Famine and Fortune

Posted on August 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Two recent reports on food security are noteworthy: the first from the World Food Programme in Rwanda celebrates  a success story in a country more often associated with crises.  Terrace farming has transformed the once eroded and barren hillsides of the Cyungo area. Now, the farmers are able to grow 2 crops, one to sell and one for their sustenance and so achieve food security. In contrast is the sad report of famine in Niger where 12 million people, about 80% of the population face food insecurity. This situation is the result of several factors coming together. Unexpected heavy rainfall has devastated crops, speculation in commodity prices has spiked food prices and people are unable to buy food, finally, aid has eluded many of those who desperately need it including the alarming numbers of undernourished children.

The impact of climate change on agricultural output is likely to become more pronounced, stock markets are always unpredictable, and aid will often wander away from where it was was supposed to go. This story is a familiar one, almost too familiar and might possibly grow more common in the future. It is possible to empower farmers with the appropriate technology ( in small and big ways) to transform the situation as the Rwanda example shows. There are many success stories such as this one, unfortunately they often seem to go unheard.

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Posted in Food Security

Alton Brown Explains Grass-fed Beef

Posted on July 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

Anyone who declares his favorite animal is steak must know their beef! Watch Alton Brown explain how corn fed cattle develop acid in their stomach which allow e coli to thrive and get passed on to the consumer.

Now , consider the question of milk.It is strange to think that even with the hefty premium we pay for organic milk , we still don’t get milk from  cows who eat grass! How did this happen? Cows+grass=milk was the way from the dawn of time. Who authorized : Cows+corn=milk? Doesn’t even look right!

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Posted in Nutrition

Food Safety Bill in the Senate

Posted on July 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Consider this: the number of people in this country who die each year from food borne illnesses is the same as the number of Americans who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003!  Shocked?  So was I when I read this statistic in Eric Schlosser’s piece on the food safety bill in the New York Times.

The Bill under consideration would enable the FDA  to conduct more comprehensive testing, issue recalls, take punitive measures against offenders, and also enforce application of US food safety standards on imported food, among other things. So whats holding it up? Some concerns about increased power of agribusinesses and impacts on small farmers have  surfaced and they can be attended to but mostly it is the usual vested interests: food processors who do not want their boat rocked. It is time to ask: why is the Senate dragging its feet on legislation that would protect lives? We need to act now.

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Posted in Food Safety

Obesity and Hunger are Linked

Posted on July 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

When families are struggling to meet ends meet, they may make less than optimal food choices. Fresh produce is more expensive than a meal deal at a fast food outlet. So while they are fighting to stave off  hunger, people may be choosing a diet that leads to obesity. NPR’s series  points out that the money the government intends to spend to fight hunger must also take into account the need for a healthy diet. While there is little to debate on that score, (although for some people including lawmakers the link is hard to grasp as the article also points out),  it  was  interesting that the child interviewed in the program is described as “picky”. When the family is facing the prospect of going hungry, picky cannot be part of the equation. The government, food banks, non-profits, charities, other donors can all be mobilized to fight the dual battles of hunger and childhood obesity but “picky”? That, the parents have to fix!

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Posted in Food Security, Nutrition

When you buy organic….

Posted on July 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

…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.

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Posted in Food Safety, Nutrition

GM Foods Update

Posted on July 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security

Cage Free Forever!

Posted on July 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

California just passed a law ensuring all hens will be humanely treated thus becoming the first cage free state! Good news for hens and humans both!

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Posted in Food Policy, Nutrition

Jamie Oliver and the School Lunch Plan

Posted on July 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

It appears that Jamie Oliver’s plan for healthy school lunches is going to be canceled. The UK Health Minister claimed that there was a drop in the number of children buying lunch since the new menu was introduced. For this, he blames an “authoritarian” approach consisting of lecturing people on what they should eat.

Thought Food has looked at the efforts to fix the school lunch, including Oliver’s efforts in West Virginia and while we may not agree with everything that he does, certainly his effort is to be applauded. Good eating habits need to be built up from childhood, a taxpayer funded program should not push junk and kids who come from challenging home situations or live in “food deserts”  can benefit from this program. If a few families choose to ignore good dietary rules, should all children suffer? There is evidence to prove that healthy school food has an impact on academic achievements.

If the UK government discovered a flaw in the lunch program devised by Jamie Oliver and then canceled it, that would be understandable. But this simply seems to be an effort to fit in economic austerity measures than a thoughtful approach to planning school meals.

And Jamie Oliver has plenty of support, sometimes from unlikely quarters, like this endorsement from Anthony Bourdain. Being a parent changes everything!

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Posted in Nutrition, Uncategorized

USDA’s new Dietary Guidelines

Posted on July 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Just a quick note to inform that the USDA’s  new nutritional guidelines report is open for public comments till July 8. The report has a fresh approach outlining the need to reduce salt intake, promote a plant based diet, battle obesity and a recognition that we function in a food environment and the whole picture needs to be seen. It is an encouraging step and we can take this opportunity to make our voices heard as well.

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Posted in Food Policy, Nutrition, Uncategorized

“American Ethnic Food”!

Posted on July 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

This video from a grocery store in Berlin shows what the rest of  the world thinks of as “american food”.  Most of it is  spot on although it makes you wonder  why hardly any of it  is “real food”. A more serious issue: where are the Oreos? And, no peanut butter?

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Posted in Uncategorized