The news is that the FDA is going to send inspectors to large egg farms in an effort to prevent future salmonella outbreaks. So, they finally figured out who needs to look at eggs and that they need to look at the eggs before people start getting sick…..excellent work! It is a tribute to the enormous power of big money and lobbyists that it took so long to accomplish such simple and obvious measures to ensure food safety and quality.
Tag Archives: food security
The Great Locavore Battle
It’s on! The battle to define and support /oppose the locavore movement was kicked off today. Stephen Budiansky in his piece for The New York Times, “Math Lessons for the Locavore” while noting that he was all for growing your own veggies, pointed out what he calls the “absurdities” of this trend. The gauntlet was picked up over at Grist by Ken Meter of the Crossroads Resource Center who argued that the locavore movement is crucial to fixing our broken food system. Now, you be the judge! And stay tuned, there is more to come!
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security
Tagged food policy, food safety, food security
How to bring in a Food Revolution
Anna Lappe’s article for Grist examines the pillars the food revolution should be based on: she identifies them as Ecology, Community and Fairness. What resonated with me, in particular, is the approach to thinking about food in a comprehensive way. For instance the decision to eat shrimp should be determined not only by personal health concerns but also on how the shrimp are harvested and their place in the food system; and finally on whether those associated with the shrimp industry are being fairly treated. Are the shrimp farmers/fisher people getting a fair wage? Are we literally wolfing up all the shrimp on the planet? It might taste good and even be good for you but its time to consider whole equation : the global good.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Security, Nutrition
Tagged food policy, food security, nutrition
What is a seed vault anyway?
I wrote about the Russian seed bank yesterday and then chanced upon this amazing film from the National Geographic on the Svalbard seed bank in the Arctic .
Russia Wheat Crisis Update
The International Food Policy Research Institute just posted their briefing on the Russia wheat crisis. They seem to conclude that there is no reason to fear steep price hikes.
Save the Seed Bank!
This is really depressing news: the possibility that the Pavlovsk seed bank in Russia, the oldest in the world, is about to be destroyed. The seed bank was started in 1926 by Nikolai Vavilov the originator of the concept of seed banks. Since it is a field collection it cannot be removed to accommodate the proposed real estate plans. Its varied fruit collection would be extremely helpful in protecting fruit production in places threatened by climate change, pests and disease. Earlier, twelve Russian scientists had starved to death rather than eat the plants in their collection to survive. Sadly, it seems likely their honorable sacrifice will go in vain.
Thought + Food 