…is that what you really get? Perhaps not. We are learning now that there are instances of fraud in the labeling of organic food in California. Growers ignore the state certification process and label produce in a way that misleads consumers. Not only does this cheat the consumer, it also undercuts the actual growers of organic food. It is absolutely essential to read the label and make sure the produce is certified organic. And when you do read the label you may discover that the produce actually comes from China! Produce from China is not open to third-party certification and there is no way of knowing if the produce was actually certified organic in a process similar to the US. While enforcement of standards everywhere is crucial, our responsibility as consumers is to be sure what we are paying for and never unknowingly support those who try to subvert the system.
Category Archives: Food Safety
GM Foods Update
After a long hiatus, GM crops are being sown in Europe. In March, it was reported that a GM potato crop, the Amflora crop had been sown in Sweden and now there is news that the EU has decided to let the individual states decide whether or not to grow GM crops. The GM debate is at an interesting point right now. There is a growing recognition that a world faced with the challenge of feeding an ever increasing population needs to consider all the tools at its disposal. Higher temperatures resulting from global climate change are expected to lower crop yields already diminished due to negative environmental changes. The food scarcity of the 1960s and 1970s was met by Mexico, India, China and other countries by a revolution in agriculture brought about by the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and high yielding varieties of crops. A second revolution is needed which will avoid the negative impacts of the first and GM foods present a viable alternative. Every country should frame its policy after careful evaluating the health and environmental concerns, access to GM technology for poor farmers, ethical concerns etc but ignoring GM technology is not a viable position anymore.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security
If it’s Summer, it must be Strawberries..
…or not! The news from California is that the use of pesticides containing carcinogens and neurotoxins has been approved for use on strawberries. The fumigant previously used is being phased out to reduce the impact on global warming which is commendable but perhaps a better alternative could have been chosen. Most of the strawberries in the grocery stores are from California so we now have the alternatives of buying only organic or not eating strawberries altogether…sad.
Posted in Food Safety
Sustainable Seafood
A report just out from Greenpeace ranks Target and Wegman’s as following the best sustainable seafood practices. That is good to know for us consumers but do not forget that we, too, have a role to play in ensuring that all seafood sellers follow good practices. Ask about your store’s policy, read labels and make your voice heard because the stores do care about their image. A case in point is the change in Trader Joe’s policies, follow the links in the article to learn more.
Posted in Food Safety, Food Security
GM crops 101
The Slates’s Green Lantern outlines some concerns that environmentalists have regarding GM crops. To the positives mentioned here, one needs to add the huge productivity increases from growing GM crops which are going to be vital in view of the coming food crisis discussed in the last post. Also, most of these debates do not highlight the possibility of getting better health outcomes from GM crops enhanced with vitamins or nutrients such as Golden Rice enhanced with vitamin A .
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security, Uncategorized
The Case of Bt Brinjal in India
News came in this week that India has halted plans for commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal (or eggplant). The debate centers around the familiar issues relating to health and environmental issues and loss of biodiversity. Almost at the same time, though, there are reports of plans to grow GM potatoes in the United Kingdom. China is already growing transgenic cotton with plans for other crops such as rice, maize, soybeans etc. According to World Bank estimates, by 2006 , 8% of the global crop area was already planted with GM seeds.
The case for GM crops is made by emphasising their higher yield, reduced use of pesticides and herbicides and their role in curbing world hunger. World population is expected to reach 9 bn by mid-century and public policy needs to tackle the question of expanding food production to meet the increased demand. The shortfalls are going to be exacerbated by the impact of climate change and widespread famine is possible. GM crops represent an important breakthrough in increasing agricultural productivity yet there is stiff resistance to their adoption. In the future though, this may be the best of producing food in a sustainable way. There is a lot of misinformation about GM or “Frankenfood”. No, so far there is no evidence that adopting the cultivation of GM crops for food or feed will make breed pigs with wings or flying potatoes. Actually, rice enhanced with vitamin A , known as Golden Rice or tomatoes enhanced with lycopene could help boost health outcomes in areas of need.
In fact, such is the commotion over this issue that even the Vatican has taken a stand on it! Watch this blog for more updates.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security
Is it safe to eat lettuce again?
Last summer, at the height of the grill-and-salad days a dark cloud loomed. Tainted lettuce , carrying e coli had to be recalled. There was the usual noise to the slow response to a public health hazard. That leads us to think about how the path can be retraced to the source of the trouble. While it may be possible to do so in this country what about produce which is brought in from all corners of the globe? Is this the price we have to pay for being spoilt enough to demand (and get) strawberries in December? This article explains what is being done about it.
Posted in Food Safety
Thought + Food 