BBC: The World Wildlife Fund urges Europeans to eat less fish, because of illegal and destructive fishing practices. Consumers are urged to buy fish that has the Marine Stewardship Council label, indicating sustainable sourcing.
Daily News Central: Organic Pastures’ raw milk has tested negative for E. coli, but the recall still stands.
Seattle P-I: The P-I has an op-ed calling for greater support of the FDA and for consumers to be smarter about their food. The editorial also points out that the E. coli infection was spread to distant regions by the industrial food system. The FDA has reported the first case of spinach-related E. coli in Canada.
New York Times*: The Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Food Products Association are calling for increased FDA funding to oversee produce production and an overhaul of the factory farming system. More disease outbreaks now are traced to produce than to meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk combined. Consumers don’t escape getting some blame, nor should they. [Man of La Muncha notes: The article says pick up produce last, but doesn’t comment on grocer’s placing produce near the entrances so consumers will reach for produce first.]
Houston Chronicle: Japan has its 29th suspected case of mad cow disease. Since Japan’s first report of mad cow in 2001, they have instituted testing of every cow before it enters the food supply.
Ode Magazine: Ode Magazine’s founder waxes optimistic on the effects of Big Business’ entry into the organic field. He makes a good point about the challenges of small-scale production, highlighting the decline in the number of people tilling the land, but he also quotes notorious CAFO operator Aurora Organics as saying that Wal-Mart won’t be able to dictate organic prices. While U.S. organic standards may be maintained or strengthened, there currently is nothing to prevent Wal-Mart from sourcing organic products from countries with lax organic standards and cheap production.
Ode Magazine: Ode Magazine presents an interesting list of sustainable products that are sustainable, organic, or follow Fair Trade practices.
Seattle is chock full of plans for sustainability and tasty food:
Seattle P-I: Seattle’s Mayor will release a 34-page document calling for all government, businesses, and residents to reduce their impact on the environment.
Seattle P-I: Seattle City Light has found a method for clearing steep hillsides that would be a danger to workers and machines: goats. [Man of La Muncha notes; The Butter Bitch wants us to hire goats for our yard, but they don’t do thorny bushes such as raspberries.]
Seattle P-I: Just as we think the food system needs to be overhauled, some chefs think that the restaurant model should be reinvented. To this end, several chefs are having “underground” dinners, which feature communal dining at a non-restaurant, much like the Ghetto Gourmet mentioned by Dairy Queen.
Seattle P-I: The P-I’s restaurant critic has an excellent look at the network of farm-chef relationships behind the grower listed on the menu. She also lists several events for the upcoming King County Harvest Celebration Tour.
* Free registration required
Food, Farming, & Food Politics events calendar
Humor:
