USDA Agricultural Research Service: The ARS today announced the results in Nature of a research project in which it genetically modified cattle so they do not produce prions, the proteins that can mutate and cause mad-cow disease. No adverse results were observed. So does that mean we can feed cattle byproducts to these cattle with impunity? Ugh.
U.S. News & World Report: A look at Viagen and other animal-cloning companies who stand to profit from the FDA’s recent ruling.
New York Times: Kim Severson predicts that the new Congress will push for food safety inspections, healthier restaurant and school food, and greater accountability from growers and processors.
Computerworld: How biometric software and databases have helped Centers for Disease Control officials identify E. coli outbreaks.
New York Times Magazine: Short piece about Robert E. Rich, the man who disdained his father’s successful dairy business and instead made his fortune by inventing a shelf-stable “cream alternative” made out of soy protein, corn syrup, and other non-dairy, uh, ingredients.
Appleton Post-Crescent: A Wisconsin farm-animal veterinarian muses about how he’s never once had to treat a cow in a pasture.
U.S. Food Policy: Food-economics wonk Parke Wilde opines on the subject of chain-restaurant nutritional information.
Food, Farming, & Food Politics events calendar
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