One small bright spot in Farm Bill haggling: A compromise may have been reached that would allow small state-inspected meat processors (with less than 25 employees) to start selling products across state lines. (Des Moines Register) Previously on Ethicurean: Getting to the heart of state meat inspection law
OK, maybe one more: The Senate Ag Committee has passed an amendment to its version of the Farm Bill that would prohibit packers from owning livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. Specifically, packers could not, "own or feed livestock directly, through a subsidiary, or through an arrangement that gives the packer operational, managerial, or supervisory control over the livestock, or over the farming operation that produces the livestock." (Meatingplace.com; registration required) Related: Nebraska hog farmer explains why it’s a good thing to halt such vertical consolidation
You mean after the bacterial horses have escaped?: Red flags should have been flying high for USDA officials inspecting the Topps plant in New Jersey. The meat-processor was forced to closed after having to recall a year’s worth of supply because inspectors couldn’t safely trace what might be contaminated. Here’s the only graf that really matters: "While the government has long allowed meat plants to establish their own safety plans, Dr. Raymond added that “we haven’t shut the door” on setting mandatory standards for E. coli testing and prevention." (New York Times)
Florets for your face: The always-reliable Rick Weiss covers new research suggesting that smearing broccoli-sprout extract on one’s skin can prevent damage from ultraviolet light that often leads to skin cancer. He can’t resist: "Among other issues to be worked out is how best to remove the extract’s green pigments, which do not contribute to its protective effects and would give users a temporary Martian complexion." (Washington Post)
A coming strawberry shortage?: Farmers may change their crops from labor-intensive fruits and vegetables due to the scarcity of immigrant pickers. (NPR)
Ganging up on Whole Foods: As many as two dozen people ran out without paying at a D.C. Whole Foods. (WUSA9.com)
More reasons to love Incanto: The San Francisco restaurant — a tap-water and charcuterie CSA pioneer — is now using exclusively cage-free eggs. (Humane Society press relesase)
One-third of California’s avocado crop lost to fire, more threatened (AP)
U.K. organic food firm gets $40M in private equity backing (The Guardian)
FTC is attempting again to stop Whole Foods-Wild Oats deal (Bloomberg via NYT)
Food, Farming, & Food Politics events calendar
Humor:
