By Alberto Gonzalez, founder of GustOrganics
December 28, 2010
"We live in the most powerful country in the world. However, America's food system is probably one of the weakest on earth. Why is that? We live in a country where about 80% of the population is overweight, and almost one-third is considered obese. For the first time, babies born in America now have a shorter average life expectancy than their parents, due to obesity. In 1930, Americans spent 24.5% of their income on food; in 2004, that number went down to 9.5%..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/how-big-cheap-and-fast-do_b_801960.html
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Film Recommendation - "Dirt!"
"DIRT! The Movie--directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow--takes you inside the wonders of the soil. It tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility--from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation." (www.dirtthemovie.org)
I recently watched this documentary (it's available on Netflix as part of their Watch Instantly selection), and I found it to be enchanting, illuminating, and - in spite of the infuriating and devastating destruction it described - hopeful.
The film begins by describing the many uses and purposes of dirt - everything from a source of food and crops, to a source of spiritual strength. Then the film goes on to recount all the ways we have abused and destroyed this precious resource - predominantly through industrial agriculture, the methods of which are waging "war against the soil" while also exacerbating the effects of climate change. The film finishes with a list of proposed solutions to rescue dirt and our relationship with it - many of which are in practice and growing in popularity already, such as agroecology, greening of urban areas, and community supported agriculture (CSAs). I highly recommend spending 80 minutes watching this informative and inspiring documentary.
LA Times - Consumers desire for healthy meat has bison prices soaring; ranchers struggle to meet demand
By Steve Karnowski
December 29, 2010
"The deep snow blanketing the Midwest prairie didn't bother the bison on Ed Eichten's ranch one bit. The hardy animals evolved to survive — even thrive — year-round on the open range, and with their big heads, they can plow right through drifts 5-feet tall or more. The majestic beasts are a hot commodity these days, as consumer demand for healthy meat has sent prices soaring. But although bison are what one rancher calls "a self-care animal," most farmers are struggling to increase their herds and keep up with demand...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-food-and-farm-bison-boom,0,4986783.story
December 29, 2010
"The deep snow blanketing the Midwest prairie didn't bother the bison on Ed Eichten's ranch one bit. The hardy animals evolved to survive — even thrive — year-round on the open range, and with their big heads, they can plow right through drifts 5-feet tall or more. The majestic beasts are a hot commodity these days, as consumer demand for healthy meat has sent prices soaring. But although bison are what one rancher calls "a self-care animal," most farmers are struggling to increase their herds and keep up with demand...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-food-and-farm-bison-boom,0,4986783.story
USA Today - Nutrition labels on cuts of meat to debut in 2012
By Elizabeth Weise
December 28, 2010
"Those familiar nutrition labels found on everything from soda to cereal to mayonnaise will also be required on meats beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces today... Federal officials say they hope the labels will make Americans as conscious about health choices in the meats they buy as they have become in scouring labels on other packaged food products...."
http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet-nutrition/2010-12-29-1Ameatlabels29_ST_N.htm
December 28, 2010
"Those familiar nutrition labels found on everything from soda to cereal to mayonnaise will also be required on meats beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces today... Federal officials say they hope the labels will make Americans as conscious about health choices in the meats they buy as they have become in scouring labels on other packaged food products...."
http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet-nutrition/2010-12-29-1Ameatlabels29_ST_N.htm
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Huffington Post - Your Holiday Ham -- Raised on Suffering, Salmonella and Drugs?
By David Kirby
December 24, 2010
"This has been a rotten Christmas season for the American pork conglomerate Smithfield Foods. Last week the Humane Society of the United States released a grisly report and undercover video on the disgusting treatment of pregnant sows at one of its industrial swine facilities in Virginia. And this week, Russia announced it will not buy pork products from the company's Smithfield, VA plant, because they are tainted with 'residue and pathogen issues.'..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/your-holiday-ham-raised-o_b_800301.html
Merry Christmas, everyone!
December 24, 2010
"This has been a rotten Christmas season for the American pork conglomerate Smithfield Foods. Last week the Humane Society of the United States released a grisly report and undercover video on the disgusting treatment of pregnant sows at one of its industrial swine facilities in Virginia. And this week, Russia announced it will not buy pork products from the company's Smithfield, VA plant, because they are tainted with 'residue and pathogen issues.'..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/your-holiday-ham-raised-o_b_800301.html
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Huffington Post - Slaughterhouses Must Euthanize Downer Cows, New USDA Rule Says
December 22, 2010
"LOS ANGELES — The U.S Department of Agriculture is telling slaughterhouse veterinary inspectors to ensure cattle are euthanized when they are too sick or injured to stand. The directive issued Wednesday is meant to keep potentially contaminated meat out of the food supply. It alters current rules that allow so-called downer cows with treatable conditions to receive veterinary care and then be slaughtered for meat...."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/23/usda-downer-cows-euthanize-slaughterhouses_n_800618.html
"LOS ANGELES — The U.S Department of Agriculture is telling slaughterhouse veterinary inspectors to ensure cattle are euthanized when they are too sick or injured to stand. The directive issued Wednesday is meant to keep potentially contaminated meat out of the food supply. It alters current rules that allow so-called downer cows with treatable conditions to receive veterinary care and then be slaughtered for meat...."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/23/usda-downer-cows-euthanize-slaughterhouses_n_800618.html
Food Safety News - CDC Confirms Multistate Salmonella Outbreak
By Mary Rothschild
December 24, 2010
"An estimated 89 people from 15 states and the District of Columbia have been infected with Salmonella in an outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Thursday. This was CDC's first public acknowledgment of its involvement in the outbreak investigation, which is related to 50 Salmonella illnesses already reported in Illinois and associated there with Jimmy John's sandwich outlets...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/cdc-confirms-multistate-salmonella-outbreak/
December 24, 2010
"An estimated 89 people from 15 states and the District of Columbia have been infected with Salmonella in an outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Thursday. This was CDC's first public acknowledgment of its involvement in the outbreak investigation, which is related to 50 Salmonella illnesses already reported in Illinois and associated there with Jimmy John's sandwich outlets...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/cdc-confirms-multistate-salmonella-outbreak/
Huffington Post - Food Safety Act: 18 Changes to Food Safety the New Law Will Bring
December 23, 2010
"The Food Safety Modernization Act, passed by the U.S. Senate December 22 and headed for President Obama's signature, aims to enhance the safety of food produced in America and imported from overseas, and to prevent food-borne illness. The $1.4 billion bill mainly expands the reach and regulatory powers of the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA oversees production of all food products with the exception of meat, poultry and dairy, which fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
Click here to see photo slideshow highlighting the 18 key changes the Food Safety Modernization Act will bring to food production and consumption in America.
"The Food Safety Modernization Act, passed by the U.S. Senate December 22 and headed for President Obama's signature, aims to enhance the safety of food produced in America and imported from overseas, and to prevent food-borne illness. The $1.4 billion bill mainly expands the reach and regulatory powers of the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA oversees production of all food products with the exception of meat, poultry and dairy, which fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
Click here to see photo slideshow highlighting the 18 key changes the Food Safety Modernization Act will bring to food production and consumption in America.
Food Sleuth - Interview with Dan Imhoff, author of "CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories"
On the radio program Food Sleuth, "helping people think beyond their plates," Melinda Hemmelgarn, a registered dietician and investigative nutritionist, interviews Dan Imhoff about his new book, CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories, a new coffee-table book about factory farming that features more than 450 photographs and more than 30 essays. This is a new version of Imhoff's CAFO Reader that came out earlier this year.
Click here to listen to interview.
Grist - Smithfield caught on tape abusing mama pigs
By Tom Philpott
December 17, 2010
"...[T]his week, the ever-heroic Humane Society of the United States released a stark report, including video, from inside a factory 'farm' run by Smithfield, the globe's largest pork producer. Once again, an HSUS inspector has snuck into an animal factory posing as a worker, documenting the horrors therein. Given the near absence of proper oversight of animal factories by the USDA (which oversees meat) and the FDA (eggs and dairy), HSUS has become our shadow regulator, the eyes through which the public can see what the industry gets up to behind its well-guarded gates...."
Click here to read remainder of this article and to view a horrific yet illuminating video from the HSUS's investigation.
December 17, 2010
"...[T]his week, the ever-heroic Humane Society of the United States released a stark report, including video, from inside a factory 'farm' run by Smithfield, the globe's largest pork producer. Once again, an HSUS inspector has snuck into an animal factory posing as a worker, documenting the horrors therein. Given the near absence of proper oversight of animal factories by the USDA (which oversees meat) and the FDA (eggs and dairy), HSUS has become our shadow regulator, the eyes through which the public can see what the industry gets up to behind its well-guarded gates...."
Click here to read remainder of this article and to view a horrific yet illuminating video from the HSUS's investigation.
Food Safety News - President to Sign Food Safety Bill in Early 2011
By Helena Bottemiller
December 23, 2010
"Ending out the anything-but-lame duck session, President Obama signed several bills into law on Wednesday, but the sweeping food safety bill approved by Congress Tuesday was not among them. The bill will likely not be signed into law until the President returns in early 2011 from a holiday vacation with his family in Hawaii...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/president-to-sign-food-safety-bill-in-early-2011
December 23, 2010
"Ending out the anything-but-lame duck session, President Obama signed several bills into law on Wednesday, but the sweeping food safety bill approved by Congress Tuesday was not among them. The bill will likely not be signed into law until the President returns in early 2011 from a holiday vacation with his family in Hawaii...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/president-to-sign-food-safety-bill-in-early-2011
Chicago Tribune - Vegetarian menus flex some muscle
December 23, 2010
"Vegetarians saw the wind blow — gently — in their direction this year, as vegetarian and vegan dining continued to transition from the high road to the middle of the road. That is to say, vegetarian options became routine menu inclusions at even the most dedicated meat-centric establishments...."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/dining/ct-play-1223-vegetarian-year-in-revie20101223,0,7972131.story
"Vegetarians saw the wind blow — gently — in their direction this year, as vegetarian and vegan dining continued to transition from the high road to the middle of the road. That is to say, vegetarian options became routine menu inclusions at even the most dedicated meat-centric establishments...."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/dining/ct-play-1223-vegetarian-year-in-revie20101223,0,7972131.story
NPR - Fuel Vs. Food: Ethanol Helps Boost Meat Prices
By Kathleen Masterson
December 22, 2010
"The U.S. corn crop is enormous. But about a third of it doesn't go to cereal or cows — instead, it helps run your car. To boost our use of renewable fuels, the federal government subsidizes corn-based ethanol. This has the meat and dairy industries up in arms over the high cost of their main feed. The rise of ethanol has pitted livestock producers against the oil industry."
Click here to read "Harvest Public Media's Kathleen Masterson report on what supporting ethanol means for the food we eat."
December 22, 2010
"The U.S. corn crop is enormous. But about a third of it doesn't go to cereal or cows — instead, it helps run your car. To boost our use of renewable fuels, the federal government subsidizes corn-based ethanol. This has the meat and dairy industries up in arms over the high cost of their main feed. The rise of ethanol has pitted livestock producers against the oil industry."
Click here to read "Harvest Public Media's Kathleen Masterson report on what supporting ethanol means for the food we eat."
Huffington Post - The Top 5 Food Stories of 2010
By EatingWell
December 20, 2010
"It's been a big year in food news. Here's a look, in no particular order, at 5 of the food trends of 2010, the stories that propelled them to the top and [click here to find out] what you can learn from them."
December 20, 2010
"It's been a big year in food news. Here's a look, in no particular order, at 5 of the food trends of 2010, the stories that propelled them to the top and [click here to find out] what you can learn from them."
- Cutting Back on Salt and Sweeteners
- Rethinking Seafood Choices
- Calorie Counting
- Eating Less Meat
- Food Safety
Grist - Vote on the Scariest Food of 2010
December 17, 2010
"From slimeburgers to oily oysters and salmonella-tainted eggs, 2010 kept dishing up yucky food news like a lunch lady gone postal. In case you’ve forgotten -- put down that Four Loko, now! -- we’ve rounded up the year’s 10 biggest scandals and travesties, including the very latest exposé from the Humane Society’s undercover investigators..."
Which of these were you most afraid to put in your mouth this year? Click here to vote for the scariest -- or click through the slideshow for explanations of our fears.
"From slimeburgers to oily oysters and salmonella-tainted eggs, 2010 kept dishing up yucky food news like a lunch lady gone postal. In case you’ve forgotten -- put down that Four Loko, now! -- we’ve rounded up the year’s 10 biggest scandals and travesties, including the very latest exposé from the Humane Society’s undercover investigators..."
Which of these were you most afraid to put in your mouth this year? Click here to vote for the scariest -- or click through the slideshow for explanations of our fears.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Grist - Mythbusting: Cheap food does not equal higher quality of life
By Tom Philpott
December 15, 2010
"For decades, the federal government has watched idly while a few gigantic companies grabbed ever-greater control of the food industry. As big players gobble smaller ones, they concentrate power at the top of the food chain -- and apply relentless pressure to cut costs, giving rise to many of the things I hate about the food system. Workers, farmers, the environment, animals, public health -- all get abused so that mega-retailers like Walmart, meat producers like Smithfield, and corn processors like Cargill can keep costs down while profitably selling cheap food...."
http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-12-15-cheap-does-not-equal-to-higher-quality-of-life
December 15, 2010
"For decades, the federal government has watched idly while a few gigantic companies grabbed ever-greater control of the food industry. As big players gobble smaller ones, they concentrate power at the top of the food chain -- and apply relentless pressure to cut costs, giving rise to many of the things I hate about the food system. Workers, farmers, the environment, animals, public health -- all get abused so that mega-retailers like Walmart, meat producers like Smithfield, and corn processors like Cargill can keep costs down while profitably selling cheap food...."
http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-12-15-cheap-does-not-equal-to-higher-quality-of-life
Civil Eats - Expanding Food Advocacy with the Food and Society Fellows Program
By Andrea King Collier
December 15, 2010
"We are in the midst of dramatic changes in how we think and talk about food. An explosion of interest amongst groups and individuals new to food discussions is expanding the dialogue and broadening the concerns of the food movement. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Food and Society Fellows Program is looking to be a catalyst for that change...."
Click here to find out more about the IATP Fellows Program and to find out how to apply.
Huffington Post - Food Labels: Do You Know What's in Your Food?
By Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., L.D.
December 16, 2010
"Think back to what you had for dinner last night. Try to remember everything on your plate -- the protein, the carbohydrates and the fat. Now ask yourself -- where did it all come from? If you had a vegetable, do you know if it came from a farm near your house or perhaps did it travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to make it into your grocery store? If you had chicken, do you know if it grazed outdoors or was locked up? If your food came from a box, did you read the label first and if so, did you understand all the ingredients? The fact is most of us either don't know or don't want to know where our food comes from. To many of us, food is something that can be found in a box, thrown in the microwave and consumed in front of the TV. Two questions I encourage everyone to ask when they sit down for a meal or snack are: 1. Where did my food come from and 2. Is it a whole food or is it processed?..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld/food-labels-a-long-list-of-ingredients_b_796585.html
December 16, 2010
"Think back to what you had for dinner last night. Try to remember everything on your plate -- the protein, the carbohydrates and the fat. Now ask yourself -- where did it all come from? If you had a vegetable, do you know if it came from a farm near your house or perhaps did it travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to make it into your grocery store? If you had chicken, do you know if it grazed outdoors or was locked up? If your food came from a box, did you read the label first and if so, did you understand all the ingredients? The fact is most of us either don't know or don't want to know where our food comes from. To many of us, food is something that can be found in a box, thrown in the microwave and consumed in front of the TV. Two questions I encourage everyone to ask when they sit down for a meal or snack are: 1. Where did my food come from and 2. Is it a whole food or is it processed?..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld/food-labels-a-long-list-of-ingredients_b_796585.html
Food Safety News - 2010 Meat & Poultry Recalls: Over 27 Million lbs.
By Dan Flynn
December 15, 2010
"More than 27 million pounds of meat and poultry were recalled in 2010 by processors regulated by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Meat and poultry recalls often involve bacterial contamination, but this year more than 21 million pounds of beef, pork, and poultry were recalled for a long list of infractions including ineligible imports, foreign materials, undeclared allergens, animal drug abuse and more...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/meat-poultry-recalls-over-27-million-lbs-in-2010/
December 15, 2010
"More than 27 million pounds of meat and poultry were recalled in 2010 by processors regulated by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Meat and poultry recalls often involve bacterial contamination, but this year more than 21 million pounds of beef, pork, and poultry were recalled for a long list of infractions including ineligible imports, foreign materials, undeclared allergens, animal drug abuse and more...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/meat-poultry-recalls-over-27-million-lbs-in-2010/
Huffington Post - Are Brown Eggs More Nutritious Than White? Test Your Egg IQ
By The Sweet Beet
December 14, 2010
"As a country, we consume billions of eggs a year, and as an individual with a passion for them, I am quite sure I consume more than my per capita share. Which is why marketers are working hard to convince us that their eggs come from blissfully happy, healthy chickens. But what do the labels really mean ... Take this True or False 'quiz' [here] to see how egg-savvy you are."
December 14, 2010
"As a country, we consume billions of eggs a year, and as an individual with a passion for them, I am quite sure I consume more than my per capita share. Which is why marketers are working hard to convince us that their eggs come from blissfully happy, healthy chickens. But what do the labels really mean ... Take this True or False 'quiz' [here] to see how egg-savvy you are."
Grist - The FDA finally reveals how many antibiotics factory farms use — and it's a shitload
By Tom Philpott
December 10, 2010
"Animals in factory farms get daily doses of antibiotics, both to keep them alive in their stressful, unsanitary conditions and to make them grow faster. What's the annual volume of antibiotic use on factory farms? The question is a critical one, because the practice has given rise to a novel strain of antibiotic-resistant staph (MRSA), known as ST398, that's widely present in our vast hog and chicken factories...."
http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-12-10-fda-reveals-amount-of-antibiotic-use-on-factory-farms
December 10, 2010
"Animals in factory farms get daily doses of antibiotics, both to keep them alive in their stressful, unsanitary conditions and to make them grow faster. What's the annual volume of antibiotic use on factory farms? The question is a critical one, because the practice has given rise to a novel strain of antibiotic-resistant staph (MRSA), known as ST398, that's widely present in our vast hog and chicken factories...."
http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-12-10-fda-reveals-amount-of-antibiotic-use-on-factory-farms
Washington Post - No meat? No fish? No big deal, even for kids who go vegetarian.
By Carolyn Butler
December 14, 2010
"Both of my sons have been voracious carnivores from the get-go, devouring baby beef and chicken purees with gusto before graduating to gnawing spare ribs clean, inhaling full pots of meatballs and downing two to three hot dogs in a sitting. Over the past several months, however, my 4-year-old has started to reject nearly all forms of animal protein, one by one: First, steak was declared 'too tough,' then chicken 'yucky,' and on and on, with pork, sausage, ground beef, fish of any sort and even, last week, his once beloved franks...."
December 14, 2010
"Both of my sons have been voracious carnivores from the get-go, devouring baby beef and chicken purees with gusto before graduating to gnawing spare ribs clean, inhaling full pots of meatballs and downing two to three hot dogs in a sitting. Over the past several months, however, my 4-year-old has started to reject nearly all forms of animal protein, one by one: First, steak was declared 'too tough,' then chicken 'yucky,' and on and on, with pork, sausage, ground beef, fish of any sort and even, last week, his once beloved franks...."
LA Times - Obama signs child nutrition bill, championed by the first lady
By Michael Muskal
December 13, 2010
"With his wife by his side, President Obama on Monday signed the child nutrition bill, strongly pushed by the first lady, who has made nutrition part of her campaign to help the young get healthy. Speaking at Harriet Tubman Elementary School, President Obama praised the bill as a rare example of bipartisan political cooperation as both parties backed the measure designed to provide better school meals to more students and to regulate those meals to make them more healthful...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obamas-food-bill-signing-121310,0,2298518.story
December 13, 2010
"With his wife by his side, President Obama on Monday signed the child nutrition bill, strongly pushed by the first lady, who has made nutrition part of her campaign to help the young get healthy. Speaking at Harriet Tubman Elementary School, President Obama praised the bill as a rare example of bipartisan political cooperation as both parties backed the measure designed to provide better school meals to more students and to regulate those meals to make them more healthful...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obamas-food-bill-signing-121310,0,2298518.story
Saturday, December 11, 2010
LA Times - Child nutrition bill will mean more produce for lunch, officials say
By Mary MacVean
December 10, 2010
"President Obama is scheduled on Monday to sign into law the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act –- a bill that adds six cents to school lunch reimbursements, among other provisions meant to reduce hunger and obesity while improving school food. Tom Vilsack, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said Friday during a conference call for reporters that Monday would be 'a great day for kids.'..."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2010/12/child-nutrition-bill-produce-school-lunch.html
December 10, 2010
"President Obama is scheduled on Monday to sign into law the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act –- a bill that adds six cents to school lunch reimbursements, among other provisions meant to reduce hunger and obesity while improving school food. Tom Vilsack, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said Friday during a conference call for reporters that Monday would be 'a great day for kids.'..."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2010/12/child-nutrition-bill-produce-school-lunch.html
The Atlantic - Why Free-Range Meat Isn't Much Better Than Factory-Farmed
By James McWilliams
December 7, 2010
"Like many people who pay attention to how food is produced, I've come to abhor factory farming and the environmental and welfare problems that accompany it. My personal choice to eliminate factory-farmed animal products from my diet largely reflects this abhorrence. Where I break from most conscientious consumers is in my decision to avoid meat from free-range animals and other alternative sources. This position hasn't won any popularity contests for me. My occasional critiques of free-range animal farming have led to, among other things, threats by a butcher to separate me from a particularly valued appendage as well as frequent charges that I'm a hired gun for agribusiness. Both concepts are equally difficult to contemplate...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/12/why-free-range-meat-isnt-much-better-than-factory-farmed/67569/
December 7, 2010
"Like many people who pay attention to how food is produced, I've come to abhor factory farming and the environmental and welfare problems that accompany it. My personal choice to eliminate factory-farmed animal products from my diet largely reflects this abhorrence. Where I break from most conscientious consumers is in my decision to avoid meat from free-range animals and other alternative sources. This position hasn't won any popularity contests for me. My occasional critiques of free-range animal farming have led to, among other things, threats by a butcher to separate me from a particularly valued appendage as well as frequent charges that I'm a hired gun for agribusiness. Both concepts are equally difficult to contemplate...."
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/12/why-free-range-meat-isnt-much-better-than-factory-farmed/67569/
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Food & Water Watch - Factory Farm Map
"Food & Water Watch [has] unveiled the newest version of its pioneering Factory Farm Map that charts the concentration of factory farms across the country and the impacts these massive operations have on human health, communities, and the environment. The interactive map illustrates the geographic shift in where and how food is raised in the U.S. and allows anyone to quickly search for the highest concentration of animals by region, state and county." (Taken from Food & Water Watch Press Release)
The updated version of this impressive and valuable resource reveals that livestock on factory farms grew 20 percent in 5 years, among other shocking trends. I highly recommend checking out the map (you can view county-by-county breakdown of all livestock raised in the U.S.) as well as the website's collection of facts about how factory farming affects all of us. What I also like about this map is that it helps to expose and increase the transparency of an industry notorious for its secrecy and lack of disclosure to the public about its practices.
I've also added a widget from the Factory Farm Map website (see right-hand side of blog) that allows easy exploration of the map and displays a rotating assortment of factory farm facts.
Check out other announcements of the new map on Civil Eats and Grist.
Food Safety News - More Eyes Aimed at America's Beef
By Cookson Beecher
December 6, 2010
"In another step forward in the battle against foodborne illnesses, the world's largest beef producer and processed-beef exporter is installing around-the-clock remote video auditing in its eight beef plants in the United States...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/more-eyes-aimed-at-americas-beef/
December 6, 2010
"In another step forward in the battle against foodborne illnesses, the world's largest beef producer and processed-beef exporter is installing around-the-clock remote video auditing in its eight beef plants in the United States...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/more-eyes-aimed-at-americas-beef/
Huffington Post - Food Safety: 9 Major Snafus of the Decade
December 3, 2010
"Salmonella from eggs, E. Coli in spinach, dangerous caffeine/alcohol drink combos. It begs the question: Is the food in America safe? Well, the U.S. government asked the same question, and earlier this week the Senate passed the Food Safety Modernization Act, a law that would strengthen the power of the FDA to oversee the nation's food supply.
The bill is considered a sweeping change to the food safety system, with a major focus on preventing food-borne illness. In that vein, here's a look at nine of the biggest FDA food recalls of the past decade."
"Salmonella from eggs, E. Coli in spinach, dangerous caffeine/alcohol drink combos. It begs the question: Is the food in America safe? Well, the U.S. government asked the same question, and earlier this week the Senate passed the Food Safety Modernization Act, a law that would strengthen the power of the FDA to oversee the nation's food supply.
The bill is considered a sweeping change to the food safety system, with a major focus on preventing food-borne illness. In that vein, here's a look at nine of the biggest FDA food recalls of the past decade."
SF Gate - Minimally processed food a healthy goal
By Marion Nestle
December 5, 2010
Q: I may be preaching to the choir here, but isn't eating a variety of unprocessed (or at least minimally processed) foods the best way to make sure your diet is healthy?
See Nestle's answer by clicking here. Much of what she states also appears in her highly recommended book, What to Eat.
December 5, 2010
Q: I may be preaching to the choir here, but isn't eating a variety of unprocessed (or at least minimally processed) foods the best way to make sure your diet is healthy?
See Nestle's answer by clicking here. Much of what she states also appears in her highly recommended book, What to Eat.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - The Food, the Bad and the Ugly
See Jon Stewart's take on the media coverage of the Food Safety Bill that recently passed in the Senate. His video montage of food recalls we've had in the last few years is a good reminder of why this bill is so needed and overdue.
I was unable to embed the video clip, but you can view it by clicking here.
I was unable to embed the video clip, but you can view it by clicking here.
Food Safety News - Senate Passes Historic Food Safety Bill, Now What?
By Helena Bottemiller
December 1, 2010
"Though the bill's passage--lauded by the major food industry, consumer, and public health groups--follows a similar measure that passed the House with bipartisan support in July 2009, the road ahead for comprehensive food safety reform is uncertain. With the clock running on the lame duck session, most advocates for the bill want to see the House take up the Senate version as soon as possible to get the legislation to President Obama's desk...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/senate-approves-historic-food-safety-bill-what-next/
December 1, 2010
"Though the bill's passage--lauded by the major food industry, consumer, and public health groups--follows a similar measure that passed the House with bipartisan support in July 2009, the road ahead for comprehensive food safety reform is uncertain. With the clock running on the lame duck session, most advocates for the bill want to see the House take up the Senate version as soon as possible to get the legislation to President Obama's desk...."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/12/senate-approves-historic-food-safety-bill-what-next/
Monday, December 6, 2010
Civil Eats - Faces & Visions of the Food Movement: Michele Simon
By Jen Dalton
November 29, 2010
"Michele Simon is a public health lawyer specializing in policy analysis, legal strategies, and countering corporate tactics. With 14 years of experience researching and writing about the food industry, she authored Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back. She is currently watchdogging the alcohol industry, as Marin Institute’s research and policy director. You can read her writing on her blog, and follow her on Twitter."
Click here to read interview with Simon, whose work to improve the food industry is inspiring, and whose book I am very anxious to read.
November 29, 2010
"Michele Simon is a public health lawyer specializing in policy analysis, legal strategies, and countering corporate tactics. With 14 years of experience researching and writing about the food industry, she authored Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back. She is currently watchdogging the alcohol industry, as Marin Institute’s research and policy director. You can read her writing on her blog, and follow her on Twitter."
Click here to read interview with Simon, whose work to improve the food industry is inspiring, and whose book I am very anxious to read.
TakePart - Buy Locally Grown Produce Online With Local Orbit
By Kate Hanley
November 29, 2010
"CSAs are great, but you can't choose what you want and if you're not around for that week's pickup, you're out of luck. Enter Local Orbit, a new Web-based business that connects local farmers with hungry consumers of all types—restaurants, schools, hospitals, and individuals (including those who want to pay with food stamps)."
Read more about Local Orbit here, or go straight to their website to find out more. As of now they only operate out of two "hubs," but they're looking for support from volunteers to start hubs all over the U.S.
November 29, 2010
"CSAs are great, but you can't choose what you want and if you're not around for that week's pickup, you're out of luck. Enter Local Orbit, a new Web-based business that connects local farmers with hungry consumers of all types—restaurants, schools, hospitals, and individuals (including those who want to pay with food stamps)."
Read more about Local Orbit here, or go straight to their website to find out more. As of now they only operate out of two "hubs," but they're looking for support from volunteers to start hubs all over the U.S.
Mother Jones - Big Meat vs. Michael Pollan
By Wes Enzinna
November/December 2010 Issue
"Carrin Flores is a cattle rancher's fantasy come true: An attractive 26-year-old with stylish eyeglasses and glossy lipstick, she's unabashed about her love of cows. 'They are so cute. Their cute little tongues. Oh, and their eyelashes,' she says. 'But I also friggin' love to eat them.' She cooks beef four nights a week and can list dozens of ways she likes it: T-bone, tri-tip, boneless rump roast...Flores, a graduate student in veterinary medicine at Washington State University-Pullman, plans to work in the beef industry when she finishes. But she's already a graduate of the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA), an industry-funded program that trains college students to fight back against critics of big agribusiness, like Michael Pollan...."
http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/11/michael-pollan-backlash-beef-advocacy
November/December 2010 Issue
"Carrin Flores is a cattle rancher's fantasy come true: An attractive 26-year-old with stylish eyeglasses and glossy lipstick, she's unabashed about her love of cows. 'They are so cute. Their cute little tongues. Oh, and their eyelashes,' she says. 'But I also friggin' love to eat them.' She cooks beef four nights a week and can list dozens of ways she likes it: T-bone, tri-tip, boneless rump roast...Flores, a graduate student in veterinary medicine at Washington State University-Pullman, plans to work in the beef industry when she finishes. But she's already a graduate of the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA), an industry-funded program that trains college students to fight back against critics of big agribusiness, like Michael Pollan...."
http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/11/michael-pollan-backlash-beef-advocacy
NY Times - Congress Approves Child Nutrition Bill
The Child Nutrition Bill passed!
By Robert Pear
December 2, 2010
"Congress gave final approval on Thursday to a child nutrition bill that expands the school lunch program and sets new standards to improve the quality of school meals, with more fruits and vegetables...."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/us/politics/03child.html?_r=1
By Robert Pear
December 2, 2010
"Congress gave final approval on Thursday to a child nutrition bill that expands the school lunch program and sets new standards to improve the quality of school meals, with more fruits and vegetables...."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/us/politics/03child.html?_r=1
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Huffington Post - How Worried Should You Be about the Antibiotics in Your Meat?
By Eating Well
November 30, 2010
"When I heard that this summer the FDA called the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in meat animals a serious threat to public health, I needed to know if I should be worried about antibiotics when I eat meat. What should I be buying when it comes to meat and poultry?..."
Click here to read the answer and the reasons behind it.
November 30, 2010
"When I heard that this summer the FDA called the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in meat animals a serious threat to public health, I needed to know if I should be worried about antibiotics when I eat meat. What should I be buying when it comes to meat and poultry?..."
Click here to read the answer and the reasons behind it.
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