safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently released reports highlighting a number of serious food safety infractions at the three leading airline food supply kitchens..."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/airline-food-lacks-adequate-safety-precautions/
June 30, 2010
"...Airline meals do not enjoy a reputation for excellence, and unfortunately taste is not all that this food appears to be lacking. As reported in USA Today, most airline food also lacks adequate attention to food safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently released reports highlighting a number of serious food safety infractions at the three leading airline food supply kitchens..."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/airline-food-lacks-adequate-safety-precautions/
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
NY Times Article - Tuna's End
By Paul Greenberg
June 21, 2010
This article is a devastating yet fascinating read, and though quite long it is well worth the time it takes to read it. Tracing the history of the bluefin tuna, its unique traits as a species, and how our increasing demand for it as sushi and otherwise has caused the bluefin (among other fish species) to severely diminish in number, Greenberg's article strongly conveys how desperately we need to find an alternative to our current (over)fishing methods, in spite of the limitations posed by cultural tradition, the challenges of ocean regulation, the politics of fishing regulation, and the many other obstacles preventing this issue from being resolved.
The article as it appears in NY Times Magazine is adapted from Paul Greenberg's forthcoming book, Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food, which I have added to my "to-read" list.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/magazine/27Tuna-t.html?pagewanted=all
June 21, 2010
This article is a devastating yet fascinating read, and though quite long it is well worth the time it takes to read it. Tracing the history of the bluefin tuna, its unique traits as a species, and how our increasing demand for it as sushi and otherwise has caused the bluefin (among other fish species) to severely diminish in number, Greenberg's article strongly conveys how desperately we need to find an alternative to our current (over)fishing methods, in spite of the limitations posed by cultural tradition, the challenges of ocean regulation, the politics of fishing regulation, and the many other obstacles preventing this issue from being resolved.
The article as it appears in NY Times Magazine is adapted from Paul Greenberg's forthcoming book, Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food, which I have added to my "to-read" list.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/magazine/27Tuna-t.html?pagewanted=all
The Daily Green's Vegetarian 4th of July Menu
Check out this Daily Green slideshow of delicious food recipes and beverage suggestions here, among them Bulgur Bean Burgers and Grilled Vegetable Tostadas.
AP Article - Move over fruit, meat-flavored vokdas moving in
By Mark Thiessen
June 29, 2010
"The Alaska Distillery in Wasilla just recently launched its Smoked Salmon Flavored Vodka, about a year after the Seattle-based Black Rock Spirits introduced a bacon-flavored vodka. Both savory spirits were intended to complement Bloody Marys, but are finding wider uses among mixologists...."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5geANbIFrpFV6jHyfelRQWtqwBOXwD9GKS2U00
June 29, 2010
"The Alaska Distillery in Wasilla just recently launched its Smoked Salmon Flavored Vodka, about a year after the Seattle-based Black Rock Spirits introduced a bacon-flavored vodka. Both savory spirits were intended to complement Bloody Marys, but are finding wider uses among mixologists...."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5geANbIFrpFV6jHyfelRQWtqwBOXwD9GKS2U00
TakePart Post - Take Action: Say "No" to HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup)
June 29, 2010
"Mystery sweetener High Fructose Corn Syrup, or HFCS, shows up in everything from soda to salad dressing. Sign this no-HFCS pledge, and read the ingredient lists on the food you eat—it may curb your appetite."
While almost impossible to eliminate entirely, HFCS is among my personal top three food items to avoid: (1) soda (which has HFCS), (2) fast food, and (3) foods with HFCS and hydrogenated oils. Doing away with these three things is a major step towards better health and more conscious eating habits.
"Mystery sweetener High Fructose Corn Syrup, or HFCS, shows up in everything from soda to salad dressing. Sign this no-HFCS pledge, and read the ingredient lists on the food you eat—it may curb your appetite."
While almost impossible to eliminate entirely, HFCS is among my personal top three food items to avoid: (1) soda (which has HFCS), (2) fast food, and (3) foods with HFCS and hydrogenated oils. Doing away with these three things is a major step towards better health and more conscious eating habits.
LA Times Article - FDA urges less antibiotics in meat
By Andrew Zajac
June 29, 2010
"Reporting from Washington — Meat producers should use certain antibiotics only to assure animal health and stop using the drugs to increase production and promote growth, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday. The recommendation to cut back on the use of antimicrobial drugs comes amid rising concern that extensive use in animals contributes to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria afflicting humans...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fda-antibiotics-20100629,0,4918781.story
See recent post titled "Antibiotic Use in Livestock Production: New FDA Guidance" on the Agricultural Law blog for more about this issue.
June 29, 2010
"Reporting from Washington — Meat producers should use certain antibiotics only to assure animal health and stop using the drugs to increase production and promote growth, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday. The recommendation to cut back on the use of antimicrobial drugs comes amid rising concern that extensive use in animals contributes to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria afflicting humans...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fda-antibiotics-20100629,0,4918781.story
See recent post titled "Antibiotic Use in Livestock Production: New FDA Guidance" on the Agricultural Law blog for more about this issue.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
TakePart Post - Chipotle Swaps Junk Mail for Healthy School Lunches
By Megan Begard
June 26, 2010
"Junk mail. Junk food. Junk yards. Not exactly words that have you jumping for more, are they? That's the point Chipotle wants to make with its new campaign called "No Junk." The basic premise: nobody wants junk—not in our inboxes, not in our food. It works like this: you forward the junk email you don't want to Chipotle, and Chipotle—in collaboration with the nonprofit The Lunch Box—will work to get rid of junk in schools, replacing bad nutrition with tools for better options...."
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/25/chipotle-swaps-junk-mail-for-healthy-school-lunches
June 26, 2010
"Junk mail. Junk food. Junk yards. Not exactly words that have you jumping for more, are they? That's the point Chipotle wants to make with its new campaign called "No Junk." The basic premise: nobody wants junk—not in our inboxes, not in our food. It works like this: you forward the junk email you don't want to Chipotle, and Chipotle—in collaboration with the nonprofit The Lunch Box—will work to get rid of junk in schools, replacing bad nutrition with tools for better options...."
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/25/chipotle-swaps-junk-mail-for-healthy-school-lunches
LA Times Article - Shaping how Americans eat: the debate rages
By Melissa Healy
June 28, 2010
"The U.S. government has just served up a heaping mouthful to people who eat — the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. It not only squarely addresses the undeniable — that two-thirds of American adults are either overweight or obese and that our children are on a similar trajectory — it also recasts some advice we have heard before: urging Americans, for instance, to shift their diets away from meat and animal protein and fats — foods such as red meat, cheese and butter — toward a more "plant-based diet," a term that includes not just fresh fruits and vegetables but also foods such as nuts and lentils and olive or canola oil...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-he-dietary-guidelines-intro-20100628,0,762420.story
June 28, 2010
"The U.S. government has just served up a heaping mouthful to people who eat — the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. It not only squarely addresses the undeniable — that two-thirds of American adults are either overweight or obese and that our children are on a similar trajectory — it also recasts some advice we have heard before: urging Americans, for instance, to shift their diets away from meat and animal protein and fats — foods such as red meat, cheese and butter — toward a more "plant-based diet," a term that includes not just fresh fruits and vegetables but also foods such as nuts and lentils and olive or canola oil...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-he-dietary-guidelines-intro-20100628,0,762420.story
TakePart Post - Farm Workers and Colbert Team Up: Want a Migrant Worker's Job, Come and Get It
By Jenny Inglee
June 26, 2010
"Calling all Americans! Do you think undocumented migrant workers are taking your jobs? Stephen Colbert and United Farm Workers of America are teaming up to tell people, 'If you want an immigrant farm worker's job, come on over and get it.' To make their point, they've even created a website called Take Our Jobs where you can sign up to be a farm worker. Once signed up, a farm worker will train applicants and connect them to a working farm, where it will be time to put up or shut up...."
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/25/farm-workers-and-colbert-team-up-want-a-migrant-workers-job-come-and-get-it
June 26, 2010
"Calling all Americans! Do you think undocumented migrant workers are taking your jobs? Stephen Colbert and United Farm Workers of America are teaming up to tell people, 'If you want an immigrant farm worker's job, come on over and get it.' To make their point, they've even created a website called Take Our Jobs where you can sign up to be a farm worker. Once signed up, a farm worker will train applicants and connect them to a working farm, where it will be time to put up or shut up...."
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/25/farm-workers-and-colbert-team-up-want-a-migrant-workers-job-come-and-get-it
Food Safety News Article - Kellogg's Recalls 28 Million Boxes of Cereal
By Dan Flynn
June 26, 2010
"Some of its most popular breakfast cereals have flunked Kellogg's taste and smell tests, prompting it to voluntarily issue a recall of up to 28 million boxes of the involved brands. The Battle Creek, MI-based cereal company said it has been working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on 'an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner in the package' of the recalled cereals...."
Read full article here, which includes a list of which Kellogg's cereals are being recalled.
June 26, 2010
"Some of its most popular breakfast cereals have flunked Kellogg's taste and smell tests, prompting it to voluntarily issue a recall of up to 28 million boxes of the involved brands. The Battle Creek, MI-based cereal company said it has been working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on 'an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner in the package' of the recalled cereals...."
Read full article here, which includes a list of which Kellogg's cereals are being recalled.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Crazy Sexy Life Post - Shopping Smart at the Farmers Market
By Lisa Borden
June 23, 2010
"Shopping at the farmers market is better for the environment, better for our economy and better for your wallet. It’s also fun, healthy and the food tastes better. Once you eat fresh, recently harvested produce, you’ll realize the stuff from the supermarket (organic or not) is just not the same thing. Being connected to your food will change your entire life! As with anything new, it takes time to figure it all out, so here are some helpful hints for hitting the farmers market...."
Read full list of ten tips for shopping smart at Farmers' Markets (my personal favorite among them being, "Don't buy ingredients for a meal; make a meal based on the best ingredients you buy") here.
June 23, 2010
"Shopping at the farmers market is better for the environment, better for our economy and better for your wallet. It’s also fun, healthy and the food tastes better. Once you eat fresh, recently harvested produce, you’ll realize the stuff from the supermarket (organic or not) is just not the same thing. Being connected to your food will change your entire life! As with anything new, it takes time to figure it all out, so here are some helpful hints for hitting the farmers market...."
Read full list of ten tips for shopping smart at Farmers' Markets (my personal favorite among them being, "Don't buy ingredients for a meal; make a meal based on the best ingredients you buy") here.
Grist Article - New Agtivist Q&A with John Scharffenberger: First wine, then chocolate, and now ... tofu?
By Bonnie Azab Powell
June 18, 2010
"This is the first in Grist's series of interviews with a group we're calling the 'New Agtivists' -- the many people who're working to change this country's f'ed-up food system. Whether famous or un-, they're a little bit country and a little bit punk rock. They're starting urban farms, seed-saving ventures, and underground food-swapping markets. They're fighting for better food in schools and fewer feedlots. They have one thing in common: they think food matters -- and they're taking it into their own hands to improve how it is produced and consumed in this country...."
Read full interview here to learn more about John Scharffenberger's fascinating food journey.
June 18, 2010
"This is the first in Grist's series of interviews with a group we're calling the 'New Agtivists' -- the many people who're working to change this country's f'ed-up food system. Whether famous or un-, they're a little bit country and a little bit punk rock. They're starting urban farms, seed-saving ventures, and underground food-swapping markets. They're fighting for better food in schools and fewer feedlots. They have one thing in common: they think food matters -- and they're taking it into their own hands to improve how it is produced and consumed in this country...."
Read full interview here to learn more about John Scharffenberger's fascinating food journey.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
TakePart Post - Subway Sandwiches' Secret Ingredient: High Fructose Corn Syrup
By Megan Begard
June 23, 2010
"Think you’re doing yourself a favor by eating at Subway? Think again. Your nine-grain bread is a fake. What you’re really downing is a bunch of high fructose corn syrup and…get this…plant fertilizer. Over at Slashfood today, Nichol Nelson broke down what your Subway sandwich really means. And it's not pretty...."
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/23/subway-sandwiches-not-as-good-as-you-think
June 23, 2010
"Think you’re doing yourself a favor by eating at Subway? Think again. Your nine-grain bread is a fake. What you’re really downing is a bunch of high fructose corn syrup and…get this…plant fertilizer. Over at Slashfood today, Nichol Nelson broke down what your Subway sandwich really means. And it's not pretty...."
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/23/subway-sandwiches-not-as-good-as-you-think
Food Safety News Article - Summer Brings First Big Ground Beef Recall
By Dan Flynn
June 24, 2010
"Summer was only a day old when E. coli O157:H7 contamination brought the first large ground beef recall of the season. Routine microbiological sampling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) returned test results that were positive for E. coli O157. With those results, California-based South Gate Meat Co. recalled 35,000 pounds of ground beef for possible E. coli O157 contamination...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/first-big-ground-beef-recall-of-the-summer/
June 24, 2010
"Summer was only a day old when E. coli O157:H7 contamination brought the first large ground beef recall of the season. Routine microbiological sampling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) returned test results that were positive for E. coli O157. With those results, California-based South Gate Meat Co. recalled 35,000 pounds of ground beef for possible E. coli O157 contamination...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/first-big-ground-beef-recall-of-the-summer/
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
VegNews Book Club
VegNews Magazine, the top vegan magazine, just announced a book club for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone who is concerned with animal rights and/or interested in veggie eating habits. The blog editors will assign a book per month, both fiction and nonfiction, for club members to read and discuss. The book for July is Mad Cowboy, for August is Skinny Bitch, and for September is The Jungle.
The first discussion of Mad Cowboy will take place on July 5th, so if you're interested in participating, better get reading!
Food & Water Watch Post - What does "sustainable seafood" mean?
By Marie Logan
June 22, 2010
"The word 'sustainable' is often overused to indicate that a practice or product is 'green,' 'eco-friendly' or a host of other environmentally compatible notions. An article on food activism and dining in the Bay Area about 'sustainable seafood' caught my eye recently, and made me wonder: what does 'sustainable seafood' really mean? The definition of sustainable seems to vary greatly, depending on who is using it and how...."
Read on here to find out how Food & Water Watch defines "sustainable seafood," and to check out their annually updated Smart Seafood Guide.
June 22, 2010
"The word 'sustainable' is often overused to indicate that a practice or product is 'green,' 'eco-friendly' or a host of other environmentally compatible notions. An article on food activism and dining in the Bay Area about 'sustainable seafood' caught my eye recently, and made me wonder: what does 'sustainable seafood' really mean? The definition of sustainable seems to vary greatly, depending on who is using it and how...."
Read on here to find out how Food & Water Watch defines "sustainable seafood," and to check out their annually updated Smart Seafood Guide.
Food Safety News Article - Q&A With Temple Grandin
By Helena Bottemiller
June 22 and 23, 2010
As part of their ongoing expert Q&A series, Food Safety News has a conversation with world-renowned livestock expert Temple Grandin on humane handling, small vs. big, transparency, and the future of agriculture.
"Dr. Temple Grandin has been a thought leader in both the animal agriculture and autism realms for decades. Grandin, the world's most well-known autistic person, is a New York Times best-selling author, a professor of animal science, a consultant to the leading food companies, and a noted speaker on animal behavior and autism. She attributes her success in improving humane handling systems for livestock, systems that now impact around half the cattle in North America, to her different way of thinking. "As a person with autism, it is easy for me to understand how animals think because my thinking processes are like an animal's," she says. Earlier this year, Grandin was named a "Hero" among TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people and was the subject of the HBO film Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes...."
Read the full Q&A here: Part I and Part II.
June 22 and 23, 2010
As part of their ongoing expert Q&A series, Food Safety News has a conversation with world-renowned livestock expert Temple Grandin on humane handling, small vs. big, transparency, and the future of agriculture.
"Dr. Temple Grandin has been a thought leader in both the animal agriculture and autism realms for decades. Grandin, the world's most well-known autistic person, is a New York Times best-selling author, a professor of animal science, a consultant to the leading food companies, and a noted speaker on animal behavior and autism. She attributes her success in improving humane handling systems for livestock, systems that now impact around half the cattle in North America, to her different way of thinking. "As a person with autism, it is easy for me to understand how animals think because my thinking processes are like an animal's," she says. Earlier this year, Grandin was named a "Hero" among TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people and was the subject of the HBO film Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes...."
Read the full Q&A here: Part I and Part II.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Atlantic Article - Why We Should Dump Dietary Guidelines
By Hank Cardello, author of Stuffed: An Insider's Look at Who's (Really) Making America Fat
June 21, 2010
"The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee just issued its findings and recommendations to encourage healthier eating. Containing no surprises, the Committee's suggestions included four major steps required to help Americans adopt better nutrition and physical activity behaviors, namely:
• Reducing calorie intakes and increasing physical activity
• Shifting to a more plant-based diet
• Reducing the consumption of added sugars, solid fats, sodium,
and refined grains, and
• Meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
First published in "pre-obesity" 1980, these reports are issued every five years to provide direction about how dietary intake can reduce risk for major chronic diseases. Since that time, obesity, a diet-related condition, has climbed to become our country's number-one health issue. Rates in this country have skyrocketed to the point where two-thirds of all American adults are now either overweight or obese. Hardly a successful track record...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/06/why-we-should-dump-dietary-guidelines/58383/
June 21, 2010
"The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee just issued its findings and recommendations to encourage healthier eating. Containing no surprises, the Committee's suggestions included four major steps required to help Americans adopt better nutrition and physical activity behaviors, namely:
• Reducing calorie intakes and increasing physical activity
• Shifting to a more plant-based diet
• Reducing the consumption of added sugars, solid fats, sodium,
and refined grains, and
• Meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
First published in "pre-obesity" 1980, these reports are issued every five years to provide direction about how dietary intake can reduce risk for major chronic diseases. Since that time, obesity, a diet-related condition, has climbed to become our country's number-one health issue. Rates in this country have skyrocketed to the point where two-thirds of all American adults are now either overweight or obese. Hardly a successful track record...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/06/why-we-should-dump-dietary-guidelines/58383/
Eatocracy Post - 6 Scary-Sounding Food Additives - and What They Really Are
While this post is certainly interesting and helpful by defining what "tertiary butylhydroquinone" or "sodium stearoyl lactylate" are and how they operate within our food products, the bottom line lesson remains: avoid eating foods with any type of chemicals, particularly ones you can't pronounce (one of Michael Pollan's Food Rules).
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/06/22/9-scary-sounding-food-additives%E2%80%A6and-what-they-really-are/
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/06/22/9-scary-sounding-food-additives%E2%80%A6and-what-they-really-are/
NY Times Article - Justices Back Monsanto on Biotech Seed Planting
By Andrew Pollack
June 21, 2010
"In its first-ever ruling on genetically modified crops, the Supreme Court on Monday overturned a lower court’s ban on the planting of alfalfa seeds engineered to resist Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide...."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/business/22bizcourt.html?src=busln
Also see Civil Eats posts below for more about this groundbreaking case, and how it was a victory not only for Monsanto but also, perhaps ironically, for those opposed to GMOs:
• High Court Leaves Ban on Planting of GE Alfalfa in Place
• Supreme Court's Ruling on Monsanto's GE Alfalfa: Who Won?
June 21, 2010
"In its first-ever ruling on genetically modified crops, the Supreme Court on Monday overturned a lower court’s ban on the planting of alfalfa seeds engineered to resist Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide...."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/business/22bizcourt.html?src=busln
Also see Civil Eats posts below for more about this groundbreaking case, and how it was a victory not only for Monsanto but also, perhaps ironically, for those opposed to GMOs:
• High Court Leaves Ban on Planting of GE Alfalfa in Place
• Supreme Court's Ruling on Monsanto's GE Alfalfa: Who Won?
New Blog - CNN's Eatocracy
A friend (thanks, Martha!) recently told me about a new blog on CNN.com called Eatocracy, self-described as "your online home for smart, passionate conversation and information about food news, politics, culture. This blog will "highlight regional and family recipes, dive into restaurants and food shopping, chat with celebrity and local chefs, and show you what's for dinner around the world tonight."
For more information, see the blog's introductory post here. And should you want to start reading Eatocracy regularly, subscribe through the RSS feed link in the upper right corner of the homepage.
Happy food reading!
For more information, see the blog's introductory post here. And should you want to start reading Eatocracy regularly, subscribe through the RSS feed link in the upper right corner of the homepage.
Happy food reading!
NY Times Article - To Help the Little Guy, the Government Proposes New Rules for Big Meatpackers
By William Neuman
June 18, 2010
"The Obama administration proposed new rules on Friday seeking to increase competition and rein in potentially unfair practices by large meatpackers and poultry processors. The move is aimed at helping small livestock and poultry farmers survive in an industry dominated by corporate giants...."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/19meat.html?src=busln
June 18, 2010
"The Obama administration proposed new rules on Friday seeking to increase competition and rein in potentially unfair practices by large meatpackers and poultry processors. The move is aimed at helping small livestock and poultry farmers survive in an industry dominated by corporate giants...."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/19meat.html?src=busln
Huffington Post Article - How One Chef Is Moving Vegetables Center Stage
By Chris Elam (Program Director, Meatless Monday)
June 21, 2010
"Chef John Fraser is the owner and executive chef of critically acclaimed Dovetail, awarded 3-stars by The New York Times. With an early career cooking in some of the world's top kitchens, his bio is impressive. But what really separates Fraser, for me, beyond his estimable work rate and his perfectionist's zeal, is his desire to encourage his diners to really think about what they're eating, what they're putting in their bodies. In my quest to speak with experts on food issues, Fraser seemed like the perfect chef to talk about vegetables, about the role chefs can play in encouraging the public to explore other options, and about his renowned weekly meatless tasting menu...."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-elam/how-one-iron-chef-is-movi_b_618952.html
June 21, 2010
"Chef John Fraser is the owner and executive chef of critically acclaimed Dovetail, awarded 3-stars by The New York Times. With an early career cooking in some of the world's top kitchens, his bio is impressive. But what really separates Fraser, for me, beyond his estimable work rate and his perfectionist's zeal, is his desire to encourage his diners to really think about what they're eating, what they're putting in their bodies. In my quest to speak with experts on food issues, Fraser seemed like the perfect chef to talk about vegetables, about the role chefs can play in encouraging the public to explore other options, and about his renowned weekly meatless tasting menu...."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-elam/how-one-iron-chef-is-movi_b_618952.html
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
USA Today Article - Panel: Obesity is century's greatest public health threat
By Nanci Hellmich
June 15, 2010
June 15, 2010
"People in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is "the single greatest threat to public health in this century," says an expert panel in a report out Tuesday. The advisory report for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans calls on people to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet. The report is based on the latest scientific evidence and was prepared by a 13-member advisory committee of national nutrition and health experts. The public now has 30 days to comment on the report at www.dietaryguidelines.gov. The final guidelines will be released later this year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services..."
Monday, June 14, 2010
Guardian Article - Whistleblower aims to expose dark side of Japanese whaling
By Justin McCurry
June 14, 2010
"He once wielded a knife on the deck of a Japanese whaling ship, slicing apart the behemoths of the ocean in the name of "scientific research", while much of the rest of the world looked on in horror. Now, as Japan pushes to overturn the 24-year ban on commercial whaling, the former whaler has come forward with allegations of widespread criminality among the men with whom he spent months in the freezing waters of the Antarctic..."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/14/whistleblower-expose-japanese-whaling
June 14, 2010
"He once wielded a knife on the deck of a Japanese whaling ship, slicing apart the behemoths of the ocean in the name of "scientific research", while much of the rest of the world looked on in horror. Now, as Japan pushes to overturn the 24-year ban on commercial whaling, the former whaler has come forward with allegations of widespread criminality among the men with whom he spent months in the freezing waters of the Antarctic..."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/14/whistleblower-expose-japanese-whaling
Food Safety News Article - Q&A with Eric Schlosser
By Helena Bottemiller
June 14, 2010
"Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (2001) is, in many ways, still fueling food policy discussion in America. A ground-breaking expose on the fast food industry and a critique of the modern food system, Fast Food Nation was a New York Times best-seller for nearly two years, evolved into a movie in 2006, and inspired the Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc. (2009). Food Safety News recently caught up with Schlosser while he was in Washington, DC meeting with lawmakers about food safety and keynoting Consumers Union's Activist Summit..."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/qa-with-eric-schlosser/
June 14, 2010
"Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (2001) is, in many ways, still fueling food policy discussion in America. A ground-breaking expose on the fast food industry and a critique of the modern food system, Fast Food Nation was a New York Times best-seller for nearly two years, evolved into a movie in 2006, and inspired the Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc. (2009). Food Safety News recently caught up with Schlosser while he was in Washington, DC meeting with lawmakers about food safety and keynoting Consumers Union's Activist Summit..."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/qa-with-eric-schlosser/
Friday, June 11, 2010
Where Is My Milk From?
This kind of tool is a great way to facilitate conscious eating - the more you know about your food and where it comes from, the better choices you can make when selecting and buying it.
TakePart Post - Coke Leaves Mexico Schools
By Megan Bedard
June 11, 2010
"Nearly 300,000 schools in Mexico are saying buh-bye to Coke in their corridors by 2013. The move comes in response to a call for the removal of junkfood in schools across Mexico. Some of Mexico's population of 107 million are genetically predisposed to develop diabetes...."
(If only this could happen in the U.S.!)
Post continues with a description of what Coke does to your body within the first hour of drinking it. Scary.
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/11/coke-leaves-mexico-schools
June 11, 2010
"Nearly 300,000 schools in Mexico are saying buh-bye to Coke in their corridors by 2013. The move comes in response to a call for the removal of junkfood in schools across Mexico. Some of Mexico's population of 107 million are genetically predisposed to develop diabetes...."
(If only this could happen in the U.S.!)
Post continues with a description of what Coke does to your body within the first hour of drinking it. Scary.
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/06/11/coke-leaves-mexico-schools
Food Politics Post - Health claims: Should the First Amendment protect bad science?
June 11, 2010
Marion Nestle discusses the legal issues surrounding health claims on food products - specifically, how to "protect real First Amendment rights while restricting unsubstantiated health claims." She introduces the topic with the (absurd) health claims featured on "Enfagrow toddler formula, a sugary product aimed at children from ages one to three":
http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/06/health-claims-should-the-first-amendment-protect-bad-science-2/
Marion Nestle discusses the legal issues surrounding health claims on food products - specifically, how to "protect real First Amendment rights while restricting unsubstantiated health claims." She introduces the topic with the (absurd) health claims featured on "Enfagrow toddler formula, a sugary product aimed at children from ages one to three":
http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/06/health-claims-should-the-first-amendment-protect-bad-science-2/
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
NY Times Recipe - Couscous With Chickpeas and Chard
By Martha Rose Shulman
Published: June 4, 2010
This is typical of many Tunisian vegetable stews, made fragrant with spices (caraway, cumin, coriander seeds), beans and vegetables.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/health/nutrition/09recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Published: June 4, 2010
This is typical of many Tunisian vegetable stews, made fragrant with spices (caraway, cumin, coriander seeds), beans and vegetables.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/health/nutrition/09recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Huffington Post Article - Real Food For Health: Change Your Life. Cook Dinner!
By Christina Pirello
Posted: June 8, 2010
"Eating has become complicated in our modern life. But it doesn't have to be. We have become so reliant on various experts to advise us on our food choices. From television chefs to nutrition scientists; exercise gurus to news anchors; government advisory committees to food pyramids; there is no shortage of opinions on what Americans should be eating. They have filled our heads with all manner of biochemistry, facts, figures and statistics. Most of us can quote them as surely as our own names. We have become deeply familiar with words like 'antioxidants,' 'polyphenols,' 'saturated fats,' 'omega-3' and of course, 'calories.' But in all this science, we lost our way to the food and our inherent wisdom about what eating means...."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-pirello/real-food-for-health-chan_b_604523.html
Posted: June 8, 2010
"Eating has become complicated in our modern life. But it doesn't have to be. We have become so reliant on various experts to advise us on our food choices. From television chefs to nutrition scientists; exercise gurus to news anchors; government advisory committees to food pyramids; there is no shortage of opinions on what Americans should be eating. They have filled our heads with all manner of biochemistry, facts, figures and statistics. Most of us can quote them as surely as our own names. We have become deeply familiar with words like 'antioxidants,' 'polyphenols,' 'saturated fats,' 'omega-3' and of course, 'calories.' But in all this science, we lost our way to the food and our inherent wisdom about what eating means...."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-pirello/real-food-for-health-chan_b_604523.html
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Food Politics Post - FTC goes after Kellogg's Immunity claim, but why?
June 8, 2010
Marion Nestle discusses the recent news that "the FTC has imposed new advertising restrictions on Kellogg because of the Immunity claim on Rice Krispies. The company is not to make claims about 'any health benefit of any food unless the claims are backed by scientific evidence and not misleading,'" and also questions why this is something the FTC is dealing with, rather than the FDA. See full post here.
Marion Nestle discusses the recent news that "the FTC has imposed new advertising restrictions on Kellogg because of the Immunity claim on Rice Krispies. The company is not to make claims about 'any health benefit of any food unless the claims are backed by scientific evidence and not misleading,'" and also questions why this is something the FTC is dealing with, rather than the FDA. See full post here.
Civil Eats Post - Eat Less Meat, Eat Better Meat
By Ralph Loglisci
June 8th 2010
Civil Eats interviews Nicolette Niman who, with "her husband Bill run the BN Ranch in Northern California near the seaside raising beef cattle on pasture and heritage turkeys. Bill knows a thing or two about ranching. He founded the famous Niman Ranch Inc. known for its sustainable and humanely raised meats. Nicolette is a Renaissance woman of sorts—new mom, writer, environmental lawyer, and interestingly, a vegetarian..."
See full interview here, in which Nicolette discusses her support of the Meatless Monday campaign, explains her belief that meat eaters can be environmentalists (also the subject of her recent Atlantic article, available at previous blog post), and provides insight as to how people can avoid industrially produced meat in their everyday lives.
June 8th 2010
Civil Eats interviews Nicolette Niman who, with "her husband Bill run the BN Ranch in Northern California near the seaside raising beef cattle on pasture and heritage turkeys. Bill knows a thing or two about ranching. He founded the famous Niman Ranch Inc. known for its sustainable and humanely raised meats. Nicolette is a Renaissance woman of sorts—new mom, writer, environmental lawyer, and interestingly, a vegetarian..."
See full interview here, in which Nicolette discusses her support of the Meatless Monday campaign, explains her belief that meat eaters can be environmentalists (also the subject of her recent Atlantic article, available at previous blog post), and provides insight as to how people can avoid industrially produced meat in their everyday lives.
Monday, June 7, 2010
NY Times Article - As U.S. Approves GM Soybean, DuPont and Monsanto Gird for Cooking-Oil War
By Paul Voosen of Greenwire
Published June 7, 2010
The Agriculture Department will approve for broad use tomorrow a genetically modified soybean engineered to contain healthier oils, the opening salvo in a biotech oil fight between DuPont Co. and its rival, Monsanto Co. The high-oleic soybean, developed by DuPont and pending deregulation since 2006, is one of the first in a wave of bioengineered cash crops that are being altered for nutritional purposes. Currently, nearly all biotech crops grown in the United States have been altered for resistance to weedkiller or insects, traits that are rarely felt by consumers or commercial businesses.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/06/07/07greenwire-as-us-approves-gm-soybean-dupont-and-monsanto-80269.html
Published June 7, 2010
The Agriculture Department will approve for broad use tomorrow a genetically modified soybean engineered to contain healthier oils, the opening salvo in a biotech oil fight between DuPont Co. and its rival, Monsanto Co. The high-oleic soybean, developed by DuPont and pending deregulation since 2006, is one of the first in a wave of bioengineered cash crops that are being altered for nutritional purposes. Currently, nearly all biotech crops grown in the United States have been altered for resistance to weedkiller or insects, traits that are rarely felt by consumers or commercial businesses.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/06/07/07greenwire-as-us-approves-gm-soybean-dupont-and-monsanto-80269.html
Friday, June 4, 2010
Food Safety News Article - US, Canada Tie for Fourth in Food Safety Ranking
By Helena Bottemiller
June 4, 2010
"The U.S. and Canada tied for fourth in a recent food safety performance ranking report that looked at 17 of the 31 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom tied for first in the study. Italy, France, and Ireland fared poorly, ranking close to last...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/us-canada-tie-for-fourth-in-food-safety-ranking/
June 4, 2010
"The U.S. and Canada tied for fourth in a recent food safety performance ranking report that looked at 17 of the 31 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom tied for first in the study. Italy, France, and Ireland fared poorly, ranking close to last...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/us-canada-tie-for-fourth-in-food-safety-ranking/
Thursday, June 3, 2010
New Book - "Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food Is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer--and What You Can Do About It"
If you watched Food, Inc. and found yourself wanting more - not only more information, more statistics, but also more resources about how to get involved with, participate in, and contribute to the food movement, then I highly recommend at least browsing through this book. The topics are wide-ranging and will suit a great variety of interests - whether you care about animal welfare, genetically modified foods, farmworker rights, or global warming, you will find this book useful because it touches on each of those subjects and more.
Here's a brief sampling of the types of resources that I found particularly helpful and worth mentioning:
• Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. The chapter in the book that this organization contributes is titled "Food Safety Consequences of Factory Farms," and gives an overview of some of the devastating effects (on consumers, on the environment, and on the animals themselves) of industrialized farming, which has become the norm in America. Visit their website to check out their labeling fact sheets, which explain what labels to look for when buying meat and dairy products.
• The Dirty Six, as listed and explained in a chapter by the Humane Society of the United States, are the six most abusive practices employed by agribusiness in the raising of animals for human consumption. Without going into too much (horrific) detail, here are "The Dirty Six": (1) battery cages, (2) fast growth of birds, (3) forced feeding for foie gras, (4) gestation crates and veal crates, (5) long-distance transport, and (6) electric stunning of birds. Visit www.HumaneEating.org for more information on how you can help farm animals when you eat, including recipes, tips on incorporating more animal-free meals into your diet, shopping list suggestions, and more. And for more information on the lives of farm animals, visit www.FarmAnimalWelfare.org.
• FoodPrint - In their contributed chapter, the Cool Foods Campaign (a project of the Center for Food Safety and the Corner-Stone Campaign) describes how to reduce your "FoodPrint," which reflects the amount of greenhouse gases that were created in the production and shipping of the food you buy (the "coolest" foods have the lowest FoodPrint), by answering the following questions: (1) Is this food organic? (2) Is this product made from an animal? (3) Has this food been processed? (4) How far did this food travel to reach my plate? (5) Is this food excessively packaged? Download this PDF for the best answers to these questions.
• Questions for a Farmer - Sustainable Table provides a list of questions they recommend asking farmers (at farmers markets, for example) about their sustainable food production practices, along with the answers you should be listening for. Here are the questions, along with the answers you should be listening for.
• ONE Voice - Heifer International, whose mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth, provides guidance for people who want to know what they can do to help alleviate world hunger. ONE Voice is a resource they list that particularly stood out to me. A nonpartisan campaign made up of more than 2.4 million people from all fifty states and more than one hundred of the US's most effective and respected nonprofit, advocacy, and humanitarian organizations, ONE aims to raise public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, and disease and encourages efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. Check out their extremely easy to use website to join the effort by entering your email address and zip code.
The above list is just a small selection from the abundance of resources and information featured in Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food Is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer--and What You Can Do About It. Although much of the book's content can be found online on the various contributors' websites, to have all of it accessible and organized in a single source will no doubt continue to prove very valuable.
Atlantic Article - Big Meat: Fueling Change or Greenwashing Fuel?
By Anna Lappé (author of Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It)
June 3, 2010
"On January 13, 2009, Tyson—one of the world's largest processors of chicken, beef, and pork—and the fuel company Syntroleum broke ground in Geismar, Louisiana, on a "renewable" diesel plant. The fuel will be produced in part with Tyson factory farm byproducts, including animal fat and poultry litter. ("Litter" is the euphemistic term for poultry poop mixed with feathers, leftover feed, bedding, and whatever else ends up on the factory floor.) Tyson says this plant, along with another one it's building with oil giant ConocoPhillips in Borger, Texas, will produce diesel destined for military and commercial aircraft. Once it is working at full capacity, the Geismar plant alone, Tyson estimates, will produce roughly one quarter of the country's current total output of biofuels...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/06/big-meat-fueling-change-or-greenwashing-fuel/57304/
June 3, 2010
"On January 13, 2009, Tyson—one of the world's largest processors of chicken, beef, and pork—and the fuel company Syntroleum broke ground in Geismar, Louisiana, on a "renewable" diesel plant. The fuel will be produced in part with Tyson factory farm byproducts, including animal fat and poultry litter. ("Litter" is the euphemistic term for poultry poop mixed with feathers, leftover feed, bedding, and whatever else ends up on the factory floor.) Tyson says this plant, along with another one it's building with oil giant ConocoPhillips in Borger, Texas, will produce diesel destined for military and commercial aircraft. Once it is working at full capacity, the Geismar plant alone, Tyson estimates, will produce roughly one quarter of the country's current total output of biofuels...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/06/big-meat-fueling-change-or-greenwashing-fuel/57304/
NY Times Recipe - Swiss Chard, Spinach and Rice Gratin
By Martha Rose Shulman
Published: May 27, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/health/nutrition/03recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Published: May 27, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/health/nutrition/03recipehealth.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Guardian Article - UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet
By Felicity Carus
June 2, 2010
"A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change, a UN report said today. As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets rich in meat and dairy products are unsustainable, says the report from United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management...."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet
June 2, 2010
"A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change, a UN report said today. As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets rich in meat and dairy products are unsustainable, says the report from United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management...."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet
How to Store Fruits and Vegetables: Tips and tricks to extend the life of your produce without plastic
Check out this very helpful guide (available as a PDF here) from the Ecology Center's Berkeley Farmers' Market, which explains how to store all different types of fruits and vegetables without plastic so that your produce will last longer.
As the Farmers' Market season is officially under way, this guide should come in handy!
As the Farmers' Market season is officially under way, this guide should come in handy!
Atlantic Article - Can Meat Eaters Also Be Environmentalists?
By Nicolette Hahn Niman (livestock rancher, environmental attorney, and author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms)
June 2, 2010
"I recently sat center stage at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California, arguing that being a meat eater and also a dedicated environmentalist is not a contradiction. Arguing the reverse was Howard Lyman, a former cattle-feedlot operator turned vegan, who is an entertaining speaker and the author of Mad Cowboy. I'm a vegetarian who's become a cattle rancher. As Ari Derfel, the moderator, noted: this event could only happen in Berkeley. I rarely argue about meat eating—pro or con. I prefer to encourage people who are eating meat to, as I said in my book, Righteous Porkchop, "eat less meat, eat better meat." Although I've been a vegetarian for more than 20 years, I have never accepted the view that eating meat is morally wrong. It's just never made sense to me that something humans and our ancestors have been doing for some 4 million years—something that's a major component of the natural world's system of nutrient recycling—could be immoral. And the more I've learned about ecologically sound food production, the more I've come to appreciate the important role animals play in it, both here and around the world. So when Earth Island Institute invited me to participate in this debate, I agreed...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/10/06/can-meat-eaters-also-be-environmentalists/57532/
June 2, 2010
"I recently sat center stage at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California, arguing that being a meat eater and also a dedicated environmentalist is not a contradiction. Arguing the reverse was Howard Lyman, a former cattle-feedlot operator turned vegan, who is an entertaining speaker and the author of Mad Cowboy. I'm a vegetarian who's become a cattle rancher. As Ari Derfel, the moderator, noted: this event could only happen in Berkeley. I rarely argue about meat eating—pro or con. I prefer to encourage people who are eating meat to, as I said in my book, Righteous Porkchop, "eat less meat, eat better meat." Although I've been a vegetarian for more than 20 years, I have never accepted the view that eating meat is morally wrong. It's just never made sense to me that something humans and our ancestors have been doing for some 4 million years—something that's a major component of the natural world's system of nutrient recycling—could be immoral. And the more I've learned about ecologically sound food production, the more I've come to appreciate the important role animals play in it, both here and around the world. So when Earth Island Institute invited me to participate in this debate, I agreed...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/10/06/can-meat-eaters-also-be-environmentalists/57532/
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
London Review of Books Article - What We're about to Receive
In the most recent issue of the LRB, Jeremy Harding writes about the future of food and its supply. See full article here, or see below for a brief recap of the article's main points.
While mostly focusing on Britain's current food system and how that nation specifically will be affected by the future pressures of the world food system, Harding also more broadly identifies seven factors "bearing down on the global food supply," which came out of a recent study by "a team of experts and strategic analysts recruited by Chatham House[, who] published their findings on 'food futures' and the looming threats that we should keep in mind." Briefly, here are the seven most pressing factors affecting the global food system today:
1. Overpopulation and increasing rate of population growth - "We are six billion now and by 2030 we’ll be eight billion."
2. Nutrition transition (i.e. from grain- and vegetable-based diets, to meat- and dairy-based) - "Global production of food – all food – will have to increase by 50 per cent over the next 20 years to cater for two billion extra people and cope with the rising demand for meat."
3. Energy, of which industrial food production requires more every year - "It takes 160 litres [roughly 40 gallons] of oil to produce a tonne of maize in the US."
4. Land - "The amount of the world's land given over to agriculture continues to grow (in the UK, roughly 70 per cent of land is agricultural), but in per capita terms it's shrinking."
5. Water - "[O]ne in three people face water shortages [...] and by 2030 the ratio will have narrowed."
6. Climate change - "[E]xtreme weather events will [...] jeopardise agriculture and the movement of food from one place to another."
7. Agricultural workers - "[Totaling] 1.1 billion, [...] more than half of them own neither land nor machinery and live in a state of semi-slavery. The conditions of this new global underclass are at last a matter of concern: worldwide food production is set on a downturn as their wretchedness weakens their capacity to produce and earn, driving more people inexorably towards the cities."
The proposed solutions to the above seven issues of course come from a multitude of sources ("scientists, policy analysts, nutritionists, campaigners"), all of whom "put together a mix of different approaches" and propose a "a range of interventions on several, overlapping fronts" by: (1) consumers, who "must be urged to change their habits," (2) retailers, who "must encourage consumers to make that change," and (3) government, who "must repair the heavy machinery of policy, which has been left to rust when it might have helped consumers, chivvied retailers into line and revived British farming."
The remainder of the article includes arguments and trends often cited in U.S. journalism about the future of food:
- Movement towards choosing local, sustainably-produced food: "Local is now the prevailing doctrine of the alternative food movement. Many 'locavores' are attentive to the global food supply, yet their philosophy is based on a growing exasperation with the bigger picture beyond the parish. Overwhelmingly, in Bidwells' research, caterers, retailers and customers say 'knowing where it's from' is the main reason they prefer local."
- Hidden costs of cheap food: "A common thread in the alternative food movement – stronger in Britain than in any other EU member state – is a rugged opposition to the 'externalised' costs of food. [...] What we eat in Britain is cheap because so many of the real costs of producing it are absent at the checkout. [...] There are too many hidden costs in food that get shrugged off to the environment, or dumped on the world’s poor."
- Comparing campaign against junk food to campaign against smoking: "Politicians can legislate away civil liberties on a good enough excuse, as we've seen, but they’ve been loath to come out in the open and curtail consumer choice. It wasn't so long ago that the tobacco lobby claimed civil liberties and consumer choice were one and the same – and perhaps the assault on smoking is a precedent for regulating our intake of 'bad' food."
While mostly focusing on Britain's current food system and how that nation specifically will be affected by the future pressures of the world food system, Harding also more broadly identifies seven factors "bearing down on the global food supply," which came out of a recent study by "a team of experts and strategic analysts recruited by Chatham House[, who] published their findings on 'food futures' and the looming threats that we should keep in mind." Briefly, here are the seven most pressing factors affecting the global food system today:
1. Overpopulation and increasing rate of population growth - "We are six billion now and by 2030 we’ll be eight billion."
2. Nutrition transition (i.e. from grain- and vegetable-based diets, to meat- and dairy-based) - "Global production of food – all food – will have to increase by 50 per cent over the next 20 years to cater for two billion extra people and cope with the rising demand for meat."
3. Energy, of which industrial food production requires more every year - "It takes 160 litres [roughly 40 gallons] of oil to produce a tonne of maize in the US."
4. Land - "The amount of the world's land given over to agriculture continues to grow (in the UK, roughly 70 per cent of land is agricultural), but in per capita terms it's shrinking."
5. Water - "[O]ne in three people face water shortages [...] and by 2030 the ratio will have narrowed."
6. Climate change - "[E]xtreme weather events will [...] jeopardise agriculture and the movement of food from one place to another."
7. Agricultural workers - "[Totaling] 1.1 billion, [...] more than half of them own neither land nor machinery and live in a state of semi-slavery. The conditions of this new global underclass are at last a matter of concern: worldwide food production is set on a downturn as their wretchedness weakens their capacity to produce and earn, driving more people inexorably towards the cities."
The proposed solutions to the above seven issues of course come from a multitude of sources ("scientists, policy analysts, nutritionists, campaigners"), all of whom "put together a mix of different approaches" and propose a "a range of interventions on several, overlapping fronts" by: (1) consumers, who "must be urged to change their habits," (2) retailers, who "must encourage consumers to make that change," and (3) government, who "must repair the heavy machinery of policy, which has been left to rust when it might have helped consumers, chivvied retailers into line and revived British farming."
The remainder of the article includes arguments and trends often cited in U.S. journalism about the future of food:
- Movement towards choosing local, sustainably-produced food: "Local is now the prevailing doctrine of the alternative food movement. Many 'locavores' are attentive to the global food supply, yet their philosophy is based on a growing exasperation with the bigger picture beyond the parish. Overwhelmingly, in Bidwells' research, caterers, retailers and customers say 'knowing where it's from' is the main reason they prefer local."
- Hidden costs of cheap food: "A common thread in the alternative food movement – stronger in Britain than in any other EU member state – is a rugged opposition to the 'externalised' costs of food. [...] What we eat in Britain is cheap because so many of the real costs of producing it are absent at the checkout. [...] There are too many hidden costs in food that get shrugged off to the environment, or dumped on the world’s poor."
- Comparing campaign against junk food to campaign against smoking: "Politicians can legislate away civil liberties on a good enough excuse, as we've seen, but they’ve been loath to come out in the open and curtail consumer choice. It wasn't so long ago that the tobacco lobby claimed civil liberties and consumer choice were one and the same – and perhaps the assault on smoking is a precedent for regulating our intake of 'bad' food."
Food Safety News Article - Vogue Takes Up Antibiotics in Ag Debate
By Helena Bottemiller
June 1, 2010
The growing discussion over the widespread, nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animal agriculture showed up in an unexpected publication last month: Vogue, the world's most influential fashion magazine. In the May 2010 edition, which features Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover, Jancee Dunn, a regular contributor to Rolling Stone and Oprah's magazine, O, dives into the increasingly controversial debate in a piece titled, "Prime Suspect: With the vast majority of livestock being fed antibiotics, Jancee Dunn wonders: How safe is our meat?"
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/antibiotics-in-ag-debate-hits-vogue/
I wasn't able to find the Vogue piece on the magazine's website, but once I do I'll certainly post it.
June 1, 2010
The growing discussion over the widespread, nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animal agriculture showed up in an unexpected publication last month: Vogue, the world's most influential fashion magazine. In the May 2010 edition, which features Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover, Jancee Dunn, a regular contributor to Rolling Stone and Oprah's magazine, O, dives into the increasingly controversial debate in a piece titled, "Prime Suspect: With the vast majority of livestock being fed antibiotics, Jancee Dunn wonders: How safe is our meat?"
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/antibiotics-in-ag-debate-hits-vogue/
I wasn't able to find the Vogue piece on the magazine's website, but once I do I'll certainly post it.
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