Section » Revolting food
Massive gingerbread house recall a reminder that food safety starts in the gut
Grist (where I am the food editor) just got a late entry to our Scariest Food of 2010 contest: Gingerbread houses. Not because you can break a tooth on some of
More articles
Math lessons for Budiansky: Industrial concentration vs. local choice
On Friday, New York Times op-ed contributor Steven Budiansky challenged local food advocates to rethink their math, mainly about food miles. As it happens, I was already doing some food calculations that day -- but not of the sort
Arsenic found in Utah kids’ pee traced to their pet chickens’ feed
Poison - It's what's for breakfast!: A toxicologist for the Utah Department of Health tracked worrisome levels of arsenic in two children to the family’s backyard chicken coop — "along with the eggs that came out of it, the feed that went into the hens that laid them and, finally, widely used
What’s P-Cresol and why is it in my food? “Don’t Eat That” iPhone app will tell you
A simple little iPhone app launched a few days ago that demystifies the ingredient lists of processed food. Called "Don't Eat That" (link to
Photos of Granjas Carroll de Mexico pork factory are sickening, even with no flu connection
Updated May 4, 9:30am PST with editor's note and hog farmer's perspective Smithfield, you're forked now: The Observers, a French citizen-journalism site, has reposted
Feds sue Hallmark slaughterhouse over beef recall
Good luck getting blood from a stone-dead company: The federal government is suing Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., whose workers were caught on videotape abusing nonambulatory cattle, resulting in the nation's biggest beef recall last year. The federal lawsuit seeks $150 million in taxpayer money
‘Killer’ movie tells who to charge for the large
"Killer at Large," a new documentary DVD, is a veritable banquet of obesity information, serving up copious facts and personal tales about the American obesity epidemic that threatens to shorten the life span of the current generation of young people. Alas,
Digest – News: Antibiotics in byproducts fed to cows, Sebelius lobbied to veto milk labeling bill
It was a very busy week for the Ethicurean bees, and we had to skip the weekend Digest. So some of these links may be a tad moldy, but hey — expiration dates are for sissies. Send your tasty news links to
This is what democracy looks like
Today is a big day for all of us who believe not only in sustainable food and agriculture systems, but also in the democratic process. The months since the election brought an outpouring of engagement from citizens urging the Obama Administration to appoint change-makers to lead our country. And it paid
Digest – News: Vilsack’s singing our song, but he ain’t our valentine yet
Yeah OK, we're listening: The WashPo's Jane Black interviews new Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who says that being an overweight kid has given him insight into childhood nutrition problems, that in an ideal world all food would be purchased locally, and that the USDA needs to help build the infrastructure
Digest – News: Peanut crime spree, spinach gets zapped, lonely locusts
Busting a nut: With the list of recalled peanut products topping 400, the Department of Justice begins a criminal investigation of the processing company behind it. The Food and Drug Act prohibits companies from knowingly transporting contaminated products across state lines, something the Peanut Corporation
Comments Off • Read more »
Snapshot of the American diet
I find this juxtaposition of establishments at the Bayfair Mall in San Leandro, California, a good illustration of the "nutritionism" philosophy
Biotech & Big Pharma rolling out exciting new holiday products
By Barry Foy When it comes to Christmas cheer, St. Nick has nothing on the big biotech and pharmaceutical firms this year, with the release of an unprecedented number of holiday-related products expected over the next few weeks. Given the sector's legendary lack of sentimentality, this nod toward
Comments Off • Read more »
Digest – Blogs: Chemical may cause obesity, brain worms attack!
Scary chemical: Tributyltin, a ubiquitous pollutant that affects gene activity, could be promoting obesity, according to the December issue of BioScience. Among its many applications, the chemical is used in paints for boats, as a wood and textile preservative, and (hello!?!) as a pesticide on high-value
Comments Off • Read more »
Wear your food politics on your chest #2: HFCS nightmares
We got some nice play on BoingBoing a few days ago (thanks Xeni!) for Ali's post on President-Elect Obama's possible food policy, and there's been
