Today
Brazil's cattle industry bends to demands to curb destruction of Amazon after Greenpeace report links JBS, other meatpackers to illegal deforestation (click 'See also'). After report, World Bank withdrew $90 million loan to one firm; Wal-Mart, other supermarkets vowed to stop buying beef from 11 producers. Bertin, JBS, Marfrig, Minerva make up 70 percent of Brazil's beef export market but account for 30 percent of domestic cattle purchases; it is unclear whether thousands of smaller processors, ranchers will change their ways.
By Reese Ewing and Stuart Grudgings
Reuters 2009-06-29 (entry)
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In shift, U.S. will focus on providing expertise, training, roads, infrastructure to boost agricultural productivity abroad rather giving emergency aid, USDA chief says. Nation is largest donor of emergency food aid - mainly crops grown by American farmers - but spends 20 times as much on food aid to Africa as it spends on programs that could boost food production. In 1980s, U.S. annual spending on African farming projects was $400 million-plus; by 2006 it had dwindled to $60 million.
By Mark Weinraub
Reuters 2009-06-29 (entry)
As demand for chicken declines, bankrupt Pilgrim's Pride idles Georgia processing plant that provided 1,000 jobs, $300,000 in annual county tax revenues. It also shuns prospective buyers, saying that selling to competitor wouldn't reduce chicken supply. In town, poultry insurer braces for drop in business; hospital girds for more uninsured patients. Most big chicken companies reducing output; chicken prices have increased since Pilgrim's closed its plants.
By Lauren Etter
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-06-30 (entry)
E. coli found in Nestlé refrigerated Toll House cookie dough from Virginia plant, federal investigators say. Interviews with patients - most of whom are teenage and preteen girls - showed high percentage of them ate raw Nestlé's cookie dough before becoming sick, CDC says. Refrigerated dough has rarely been associated with any food-borne illness outbreaks; at least 69 illnesses have been linked to pathogen.
By Jane Zhang
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-06-29 (entry)
The small, aggressive and ill-tempered Saw Scaled Viper is among snakes plaguing Iraq's farmers.
Four-year drought, plus dams in Turkey, Syria, Iran drop water levels in Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, endangering Iraqi agriculture and destroying habitat for vipers, which now plague people, cattle. Farmers leaving land for cities, pushing country to import more food, though in 1950s it was one of few regional cereal-exporting countries. Drop in oil prices cuts budget for measures to increase water use efficiency.
The Independent (UK) 2009-06-15 (entry)
Well-managed oceans policy, with strategies to reduce overfishing, would be example for others. Rather than annual catch limits, administration advocates 'catch shares,' which gives individuals or groups fixed percentage of annual catch, then allows them to set rules, supposing that shareholders will have vested interest in growing resource. And: New system would protect marine ecosystem, increase revenues, ensure dinnertime feasts of native fish (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2009-06-21 (entry)
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One in six - or one-sixth of the global population, now suffer from hunger and do not have access to enough food; 1 billion undernourished around the world, UN head says. Number has jumped by more than 100 million in last year. He calls for new world food order, urges more spending on agriculture.
By Stephanie Kennedy
ABC/BBC 2009-06-20 (entry)
Sustainable agriculture key to ending chronic hunger, Hillary Clinton tells World Food Prize audience. Obama administration will lead effort and seek to increase agricultural productivity; improve infrastructure of developing countries; maintain natural resources; help developing communities adapt to climate change; support R&D and education of plant scientists; seek to increase trade for small-scale farmers; support policy reform, good governance and the 70 percent of farmers who are women - and the children.
By Hillary Clinton
The Huffington Post 2009-06-11 (entry)
Exposure to levels of BPA, a chemical found in baby bottles, food can linings, that U.S. deems harmless over course of lifetime triggers reproductive problems in female rats, study shows. Chemical trade group says study is irrelevant because chemical was injected, not swallowed. And: EPA hearing will examine whether BPA should be added to California's Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity (click 'See also').
By Rory Harrington,
nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-06-19 (entry)
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Vinegar could prevent fat buildup, thus weight gain, mouse study shows. Vinegar worked at genetic level, by influencing genes linked to fatty acid oxidation and energy burning proteins, researchers learned. Previous research linked vinegar intake to eating less, reduction in cravings brought on by sugar peaks after meals. And: Adding vinegar to foods could enhance perception of saltiness (click 'See also').
By Stephen Daniells,
nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-06-18 (entry)
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Demand for processed beef, used for pies, canned meat and frozen meals sold by British supermarkets driving rapid destruction of Amazon rainforest, three-year probe shows. Greenpeace urges supermarkets to boycott unscrupulous suppliers involved in illegal Brazilian deforestation, consumers to pressure supermarkets to clean up supply chains. Clearing tropical forests for agriculture creates 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions - more than global transport system.
By David Adam
The Guardian (UK) 2009-05-31 (entry)
Leading cause of food-borne illnesses is a virus, mostly from restaurant workers who fail to wash hands, CDC finds. Salmonella bacteria was second. Among 17 individual food types, poultry was most common source of illness. Dairy products accounted for 3 percent of outbreaks, most from unpasteurized milk. And: In 2008, chicken sales increased 6.7 percent - three times overall growth rate for retail, food service meat (click 'See also').
By Gardiner Harris
The New York Times 2009-06-11 (entry)
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Common, deadly bacteria infecting hospital water supply blamed in deaths of two premature infants, sickness of a third in Miami. Hospital urged to initiate monthly checks of water quality, train staff in infection control, closely monitor chlorine levels and use county's twice-yearly chlorine purge. And: Company develops DNA detection system for water-borne pathogens (click 'See also').
By Fred Tasker
The Miami Herald 2009-06-10 (entry)
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Three die, 38 injured, four critically, in explosion at North Carolina ConAgra Slim Jim factory. 300 of the 900 employed were in plant when blast occurred. And: There was no evacuation plan at Savannah-area Imperial Sugar refinery when it blew up last year, killing 14 and injuring scores, witness testifies, nor was there a working fire alarm (click 'See also').
From staff and wire reports
The News & Observer (NC) 2009-06-10 (entry)
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As final tests begin on pricey sewage-to-fertilizer plant, Chicago area officials say it's not needed. Stickney plant is one of world's largest treatment facilities for human, industrial waste, producing 150,000-plus tons of sludge (industry calls it 'biosolids') annually. And: Early on, 'Black Box' project was seen as alternative to sluicing use of 1 billion-plus gallons of water daily (click 'See also').
By Michael Hawthorne
Chicago Tribune 2009-05-27 (entry)
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Pregnant woman ideal spokesperson for counteracting BPA's bad image, industry executives, lobbyists decide at strategy session. Other plans: focus on how ban of BPA, used in food-can linings, baby bottles, would affect poor people who eat canned foods; cast doubt on safety of BPA-free canned goods. In last 20 years, growing number of studies link bisphenol A to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hyperactivity. And: Industry pooh-poohs baby bottle battle (click 'See also').
By Susanne Rust and Meg Kissinger
Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI) 2009-05-29 (entry)
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One in nine Americans using food stamps, USDA says. In 20 states, rate rises to one in eight; average monthly benefit: $113.87 per person. Congress allocated $54 billion for food stamps this fiscal year, up from $39 billion last year. In new fiscal year beginning October 1, costs are estimated at $60 billion. And: Unemployment reaches 9.4 percent, highest level in 26 years (click 'See also').
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2009-06-03 (entry)
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Lawmaker advocates $20 million overhaul of food-borne illness detection system modeled on Minnesota's successful program, which relies on DNA testing plus intensive, early questioning of victims. Under proposal, five regional centers would train, assist health officials in advanced methods to trace illnesses to food sources.
By David Shaffer
Star-Tribune (MN) (may require registration) 2009-05-28 (entry)
Though major greenhouse gas emitters - utilities, coal, transportation, oil and gas industries - face clear, immediate risks from climate change, most offer minimal information to investors on how it could affect bottom line, report shows. And: Agricultural policy ripples through energy sector, energy policy affects farm sector, environmental policy affects farmers, food and energy processors, and all consumers of food, fuel (click 'See also').
By Suzanne Goldenberg
The Guardian (UK) 2009-06-03 (entry)
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California Senate OKs proposal that would ban use of bisphenol A in food containers, as well as baby bottles, toddler sippy cups. Independent studies have linked BPA to brain development problems and behavioral troubles in young children, early onset of puberty, several cancers. And: FDA says it will review its earlier OK of BPA in baby bottles, food containers (click 'See also').
By Eric Bailey
Los Angeles Times 2009-06-03 (entry)
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Labor Department suspends for nine months last-minute Bush administration rule that had changed calculation method for farm workers, eased oversight of efforts to recruit U.S. workers first. Democrats, farm worker advocates had argued against rule, which they said led to lower wages for farm employees and didn't protect American laborers (click 'See also').
By Sara Murray
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-05-30 (entry)
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Mississippi River Basin and major tributaries
Advocacy group urges targeted investment of conservation funds in Iowa farms that pollute Mississippi River. But USDA, state officials say formula accounts for 'impaired waters' (click 'See also'). Program subsidizes manure collection system setup, reducing tillage, building terraces; $7 million of this year's fund reserved for specific projects - beginning organic operations, beginning or low-income farmers.
By Philip Brasher
The Des Moines Register 2009-05-29 (entry)
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Key House leaders vow more frequent site inspections, mandatory preventive actions by manufacturers in new food safety bill. Proposal would require growers, manufacturers, food handlers to ID contamination risks, document preventive steps and share those records with feds, as well as require private labs to report pathogen detection. And: Obama administration launches website for its food safety working group (click 'See also')
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-05-28 (entry)
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Farmers can grow food crops for one price, or same crops for biofuel for more plus tax credits. In 2007, amount of food turned into fuel could have fed 450 million for a year. Corn-based fuel additive use caused 10 percent to 15 percent of food price rise in one year. Higher food prices could cost Americans $900 million more for food stamps and child nutrition programs. Plus, amount of nitrous oxide (300 times more potent than CO2) released from farming corn, rape for biofuels had been underestimated by factor of 3 to 5 times.
By Ed Wallace
Business Week 2009-05-26 (entry)
USDA official complains that it 'isn't fair' that Philadelphia has only program allowing more than 120,000 students in poor schools to eat free meals without having to fill out paper applications, so agency plans to kill program. Tom Vilsack, now USDA head, had praised program as senator and recommended expanding it. New paperwork could cost district $800,000 yearly. And: Food stamp costs likely will rise by 14 percent in fiscal 2010 and could top $60 billion (click 'See also').
By Alfred Lubrano
The Philadelphia Inquirer 2009-05-24 (entry)
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More children rely on schools for two meals daily as schools struggle to balance food budgets because of higher costs, decline in paying customers. Meanwhile, concern grows over nutrition needs of students after school and during summer. And: USDA supporting Bush administration edict to end well-regarded Philadelphia school breakfast and lunch program, source says (click 'See also').
By Michael Alison Chandler
The Washington Post 2009-05-23 (entry)
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Chronic malnutrition in West Africa worsened by high food prices, less money sent home from workers abroad. Lack of micronutrients - iron, zinc, vitamin A, iodine - last year may have caused extra 44 million children permanent impairment. Americans typically get micronutrients from fortified foods; same strategy possible in Africa. And: Adding iodide to salt could increase global IQ 1 billion points (click 'See also').
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times 2009-05-26 (entry)
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Tobacco candy, estimated to contain half to three times nicotine of a cigarette, likely to to be studied for public health risks, especially to children. Lozenge-like Camel Orb in cell-phone shaped package being test-marketed in Portland, Indianapolis, Columbus. And: RJ Reynolds calls candy 'best tobacco you never smoked' (click 'See also').
By John Yaukey
Gannett News Service; Detroit Free Press 2008-05-20 (entry)
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Health, wellness food products leap past other processed foods as economic downturn settles in. Major processors use sector as strategic pillar. Nestle, says expert, seeks to 'transform itself into a nutrition, health and wellness company' to sell more products.
By Shane Starling
nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-05-20 (entry)
Disrupting salmonella's ability to use glucose for food while it sickens host could be key to creating vaccines for it, other bacteria, researchers learn. Salmonella food poisoning sickens about 20 million people annually, causing about 200,000 deaths. It also infects farm animals. And: Whole cantaloupes sold to some Wal-Mart stores recalled (click 'See also').
By Mike Stones
nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-05-20 (entry)
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With flu epidemic focusing attention on pork production practices of crowded conditions, routine antibiotic use, USDA head defends industry against lawmaker's probing. Antibiotics are given to hogs to prevent disease and for weight gain. In recent study, nearly half the hogs and half the farmers tested were carrying antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacteria. And: Risks of industrial-scale animal production unacceptable, study says (click 'See also').
By Philip Brasher
The Des Moines Register 2009-05-14 (entry)
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In April, food prices rose the most in a year, Labor Department reports. Prices to producers of finished goods rose 0.3 percent last month, mostly result of 1.5 percent jump in food prices. Egg prices rose sharply; prices for beef, coffee, vegetables and fresh fruit also increased. And: Americans spend about 12.5 percent of budget on food; food prices linked to cost of ingredients, transportation, profit margins (click 'See also').
By Jack Healy
The New York Times 2009-05-14 (entry)
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After drinking cold beverages from polycarbonate baby bottles, 77 volunteers showed nearly 70 percent increase of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine, CDC/Harvard study shows. BPA, a plastics component and synthetic estrogen, is linked to reproductive problems, heart damage, diabetes, obesity. Made by petrochemical giant Sunoco, chemical shown in 2007 to have leached into more than half the canned foods, beverages, canned liquid infant formula tested. And: Chicago bans BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups (click 'See also').
Environmental Working Group 2009-05-13 (entry)
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Health claims on Cheerios box put breakfast cereal in drug category, FDA tells General Mills. Product label says cereal can lower cholesterol by 4 percent; FDA said naming a percentage requires approved new drug application. Company-sponsored website also cited for health claims regarding whole grains.
By Jennifer Corbett Dooren
Dow Jones Newswires 2009-05-12 (entry)
EPA bans carbofuran and will remove it from market because pesticide does not meet food safety standards. Meanwhile, it still can be used on field corn, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, spinach grown for seed, pine seedlings. In 2006, agency identified significant dietary, ecological and worker risks from use of carbofuran. And: Our appetite for year-'round vegetables, grains is killing our songbirds with pesticides (click 'See also').
By Richard Keigwin
EPA 2009-05-11 (entry)
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Florida orange juice industry faces drought, hurricane season, anti-dumping petition against a Brazilian juice processor (click 'See also'). Though juice futures have risen, orange stockpiles, recent low prices, could keep supermarket prices stable.
By Ted Jackovics
The Tampa Tribune 2009-05-05 (entry)
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Recent recalls, contaminations, plus industry calls have combined to allow for meaningful, united reform that could keep Americans confident of food on their plates. Obama would do well to use his influence to ensure food safety reform occurs. And: FDA searches Westco Fruit & Nut Co., of Irvington, NJ, after firm refuses to issue voluntary recall of products containing peanuts from shuttered Georgia plant (click 'See also').
By Caroline Scott-Thomas
nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-05-04 (entry)
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Though most public health experts believe nation's food supply safer than in past, recalls, outbreaks worrisome; some incidents point to new problems. Safety advocates say woes show inadequacy of FDA, which regulates 80 percent of food supply. Interconnectedness of food system illustrated by peanut product recall from small Georgia plant that supplied several hundred customers - 3,913 products have been recalled.
By Andrew Martin and Gardiner Harris
The New York TImes 2009-05-11 (entry)
The number of hog farmers in Romania fell 90 percent in four years as Smithfield Farms swept into Eastern Europe with factory farming methods that drove down pork prices. Political influence, aggressive business strategy opened huge markets but also raised environmental and health complaints and has has displaced hundreds of thousands of small farmers. Poland had 56 percent drop in hog farmers in 12 years.
By Doreen Carvajal and Stephen Castle
The New York Times 2009-05-05 (entry)
To aid global food security needs, Obama asks Congress to double financial support for agricultural development to $1 billion in 2010. Plan calls for providing U.S. food aid, capacity building, developmental assistance. He called for doubling funding to $200 million for USDA's McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which helps support education, child development, and food security for some of the world's poorest children (click 'See also').
USDA 2009-05-07 (entry)
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Pakistan, Afghanistan to receive $27.5 million through USDA Food for Progress Program. Under plan, proceeds from sale of USDA-donated vegetable oil to agribusinesses there will help implement agricultural, rural development projects. Other efforts: developing agriculture trade corridors along border; improving production, processing of fruits, nuts, livestock; improving water, watershed management and irrigation methods; rehabilitating watersheds to increase crop yields and create jobs.
USDA 2009-05-07 (entry)
Treating diet-related chronic disease accounts for 75 cents of every health care dollar, or $1.65 trillion in 2007, and 83 percent of Medicaid, 96 percent of Medicare. Nearly half of Americans have one or more chronic diseases; productivity loss is $1 trillion-plus per year. Though programs that reduce childhood obesity will cost money today, they will prevent heart disease 30 years later; feds must expand current 10-year time frame to determine true impact of healthier choices.
By Tommy G. Thompson
Politico 2009-04-30 (entry)
In teeth of a recession, fast-food eateries slashing prices in shift from higher profit margins to lower-price, higher-volume sales. That means more 99-cent meals and promotional giveaways. Industry insiders claim value and quality can coexist, but question whether "99 cents and quality" can meet on a bun.
By Jerry Hirsch
Los Angeles Times 2009-04-29 (entry)
EPA moves to limit power plants' discharge of selenium-tainted sludge into waterways. Toxin once was spewed into air, but air-pollution controls now capture it as coal ash or sludge. As with mercury, poison builds rapidly in animals' bodies. Birds that eat tainted fish may have deformed beaks, jaws and problems producing viable eggs; humans who eat fish can suffer neurological damage, hair, nail loss. And: Study links deformed fish to selenium-tainted water near mountain-removal coal mining sites (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-05-03 (entry)
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EPA must reverse its OK of supplemental label on soy, corn fungicide that suggests product improves 'plant health' in face of climate change stresses. Agency should demand proof of claims before approving any label, or programs to help farmers use fewer pesticides will be sabotaged. Label also will encourage massive applications of potent chemical on land where it isn't needed. And it opens floodgates for manufacturers of similar products.
By James E. McWilliams
Slate 2009-04-21 (entry)
American pig farmers probably are on to something when they complain that some countries are happy for excuse to enact emergency trade barriers that benefit their own farmers. It's time we stop dragging pig's reputation through the mud.
The editors
Chicago Tribune 2009-05-03 (entry)
Judge dismisses two lawsuits against Dole after its lawyers said that poor people in Nicaragua were recruited to file complaints. At least 16,000 Latin American workers have sued over 20 years seeking damages from chemical companies that made the pesticide dibromochloropropane, or DBCP, and growers that used it. More than 40 related cases with thousands of plaintiffs pending in L.A.
By Edvard Pettersson
Bloomberg 2009-04-24 (entry)
Sonoma County vintner Murphy-Goode conducts 'dream job' contest to hire a Web-savvy employee to tweet, blog and post videos to promote its winery. In turn, lucky winner - out of expected 10,000 wannabes - will be schooled in ways of wine, good food for salary of $10,000 per month.
By Julian Guthrie
San Francisco Chronicle 0000-00-00 (entry)
Despite progress in providing more healthful foods in schools through federal meals program, junk foods abound outside the program. New legislation to give USDA authority over all food sold at schools should be supported to help stem epidemic of childhood obesity, diet-related diseases. And: Take this quiz to see if you know junk food (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York TImes 2009-04-26 (entry)
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Influenza A H1N1, virus formerly known as swine flu, follows record high feed prices, recession in triple whammy for pork industry. The months of losses already had producers quitting or paring herds, and now countries have banned imports of U.S. pork, sending hog prices sharply lower.
By Bob Burgdorfer
Reuters 2009-05-01 (entry)
Swine flu virus, a blend of genes from Americas pigs, Eurasia pigs, doesn't yet show genetic proof that those pigs ever met. Shipping pigs between Canada, U.S., Mexico for fattening, slaughter is routine; legal movement of pigs across oceans is rare. Western hemisphere part of virus has carried an avian segment for at least 10 years, human segment since 1993. And: Virus gets new name - influenza A(H1N1) - after pork industry complains (click 'See also').
By Donald G. McNeil Jr.
The New York Times 2009-05-01 (entry)
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In effort to stop rising sea levels, tiny island nations of Micronesia, Mauritius want 90 percent cut in use of greenhouse gases used in refrigerators, air conditioners. Scientists say eliminating use of hydrofluorocarbons would spare the world an amount of greenhouse gases up to about a third of all CO2 emissions about 20 to 40 years from now. And: Ozone treaty could regulate HFCs and become strong tool for fighting global warming (click 'See also').
By John Heilprin
The Associated Press; Chicago Tribune 2009-04-30 (entry)
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In Ecuador, judge will decide whether Texaco is to blame for pollution of rain forest waterways where tens of thousands used water for drinking, cooking, bathing and some later died. Farm worker activist conducts 'toxic tours' to one massive sludge pool (of hundreds) where waste was dumped into leaky unlined pit. Study under way on effects of pollution on fishing, agriculture. And: Chevron shareholders want report on protection of people, environment in countries where it operates (click 'See also').
By Juan Forero
The Washington Post 2009-04-27 (entry)
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Swine flu virus H1N1 is hybrid of two common pig flu strains - North American, described in 1930s, and Eurasian, described in 1979, new analysis shows. Earliest case was in La Gloria, Veracruz, near Granjas Carroll hog farm, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. Researchers have warned that unsanitary conditions at industrial hog farms could prove a breeding ground for new flu forms. And: Internet chatter tracked 'four-alarm-fire' of infection in Mexico around Catholic holy week, a time of increased travel (click 'See also').
By Brandon Keim
Wired 2009-04-28 (entry)
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UN says Egypt's decision to kill 40,000 pigs as precaution against swine flu is 'real mistake.' Pigs are mainly raised by country's Christian minority. Egypt worries about effects of another flu virus after extensive damage to its poultry industry, economy from H5N1 bird flu virus. And: Egyptian authorities took advantage of situation to resolve question of disorderly pig rearing in cities, spokesperson says (click 'See also').
By Phil Stewart
Reuters 2009-04-29 (entry)
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Kansas governor vetoes milk disclaimer labeling bill, citing overwhelming opposition by consumer groups, small producers, retailers who want to know which milk is from cows untreated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBST). Kathleen Sibelius, Obama pick for HHS, also cites patchwork labeling requirements, state to state, that would cost too much.
By Beth Martino
Office of the Governor, Kansas 2009-04-23 (entry)
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As Obama's pick for Health, Human Services which oversees FDA, Governor Kathleen Sibelius should veto biotech milk disclaimer bill as 29 groups have requested. Kansas bill would require that milk labeled hormone-free include disclaimer saying that FDA sees no 'significant difference' between milk products with or without it. Bill will become law unless she vetoes it by Thursday.
By Barry Estabrook
Gourmet.com/Politics of the Plate 2009-04-21 (entry)
Domestic farm exports decline, led by sorghum, corn, wheat as foreign growing conditions improve and recession dampens demand. Fed economists say falloff for corn, wheat could lead to a loss of 45,000 jobs; if slowdown persists, prices for produce and farm incomes could decline sharply, leading to drop in farm real estate values. Declining exports likely to push pork, cattle, poultry production down.
By Clifford Krauss
The New York Times 2009-04-09 (entry)
Phthalates, an endocrine disruptor used in cosmetics and to soften plastic pacifiers, toys, linked to obesity, study of 400 9- to 11-year-old girls in East Harlem shows. Such chemicals affect glands, hormones that regulate bodily functions. Researcher compares endocrine disruptors' effect on childhood obesity to that of lead on a child's IQ. And: EPA regulates phthalates as water, air pollutants (click 'See also').
By Jennifer 8. Lee
The New York Times 2009-04-17 (entry)
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As obesity epidemic leads cases of diabetes, loss of income and health insurance pushes diabetics to cut back on health care, risking serious complications and higher emergency or hospital care costs, analysis shows. And: Maryland group targets churches, community groups, doctors' offices for message about prevention through diet, exercise and health screenings (click 'See also').
By Linda A. Johnson
The Associated Press; The Boston Globe 2009-04-13 (entry)
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People who lived next to fields where fungicide maneb or herbicide paraquat had been sprayed were, on average, about 75 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's, California study shows. And: Maneb often goes on potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce and corn; paraquat is used on corn, soybeans, fruit (click 'See also'). Map of their use mirrors areas of U.S. where people are more likely to die of Parkinson's disease.
Chicago Tribune 2009-04-20 (entry)
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Nebraska senator looks to exempt 'naturally occurring' livestock emissions containing methane and carbon dioxide from Clean Air Act. Legislation, he says, would protect his state, which ranks first in nation in commercial red meat production, from 'cow tax.' And: As meat consumption increases, scrutiny grows over emissions (click 'See also').
www.senate.gov 2009-04-17 (entry)
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Emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride are health hazards, EPA says. Experts say decision will transform feds' role in regulating commercial operations, motor vehicles, power plants. And: Waxman-Markey bill plausible framework to begin urgently needed discussion, action in Congress, say editors (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-04-17 (entry)
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Congress, White House must ensure that Clean Water Restoration Act, which protects all waters, becomes law. Original 1972 Clean Water Act was written to protect all waters, wetlands, but Supreme Court narrowed scope, weakened safeguards, confused enforcers, so 20 million acres of wetlands, 60 percent of small streams have been unprotected from developers. And: Fresh water shortage among most daunting challenges, author says (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2009-04-17 (entry)
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EPA will require pesticide manufacturers to test 67 chemicals in products to determine whether they disrupt endocrine system, which regulates growth, metabolism, reproduction. Researchers cite male fish in Potomac River bearing eggs. Tests eventually will encompass all pesticide chemicals. And: Cornfield weedkiller linked to frog deaths (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-04-16 (entry)
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In trial, cyclists pedaled faster after rinsing their mouths with high-carb drinks, but saw no difference with artificially sweetened versions in study. Brain scans showed that glucose, maltodextrin in the mouth triggered pleasure circuits in brain not activated by artificial sweetener. Circuits are thought to reduce athletes' perceptions of how much effort they are expending, allowing them to work harder, longer. And: In rat study, artificial sweeteners result in more sluggish metabolism that stores, rather than burns, incoming excess calories (click 'See also').
By Ian Sample
The Guardian (UK) 2009-04-15 (entry)
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Rather than boosting yields, corn, soybeans genetically modified to resist insects and herbicide glyphosate have decreased production due to increased number of weedkiller-resistant weeds that compete for soil nutrients and moisture, study shows. Increased yields largely credited to better breeding, agricultural practices. And: Joining France, Luxembourg, Germany bans Monsanto's GM pest-resistant corn MON 810 (click 'See also').
By Tony C. Dreibus
Bloomberg 2009-04-14 (entry)
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Newest salmonella-linked food recall shows it's time to think seriously about establishing one federal agency to coordinate, enforce food-safety regulations. Consumers need, deserve food safety. And: Food safety system no longer improving, study shows (click 'See also). Created when most foods were grown, prepared and consumed locally, it needs overhaul to regulate increasingly global food industry.
The editors
The New York Times 2009-04-15 (entry)
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President of $110 billion-a-year beverage industry lobbies to block more rules on what schools can put in vending machines as Congress begins revision of Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. And: Soda, sports drink intake linked to increased body weight, poor nutrition, displacement of more healthful beverages; added intake raises risk of obesity, diabetes - $79 billion spent annually for overweight and obesity alone (click 'See also').
By Philip Brasher
The Des Moines Register 2009-04-11 (entry)
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Revamped Florida-U.S. Sugar plan is reasonable compromise and good start on building reservoirs to protect from flood, drought and to clean up agricultural runoff that threatens wildlife, Everglades. Company gets partnership with state, subsidies. And: Current plan would buy 72,500 acres for $530 million, with option to buy the rest by 2019 (click 'See also').
The editors
The Miami Herald 2009-04-12 (entry)
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As politicians debate bonuses and bailouts, surely we can agree that improving children's health is best investment for nation's future. Congress should ensure that USDA selects foods for school lunches based on current scientific evidence about role of diet in health. And: Federal nutrition programs are feeble whisper against howling scream of trash food marketing, writes columnist (click 'See also').
By Kathryn Strong
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/The Miami Herald 2009-04-09 (entry)
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As demand grows for simple, local foods and recalls continue, marketers push processed snack items with fewer ingredients and hope that consumers equate new formula with health. Tough economy has pushed 40 percent of adults to eat less nutritious foods, survey shows; 81 percent are limiting spending on groceries.
By Jane Black
The Washington Post 2009-04-06 (entry)
Fifteen of 15 powdered infant formulas contain perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel linked to thyroid disease, says CDC study, but scientists haven't named brands tested. Legislator calls on EPA to set safe drinking water standard for perchlorate, water testing. And: Pasadena begins construction of perchlorate-removing water treatment plant near Superfund site. Wells nearby have been shut down (click 'See also').
By Liz Szabo
USA Today 2009-04-02 (entry)
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Recession, proliferation pushes casual sit-down restaurants into survival mode - renegotiating loans, cutting staff, offering bargain items, closing poor performers. So far, many companies closing are small, with one to three sites, but thousands more closures expected, says analyst. Parent group of Olive Garden, Red Lobster, announce better-than-expected outlook; fast-food outlets thrive by offering full meals for less than $5.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2009-04-04 (entry)
House, Senate include no limits on farm subsidies in budget outlines despite Obama's ambitious plan to cut them, though Senate does make modest trim on crop insurance programs. Critic says administration was more careful in laying groundwork for initiatives on climate change, health care. Resolutions protect health care, energy, education and reduce deficit, say Democrats, administration.
By David M. Herszenhorn
The New York Times 2009-04-03 (entry)
As salmonella-pistachio recall expands only weeks after peanut products recall began, food safety reform calls grow. Among suggestions: mandatory recall authority for FDA, more inspections, product tracking. Also: splitting FDA and establishing Food Safety Administration. But Kathleen Sebelius, nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, says that first FDA should be restored as 'world-class regulatory agency.'
By Mary MacVean
Los Angeles Times 2009-04-03 (entry)
Media coverage of threats to bees - colony collapse disorder, mites, pesticides, climate change, overworked commercial colonies - fuel interest in urban beekeeping, educating neighbors. On commercial scale, honeybees pollinate a third of nation's food supply and are crucial to California's agriculture industry. And: If honeybees die out, blue orchard bees might pollinate almonds, peaches, plums, cherries, apples and others (click 'See also').
By Lori Kozlowski
Los Angeles Times 2009-03-31 (entry)
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Despite 15-year history of nut-related salmonella outbreaks, FDA hasn't changed safety requirements at companies nor required inspectors to test for bacteria. Follow-up work after latest peanut recalls led agency to 20 previously unknown peanut product makers. FDA inspects some peanut processing facilities and contracts with states to perform inspections. And: Concerned about demand, farmers cutting back on peanut planting (click 'See also').
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-04-03 (entry)
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FDA creates information site for salmonella-linked recall of Setton Pistachios; it joins the Peanut Corporation of America products version on federal agency's home page. Because pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, recall of about 1 million pounds of nuts likely will involve many products; probe at company is continuing as well. And: Ongoing list of recalled products containing pistachios (click 'See also').
FDA 2009-04-02 (entry)
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Kraft expands its recall to include Planters, Back to Nature products that contain pistachios. Setton International Foods suspects that roasted pistachios it sold to Kraft may have become mixed with raw nuts that could have contained traces of the bacteria (click 'See also'). Suspect nuts were shipped to 36 wholesalers, Norway, Mexico.
The Associated Press 2009-03-31 (entry)
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Tighter credit markets could push prices for corn, rice, other grains up by making it harder for farmers to expand production, warns UN food chief. And: $30 billion needed to help developing countries combat hunger by boosting farm production, says Jacques Diouf (click 'See also').
By Patrick Barta
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-03-30 (entry)
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Some middle-class California families struck by layoffs, unforgiving economy find their unemployment checks plus property disqualify them for food stamps, other benefits. Los Angeles County reports increases in denials for emergency benefits.
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
Los Angeles Times 2009-03-26 (entry)
It's not enough for Michelle Obama to laud the fresh vegetable, and plant a backyard garden. She must use her considerable influence to help bring fresh food to poor, urban neighborhoods, those "food deserts" where there's nary an unfried potato to be found. And: Cities take on their own grocery gaps (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2009-03-21 (entry)
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'Terrifying' bleeding disease killing two-to-three-week-old calves in Germany's cattle barns. 100-plus cases documented throughout country, most in Bavaria; number of unreported deaths believed to be much higher. As specialists frantically rule out causes, speculation grows on Internet; group of 600 farmers makes pilgrimage to pray to Black Madonna of Altötting (click 'See also').
By Philip Bethge
Der Spiegel 2009-03-27 (entry)
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Obama appoints two public health experts to head FDA, proposes single food safety group, closes downer cow loophole, all good first steps, according to food advocacy group. But: Obama's food safety plan is safe but not necessarily healthy solution, could place backyard gardeners as 'food producers' under same scrutiny as factory farms, editors say (click 'See also').
By Jane Zhang
The Wall Street Journal. 2009-03-15 (entry)
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An updated version of this 1990 version of the plant hardiness map is expected from the USDA sometime in 2009.
New gardening zone map expected from USDA this year; new map likely will extend plants' northern ranges, show continent's warming. It draws on 30 years of data, including local temperatures, altitude and presence of water bodies. USDA commissioned map after American Horticultural Society released draft update that showed significant warming over 1990 version, with many parts of nation shifted to warmer climate zones.
By Jennifer Weeks
The Daily Climate/Environmental Health Sciences 2009-03-23 (entry)
Nanoparticles in hundreds of consumer products can damage beneficial microbes, which may threaten soil, water, aquatic life, ecosystems, efficiency of sewage treatment, studies show. Microbes remove ammonia from sewage, reduce phosphorus in lakes. And: FDA requires manufacturers to provide tests showing that food goods using nanoparticles aren't harmful, but two unknowns are whether nanoparticles in packaging can leach into edibles and the impact of that consumption on human health (click 'See also').
By Matthew Cimitile and Environmental Health News
Scientific American 2009-03-24 (entry)
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Oatmeal breakfast works to suppress appetite, maintain feeling of fullness because foods with low glycemic index increase levels of GLP-1 gut hormone production in blood. Findings are step in understanding role of such foods in weight control, balanced diet, say researchers, who plan larger study. Oatmeal sales grew by 81 percent from 2000-'05.
By Lindsey Partos
nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-03-24 (entry)
Corn, potatoes, lettuce absorb antibiotics in soil fertilized with manure from livestock treated to increase growth, prevent infections. Nearly 70 percent of antibiotics and related drugs used in U.S. routinely fed to cattle, pigs and poultry - nearly 25 million pounds of antibiotics per year, advocacy group reports. Beyond encouraging development of resistant bacteria (click 'See also'), tainted manure can infiltrate water supplies as it percolates through soil into aquifers or runs off into waterways. Manure composting cut concentrations of some antibiotics up to 99 percent.
By Matthew Cimitile
Scientific American 2009-01-06 (entry)
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Agriculture grow as more people achieve better nourishment through more grain, a lot more meat, much more milk. Meat and grain prices up 30 percent to 50 percent above averages a decade ago; demand for olive oil (replacing pork fat), continues to grow in China, elsewhere. Monsanto, other agribusinesses, posting strong gains; investment firms buy farmland in far-flung countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Syria, Vietnam, Thailand, Sudan and India.
The Economist 2009-03-19 (entry)
Hundreds in Appalachia sue coal companies, saying that slurry (mix of clay, sulfur, other impurities cleaned from coal) pumped into old mines ruined well water, caused sickness. Seldom-supervised sites also used to store sludge, ash, sand, cement, EPA says. West Virginia Coal Association argues that if injection weren't safe, EPA wouldn't allow it. And: Chemical content of slurry, mostly injected in West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama unstudied (click 'See also').
By Vicki Smith
The Associated Press; MSNBC 2009-03-18 (entry)
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By 2030 UK will need 50 percent more food, energy and 30 percent more water, but all must be considered simultaneously, says UK scientist. Otherwise, shortages could unleash rioting, border conflicts, mass migration as people flee from worst-affected regions. Looming water shortages in China have prompted construction of 59 reservoirs to water from melting glaciers.
By Ian Sample
The Guardian (UK) 2009-03-18 (entry)
Global warming endangers public health, welfare, EPA tells White House Finding was in response to Supreme Court ordering agency to consider whether CO2, other greenhouse gases should be limited under Clean Air Act. EPA had found move would cost utilities, automakers, others billions while benefits to others. And: Companies discover they can lower costs, go green at same time (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-03-23 (entry)
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To maintain foundation of ocean's life, stop feeding small 'forage' fish to animals (click 'See also'), and farmed salmon, limit land-based livestock to land-grown feed, globally. Pork industry consumes 24 percent of fish meal and oil; poultry takes as much as 22 percent; pets, because chicken in pet food were fed fish, uses 10 percent of global supply. Swine, poultry industries will it costs too much. But once we used whales for fertilizer.
By Paul Greenberg
The New York Times 2009-03-22 (entry)
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Florida lawmaker proposes bill that would transfer food service safety duties to Department of Agriculture and would expand stringent food safety standards to crops beyond tomatoes. Ideally, says Carey Baker, who plans run for agriculture post, state's produce would carry a bar code to identify its growing, packing history. And: Law would require online availability of farm inspection reports (click 'See also').
By James A. Jones Jr.
Bradenton Herald (FL) 2009-03-20 (entry)
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Despite chronic famine, North Korea has refused U.S. food aid. Uncomfortable with foreign aid workers inside borders, leadership may view rejection as sign of strength. Estimated 40 percent of population urgently needs food assistance; country lacks means to boost production. And: Average eight-year-old North Korean is 20 pounds lighter than Southern peer (click 'See also').
By Jack Kim
Reuters 2009-03-18 (entry)
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China, world's top CO2 emitter, says consumers should be responsible for carbon emissions. The rub: Western countries outsource production, temper own emissions; developing countries benefit from job creation. Common ground needed before December. And: U.S. imports of food from China nearly $5 billion in 2007; food exports to China, $8.8 billion (click 'See also').
By Jonathan Watts
The Guardian (UK) 2009-03-17 (entry)
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National Animal Identification System, with high-tech ID chips, would reward factory farms and their use of antibiotics, confinement and unnatural feeding practices by requiring one tag per herd of poultry or swine, while crippling small farms (which supply local food movement) by requiring one tag per animal. Other beneficiaries: Meat exporters, manufacturers of animal tracking systems. Better plan: Limit industrial agriculture, stimulate growth of small farms, backyard food production. And: Mad cow scare of 2003 sped development of NAIS (click 'See also').
By Shannon Hayes
The New York Times 2009-03-11 (entry)
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Peanut-product salmonella outbreak has already cost Michigan $425,000 and may reach $1 million. State does not receive federal reimbursement for food-recall expenses. Recall efforts include ensuring product removal from marketplace, collecting and testing products. CDC reports nine deaths, 691 salmonella infections. Recalls of items made with peanuts from Peanut Corporation of America's plants in Georgia and Texas: 3,488.
By Megha Satyanarayana
Detroit Free Press 2009-03-18 (entry)
After feds decide to end program allowing some Mexican trucks on U.S. highways, Mexico retaliates with tariffs on products from 40 states. Products include sunflower seed, soy sauce, beer, onions, pears, apricots, cherries, strawberries, grapes, dried fruit mixes, lettuce, potatoes, peas, almonds, fruit and vegetable juices, prepared soups, wine, plastic kitchenware, refrigerators, coffee makers, and dishwashers (click 'See also').
By Ken Ellingwood
Los Angeles Times 2009-03-18 (entry)
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Women, children more affected by food, water, climate crises, new report says. Recommendations for governments: Global rights-based approach to water for ecosystems, people; investments in climate-change mitigating potential of agriculture; blending policy approaches to water, agriculture and climate; recognition of women's involvement in farming, food production, water management; inclusion of small-scale farmers in reforming policy.
By Shiney Varghese
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy 2009-03-01 (entry)
Doctor in tiny town sees link to hog farms and fiery, saucer-sized lesions of MRSA (superbugs, or flesh-eating bacteria) in too many patients. Infections likely came from routine overuse of antibiotics in feed. Our model of agriculture produces cheap bacon but evidence is building that shows it risks our health. And: Factory-farm pigs are infused with huge range of antibiotics and vaccines and doused with insecticides so they can survive in confined spaces; they are in state of dying until they're slaughtered (click 'See also').
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times 2009-03-12 (entry)
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UN climate head questions value of new global climate deal without U.S. pledge of ambitious, short-term carbon cuts similar to those of Europe. Such cuts, he concedes, would cause 'revolution.' And: Obama so far is ignoring Supreme Court decision that ordered EPA to decide whether CO2 is pollutant under Clean Air Act and, if so, begin to regulate emissions for farms, coal-fired power plants, cars, editors say (click 'See also').
By David Adam
The Guardian (UK) 2009-03-11 (entry)
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EPA's revived system for reporting methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions would apply to confined animal feeding operations and other large industrial sources. The 25,000-metric-ton threshold is roughly equal to emissions of 4,500-plus passenger cars. Coal-fired power plant spokesperson warns that including schools, hospitals sets 'dangerous precedent.'
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-03-11 (entry)
Unemployment rates in Michigan, South Carolina, Rhode Island, California exceed 10 percent; job losses over last six months surpass 3.3 million. Nation's unemployment rate in February was 8.1 percent. And: One-percentage-point increase in unemployment rate leads to 700,000 more food stamp recipients in first year; in longer run, this increase leads to 1.3 million more food stamp recipients, 2002 USDA research shows (click 'See also').
By Julianne Pepitone
CNN Money 2009-03-11 (entry)
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Feds' job of monitoring food safety delegated mostly to private firms that sell auditing, but in recent food-borne illness outbreaks, auditors have missed problems. Rigor, cost of audits and inspector knowledge vary. FDA spends $8,000 for inspection, but some firms charge $1,000. Auditors often inspect only plants, not suppliers or food products and sometimes are paid by inspected firms. At Peanut Corporation of America, auditor was paid by insurance giant AIG, which then sold recall insurance to PCA. FDA proposes expanding role of private auditors to inspect 200,000 foreign food manufacturers that import to U.S.
By Michael Moss and Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2009-03-06 (entry)
Chiquita asks judge to dismiss wrongful death suits associated with payments it made to rival Colombian paramilitary groups in region that encompassed 200 of its banana farms (click 'See also'). Suits argue that payments aided terrorist groups, which pacified region with murders, kidnappings and improved Chiquita's profits; banana company says payments were extortion.
By Jane Musgrave
Palm Beach Post 2009-02-27 (entry)
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As peanut-linked salmonella outbreak continues, questions arise about pricey USDA certified organic goods. Label requires adherence to rules, but doesn't guarantee food safety. Agency overseeing certification process underfunded, understaffed. Hope placed in Kathleen Merrigan, new USDA deputy nominee. And: Food safety among reasons cited for buying kosher foods, but demise of Peanut Corporation of America indicates kosher certification doesn't guarantee it (click 'See also').
By Kim Severson and Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2009-03-04 (entry)
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Researcher learns that organic milk in Germany has alpha-linolenic acid concentration above a certain percentage and carbon-isotope ratios below a certain level. Differences are based on feeding - pasture-derived for organic, or corn. And: Tofu, soybeans, canola, walnut and flaxseed, and their oils also contain alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), which can become omega-3 fatty acid in the body (click 'See also').
By Henry Fountain
The New York Times 2009-03-02 (entry)
Hundreds of companies that bought Peanut Corporation of America products face financial troubles; feds say 666 illnesses and nine deaths linked to salmonella-tainted peanut products. Peanut Corporation of America sued by insurer. In court filings, insurer said it and PCA dispute whether circumstances of salmonella contamination void liability coverage.
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-03-01 (entry)
About 12,000 activists gather in D.C. to urge change on strip mining, mountaintop removal coal mining, coal-burning power plants, other green goals. Group wants dramatically reduced emissions, creation of millions of green jobs. And: Warming will be worse than thought says scientist; coal, beef blamed (click 'See also').
By Jonathan Mummolo
The Washington Post 2009-03-01 (entry)
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Holland American ship Oosterdam drops off 106 passengers in San Diego who fell ill with norovirus during seven-day cruise to Mexico. And: Norovirus transmitted by poor hand-washing of sick food handlers, by touching tainted surfaces then eating before washing hands, or by sharing foods or utensils with victim (click 'See also').
NBCSanDiego.com 2009-03-01 (entry)
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Food, drink industry at forefront on UK emissions reductions, government group reports. Early leader was Walkers, a potato chip maker and subsidiary of PepsiCo, which learned that making fertilizer was 15 percent of footprint. Walkers now works with suppliers, has reduced emissions for some chip-making by 7 percent - and cut its utility bills. Other participants: Tesco, Sainsburys, British Sugar, Cadbury and ingredients supplier DSM.
By Lindsey Partos
nutraingredients.com/Decision News Media 2009-02-27 (entry)
Eating nutritious diet, keeping body fat under control and being physically active may prevent about a third of cancers in nation's population, big-picture study shows. Prevention seems to most affect rates of endometrial, esophageal, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and stomach cancers.
By Miranda Hitti
Web MD Health News 2009-02-26 (entry)
Time is right to modernize food safety system into single agency, says Tom Vilsack, USDA head. He cites risk of jurisdiction questions, communication problems, possible gaps with current system which uses 12 agencies (click 'See also') and 35 laws. Frozen pizzas with meat and their manufacturing plants are inspected by USDA. Those with cheese are overseen by FDA.
By Brian Naylor
National Public Radio/All Things Considered 2009-02-25 (entry)
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Drought, now in third year, dries irrigation system and is likely to idle at least 60,000 workers and up to 1 million acres, lower remaining yields in heartland of California. Central Valley grows more than half of nation's fruit, vegetables and nuts. Zero water allocation was last set in 1992, but later that year was eased to 25 percent of regular amount.
By Steve Gorman
Reuters 2009-02-20 (entry)
State's leadership in tracing food-borne illness comes from complex culture of teamwork: health and food investigators who work side-by-side; strong consumer protection laws; good facilities and resources; and experienced investigators who interview patients, trace products and draw linkages. And: FDA updates on salmonella outbreak, and recalls, by the scores (click 'See also').
By Tom Webb
Pioneer Press 2009-02-18 (entry)
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Dead zones in waterways tenacious because oxygen deficiency neither supports aquatic life nor water-cleaning bacteria. Dead zones caused by excess phosphorous, nitrogen washed from croplands, sewage treatment systems, livestock operations, cruise ship waste dumping, paved areas. Return of sea grass to Chesapeake Bay a hopeful sign and may be result of low rainfall.
By Kari Lydersen
The Washington Post 2009-02-17 (entry)
Enhancing quality, safety of industrially produced food means building on success of existing programs; developing rapid detection methods for pathogens; eliminating unnecessary antibiotics; improving food preparation practices in all settings; strengthening capacities of health departments; and irradiating high-risk foods. CDC says irradiation could prevent up to 1 million cases of food-borne disease annually.
By Dennis G. Maki, M.D.
The New England Journal of Medicine 2009-02-11 (entry)
Devastating wheat epidemic, Ug99, begins to take hold, exposing fragility of food supply in poor countries. Eighty percent of Asian and African wheat varieties now susceptible, along with barley. Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, major wheat producers, most threatened. And: Monsanto, Syngenta say their genetically modified wheat resists fungus, want ban on GM wheat lifted (click 'See also').
By Sharon Schmickle
The Washington Post 2009-02-18 (entry)
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Administration calls for cuts to global mercury emissions. Nervous system toxin can travel thousands of miles through air, water. Much drifts into oceans, where it enters food chain and contaminates fish. And: Coal-fired power plants are largest source of mercury pollution in U.S., making them true enemy of tuna sandwich crowd, says writer (click 'See also').
By Tom Maliti
The Associated Press; Chicago Tribune 2009-02-17 (entry)
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Missouri governor restores two-thirds of proposed cuts to state's extension offices. Cuts to University of Missouri and Lincoln University programs will be made carefully to protect eligibility for federal matching funds. And: Governor's proposed cut to Michigan State University compounded by proposal to combine university's extension services, experimental stations and halve combined budget (click 'See also'). Extension services disseminate research, expertise on health, agriculture, wellness, food safety.
By Georgina Gustin
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2009-02-12 (entry)
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Extinction threat to spring-run chinook salmon and winter-run chinook salmon from pumping water out of Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta threatens 83 orcas' existence - they depend on salmon for food. Findings, in draft report, could garner support for environmental protection. And: Earlier, water flow to cities, farms cut to avert ecological collapses of water crossroads (click 'See also').
By Mike Taugher
The Mercury News (CA) 2009-02-13 (entry)
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Warming will be faster, more damaging than previously thought, says scientist. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) increased far faster than expected between 2000-2007, mainly by burning of coal for electricity in India, China. And: 30 percent of human-generated global warming potential caused by foods, beverage production; about half of those come from meat; beef accounts for 30 percent of world's meat consumption, but contributes 78 percent of meat's GHG emissions (click 'See also').
BBC 2009-02-15 (entry)
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Iraq war will be seen as first 'resource war,' where country used force to secure natural resources, predicts former UK scientific adviser. Same strategy could be used to find and keep fresh water, crop lands, minerals, in light of population growth, dwindling natural resources, rising sea levels. And: Swelling ranks of joblessness, rising prices threaten global stability (click 'See also').
By James Randerson
The Guardian (UK) 2009-02-13 (entry)
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Salmonella-linked Peanut Corporation of America files for bankruptcy. Its Texas plant must recall all products produced there. Company's Virginia plant a concern for scientist. And: Poll finds that many consumers mistakenly believe that major brands of peanut butter have been recalled and also finds low levels of public confidence in groups involved in food production, inspection. (click 'See also').
By Kathy Lohr
National Public Radio/All Things Considered 2009-02-13 (entry)
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In victory for coal industry, court overturns ruling that required more extensive environmental reviews of mountaintop removal, which blasts peaks away, dumps debris into valley streams. And: Environmental groups say practice taints water and harms residents, urge Obama to follow up on campaign statements (click 'See also'). The Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for preventing actions that could harm nation's water, had issued original mining permits.
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2009-02-14 (entry)
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In Brazil's 700,000 acre Bom Futuro National Forest, farming, ranching, hunting threaten land's role in staving off global warming. As federally protected forest is illegally clear cut for pasture, biological diversity and freshwater resources juxtaposed with charred stumps and rows of corn and coffee. As things stand, trees will be gone by 2021.
By Joshua Partlow
The Washington Post 2009-02-06 (entry)
With stricter state-based rules on water, air quality, and federal mandates poised to follow, demand is created for powdered activated carbon, which helps control mercury levels. Data suggest demand could surge from current levels of 50 million pounds a year to between 500 million and 750 million pounds, says head of Calgon, which offers purification applications for drinking water, air, food and drugs.
By Jennifer Hoyt
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-02-11 (entry)
A second peanut processing plant owned by company at heart of nationwide outbreak of salmonella illness shut down after Texas authorities discovered possible salmonella bacteria there. Company also has plant in Suffolk, Va. Taint linked to eight deaths, 600 illnesses, 1,800-plus separate recalls of peanut butter, cookies, crackers and other foods. And: Company executives refuse to testify before House committee (click 'See also').
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-02-10 (entry)
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Farmers leave fields fallow, others consider losing their businesses as economic crisis pairs with worsening drought in state's Central Valley. Some reservoirs down to as little as one-quarter of capacity. Ruling to protect endangered minnow could further cut water flow.
By Jim Carlton
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-02-10 (entry)
Vitamin D deficiency linked to weakness in teen girls, study says; earlier work showed that up to 70 percent of teen girls may be low on intake. Best food sources include salmon, tuna, mackerel, fish oil (click 'See also') but sunshine is key to metabolizing crucial nutrient. Previous studies show lack linked to diseases later in life - osteoporosis, muscle weakness, cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, heart disease.
By Stephen Daniells
NutraIngredients.com, Europe 2009-02-04 (entry)
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Average food can costs 8 cents. Prices of food-can material tinplate - steel coated with tin to prevent corrosion - up 40 to 50 percent due to volatile steel market; that's a penny or two more, retail. And: Tinplate can poorly suited to beer; Coors marks anniversary of aluminum beer can (click 'See also').
By Greg T. Spielberg
BusinessWeek 2009-01-30 (entry)
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Chronic wasting disease (CWD) case quarantines elk herd in Minnesota; last case was found in 2006. Finding disturbs wildlife officials, who fear spread to wild deer. And: Seventeen pounds elk meat recalled over CWD concern; animal-to-human transmission of such diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow), has raised theoretical concern (click 'See also'). Consumers directed to consult EPA on disposal.
By Doug Smith
Star-Tribune (MN) (may require registration) 2009-01-27 (entry)
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Rapid climate changes cited in new ban of commercial fishing in parts of Arctic waters. Restrictions endorsed by fishermen/processing trade group. Concerns include unregulated fishing, warming, effect of commercial fishing on region's resources, subsistence fishing, ecosystem.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-02-05 (entry)
USDA bought 32 truckloads of roasted peanuts and peanut butter for its school lunch program as internal tests on product at Peanut Corporation of America showed salmonella taint. Scandal exposes an array of failures in government's systems. And: In early 2008, Hallmark/Westland beef recall was flashpoint in debate over meat safety and quality of USDA school lunches (click 'See also').
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-02-06 (entry)
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In wake of salmonella outbreak, senate panel questions FDA on food safety; one senator says that 'patchwork' gives system too much credit, and another wants creation of data bank on outbreaks. Nation has 76 million cases of food-borne illness annually, with 5,000 deaths, 335,000 hospitalizations. Current system for investigating outbreaks is like 'looking in the rear view mirror, says CDC researcher.
By Annie Johnson
CQ Politics 2009-02-05 (entry)
Peanut butter packets in FEMA emergency food rations distributed in Kentucky, Arkansas after late January storms should be discarded, says agency. Product linked to salmonella outbreak. Peanut Corporation of America could have distributed contaminated product to more than 100 companies for use as ingredient in hundreds of products, says FDA.
CNN 2009-02-04 (entry)
The failure of California's agriculture department to police maker of supposedly organic fertilizer is disappointment for a public increasingly devoted to eating organic. Job of ensuring integrity of products from organic farms, fertilizer makers must engage growers, retailers who are capitalizing on demand. And: Organic fertilizer was spiked (click 'See also').
The editors
The Sacramento Bee 2009-01-07 (entry)
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California community considers reclaiming wastewater for drinking water to augment supply, but proposal details are scarce. Opponents worry water that goes from toilet to tap can contain traces of hormones, drugs, chemicals. And: After conservation measures, all regional water agencies should explore sewage water option, says editorial (click 'See also').
By Angela Lau
The San Diego Union Tribune 2009-01-23 (entry)
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Two veterans of food safety community are top candidates to lead USDA Food Safety Inspection Service: Caroline Smith DeWaal at Center for Science in the Public Interest, and former FSIS administrator Barbara J. Masters. And: Fixing FDA's laissez-faire approach to food safety requires new commissioner position, more inspectors and penalties for problems, says DeWaal (click 'See also').
By Ed O'Keefe
The Washington Post 2009-01-27 (entry)
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In wake of salmonella outbreak linked to eight deaths, 500 illnesses, White House vows stricter oversight of food safety. New FDA head, more officials due in days; 'stricter regulatory structure' will prevent breakdowns in food-safety inspections, says Obama spokesman. Recent revelations about poor oversight - in federal regulatory system and peanut company - alarming, he says.
By Ben Fuller
The Associated Press; Los Angeles Times 2009-01-30 (entry)
Criminal investigation into salmonella-linked peanut plant announced, FDA says. And: Warnings about problems at Blakely, Ga., plant came when metal fragments were found in shipment of chopped peanuts sent to Canada in April, 2008 (click 'See also'). FDA said shipment, described as "filthy and putrid," was rejected in Canada and returned to Peanut Corp of America, where it was destroyed in November.
By Jeffry Scott and Craig Schneider
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2009-01-30 (entry)
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In wake of salmonella outbreak, legislators offer proposals to fix food safety system, and expect Obama to act, since he vowed food safety reform as candidate. At least 12 agencies regulate food safety. Nearly all bills would require company plans for manufacturing, testing and record-keeping and would fund more intense inspections of food factories. Some would also fix patchwork system by which outbreaks are detected.
By Gardiner Harris and Pam Belluck
The New York Times 2009-01-30 (entry)
Graft could be boosting consumer prices for ketchup, salsa and sauces according to charges in a federal price-fixing case. Kraft Foods, Frito-Lay purchasing managers admitted taking bribes from broker for central California company that processes 15 percent of nation's bulk tomato paste. The broker pleaded guilty of soliciting bribes.
By Bob Egelko
The San Francisco Chronicle 2009-01-28 (entry)
Discard every product made in last two years with peanuts processed by salmonella-tainted plant in Georgia, FDA says. Already, more than 400 products have been recalled; now, contamination's impact will reach even more processed food items. One legislator calls for criminal investigation; another introduces bill to increase FDA funding, authority. Outbreak now linked to eight deaths, about 500 illnesses. And: FDA peanut butter product recalls (click 'See also').
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-01-29 (entry)
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Idaho food bank gave away thousands of pounds of lake trout, whitefish caught in Lake Pend Oreille donated by state wildlife agency at same time another agency warned of mercury contamination in fish caught there. Giveaway offers tough choice, says activist: Go hungry, or take mercury-tainted fish that can be dangerous to long-term health of children. And: New York's advisories on fish consumption (click 'See also').
By John Miller
The Associated Press; Bonner County Daily Bee 2009-01-28 (entry)
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Peanut product plant retested some positive salmonella results but sold products anyway, sometimes after negative finding from different lab, feds say. Disclosure of internal tests not required. FDA delegated inspection to Georgia; in fiscal 2008, FDA inspected 5,930 of country's 65,520 domestic food production facilities. State inspectors test 4,500 samples yearly and have 16,000 food-processing, food-sales stores in state. And: Most of about 50 workers laid off, production shut down at troubled plant (click 'See also').
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post 2009-01-28 (entry)
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Elevated lead levels in tap water from 2001-2003 could jeopardize health of about 42,000 Washington, D.C. children who then were younger than 2 or in utero, study shows. Parents outraged, Council wants probe to see whether public was misled during water crisis (click 'See also'). Blood lead levels and number of potentially affected children both considerably higher than initially reported by city, federal officials.
By Carol D. Leonnig
The Washington Post 2009-01-27 (entry)
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Concern over use of synthetic chemicals in organic fertilizer grows as federal agents search site of Port Organic Products, a major producer. Earthbound Farm, others tighten scrutiny after report of California probe that caught another maker spiking its product (click 'See also'). State suspected Port Organic of using synthetic nitrogen back in October 2007. Nearly 60 percent of nation's harvest of organic produce comes from California.
By Jim Downing
The Sacramento Bee 2009-01-24 (entry)
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After California officials catch organic fertilizer maker spiking its fish-chicken feather brew with synthetic - therefore banned - fertilizer in June 2004, they waited until January 2007 to require that company remove product from market, then kept findings secret for nearly a year and a half longer, records show. Some of state's largest organic farms - Earthbound, Driscoll's - were among customers. And: USDA probes delay; disciplinary action possible (click 'See also').
By Jim Downing
The Sacramento Bee 2008-12-28 (entry)
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Shoved into reforms, Wal-Mart vowed in 2005 to go green. Now, among tens of thousands of products, it has made some progress, dragging suppliers along. Example: It sells only concentrated laundry detergent, which, company says, saves 400 million-plus gallons of water, 95 million pounds of plastic resin, 125 million pounds of cardboard, 520,000 gallons of diesel fuel over three years. Sustainability efforts have saved Wal-Mart hundreds of millions of dollars, experts say. And: Price hikes in grocery, health, wellness categories drove majority of Wal-Mart's sales growth in 2008 (click 'See also').
By Stephanie Rosenbloom and Michael Barbaro
The New York Times 2009-01-24 (entry)
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Food-borne illness review too slow, say parents of seven-year-old boy who was hospitalized in November and treated for salmonella. The parents, who have sued Peanut Corporation of America (click 'See also), want CDC, FDA, state health departments to streamline, speed review process. Vermont began reviewing cases in early December, but didn't issue warnings until mid-January.
WPTZ-TV 2009-01-22 (entry)
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Obama administration will make 'very significant push' to increase U.S. intake of affordable but good quality foods, and will heed critics who link crop subsides, obesity, says Tom Vilsack, USDA head. Former Iowa governor had vowed at confirmation hearing to increase U.S. production, consumption of fruits, vegetables.
By Philip Brasher
The Des Moines Register 2009-01-22 (entry)
Cholera epidemic moves with victims to rural Zimbabwe and into South Africa. Disease, caused by drinking water tainted with sewage, took hold after health, sanitation systems collapsed under economic crisis in troubled country. Nearly 2,500 people have died; more than 40,000 are infected. And: Cholera is a measure of government's failure (click 'See also').
By Nelson Banya
Reuters 2009-01-22 (entry)
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Peanut product recalls list grows - and grows - spanning peanut butter crackers to dog biscuits, frozen cookie dough to pre-assembled dinner kits (click 'See also'). Salmonella outbreak has sickened hundreds and may have killed six.
By Mary MacVean
Los Angeles Times 2009-01-22 (entry)
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New EPA limits of nonstick chemical in drinking water appears linked to discovery of contaminated beef from cattle that grazed in Alabama pasture fertilized with chemical (PFOA)-laden sewage sludge. But EPA doesn't require water treatment plants to test for perfluorochemicals. And: If sludge applied to grazing lands over 12 years did taint meat, possible sources are wastewater from nearby manufacturing plant, consumer products (click 'See also').
By Michael Hawthorne
Chicago Tribune 2009-01-16 (entry)
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No food, bad food, bug-infested food, inconsistent food safety standards listed as complaints at Fort McCoy military base in 2005, 2006. Army blames Wisconsin for mismanaging multi-million-dollar food service contract; state blames military's facilities. And: Wisconsin appeals $225,000 in damages due blind manager who lost job when Army canceled dining contract (click 'See also').
The Associated Press; MSNBC 2009-01-19 (entry)
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Breach at one of the nation's largest payment processing companies -
whose restaurant customers make up about 40 percent of its monthly
transactions - may have exposed data from tens of millions of credit, debit card transactions. Investigators found software that was recording names, card numbers, expiration dates as it was being sent to Heartland Payment Systems. Probe began after fraudulent activity reports were received in October.
By Brian Krebs
The Washington Post 2009-01-21 (entry)
EPA sets short-term allowances for nonstick chemicals toxins in drinking water at 10 times amount New Jersey set in 2007 for chronic exposure. Perfluorooctanoic acid - PFOA - linked to cancer, animal birth defects, now detected in blood of nearly all Americans, in sea life, polar bears. Eight U.S. firms plan to cut emissions of chemical 95 percent by next year. And: EPA doesn't require water treatment plants to test for PFOA; advisory appears to be linked to recent discovery of contaminated beef from cattle that grazed in Alabama pasture fertilized with sewage sludge. (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-01-17 (entry)
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New African soil mapping plan to assess mineral, organic nutrients and guide farmers in using fertilizer or crop rotation aims to reduce poverty, feed growing populations and cope with impact of climate change on agriculture. African soils are among most depleted on earth. New York launch scheduled for Feb. 17 (click 'See also').
By Alistair Thomson
Reuters 2009-01-13 (entry)
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Lisa Jackson, Obama's EPA nominee, tells Senate panel she would consider regulating coal ash waste from power plants in aftermath of recent spills (click 'See also'). Her conscience, she says, is Americans suffering from 'environmental negligence' - effects from untended Superfund sites, government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-01-14 (entry)
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More than 34 percent of Americans termed obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight, statistics from 2005-'06 - latest available - show. Thirty-two percent of U.S. children overweight, 16 percent obese, 11 percent were extremely obese. And: Department of Defense says nearly 50,000 potential recruits have flunked Army's physical exam because they were overweight (click 'See also').
By Maggie Fox
Reuters 2009-01-09 (entry)
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Fighting child hunger, promoting fresh fruits and vegetables for children, supporting those who supply produce, and facilitating purchase of locally grown products among goals listed by USDA nominee Tom Vilsack at Senate panel hearing. Tom Harkin, agriculture chairman, says USDA should use Institute of Medicine guidelines to set standards for junk food sold in schools.
By Aliya Sternstein
CQ Politics 2009-01-14 (entry)
European Parliament votes to tighten rules on pesticides, ban at least 22 toxins. New rules would limit or ban use of toxins near schools, parks, hospitals, aquatic environments, drinking water; wholesale aerial crop-spraying would also be banned; honeybees and other pollinators (click 'See also') would be protected. Opposition predicts loss of one-fourth produce, high vegetable prices. Rules must be OK'd by 27 member states' governments.
BBC News 2009-01-13 (entry)
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Short on funds, New York governor turns call for change into anti-obesity measures: Soft drink tax, posting calorie counts in chain restaurants, adding markets to poor neighborhoods, banning junk food in schools. Professor says proposals take health care outside of medical sector and are way of cost-shifting that doesn't recognize obstacles - no sidewalks, time deprivation.
By Anemona Hartocollis
The New York Times 2009-01-11 (entry)
Harping on calories doesn't help when family members do it, and is trite, presumptive, costly when government does. Making restaurants post calorie counts - goal of new Massachusetts program to combat obesity - is ineffective (click 'See also'), infringes on liberties, paves way for warning labels on Oreos and government-dictated diets.
By Jeff Jacoby
The Boston Globe 2009-01-11 (entry)
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Hunting, commercial fishing and some conservation rules, like minimum size limits on fish, accelerating rates of evolutionary change in species, researchers find. Human predation is opposite to what occurs in nature, agriculture - with newly born or nearly dead the target of predators in wild, and farmers, breeders retaining most robust, fertile adults to breed.
By Cornelia Dean
The New York Times 2009-01-12 (entry)
The weak economy has sent sales sharply higher for English company that sells outdated food at bargain prices. Expiration dates more indicative of quality than safety, agency says. And: Primer on food expiration dates (click 'See also').
UPI 2009-01-10 (entry)
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Suddenly, Sea of Japan absorbing much less carbon dioxide than before, scientists find; other oceans likely affected. Weakening of absorption would require countries to adopt stricter emissions limits to prevent dangerous rises in temperature. And: It's the tiny ocean plants - phytoplankton - that absorb CO2 (click 'See also') to build cells during photosynthesis, then, upon death, carry carbon in their cells to deep ocean, sequestering them. They're also base of marine food web. Zooplankton - tiny animals - eat phytoplankton and are in turn eaten. If phytoplankton don't get enough nutrients, surface waters become "marine deserts," so fish can't survive in surface water, and seabirds can't eat.
By David Adam
The Guardian (UK) 2009-01-12 (entry)
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Patchwork food safety system needs reform, say advocates, who look to Obama for solution. Among ideas: merging FDA, USDA systems into single food agency; replacing voluntary industry guidelines with rules; recall authority for FDA and USDA; more inspections of food processing plants, which means more staff.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2009-01-10 (entry)
Hunger likely as planet warms, researchers warn. Europe's 20003 heat wave is prediction: Grain yields fell by 20 to 36 percent; fruit harvests fell by 25 percent; crop ripening was hastened by 10 to 20 days; more water was used in agriculture. With older models, there were alternative foods, but in future there won't be, unless we rethink food supplies, says scientist. And: Expect civil unrest as masses leave uninhabitable areas (click 'See also').
By Maggie Fox
Reuters 2009-01-09 (entry)
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Despite raging wars, tanking economy, reform of food system can't wait. Obama's stimulus package should bolster infrastructure of local, regional food systems by providing grants to rebuild slaughterhouses, other missing facilities that sustainable-minded farmers need; reinvesting in school-cafeteria kitchens; and launching Teach for America-style program to lure new cooking school graduates to school cafeterias.
By Tom Philpott
Grist 2009-01-09 (entry)
At least 18 European countries' natural gas supplies cut when Russia stopped flow to Ukraine over payment dispute. Pending compromise may bring relief to millions, but history of spats leaves Europeans uncertain, EU looking to further diversify energy sources. And: Thousands in Bulgaria go without heat, cooking gas (click 'See also').
By Leo Cendrowicz
Time magazine 2009-01-09 (entry)
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Obama's secretaries of agriculture, health and human services share simple link: Health of America's eaters depends on health of food/agriculture system. The two must create science-based policies that build and protect healthy soil, make fruits and vegetables the easiest and most affordable choice, and promote local food production as community asset to strengthen economy.
By Angie Tagtow
The Des Moines Register 2008-12-18 (entry)
Coalition sues EPA over 25-year failure to deliver on Chesapeake Bay cleanup promises. Lawsuit is attempt to force Obama administration to treat bay as priority. It asks for cuts in pollution from sewage plants, power plants and storm sewers and for better farm cleanup programs.
By David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post 2009-01-06 (entry)
Current agriculture methods unsustainable, as is food supply, which - unlike economy - cannot be salvaged with government money. Farmers must return to crop rotations, use grazing animals, pasture, hay, and perennialize major grain crops. Feds must provide 50-year farm bill to combat soil degradation, fossil fuel dependence, pollution, greenhouse gases, loss of rural jobs.
By Wes Jackson and Wendell Berry
The New York Times 2009-01-04 (entry)
High fat diet in mice alters part of biological 'clock' that regulates metabolism, researchers learn. Findings may explain obesity and metabolic conditions including hormone imbalance, psychological and sleep disorders, some forms of cancer. Circadian rhythms usually follow 24-hour cycle and affected by light, external cues like meal timing (click 'See also').
By Jess Halliday
nutraingredients.com/Decision News Media 2009-01-05 (entry)
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Profit more than doubles for biotech giant Monsanto, world's biggest seed maker. Boost came from sales of seeds for genetically modified soybeans, corn, and accompanying Roundup weedkiller. U.S. farmers will plant about 90 million acres of corn this year; up to 35 million with Monsanto's triple-stack seeds, up 20 percent from last year, company head predicts.
By Jack Kaskey
Bloomberg 2009-01-07 (entry)
Our consumer economy runs on cheap food. Though USDA should support research on sustainable and organic agriculture, embracing science is crucial to long-term food and farm policy that keeps food safe, inexpensive without wrecking environment, say former Sen. George McGovern and Marshall Matz, of World Food Program.
By George McGovern and Marshall Matz
Chicago Tribune 2009-01-04 (entry)
Vast coal ash pond that ruptured in Tennessee is one of 1,300-plus in 46 states. All contain heavy metals - arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium - that threaten water supplies, human health, yet aren't federally regulated or monitored. Instead, coal ash used for construction fill, mine reclamation, on golf course (where it spoiled groundwater), even on croplands. Dumps growing mostly because pollution controls capture contaminants that once spewed through smokestacks. Leaching toxins near dumps can decimate wildlife.
By Shaila Dewan
The New York Times 2009-01-07 (entry)
Enfamil infant formula maker Bristol-Myers Squibb lobbied Congress on issues including bill that would ban bisphenol A in its packaging. Study links chemical, used in most food can linings, to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and liver enzyme abnormalities. Canadian government declared BPA 'hazardous substance.' And: To reduce exposure, choose powdered formula over liquid (click 'See also').
nutraingredients.com/Decision News Media 2009-01-05 (entry)
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Anti-hunger groups lobby Obama for $24 billion over two years to boost food stamp benefits. Nutrition advocates say that handing money to hungry Americans as part of economic stimulus plan is charitable - and good for economy, since money will be spent on food.
CQ Politics 2009-01-06 (entry)
As unemployment in New Jersey reaches 6.1 percent, state sees food stamp applications double and 40 percent rise in number of people seeking welfare over one year. State distributes about 58 percent of its food stamp allotment; cumbersome application process blamed. And: $22.5 million aid plan OK'd in December included $3 million for NJ food pantries (click 'See also').
By Susan K. Livio
The Star-Ledger (NJ) 2009-01-04 (entry)
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Already laden with PCB, lead, arsenic and other contaminants, aquatic life - including spot fin chub, ashy darter, newly introduced lake sturgeon - in Emory River and larger Tennessee River system now face more toxic chemicals, possible suffocation from massive coal ash spill. Sediment, water samples near spill show high amounts of arsenic, with one sample containing more than 149 times the maximum safe level.
By Andy Johns
The Chattanooga Times Free Press 2008-01-03 (entry)
Arguing that human needs for water, needs of delta smelt, other fish, waterfowl and rare plants are 'co-equal' goals, advisory panel urges new canal system for Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the main water source for 25 million Californians. And: Third year of drought likely for state with $30-billion-a-year agricultural industry that grows more than half of nation's fruits, vegetables, nuts (click 'See also').
By Kelly Zito
San Francisco Chronicle 2009-01-03 (entry)
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After 25-year, $6 billion failed effort, it's clear: Saving the Chesapeake requires political will to regulate farm runoff, institute and enforce wastewater limits, limit crab and oyster catches and mandate green-building techniques. And: Budget shortages, bureaucratic inertia, political opposition blocked progress (click 'See also').
The editors
The Washington Post 2009-01-02 (entry)
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Obama's nominees for homeland security, labor and commerce posts are on right track to reverse Bush administration's immigration tactics, which attacked problem upside down, backward. Two share well-informed disdain for foolish, inadequate schemes like the border fence; the third is staunch defender of immigrants and workers, like those found working at hellish slaughterhouse in Iowa (for update click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2008-12-26 (entry)
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Clean water, food, fuel in short supply; reports of raw sewage in some streets of Gaza Strip as Israeli air strikes continue for seventh day and ground war begins (click 'See also'). UN says that at least 100 of some 400 Palestinians killed by Israeli action so far were civilians.
BBC News 2009-01-03 (entry)
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Blood-sugar spikes linked to memory loss, new study shows, but peaks can be moderated by exercise. Researcher calls findings 'compelling,' and sees implications for the elderly, overweight children, and those at risk for Type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease in fast-paced, complex society. And: Spiking, falling blood sugar levels from high-carb diet could be risk factor for central vision loss with aging (click 'See also').
By Roni Caryn Rabin
The New York Times 2008-12-31 (entry)
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As unemployment in New Jersey reaches 6.1 percent, state sees food stamp applications double and 40 percent rise in number of people seeking welfare over one year. State distributes about 58 percent of its food stamp allotment; cumbersome application process blamed. And: $22.5 million aid plan OK'd in December included $3 million for NJ food pantries (click 'See also').
By Susan K. Livio
The Star-Ledger (NJ) 2009-01-04 (entry)
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Coal ash spill 50 times larger than that of Exxon-Valdez - now covering 400 acres with toxic sludge oozing toward drinking water for some in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama - calls out 'clean coal' myth. Human nature is to take cheap way today and leave mess for future, but that mess is now. And: High levels of arsenic detected in water near spill; EPA, TVA advise avoiding activities that could stir up drying dust - children playing outside, pets outdoors (click 'See also').
The editors
The Anniston Star 2008-12-30 (entry)
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After 25 years of cleanup, pollution of extra 4.3 million residents to area, and opposition from agricultural, fishing interests, Chesapeake Bay's last crab harvest was 60 percent less than in 1983, oysters were 96 percent less, and 17 percent of its water had lowered oxygen levels. Leaders ask: How much will public sacrifice to clean North America's largest estuary, once brimming with sturgeon, ducks and reefs of oysters? And: An effort impeded (click 'See also').
By David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post 2008-12-27 (entry)
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Prices may head lower in 2009, as processed food makers look to stimulate demand in weak economy. Long-term trends pushing food prices higher - growing global demand, increasing flow of grains to fuel production - may hibernate as world's economy slows. Economist predicts food inflation rate will fall to about 4 percent.
By Mike Hughlett
Chicago Tribune 2008-12-26 (entry)
Public health advocates, pointing to diet-related disease epidemic and record levels of food stamp use, look to skirt paternalism but to link food assistance, school meals to good nutrition. Program that doubles value of food stamps and fruit and vegetable vouchers of low-income mothers, seniors at farmers' markets in San Diego is instant hit - sales soared by more than 200 percent.
By Jane Black
The Washington Post 2008-12-24 (entry)
Utah, Arizona, Texas among nation's fastest-growing states, but looming question of water source will affect populations of some states. Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico have seen drops in water supply; sustainable lifestyle will be main concern for those residents, says population expert.
By Lauren Sherman
Forbes.com 2008-12-22 (entry)
After report criticizes FDA conclusion that leaching chemical used for food cans, baby bottles is safe (click 'See also'), agency plans 'large research effort' to gauge bisphenol A's effects. Critics call plan redundant, waste of taxpayer dollars.
By Will Dunham
Reuters 2008-12-15 (entry)
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Minnesota X-rays venison bound for community food pantries after finding that 5.3 percent of venison sampled contained lead fragments from bullets. Funding comes from $160,000 appropriated by legislature, an increase in nonresident hunting license fees, hunter donations.
By Doug Smith
Star Tribune (MN) 2008-12-19 (entry)
With FDA OK of herb stevia as a zero-calorie sweetener, Coca-Cola introduces Sprite Green and Pepsi launches three flavors of a zero-calorie SoBe Lifewater, plans March launch of Trop50, an orange-juice drink. And: Such sweeteners are key in reversing sales decline of carbonated soft drinks, says Pepsi head (click 'See also').
By Betsy McKay
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-12-18 (entry)
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Philadelphia mayor signs strong menu labeling law that requires most chain restaurants to display calorie, fat, other nutrition information starting in 2010. Most of city's cheesesteak joints are stand-alone shops or small chains and won't be subject to law.
By Maryclaire Dale
The Associated Press; International Herald Tribune 2008-12-18 (entry)
Diabetes epidemic costs $218 billion each year -- $1,900 per household - and contributes to deaths of 200,000-plus Americans, so risky behavior includes extra-large sodas. New York's proposed 18 percent tax on soft drinks could help make us healthier, just as cigarette tax has lowered lung cancer rates. Nutrition specialist says cola industry will spend vast sums fighting proposed tax. And: How food industry discredits critics (click 'See also').
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times 2008-12-18 (entry)
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One in two New Yorkers has trouble affording groceries, and almost one in four would need immediate food assistance after sudden loss in income, poll shows. In Manhattan, 34 percent of residents said they needed help; in Bronx, 55 percent said they did. In New York, 1.3 million use some sort of food assistance - food stamps, food pantry, soup kitchen.
By Adam Rose
The New York Observer 2008-12-17 (entry)
Concentrated animal feeding operations - factory farms - exempted from reporting hazardous emissions from manure. EPA says requirements created unnecessary burden, weren't acted upon. Factory farms produce more waste than Philadelphia annually. And: Livestock producers whose emissions meet or exceed specific thresholds are subject to Clean Air Act requirements, GAO says (click 'See also').
By Stephen Power
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-12-12 (entry)
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Diabetics eating low-glycemic diet - nuts, beans, lentils - have better glycemic control and reduce heart disease risk factors, than those on fiber-rich diet, study shows. Type 2 diabetics have much higher risk of cardiovascular disease. And: Though exercise, weight loss and low-fat, plant-based diet reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent, plan works best when community - parents, grandparents, caregivers - enables and models healthful behavior (click 'See also').
By Shari Roan
Los Angeles Times 2008-12-16 (entry)
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Tom Vilsack's selection as Obama's USDA secretary may be 'agribusiness as usual,' since words 'food' or 'eaters' unspoken in news conference, says Michael Pollan, author. Food system responsible for one-third greenhouse gases, 'catastrophic' diet that causes chronic disease in half the U.S. population and drives up health care costs (click 'See also'). Food must be included in plan to address climate change, energy independence, health care.
By Renee Montagne
National Public Radio/Morning Edition 2008-12-18 (entry)
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Global economic crisis causes steep drop in commodity prices, tough times for formerly prosperous Argentinian farmers. Dry weather, high supply costs, internal protests over proposed hike in export taxes cut into earnings. Argentinian government will provide loans to farmers, reduce export taxes on wheat and corn, but experts predict recession regardless.
By Juan Forero
The Washington Post 2008-12-15 (entry)
Water flow to California cities, San Joaquin farmers further reduced to protect endangered delta smelt, avert ecological collapse of water crossroads. Contamination, invasive species, power plant operations, climate all damaging Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, says water director. Agriculture interests want new reservoirs, homeowners urged to conserve.
By Bettina Boxall
Los Angeles Times 2008-12-15 (entry)
Cholera, spread by feces-fouled drinking water, has sickened 16,000-plus Zimbabweans since August. Nearly 1,000 have died (click 'See also); cases could surpass 60,000. Fresh water supplies captive to chaos of Mugabe regime; hospital system shut down by an exodus of workers whose salaries are worthless from hyperinflation. Millions enduring severe and worsening hunger. And: UN, running out of funds, may cut food rations there (click 'See also').
By Celia W. Dugger
The New York Times 2008-12-12 (entry)
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Austrian study (click 'See also') links genetically modified corn strain with diminishing fertility, size of mice. Upwards of 90 percent of U.S. soy, 60 percent of U.S. corn, come from gene-altered seeds, suffuse food system, yet government essentially doesn't regulate GMO food. Cause for hope is Obama's declaration for gene-altered organisms 'abetted by stringent tests for environmental and health effects and by stronger regulatory oversight guided by the best available scientific advice.'
By Tom Philpott
Grist 2008-12-12 (entry)
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As use of nanotechnology grows and researchers plan for use of tiny particles as food additives, in medical treatments and in electronics, report lists serious gaps in federal plan for determining risks and calls for ensuring safety of workers, consumers, environment. And: Studies are lagging behind technology (click 'See also'). One nanometer equals a billionth of a meter.
By Julie Steenhuysen
Reuters 2008-12-10 (entry)
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Cocoa prices up from last year, expected to continue climbing in new year. Crop-damaging harmattan wind from Sahara will affect cocoa production in Ivory Coast, Ghana - suppliers of more than half the world's cocoa - and exacerbate low deliveries in Ivory Coast due to crop disease, political turmoil (click 'See also'). Manufacturers may start stocking up.
By Caroline Scott-Thomas
nutraingredients.com/Decision News Media 2008-12-10 (entry)
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Millions of fish, other animals harmed annually in power plant cooling water intake. Supreme Court should side with literal interpretation of Clean Water Act (click 'See also'). Technology choices should minimize negative environmental impact before costs.
The editors
The Washington Post 2008-12-03 (entry)
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Researchers transform old coffee grounds into biofuel. Spent coffee grounds contain oil similar to other biofuel crops - rapeseed, palm, soybean oil - but high anti-oxidant levels make them more stable. Grounds could add 340 million gallons of biodiesel (which smells like coffee) to global fuel supply, make $8 million-plus a year in U.S.
By Michael Bernstein
American Chemical Society 2008-12-10 (entry)
Pledging to learn from baby formula case, China launches campaign to restore faith in food products after melamine-tainted dairy product scandal. Initiative includes assessment of procedures, probes of high-risk producers or regions and targets food processors with fewer than 10 employees - 70 percent of country's 500,000 producers.
By Mike Stones
Nutraingredients.com 2008-12-09 (entry)
Obama needs secretary of food, not USDA - to address health care, climate change, energy independence. 'Department of Food' would give primacy to America's 300 million eaters, cut influence of industrial farm lobby, which inflicts unhealthy food on children through school lunches and exacerbates crisis of obesity, diabetes. And: Petition lists terrific reformist candidates (click 'See also').
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times 2008-12-11 (entry)
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Watchdog group rates the $1 junior bacon cheeseburger at Jack in the Box as "the most unhealthful" value item among all national fast food chains. The Cancer Project's survey, noting popularity of cheap foods in tough times, also cited Taco Bell's Cheesy Double Beef Burrito and McDonald's McDouble sandwich.
By Jerry Hirsch
Los Angeles Times 2008-12-09 (entry)
Slow U.S. economy stalls global trade, jobs. Freight lines that sailed full in summer now slashing prices as cargo traffic plummets and unsold goods pile up at ports - shipment of soybeans rotted for lack of shipping, insurance funding. Decline is affecting export boom that brought investment, trade to China, India and lifted millions out of poverty in recent years.
By Anthony Faiola and Ariana Eunjung Cha
The Washington Post 2008-12-11 (entry)
Mountaintop removal coal mining - which buries freshwater streams, valleys under debris - wins EPA OK to work within 100 feet of rivers, streams despite agency's findings on hazardous runoff. Selenium - surface mining byproduct - deforms salamanders and worries locals; levels already high in West Virginia's Mud River (click 'See also').
By Scott Finn
National Public Radio/Weekend Edition 2008-12-06 (entry)
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FDA reverses itself, continuing to allow use of cephalosporin drugs - powerful antibiotics- in food animals after calling the practice a public-health risk in July. Worry is that excessive use of antibiotics - including in animals - can promote resistance, produce life-threatening bacteria in humans.
By Alicia Mundy and Jared Favole
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-12-09 (entry)
Many poor, obese children are deficient in calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus - nutrients required for cell function, metabolism, study shows. Nearly half don't eat enough calories for growth. Childhood obesity a harbinger of diabetes, heart disease. In Texas, cost of obesity-related ills projected to rise from $3.3 billion in 2005 to $15.8 billion by 2025.
By Jan Jarvis
Star-Telegram (TX) 2008-11-18 (entry)
Calling melamine a contaminant that sometimes is unavoidable, World Health Organization sets 'daily tolerable intake' without 'appreciable health risk.' The toxin, an industrial chemical, can cause kidney stones, kidney disease, other organ problems and kidney failure, and can be fatal in children. And: Toxin links industrial waste to U.S. food system (click 'See also').
nutraingredients.com 2008-12-10 (entry)
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Maryland's chicken farms generate $845 million - and 650 million pounds of manure - annually. Combined with stormwater runoff from overdevelopment, manure runoff into bay kills fish, crabs, oysters that have fed region's growth. Now, Maryland is correctly pushing to limit both by taking land, shoreline off market and by regulating manure disposal.
The editors
The Washington Post 2008-12-08 (entry)
One president-elect, 30 environmental groups, 391 pages of recommendations. Transition to Green (click 'See also') farming proposals include renewing conservation contracts for 18 million acres, better enforcing erosion control rules, ending crop subsidies for newly broken native prairie. Most need neither Congressional approval nor new spending authority.
By Philip Brasher
The Des Moines Register 2008-12-07 (entry)
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Ohio organic food business accused of selling meat products without a license; owners maintain they're exempt from requirement, official says. Boxes of beef, lamb, turkey reportedly confiscated. Officials deny owner's account of SWAT officers accompanying state agriculture officials, sheriff's deputies to the family's home for search warrant.
By Steve Fogarty
The Chronicle-Telegram 2008-12-09 (entry)
Reports (click 'See also') show agriculture today - heavily subsidized industry supported by commodity groups, paid scientists, friends in Washington - is fault of Democratic and Republican administrations. Obama should choose agriculture secretary unafraid of change, create National Food Policy Council and food czar, move nutrition programs out of USDA.
By Bruce Friedrich
The Huffington Post 2008-12-07 (entry)
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Biochar - created by heating crop waste in airtight conditions - can store carbon dioxide, enrich soil, raise crop yields. Plowed into ground, it may forestall global warming, scientist and supporters (click 'See also') say, pointing to ancient Amazon examples. Ambitious goal would sequester 10 percent annual emissions.
By Gerard Wynn
Reuters; NewsDaily 2008-12-05 (entry)
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One in eight Americans, up from 2006, sometimes struggled for food - before economic downturn. Some 691,000 children went hungry at some point last year. Hungry children can't concentrate on learning. Congress must increase child nutrition funding, use food stamp boost to stimulate economy. And: Record food stamp use in September (click 'See also').
The editors
The Buffalo News 2008-11-28 (entry)
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Brazil vows to reduce deforestation 70 percent in 10 years, will create environmental police force and pay farmers - who cut forests for cattle, soybean ranches (click 'See also) - for conservancy. Target would prevent 4.8 billion tons carbon dioxide, more than combined commitment of industrialized countries under Kyoto Protocol. Now, it's Obama's turn, says advocacy group.
By Joshua Partlow
The Washington Post 2008-12-06 (entry)
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New Atlantic bluefin tuna quota creates danger of catastrophic species collapse. Sharply reduced quotas or, better, moratorium on tuna fishing, may be radical, but only radical move will save the fish that drives a billion-dollar industry. And: Same mistakes that led to collapse of Atlantic cod are being repeated with bluefin, says advocacy group (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2008-12-08 (entry)
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Health advocates push to cut salt in processed items (77 percent of dietary salt is hidden there) and regulate it as additive. Cutting dietary salt by half could save 150,000 lives a year, AMA says. With extra salt, body retains fluids, boosts blood volume, then must pump it, causing rise in blood pressure. Salt processors blame obesity. And: Salt intake - including sports drinks in juice-box sizes - a factor in rising rates of kidney stones in children (click 'See also').
By Emily Sohn
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-27 (entry)
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Adding 1 billion points to global IQ is as simple as adding iodine to salt, and Canada leads way with Micronutrient Initiative, which also advocates adding vitamin A, iron, zinc and folic acid to diets. Simple technology improves lives at low cost and in short time, says World Bank.
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times 2008-12-04 (entry)
Pilgrim's Pride seeks protection of bankruptcy court after battling year of volatile feed, fuel costs, low poultry prices, and drop in demand from restaurants. And: Tyson, Perdue, Sanderson, Wayne are other big poultry players (click 'See also').
By Miriam Marcus
Forbes.com 2008-12-01 (entry)
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Palm oil production surges with population; one in 10 processed food items contains it and it's a source of biodiesel. Plantations planned in Brazil; S. Korea owns rights to half the available farmland of Madagascar, much of it rainforest, and plans corn, palm plantations. Slash-and-burn expansion of Cargill crop spews carbon, replaces tribal homelands, displaces orangutans, destroys rainforests - and raises farmers' living standards. And: 'Our Hungry Planet' series (click 'See also).
By Matt McKinney
Star-Tribune (MN) (may require registration) 2008-11-30 (entry)
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With cheap food looming as crisis-in-the-making, Obama should consider a Cabinet-level agency over all food safety, enforcement and research. With low price as king, conglomerates trade foods from all over, and corners are cut. In U.S., 12 agencies administer 35 different food safety laws. Consumers must seek out sustainably produced foods - and vote with their pocketbooks.
By Aleda Roth
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-11-29 (entry)
New agriculture secretary faces daunting agenda: improved food safety; expanded food stamp benefits; healthier, fresher foods for school meals; tighter limits on farm subsidies; more agricultural research; and rural economic development. Opinion: Secretary must make good on Obama's campaign vows of policing meat packers' pricing practices; protecting land and water and investing in local foods and sustainable agriculture (click 'See also').
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2008-11-25 (entry)
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Though produce and dairy prices have fallen, processed items, including meat, likely to remain high. Manufacturing firms, restaurants, livestock farms will pass on price hikes of corn, soy, wheat they absorbed earlier. Linking oil prices to agricultural commodities also a game changer for food producers, analysts say.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2008-11-27 (entry)
As ranks of poor grow, Congress should accurately measure poverty considering changes in food costs, addition of costs for child care, health care, and regional differences in cost of living. It also must boost food stamps, modernize unemployment compensation system and strengthen governments to help those in need.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-26 (entry)
Radical transformation expected at EPA, which holds sway over water, air pollution, and Department of Interior, which administers Endangered Species Act, federal land holdings. Interior will cope with climate change already happening - droughts, wildfires; EPA will lead regulatory response. And: Leading candidates for environmental jobs (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-11-28 (entry)
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Bush-Cheney plan to measure emissions of coal-burning power plants hourly instead of annually could mean more pollution - and enormous cost to public health, planet. And: Fish from Catskills waterways unsafe to eat; they and their predators - bald eagles - contaminated with methylmercury, a power-plant toxin. (click 'See also') .
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-28 (entry)
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Number of Americans on food stamps nears record; visits to food pantries in D.C. area up 20 to 100 percent. Rising unemployment, rising food prices among causes - food-stamp benefit fell below cost of USDA's thriftiest diet for a family of four. In U.S., 11.9 million people went hungry at some point last year, including 700,000 children.
By Jane Black
The Washington Post 2008-11-25 (entry)
'Trace' amounts of melamine, used in plastics and fertilizers, found in one of 77 U.S. baby formula samples tested, but it's allowed in can liners and manufacturing, says FDA. And: BPA, a leaching toxin thought to be found only in metal food can linings and hard, clear plastic, also is present in frozen food trays, microwaveable soup containers, plastic baby food packaging and in recyclable containers with numbers 1, 2, 5 and 7 (click 'See also').
By Justin Blum
bloomberg.com 2008-11-25 (entry)
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Payments to rich farmers in 2003-'06 totaled $49 million and expose USDA problems, GAO says, but agency says it lacks authority to check payments against tax returns. Payments favor wheat, corn, rice, cotton growers; produce growers don't receive direct subsidies. And: Obama says unwarranted payments are prime example of waste he intends to end (click 'See also').
By Michael Doyle
McClatchy Newspapers 2008-11-25 (entry)
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First day of Colorado farm 'gleaning' draws 40,000 people in 11,000 cars eager to scavenge for leftover potatoes, carrots, leeks after harvest. Some came prepared with sacks, wagons and barrels to celebrate getting something for free in bad economy. Farm couple, who are regulars at farmers' markets and host a fall festival for teaching about food sources, opened fields to public after hearing reports of food being stolen from churches.
By Allison Sherry
The Denver Post 2008-11-23 (entry)
Adding extra fish, omega-3-rich seafood to diet may raise prostate cancer survival by 38 percent; men who ate five servings of fish per week had 48 percent improved survival rate over those who ate one serving a week, study shows. And: Healthy diet should consist of one omega-3 to four omega-6 fatty acids, but American diet contains more than 10 times needed amount of omega-6 oils, mostly from processed foods, cooking oils (click 'See also').
By Stephen Daniells
nutraingredients.com 2008-11-24 (entry)
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Legislative progress on environment, energy, health care on agenda with Henry Waxman, a keen negotiator, now at helm of powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce. But: Without reform on the way we grow, process and eat food in America, there will be no significant progress on these problems or on critical issue of national security, writes Michael Pollan in letter to new farmer-in-chief Barack Obama (click 'See also').
By Julie Rovner
National Public Radio/All Things Considered 2008-11-21 (entry)
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New cell biology field probes bacteria inside us, which outnumber our human cells and show regional differences - maybe an Inuit's bacteria help digest Cheerios but an Argentine's wouldn't (click link to listen). Some may cause obesity, and could be changed, but then what? Balance is fragile - certain bacteria linked to stomach ulcers, but kill them with antibiotics, and patients get more asthma, hay fever, allergies, eczema.
By Robert Krulwich
National Public Radio/All Things Considered 2008-11-04 (entry)
EU, in farming policy overhaul, to change distribution of
billions - 40 percent of EU budget - in subsidies to farmers. Critics
say diluted changes will skew markets further. Coming soon: Up milk
production quota; put set-aside farmland into production; reduce
payments to some farmers, landowners, including Queen. And: Questions, answers on Common Agricultural Policy (click 'See also').
By James Kanter
The New York Times 2008-11-20 (entry)
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In move that could impede investigation of snowpack loss and its impact on
salmon, proposed changes to Endangered Species Act would exclude climate change
from triggers for review of federal projects. Bush administration argues language eliminates 'back door to climate-change policy' (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-11-21 (entry)
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Dwindling resources - water and food - and climate change, growing populations will contribute to regional conflicts, global instability, says Global Trends 2025. National Intelligence Council report (click 'See also') for policymakers says Middle East, parts of Africa, eastern Europe, Asia at greatest risk.
By Peter Finn and Walter Pincus
The Washington Post 2008-11-21 (entry)
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Crop prices stall after two years soaring (click 'See also'). Farmers buy seed, plant;
price drops, crop costs more than harvest nets. Old worries - bugs,
weather - trumped by new: commodity markets, rising dollar. We'll ask
Congress for higher price supports if things don't improve, says one farmer. 'Everyone learns patience,' counters partner/father.
By David Streitfeld
The New York Times 2008-11-20 (entry)
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Panel OKs criteria for 'organic' label for farmed fish, pleasing producers but angering environment, consumer advocates. They question rule allowing up to 25 percent of wild fish as feed (organic meats require 100 percent organic food) and note that open-net pens allow fish waste, disease to pollute ocean. And: One-third of world's fish catch - mostly anchovies, menhaden, sardines - is fed to animals but should feed people, scientists say (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin and Jane Black
The Washington Post 2008-11-20 (entry)
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In effort to cut dependence on U.S. imports, South Korean firm plans million-acre corn field on land just leased for 99 years in Madagascar. Daewoo hopes to harvest five million tons of corn annually by 2023. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, seeking similar agricultural investments in Africa or Asia while Angola, Ethiopia seek partnerships with countries in need.
BBC 2008-11-19 (entry)
FDA opens China office to certify inspections of U.S.-bound products. Food safety problems, plus China's growing role as food, drug supplier to U.S. - $320 billion in products were imported to U.S. last year - prompted strategy change. Food science expert in China doubts effectiveness of move, citing dozens of pesticides available and a thousand different poisonous possibilities.
By Maureen Fan
The Washington Post 2008-11-19 (entry)
Beyond statins, common sense and two studies indicate that eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts cut readings for CRP, which is linked to risk of heart attack, stroke. Needed is total proof that diet- and exercise-reduced CRP levels reduce cardiovascular emergencies. And: Small, consistent increase in dietary fiber helps reduce heart disease risk and controls diabetes, and can make large difference to public health (click See also').
By Stephen Smith
The Boston Globe 2008-11-17 (entry)
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Melamine has pervaded U.S. food system. It's added to fertilizer and accumulates in the farm fields. Last year, millions ate chicken that had been fed tainted gluten from China; Tyson Foods butchered hogs that had eaten tainted feed too. Meat was not recalled. China melamine scandal is opportunity for U.S. to pass fertilizer standards and to test for chemical.
By James E. McWilliams
The New York Times 2008-11-17 (entry)
With rocket fuel component in drinking water of 35 states and its documented toxicity to humans, scientists argue that EPA decision not to regulate perchlorate needs 'compelling scientific basis.' Rule was based on industry-funded computer model; critics say CDC studies ignored. Opinion: Congress should require EPA to explain disregard of toxin that reduces thyroid function, creates risk of lifelong lower IQ for babies (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-11-14 (entry)
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Arteries of obese children show harbinger of heart disease, study shows. Findings suggest potential for significant fraction of workforce disabled in their 30s, 40s, says cardiology expert. In U.S., about one third of children, teens overweight or obese, CDC says. And: In Huntington, W.Va., which leads nation in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and teeth loss, adults in their 30s suffering heart attacks, requiring open-heart surgery (click 'See also').
By Thomas H. Maugh II
Los Angeles Times 2008-11-12 (entry)
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Rural dwellers, workers, students near farmland must be considered in assessing pesticide risk, UK government rules. Current rules considered only occasional, short-term 'bystander' exposure, not repeated exposure to crop spraying, chemicals over years. And: 'Pesticide nun' and plaintiff Georgina Downs holds industry, politicians accountable (click 'See also').
By David Adam
The Guardian (UK) 2008-11-15 (entry)
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China-made sweets made with milk stopped for testing at U.S. border in effort to keep melamine-tainted goods from reaching stores. FDA, taking cue from other countries, increases scrutiny of goods on shelves. Agency should have acted earlier; problems with melamine are deeper than FDA acknowledges, says House member. And: Retracing path of toxin from greedy chemical companies to poor farmers in China (click 'See also').
By Annys Shin
The Washington Post 2008-11-14 (entry)
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FDA begins updating 1986 standards for processing, packaging, storage of food. USDA inspects meat plants daily; FDA has no such requirement for food processing plants. Poll shows consumers want labels identifying: country of origin of processed and packaged foods; products from cloned or genetically engineered animals; meat treated with carbon monoxide to maintain red color; irradiated items.
By Jane Byrne
nutraingredients.com 2008-11-13 (entry)
At least 1 million people could starve to death in a year if political deadlock in Zimbabwe continues, Morgan Tsvangirai, opposition leader warns. UN food agency, running short on funds, reduces corn, bean rations to 4 million people. Plea for $140 million for food from now till April harvest unheeded, World Food Program says, and food will run out in January.
BBC News 2008-11-11 (entry)
Childhood food allergies, and severity, increasing. Researchers blame varied diet that exposes children to fish, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs and soy; increasing rates of childhood obesity; increased consumption of antacids, vitamins; and possibly, underdeveloped immune systems as reaction to a too-clean environment. And: 'Action plans' for food-allergic students used inconsistently in schools (click 'See also').
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay News; U.S. News & World Report 2008-11-10 (entry)
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Fighting world hunger should be priority for Barack Obama, says UN leader. Effort needs
$30 billion a year to boost rural infrastructure, farm productivity and wages of farmers. Record crop yields have reduced immediate problems, but agency fears that financial crisis will trigger another food price surge. Farmers have cut back on planting in response to high fuel, fertilizers prices and lower prices for grains.
By Svetlana Kovalyova
Reuters 2008-11-07 (entry)
Food, shelter, doctor visits are only priorities in consumer pocketbook lockdown as layoffs accelerate, so other industries suffer. And: One-percentage-point increase in unemployment rate leads to 700,000 more food stamp recipients in first year and eventually, 1.3 million more food stamp recipients, says 2002 USDA report (click 'See also').
By Aaron Smith
CNN Money 2008-11-07 (entry)
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Obama must grasp that food, climate, energy, economy are globally linked and must be solved together, and that atmospheric CO2 must be cut from 385 to 350 parts per million. Fossil-fuel use must cease by 2030; we must make massive investment in green energy; we need a Marshall Plan for carbon. And: Food/agriculture sector of economy produces more than one third of greenhouse gas emissions, says UN agency (click 'See also).
By Bill McKibben
The Guardian (UK) 2008-11-06 (entry)
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With Congressional Review Act, new president's OK, lawmakers could rescind upcoming Bush administration rules that otherwise could have lasting impact on water standards, air cleanliness, among other areas. And: Last deregulation push relaxes standards for drinking water, air as well as pollution from farms, mining (click 'See also').
By Avery Palmer
CQ Politics 2008-11-06 (entry)
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Wood-devouring beetle chews into valuable maples, threatening New England's syrup industry, leaf peeping, timber. Calling it a national emergency, government commits to spending tens of millions of dollars to fight 62 square-mile invasion; 1,800 trees must be destroyed. Eradication efforts in New York, New Jersey, Illinois have cost $268 million over past 11 years.
By Rodrique Ngowi
The Washington Post 2008-11-05 (entry)
Analysts, lobbyists speculate on USDA appointment: Tom Buis from National Farmers Union; Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor; Charles Stenholm, veteran Congressman who helped shape 1990, 2002 farm laws; Marshall Matz, lawyer with interest in school nutrition; Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius; South Dakota Representative and biofuels activist Stephanie Sandlin; Roger Johnson, North Dakota agriculture commissioner; Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin agriculture secretary; Senator John Tester, organic farmer from Montana. And: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kathleen McGinty named as EPA contenders (click 'See also').
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2008-11-05 (entry)
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Barack Obama won the presidential election with promise to address things beyond the power of individuals: ensuring food safety, clean air, regulating economy fairly, ensuring access to health care and educating children. He will now need the support of all Americans.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-05 (entry)
In waning days of power, Bush administration works to relax drinking-water standards, ease controls on carbon dioxide emissions of pollutants from power plants and other factories, remove environmental impact statement requirement for some commercial ocean fishing interests, and lift restriction of mountaintop-removal coal mining in Appalachians.
By R. Jeffrey Smith
The Washington Post 2008-10-31 (entry)
Farmers' 50-year habit of spraying cornfields, other crops with tens of millions of pounds of long-lived weed killer atrazine may cause frog deaths in waterways by providing more food for snails, which carry frog parasite, study shows. And: Potomac River, source of drinking water and a fish habitat, contains Syngenta's herbicide atrazine, other suspected endocrine disruptors (click 'See also').
By Dan Charles
National Public Radio/All Things Considered 2008-10-29 (entry)
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Stephen Doyle, Zack Zavislak/Wired
Global demand for food started to outpace agricultural production around 1997. Gulf between what's wanted, what's available is widening. A second 'green revolution' on par with introduction of modern fertilizers, pesticides could close gap, according to periodical's review of biotechnology, other scientific advances.
By Thomas Hayden, Ben Paynter and Alexis Madrigal
Wired magazine 2008-10-20 (entry)
Eating energy-dense diet increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes, 12-year study shows. Energy-dense foods are those high in fat, sugars and low in fiber: fast foods, processed foods and fatty foods (click 'See also'). Best substitutes: vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains.
By Sue Mueller
Food Consumer 2008-11-02 (entry)
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Florida cuts soft-shell turtle catch limits while crafting conservation plan for native amphibians found in lakes, ponds, canals. Biologist says that China's demand has wiped out most of Asia's native turtle populations; Florida seafood dealer buys 3,000 pounds of live turtles per week. And: Limit of 20 a day is too many, biologists say (click 'See also').
McClatchy Newspapers; The Guardian (UK) 2008-10-29 (entry)
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Food, water, tents distributed to survivors of Pakistan earthquake near Afghanistan border, but there's not enough to go around. Children beg for food from passing aid trucks. UN plans initial delivery of flour, lentils, salt from nearby warehouses. More than 300 dead, 20,000 homeless. China, Japan, U.S., Turkey offer help.
By Ed Johnson and Farhan Sharif
Bloomberg 2008-10-31 (entry)
New diabetes case rates soar nearly 90 percent over last 10 years, mostly from obesity, sedentary ways. And: In 2007, diabetes cost economy $174 billion for medical care, chronic complications (click 'See also'). Indirect costs of $58 billion came from absenteeism, reduced productivity, disease-related disability, and early death.
By Will Dunham
Reuters 2008-10-30 (entry)
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Panel, in highly critical report, recommends that FDA redo its risk assessment of BPA, the leaching chemical in food can linings, hard plastic baby bottles. Favorable draft report used flawed methods and ignored evidence linking bisphenol A to cancer, diabetes, possibly brain development in infants, advisory board said.
By Annys Shin
The Washington Post 2008-10-28 (entry)
Kidney stones a growing problem in children. Main causes are dietary - not drinking enough water, eating too much salt - and sometimes relate to obesity. Physicians cite salty chips, French fries, sports drinks and processed items - sandwich meats, canned soups, packaged meals, sodas. And: As makers of children's cereals cut sugar, they add salt, report says (click 'See also').
By Laurie Tarkan
The New York Times 2008-10-27 (entry)
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With price of bread linked to that of petroleum, metal and other goods, and a billion people in extreme poverty, we must refine farming. Much of the world's best farmland in Russia, Ukraine, Africa produces nothing; poor infrastructure dooms 40 percent of world's food to rot. We need to invest in farming, make it globally desirable, productive, with tangible benefits.
By Doug Saunders
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-10-25 (entry)
Melamine found in eggs imported from China to Hong Kong, raising new concerns about food quality standards in China. The toxin, last found in dairy products, has already sickened more than 50,000 children in China and led to at least four deaths. That scandal forced global recall of foods using Chinese dairy products, including pizza, biscuits, yogurt.
By David Barboza
The New York Times 2008-10-26 (entry)
Global food crisis worsens with financial tumult, pulling incomes of additional 119 million people below poverty line; rich countries haven't made good on their $12.3 billion aid promise from summer. Prices for wheat, corn, soybean futures are down, lowering incentives for growing crops, and China's export tax on fertilizer leaves Africa's customers without.
By Ariana Eunjung Cha and Stephanie McCrummen
The Washington Post 2008-10-26 (entry)
Restaurants, hotels cut 51,000 jobs over last three months as economic crisis deepens; deterioration of job market emerging as a driver of economic distress. And: Some economists expect unemployment to rise from current six percent to 10 percent; more than a million American families have had their homes foreclosed upon in past two years. In August, foreclosure filings reached record high. Number of Americans living in poverty has grown by more than five million since 2000.
By Neil Irwin and Michael S. Rosenwald
The Washington Post 2008-10-23 (entry)
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For sake of economy, national security and moral authority, U.S. must stay committed to international aid, President George Bush says. Rising food prices have added 75 million people worldwide to rolls of chronic hunger for total of 925 million, UN says. In July, Senate panel voted to scale back funding request of Bush program that rewards countries for meeting strict policy, governance criteria; group has disbursed less than 10 percent of its $6.3 billion.
By Dan Eggen and Anthony Faiola
The Washington Post 2008-10-22 (entry)
Equating water pollution, other lapses with cheating on customers, Wal-Mart announces new supplier standards, including ban on child labor, forced labor and pay below local minimum wage. New rules also will include audits of factories for working conditions and compliance with standards regarding water, air, land pollution and waste disposal. Critic says incentives to cheat include pressure to offer low prices, plus lucrative, long-term contracts.
By Stephanie Rosenbloom
International Herald Tribune 2008-10-22 (entry)
Government's dash to effectively repeal key water protections during mountaintop removal coal mining likely a response to presidential candidates' opposition to environmentally ruinous practice. In 2002, EPA rewrote rules that had prohibited use of mining waste as 'fill' in streams, wetlands. And: Rubble from mountaintop removal fouls drinking water, kills fish (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2008-10-21 (entry)
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Modern-day Works Progress Administration that restores America's crumbling infrastructure - drinking water, schools, roads, bridges, transit systems - would generate jobs and help support flagging economy. Presidential candidate Barack Obama wants infrastructure investment (click 'See also', section V); John McCain has not presented plan.
By Dave Demerjian
Wired Blog Network 2008-10-19 (entry)
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Considering extra cost and landfill clutter, standards for bottled water should be as good or even better than those for tap water. Consumers should be able to see certified data that lists what's in bottled water and whether it meets federal requirements. Analysis (click 'See also') found fertilizer residue, pain medicine, other chemicals in some major brands.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-10-17 (entry)
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Those with malfunctioning food-pleasure gene more likely to overeat, study shows. Health expert says those with weakened 'reward strategy' can circumvent obesity by choosing diet rich in whole grains, legumes, beans, fruits and vegetables coupled with moderate level of exercise.
By Jimmy Downs
Food Consumer 2008-10-18 (entry)
Interior Department readies overhaul of ignored rule designed to protect rivers, streams from mining companies' dumping. Government estimates that 1,600 miles of streams in Appalachia buried in 25 years. Critic decries devastating, irreversible implications. And: Rubble from mountaintop removal fouls drinking water, kills fish (click 'See also).
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-10-18 (entry)
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Beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet declared endangered over Gov. Sarah Palin's objections. Listing means that new offshore drilling, new bridge, other activities must show they won't harm the 375 whales. And: Alaska Natives have been allowed to hunt the whales for subsistence, but there was no hunt for belugas in 2008 (click 'See also').
By Kenneth R. Weiss
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-17 (entry)
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World's promises to modernize agricultural practices and support third-world farmers remain unkept, UN speaker charges. Experts say ranks of hungry likely to grow from 920 million to 970 million this year. Only 10 percent of $12 billion pledged by world governments has arrived, and bulk was earmarked for famine relief, not longer-term agricultural aid to make future famines less likely.
By Shawn Pogatchnik
The Associated Press; Winnipeg Sun (Ca) 2008-10-17 (entry)
Multi-year rotation plan critical for the health of all vegetables; best idea to keep track comes from garden book: Group vegetables according to families. Thus all the members of the Solanaceae family - tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and peppers - are grown together, then moved together to a different bed the following year.
By Shirley Barker
Berkeley Daily Planet 2008-10-16 (entry)
Many in developing world - especially Philippines, Panama, Kenya - cut back on eating because of food costs in last year, new study shows. Food costs expected to begin decline as lower oil prices bring price of fertilizer, fuel lower.
BBC 2008-10-15 (entry)
Eve of World Food Day was missed opportunity for presidential candidates to discuss hunger, poverty. Starvation kills a child every five seconds; nearly one billion people go hungry daily. Both candidates must speak specifically about proposals to address global hunger, food shortages. And: To join anti-povery effort, click 'See also.'
The editors
The Capital Times (Madison, WI) 2008-10-16 (entry)
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Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware ask 11 companies to stop using bisphenol A in making baby bottles, baby-formula containers. FDA has tentatively concluded that chemical is safe, but gives consumers tips on reducing exposure. Animal studies link BPA, also used in food can linings, to reproductive system abnormalities, cancers; experts disagree on whether humans are at risk.
The Associated Press; The Wall Street Journal. 2008-10-14 (entry)
FDA reviews petition for ban on eight artificial food colors and request for warning labels on foods that contain them. Group cites studies linking hyperactivity to consumption of dyes, some made from petrochemicals and coal tar. In UK, Kellogg switched to beetroot red, annatto and paprika extract to color strawberry Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars; in U.S., they're tinted with Red 40, Yellow 6 and Blue 1.
By Melinda Fulmer
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-13 (entry)
Obesity, overweight epidemic likely cause of increased rates of high blood pressure, researchers say. Hypertension is major risk factor for heart disease, stroke. To prevent high blood pressure, develop and maintain healthy lifestyle, and control weight through exercise and health eating behaviors, study authors say.
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay; The Washington Post 2008-10-13 (entry)
Anti-regulation activist who says bisphenol A is 'perfectly safe' gave $5 million to research center of FDA panel head due to rule on chemical's safety. FDA draft, which says products made with BPA are safe for food, relied on industry-funded studies. And: Scientists urge 'aggressive action' to limit exposure after study notes that higher levels of BPA in body correspond with higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities (click 'See also').
By Susanne Rust and Meg Kissinger
Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI) 2008-10-11 (entry)
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To progress on health care crisis, energy independence and climate change, new president must wean food system from fossil fuel and return it to diet of sunshine. Next, new policy must strive for healthful diet for all; improve reliance, safety and security of food supply; promote regional food economies; and reframe agriculture as part of solution to environmental problems.
By Michael Pollan
The New York Times 2008-10-12 (entry)
Michigan e.coli outbreak traced to California lettuce. Students at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and inmates at Lenawee County Jail, among others, fell ill. Some lettuce was sold by Aunt Mid's Produce Co., in Detroit.
By Tiffany Hsu
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-10 (entry)
Expanded food stamps, extended jobless benefits and even tax rebate possible in legislation planned by Democrats after election. Barack Obama says he favors $25 billion for states, $25 billion for roads, bridges and infrastructure, and $65 billion for tax rebates paid for with oil profits tax.
By David Espo
The Associated Press; Newsday 2008-10-11 (entry)
We support humane treatment of animals, but it's unlikely that Proposition 2 would start that national trend. Because measure only regulates eggs produced in California and not eggs that are sold in state, it would likely bolster the market for cheaper out-of-state eggs, simply exporting caged hens' mistreatment.
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2008-09-25 (entry)
Listless babies, wizened one-year-olds, two-year-olds with no food for two weeks are among the millions dying from hunger in Somalia in 'forgotten crisis.' Recently, thousands of desperately hungry besieged 35-truck UN convoy in Mogadishu, taking two million pounds of food. Unending war, drought, global food supply squeeze, unemployment, inflation all to blame.
By Jeffrey Gettleman
The New York Times 2008-10-11 (entry)
West Coast's chinook salmon shortage leaves killer whales hungry and losing blubber; Canadian environmental groups blame government, propose strategy. U.S. expert recommends linking orca recovery to that of salmon and the removal of dams on Elwha River, Snake River in Washington state. And: Emaciated gray whales (click 'See also').
By Judith Lavoie
Times Colonist (Victoria, Ca) 2008-10-08 (entry)
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Annual forest loss cost of $2 trillion to $5 trillion dwarfs current economy problems, analyst says. As forests decline, nature stops providing free services- clean water and food for foraging, plus absorption of carbon dioxide. Heartening signs: developing trade in natural ecosystems (similar to carbon trade); attention of government, business officials.
By Richard Black
BBC 2008-10-10 (entry)
In restoration effort, Chesapeake Bay groups enlist waterfront property owners in oyster-growing venture using cages built by inmates at nearby prison. Maryland has planted more than 485 million oysters in the bay this year, a record, governor reports.
Chesapeake Bay Journal 2008-10-01 (entry)
Italy ignoring bluefin tuna rules and further endangering species, conservation group charges. Countries agree to quotas, but Italy reports a fleet of 185 vessels and surveyors count 283. Spotter aircraft, banned by accord, also used, group says. Official says Italy is following the rules.
By Ariel David
The Associated Press; The Union-Tribune (San Diego, CA) 2008-10-07 (entry)
Forty-one e.coli cases, three in Canada, linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Michigan. And: Hospital head wants to know why there was five-day delay in notifying health authorities of outbreak (click 'See also'), considering recent listeria outbreak that has so far killed 20 and left 32 seriously ill across Canada.
By Erica Bajer
The Chatham Daily News (CA) 2008-10-08 (entry)
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Monsanto reports increased profits of $2 billion; seed revenues rose from $4.9 billion in 2007 to $6.4 billion in 2008. Sales of Roundup, other glyphosate herbicides climbed from $2.6 billion last year to $4.1 billion in latest year. Greater grain demand drives need for more yield, more yield requires more innovation and companies that innovate will grow, says chairman.
By Dan Piller
The Des Moines Register 2008-10-08 (entry)
Replacing an asphalt lot, a three-acre garden in view of Wall Street becomes a go-to place for teens and has drawn more than 5,000 students with their classes. Gardens were begun by two employees of Red Hook yourth court who started a nonprofit, Added Value, and now employ teens who 'weed it, turn it, rake it, seed it' - and sell the bounty at a farmers' market and to Brooklyn restaurants.
By Jim Dwyer
The New York Times 2008-10-08 (entry)
About 300 chicken slaughterhouse workers arrested in South Carolina immigration raid. Raid follows 10-month probe into hiring practices; seven supervisors at plant have pleaded guilty to falsifying documents. Manager charged with felony immigration fraud. And: Workers linked to other Columbia Farms plants wonder if they're next (click 'See also').
By Eric Connor and Paul Alongi
The Greenville News 2008-10-07 (entry)
See also
Farming, hunting, fishing, forest-clearing, pollution and climate change push one quarter to one-third of all land mammals toward extinction; one in three marine mammals is on the same path. 'Without the political and public will to spend money on species conservation we are pressed up against the wall,' says study director.
By Ian Sample
The Guardian (UK) 2008-10-06 (entry)
Persistent overeating triggers metabolic response which, once flipped 'on,' can promote overeating, creating vicious cycle, researchers learn in mouse study. Earlier research had shown that eating too much triggered inflammatory responses in muscles, liver, changes that launch development of type 2 diabetes. Now researchers see inflammation may promote obesity as well.
By Amanda Gardner
The Washington Post 2008-10-02 (entry)
Food stamp use sharply up over last year - nearly one in 10 people participated in July (latest information available). Rise reflects broader national economic distress, 'pain on Main Street,' but doesn't yet reflect upheavals of last few months, including loss of 159,000 jobs in September.
By Michael E. Ruane
The Washington Post 2008-10-04 (entry)
Congress must ensure that FDA has budget for transparent assessments of genetically engineered animal products. New standards, which require producers to show that inserted genes do not harm animal's health and that any food from genetically engineered animal is safe to eat, are far more rigorous than agency's current oversight of biotech crops and cloned animals.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-10-03 (entry)
After White House officials remove scientific data from reports highlighting some risks associated with rocket-fuel chemical, EPA refuses to set drinking-water safety standard, assumes that maximum safe level is 15 times higher than suggested in 2002. Perchlorate linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women, newborns and young children and has been found in water in 35 states.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-10-04 (entry)
FDA says a bit of melamine in food - equivalent to two or three grains in a million grains of sand - poses no serious risk, drawing ire of House member who questions whether agency is condoning intentional contamination of foods. Four babies have died, 54,000 ill from drinking tainted milk. Some China-made products found in U.S. are contaminated.
By Marc Kaufman
The Washington Post 2008-10-04 (entry)
70-year-old Yazoo Pump Project earns EPA veto, to chagrin of locals and two senators. $220 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project would have moved six million gallons water per minute to benefit flood-prone Mississippi Delta farms. And: 'Epitome of pork' would have yielded 14 cents on the dollar (click 'See also').
By Chris Talbott
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2008-09-03 (entry)
See also
Facing declining image after food safety scares, FDA decides to hire public relations firm for $300,000. Agency avoided competition for work by hiring special minority set-aside contractor which agreed to subcontract to firm with ties to FDA official, records show. Contract has been suspended; Congressional FDA oversight committee plans probe. And: Outrage at tale of taint (click 'See also').
By Robert O'Harrow Jr.
The Washington Post 2008-10-02 (entry)
See also
Florida's celebrated decision (click 'See also') to buy U.S. Sugar to
restore Everglades may help Fanjul family's Florida
Crystals. Critics say $1.7 billion deal is bailout to replace federal props as foreign sugar moves in. Fanjuls control Domino, C&H and other brands, put sugar in everything from packaged foods to pharmaceuticals.
By Mary Williams Walsh
The New York Times 2008-09-13 (entry)
See also
USDA aims to catch herd of 50-100 wild pigs in New Jersey pinelands. Feral hogs compete with native ground-nesting birds - turkey, quail - by eating their eggs. Traps feature saloon-style doors that first are wired open to allow free access to corn bait, but later will be set to swing shut with prey inside. Three hogs, one 250 pounds, have been trapped.
By Peter Mucha
The Philadelphia Inquirer 2008-08-23 (entry)
See also
FDA lacks staff to protect food supply, particularly fresh produce, and is distracted by counterterrorism efforts and investigating outbreaks of food-borne illness, government report says. Only 1 percent of produce imported into U.S. is inspected by FDA; 60 percent of fresh produce is imported annually. One in four Americans becomes sick from tainted food each year - 76 million people. And: New e.coli cases reported (click 'See also').
By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay; The Washington Post 2008-09-26 (entry)
See also
In response to melamine contamination of milk and milk products in China, FDA broadens sampling, testing of domestic and imported milk-derived ingredients and products containing milk, such as candies, desserts, beverages that could contain China products. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.
By Stephanie Kwisnek
FDA 2008-09-26 (entry)
In Malawi, where one in five adults has HIV/AIDS, ecologist digs backyard fish ponds for farmers and benefits accrue. Childhood malnutrition in region drops from 45 to 15 percent; affected households double income; residents eat more fresh fish and more corn grows via irrigation. Success means expansion into Mozambique, Zambia, but demand for fingerling tilapia has pushed prices up.
By David Biello
Scientific American 2008-08-20 (entry)
To existing ban on import of milk and milk products from China, EU adds testing on Chinese products that contain milk powder, particularly child-focused products of milk toffee, chocolate and biscuits. Melamine-tainted infant formula has killed four babies and sickened thousands in China. And: Baby food added to to EU's banned list (click 'See also').
By Jeremy Smith
The Guardian (UK) 2008-09-25 (entry)
See also
New program will use $76 million in foundation money to develop better ways for local farmers to supply UN's World Food Program with their products. Lack of agricultural infrastructure - irrigation, mechanization, roads, quality control - could hamper goals. American food-aid policy supplies only American-grown food. UN says hungry total nearly 1 billion.
By Robert A. Guth and Roger Thurow
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-09-25 (entry)
Harvard neurobiologist who studies sense of smell of fruit flies wins 'genius grant' from MacArthur Foundation. Her award, says Rachel Wilson, underscores the idea that simple, seemingly primitive organisms may yield powerful insight into how things work.
By Carolyn Y. Johnson
The Boston Globe 2008-09-23 (entry)
House panel pressures EPA to rethink exempting factory farms from reporting toxic manure gas, 'particulate matter' emissions. Report says agency lacks information, strategy for regulating mega-farms, some of which produce 1.6 million tons of manure annually. And: EPA proposed dropping requirement after communities filed suits against several big farms, seeking damages and stricter controls of emissions (click 'See also').
By Stephen Power
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-09-24 (entry)
See also
EPA won't set drinking-water standard for perchlorate, a rocket fuel component that has polluted soil, groundwater, drinking water in 35 states and tainted water systems in 26 states. Chemical impairs thyroid, which, in infants, can translate to irreversible loss of IQ, increase in behavioral, perception problems. Congresswoman calls inaction unforgivable and immoral. And: FDA study (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-09-22 (entry)
See also
Gorillas, elephants, other animals at risk of extinction as starving population in central Africa struggles to eat and more people move to region for jobs in illegal logging and mining industries. Granting local peoples limited hunting while managing specific populations of animals in jungle may be only way to conserve, study authors say.
Scientific American 2008-09-15 (entry)
See also
Congress OKs Great Lakes Compact, which prohibits almost any new diversion of water to other places, and requires new conservation standards of border states. Eight-state accord began 10 years ago after Canadian firm sought OK to send tankers of Great Lakes water overseas (click 'See also'). Bottled water exemption worries some.
By Susan Saulny
The New York Times 2008-09-23 (entry)
See also
Liquid milk in China found to contain melamine after similarly tainted infant formula kills three babies and sickens 53,000, with nearly 13,000 hospitalized for kidney problems. Instant coffee, milk, candy for export blocked at Asian borders. Don't assume the Chinese piece of the global supply chain follows the rules, says expert. Product-quality chief resigns. And: Ten countries ban Chinese dairy products (click 'See also').
By Don Lee and Mark Magnier
Los Angeles Times 2008-09-22 (entry)
See also
Economic downturn hits retirees. Those who rely mostly on Social Security may not suffer directly from stock market woes, but they face higher food, gas and health care prices and reductions in volunteer services like Meals on Wheels, trimmed because of fuel costs.
By John Leland and Louis Uchitelle
The New York Times 2008-09-23 (entry)
Food processing firms plug one food into another, claim health benefits of both. But new 'functional foods' don't have rigorous studies behind them, unlike those that added vitamin B to flour (reduced rates of pellagra), added vitamin D to milk (eliminated rickets). Benefit to eating fish might not be omega-3 fatty acids, but that you're eating less steak, says nutritionist.
By Julia Moskin
The New York Times 2008-09-16 (entry)
Restaurant staffers in New York, in lawsuits filed over last three years, accuse dozens of restaurants of stealing tips, cheating them out of wages. Jean-Georges Vongerichten agrees to pay $1.75 million to waiters who filed suit for all staff at Jean Georges and four of his other dining spots; Daniel Boulud settled with immigrant workers at Daniel.
By Christine Kearney
Reuters 2008-09-18 (entry)
Hong Kong toddler found to have kidney stone after drinking tainted milk products daily for 15 months; in China, four children have died and thousands are ill. China's dairy producers vowed to improve quality of products and make appropriate reparations to victims. Nearly 10 percent of milk, drinkable yogurts sampled there shown to contain melamine.
By Jeffrey Hodgson, Kirby Chien, David Chance and Manny Mogato
Reuters 2008-09-21 (entry)
Attempt at black humor over listeriosis outbreak keeps health crisis an issue in Canada campaign. Political opponents, some relatives of victims want food safety official fired after he made joke about death by a 'thousand cold cuts.'
By Ian Austen
The New York Times 2008-09-19 (entry)
See also
Kraft to become first food producer on Dow Jones Industrial Average when it replaces American International Group. Stocks added to DJIA index are considered leaders in their industries. And: Kraft's new green initiative includes biomethane plant, which turns methane waste from cheese production into energy at New York site (click 'See also').
The Associated Press; Chicago Tribune 2008-09-18 (entry)
See also
Toll of melamine-poisoned babies rises in China, with 1,300-plus hospitalized and 158 with acute kidney failure. Traces of industrial additive found in powdered formula of 21 more dairy companies. As people's fury grows and they compare food safety standards of Olympics with those for citizens, government vows overhaul of dairy industry.
By Jim Yardley
The New York Times 2008-09-18 (entry)
Monsanto raises earnings outlook after aggressively raising prices of genetically modified corn seed and its matching weedkiller. Agribusiness firm's stock is up 48 percent from a year ago. Lower net income projection reflects settlement with chemical maker Solutia Inc., and writeoffs after buying De Ruiter Seeds. And: Monsanto breaks ground for a new GMO corn seed plant in Iowa (click 'See also').
By Lauren Etter
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-09-17 (entry)
See also
Scientists urge 'aggressive action' to limit human exposure to can-lining chemical after study notes that higher levels of bisphenol A in body correspond with higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities. Skeptic notes that drinking lots of high-sugar canned drinks raises risk of diet-related disease and exposure to BPA. And: Chemical, also found in hard plastic water and baby bottles, inhibits brain links (click 'See also').
By Sarah Boseley
The Guardian (UK) 2008-09-16 (entry)
See also
Second baby dies, 1,253 others ill with 340 in hospitals from melamine-tainted infant formula in China. More than 10,000 tons of milk powder seized or recalled. Scandal has renewed concerns about food safety of one of the world's largest food exporters. And: Same toxin was blamed for pet deaths in U.S. last year (click 'See also').
By Jim Yardley
The New York Times 2008-09-15 (entry)
See also
Hurricane survivors wait for food, drinking water as Texas attempts cleanup after catastrophe. Galveston official worries about disease; residents have no electricity, running water or working toilets. In Houston, residents told to boil water; those in need were to receive two packages of ready-to-eat meals, two boxes of bottled water and bag of ice.
By P.J. Huffstutter and David Zucchino
Los Angeles Times 2008-09-15 (entry)
As economy slides lower, so do sales of bottled water, delighting those concerned with impact of plastic bottles on the environment. In US, where consumption is highest, supermarket sales are at slowest rate since bottled water became the rage 10 years ago.
By Jenny Wiggins
Financial Times (London) 2008-09-15 (entry)
Raising good little eaters begins with serving variety of foods. Six strategies: Involve them in cooking, encourage a taste of new foods but remain neutral in face of refusal, stock only healthful foods and give children free access, teach good dietary habits by your own balanced diet, dress up the vegetables, and serve a new food 15 times before concluding the child won't eat it.
By Tara Parker-Pope
The New York Times 2008-09-14 (entry)
Clean water, reliable sanitation will beat medical intervention in reducing disease, death as climate warms and population grows, experts say, but investment in infrastructure must be doubled. Most vulnerable: Four billion in Africa, Middle East, South Asia. Failure means recurrent floods, droughts, water pollution, erosion, sea level rise, plus undermining of other triumphs, like building schools.
By Juliette Jowit
The Guardian (UK) 2008-09-11 (entry)
Country-of-origin labels due on meats, some produce, nuts. Ground beef labels may be long, because some processors mix meats of many countries. Critics complain about exemptions, including vegetables imported in bulk and then mixed by U.S. company. Label for cattle imported to U.S. for immediate slaughter can list origin country and U.S.; some fear that slaughterers won't bother with specifics. Then, there's scale: How do you verify origins of thousands of cattle slaughtered each day?
By Stephen J. Hedges
Chicago Tribune 2008-09-13 (entry)
One baby dies, 432 ill from melamine-tainted Sanlu infant formula in China. Toxic chemical is used in plastics, fertilizers and cleaning products but also gives appearance of increased protein content in animal feed. In 2007, it was linked to deaths and illnesses of thousands of pets in the U.S. Officials vow severe punishment to those responsible.
BBC News 2008-09-13 (entry)
In closely watched case of farm workers against Ag-Mart that began in 2005, parents of deformed baby say they were forced to work in North Carolina tomato fields still wet from pesticides, that pesticides were sprayed while they ate. Company, which sells Santa Sweets and Ugly Ripe tomato brands, also runs farms in Florida, New Jersey, Mexico. And: Company agreed to pay for lifelong care of field worker's limbless child (click 'See also').
By Kristin Collins
The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) 2008-09-11 (entry)
See also
Obesity doubles lifetime risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, physician says. In this painful disease, cartilage breaks down and deteriorates. And: Being 10 pounds overweight increases the force on the knee by 30 to 60 pounds with each step; weight loss decreases incidence of disease and some studies show substantially reduced reports of pain (click 'See also').
By Thomas Goldsmith
The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) 2008-09-12 (entry)
Obesity pushing rates of liver disease, transplant needs in some teens. Many experts predict fatty liver disease will become top cause of liver transplants by 2020.'There aren't enough livers to go around,' says physician. Successful patients are those whose families have increased exercise, changed diet to one based on whole grains, fruits, vegetables.
By Linda A. Johnson
The Associated Press; Time magazine 2008-09-08 (entry)
Maryland targets powerful poultry industry in effort to reduce dead zones in Chesapeake Bay. Chicken and turkey farms, which industry group says add $845 million to state's economy, currently aren't subject to manure contamination and storage rules required for dairy and hog farms.
By David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post 2008-09-12 (entry)
Chinese-made baby formula may be tainted with toxic melamine, officials say. Though Sanlu-brand product is illegal to sell in U.S., some may be available at Chinese specialty stores. Melamine was found in pet food ingredients from China and in 2007 was linked to deaths, illnesses of hundreds of cats and dogs.
By Lisa Richwine
Reuters 2008-09-12 (entry)
Feeding 6.3 million North Koreans to avert famine will cost half a billion dollars in emergency food aid in next 15 months, UN says. U.S. just delivered 110,000 tons of food, but bad weather, price hikes, export restrictions and political maneuvering have kept stores low. And: Roughly a third of country's children, mothers are malnourished (click 'See also').
By Peter Ford
The Christian Science Monitor 2008-09-04 (entry)
See also
As planet faces droughts, food shortages and water shortages, with subsequent mass migrations and social unrest from climate change, U.S. influence will diminish because that of other countries will grow, 2025 intelligence analysis predicts. Intelligence agencies accept scientific view of global warming, and that it's too late to avoid consequences over the next 20 years. Barack Obama has been briefed; John McCain is next.
By Joby Warrick and Walter Pincus
The Washington Post 2008-09-10 (entry)
Kosher slaughterhouse owners face 9,311 child-labor violations; two executives charged with felonies after 400 arrested in May immigration raid at Iowa plant. And: Barack Obama doesn't name meatpacker, but urges crackdown on employers who are taking advantage of undocumented workers (click 'See also') 'to avoid paying decent wages and providing decent benefits.'
By Tony Leys and Jennifer Jacobs
The Des Moines Register 2008-09-09 (entry)
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Zimbabwe, once breadbasket but now in sixth year of food aid, lifts ban on aid after three-month standoff. Lag left up to 1.7 million left out of registration for food, other needs. Mugabe had claimed some groups fed only election opposition; U.S. says Mugabe used schoolchildren's food as political weapon. Meanwhile, 45 percent of citizens will be in need by January; they will forage, sell possessions and eat fewer meals to survive. For snapshot, click 'See also.'
By Celia W. Dugger
The New York Times 2008-08-29 (entry)
See also
California must work toward planned, efficient agricultural sector, long-term protections for land and water resources, and production of more high-valued crops grown with efficient irrigation systems. State must support farmers by implementing policies, incentives that support water conservation and efficiency.
By Heather Cooley and Juliet Christian-Smith
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-09-08 (entry)
Weaponless in California, ransacking burglar scours kitchen, then applies spice rub to one victim, whacks another in the face with a sausage, police say. After suspect is captured in field, authorities discover dog has eaten the evidence.
By Louis Galvan
The Fresno Bee (CA) 2008-09-06 (entry)
As climate expert urges less meat consumption at home to reduce global warming, animal welfare group in UK challenges food industry to reduce meat in packaged items and to replace it with more vegetables, 'other more benign materials.' Group also urges using meat from animals raised more humanely. And: It takes seven pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef (click 'See also').
By Jess Halliday
nutraingredients.com 2008-09-08 (entry)
4004 chart shows chronic wasting disease among free-ranging deer and elk by county.
When prions can jump species barriers, a new kind of prion is produced, researchers learn. Prion proteins cause Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and mad cow disease, and have infected 208 people, mostly in UK. Scientists now study whether prion-induced chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk and deer could jump to humans; disease has long dormant period. And: CDC, in 2004, said risk of CWD to humans was low (click 'See also').
By Amber Dance
Nature News 2008-09-04 (entry)
See also
Eat less meat to make personal difference in climate change, says authority on global warming. Diet change will have impact because of greenhouse gas emissions, habitat destruction linked to rearing cattle and other animals. And: Food emissions occur mostly during production (83 percent), with transportation contributing 11 percent (click 'See also').
By Juliette Jowit
The Observer (UK) 2008-09-07 (entry)
See also
In Haiti, UN begins distributing high-energy biscuits, water to 40,000 in shelters after three storms in less than three weeks. Thousands still isolated as Hurricane Ike approaches. Country was already reeling from rising prices and government disorder after food riots in April unseated prime minister. And: In Haiti's slums, sun-baked pies made with butter, salt, water and dirt (click 'See also').
By Jonathan M. Katz
The Associated Press; The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-09-06 (entry)
See also
Storm damage 'washes away' efforts to restore agricultural production in Haiti and to break its dependence on imported food, UN official says. And: As soil goes, so goes the nation (click 'See also'). To boost Haitian food production, ecologist founds nonprofit that builds composting toilets in rural communities to add organic matter and fertility to fields.
By John Heilprin
The Associated Press; The Press (Atlantic City, NJ) 2008-09-05 (entry)
See also
Three workers die, three injured by fumes at Canadian mushroom farm. Accident may have occurred as workers mixed chemicals into fertilizer they use on mushrooms; employee safety agency begins investigation.
By Marha Lederman and Robert Matas
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-09-06 (entry)
Food safety becomes election issue after Canada's deadly listeria outbreak; Liberal Leader calls for resignation of agriculture minister. One issue is new rules requiring inspectors to spend more time going over records of tests and tasks at processing plants, which leaves too little time on physical inspections, union leader says. And: Meat slicing machines likely source of contamination (click 'See also').
By Bill Curry, Jane Taber and Rheal Seguin
The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-09-05 (entry)
See also
EPA's current 'safe daily limit' for consumption of bisphenol-A (BPA), a leaching chemical used in hard plastic water and baby bottles and food and beverage can linings (click 'See also'), could cause memory/learning impairments and depression, research on primates shows. Scientist says EPA 'may wish to consider' lowering limit.
By Karen N. Peart
Yale University 2008-09-03 (entry)
See also
California creates water bank to buy from upstream agencies and farmers, then sell to thirsty areas in exchange for using less. Governor urges conservation, presses for expansion of water infrastructure. And: Wealthy farmer accuses governor of plan to pipe fresh water around California's fertile San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta (click 'See also').
By Jim Christie
Reuters 2008-09-04 (entry)
See also
Cottontail rabbits, eating well where the living is easy, have reached bumper crop status in New England region, moving gardeners to protect their broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower - and delighting hunters. And: Gourmet magazine's recipe for Orecchiette with Rabbit Ragu (click 'See also').
By Kevin P. O'Connor
The New York Times 2008-09-04 (entry)
See also
Appeals court says USDA can prohibit testing for mad cow disease. Small Arkansas slaughterhouse wanted to test each cow to prove to foreign markets that their beef was safe. USDA cites 1913 law, also argues that tests can't be used for marketing. And: Editors call ruling 'sane,' because test detects disease months before symptoms appear; disease incubation period is two to nine years.
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2008-08-29 (entry)
See also
Anchovies added to list of 69 unsustainable fish, shellfish that ethical consumers should not eat, UK conservation group says. Assessment includes biology, stock status, management and impact of farming or fishing method and site of catch. And: For Monterey Bay Aquarium's sustainable fish choices, click 'See also.'
By David Adam
The Guardian (UK) 2008-09-04 (entry)
See also
Swiss chard is a good source of folate and a very good source of vitamin B6.
Vitamin B deficiencies linked to learning problems, dramatically higher homocysteine levels in mouse study, researchers say. Elevated homocysteine levels in adults raise risk for Alzheimer's disease, stroke and atherosclerosis. And: Vitamin B-rich foods: leafy green vegetables, beans, peas, whole grains, fish, seafood, poultry and meats, eggs and milk, yogurt and cheese (click 'See also').
By Shane Starling
nutraingredients.com 2008-09-04 (entry)
See also
As products from cloned animals and their offspring begin to trickle into food stores, consumer and animal-welfare groups report sending FDA 150,000 letters opposing label-free decision. Government panel says organic and cloned are mutually exclusive, but USDA hasn't yet agreed. Ben & Jerry's has pledged not to knowingly use such products.
By Jane Zhang and Julie Jargon
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-09-02 (entry)
To make progress on energy, health care and climate change, food must be addressed, says Michael Pollan, author and an organizer of four-day Slow Food Nation event. Co-organizer Alice Waters advocates persuasion via the palate. The group hopes to convince Americans to reject fast, cheap food and choose organic, local agriculture and to return to the kitchen.
By J.M. Hirsch
The Associated Press; Austin American-Statesman 2008-08-29 (entry)
Steady, heavy rains increase woes of Florida's $9 billion citrus industry; juice prices go up at the supermarket. Soggy trees vulnerable to spread of citrus canker, which causes premature fruit drop. Another threat is invasive sap-sucking insect, already detected in all 32 citrus-producing counties in Florida, plus Louisiana and Texas.
By Hector Florin
Time magazine 2008-08-28 (entry)
Food firms see obstacles to irradiation of leafy greens, including scarcity of sites, costs and doubts that shoppers will embrace bacteria zapping method. Bagged salad maker calls it 'tease of a technology.' Only a few sites are set up for food, which means processors would pay three ways: shipping costs, shipping time and the procedure itself.
By Julie Schmit
USA Today 2008-08-27 (entry)
As understanding of fiber expands, companies develop items to exploit benefits. Researchers now understand that fiber, by way of friendly bacteria called probiotics, provides fuel to the colon, in addition to improving cholesterol, slowing sugars' entrance to bloodstream and speeding transit of food through body. Good sources of fiber: fruits, beans and whole grains.
By Mark Anthony
FoodProcessing.com 2008-08-01 (entry)
Overweight, obese who work for state of Alabama given a year to lose weight or face higher health insurance costs. And: Because medical costs are higher for the obese and premiums don't depend on weight, lighter people in same pool pay for food/exercise decisions of obese, says USDA (click 'See also').
By Nancy Yamada
WBIR 2008-08-23 (entry)
See also
Twelve deaths, 26 cases and 29 suspected cases of food-borne illness prompt expanded recall of 220 Maple Leaf products made at one factory in Canada. And: Listeriosis is common and rarely fatal, but can take up to 90 days to incubate (click 'See also').
By Ian Austen
The New York Times 2008-08-26 (entry)
See also
Bad economy means that as people worry more, they lose weight, drink less, exercise more, smoke less, and drive less, which then makes them feel better and reduces risks of diet-related disease and car crashes, says economist. Physician concurs, citing good health of laborers of decades past who ate rice and beans and couldn't afford cigarettes.
By Susan Brink
Los Angeles Times 2008-08-25 (entry)
Food crisis did not come without warning. It's unacceptable morally and unsustainable politically, economically. The U.S. must reinvest in agriculture development, organize institutions to address food challenge, re-examine food policies and consider global compact that eliminates food tariffs for poorest.
By Joe Biden
The Miami Herald; biden.senate.gov 2008-05-23 (entry)
In survey of 60 seafoods at New York sushi restaurants and seafood markets, a quarter of labels didn't match product, young researchers learn from newly available DNA analysis. Genetic fingerprinting technique, used by one sleuth's dad in his work with birds, showed that one fish labeled as white tuna was really tilapia, and in another case, red snapper was cod.
By John Schwartz
The New York Times 2008-08-21 (entry)
United Airlines plans October price hike to $9 for boxes containing salads and sandwiches on longer flights and won't offer free snacks on flights of two to three hours. Airline also will charge for meals on most flights to Europe. Price of jet fuel has jumped 52 percent during the past year; industry's combined losses could reach $10 billion this year.
By Mary Schlangenstein
bloomberg.com 2008-08-19 (entry)
California organic dairy stops selling raw milk through cow-share program after customer develops symptoms of campylobacter infection and is hospitalized. And: As demand for raw milk grows, federal government increases efforts to reduce availability over concerns of food-borne illnesses, though states regulate the industry (click 'See also').
By Nicholas Grube
The Daily Triplicate 2008-08-16 (entry)
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As fast-food ban sponsor recovers from childbirth, city council panel colleagues nix her proposal, saying one-year ban on new fast-food outlets would stifle economic development and hurt small businesses in San Jose. And: Food zoning as anti-obesity measure is paternalistic and wrong, says columnist (click 'See also').
The Associated Press; The Mercury News (CA) 2008-08-21 (entry)
See also
Stricter food safety standards by retailers is a welcome development. Retailers have both the clout to compel high standards and better tracking in agriculture and a direct reason to care, since they're the consumer's best chance of being compensated for food poisoning under product liability laws.
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2008-08-19 (entry)
FDA approves irradiation of iceberg lettuce, fresh spinach in effort to reduce incidence of e.coli, salmonella and listeria and to lengthen shelf life without nutrient compromise. Dole Foods is considering process. Consumer safety group wants growers to document manure use and ensure safety of irrigation water, which is suspect in summer salmonella outbreak.
By Lauran Neergaard
The Associated Press; Newsweek 2008-08-21 (entry)
Fourteenth case of mad cow confirmed in Canada. Latest case occurred in six-year-old beef cow; officials say it did not reach food chain. In 1997, government banned practice of feeding the herbivores protein from brains and spines of infected cattle or sheep. The material was still allowed in pig and poultry feed until July 2007.
Reuters
The Star (Canada) 2008-08-15 (entry)
Reasons behind nation's largest beef recall still mysterious, since officials say health risk was 'vanishingly small.' USDA is auditing nation's slaughterhouses to determine whether abuse, slaughter of downer cows was isolated; it also is considering criminal charges. It has filed claim against Westland/Hallmark president for $67.2 million, the estimated price of recall.
By Ben Goad
The Press-Enterprise (CA) 2008-08-16 (entry)
ConAgra Foods CEO compensation down 41 percent to $7.9 million in 2008 fiscal year. Board cites uneven performance and blames commodity costs and two recalls: pot pie and peanut butter. Company shifting focus to packaged items, including Healthy Choice, Chef Boyardee and Egg Beaters.
By Christopher Leonard
The Associated Press; The Boston Globe 2008-08-15 (entry)
As oil prices rise, dirt no longer cheap, nor are dirt bags, since plastic is a petroleum product. Potting mix ingredients come from all corners of the world and are vulnerable to rising freight costs. Fewer housing starts mean less shredded bark, which pushes prices up; fertilizer, too is in great demand by farmers growing corn for ethanol.
By Joel Achenbach
The Washington Post 2008-08-17 (entry)
Farm country economy buoyed by food price hikes and low interest rates - land prices have doubled in three years and sales of pickup trucks and farm equipment are booming - despite cost increases for fertilizer and fuel. Some worry that robustness could be bubble, and remember the early '80s bust.
By Neil Irwin
The Washington Post 2008-08-20 (entry)
Orange juice, apple juice change absorption rates of several medicines, which means that glass of water is the best chaser, says researcher. For nearly 20 years, physicians have warned against interaction of grapefruit juice and some drugs.
By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay; The Washington Post 2008-08-19 (entry)
Ocean's dead zones, where fish can't survive because of nitrogen- and phosphorous-laden fertilizer runoff and burning of fossil fuels, now cluster along eastern coastal U.S., endangering ecosystem, new study finds. One such zone in 1976 cost region's fisheries $500 million-plus. And: Dead zones are paradox of American agriculture: richness on fields, death in the water.
By David Biello
Scientific American 2008-08-15 (entry)
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Wine producers everywhere need to follow Italy's lead and deliver better wine in a box. With U.S. poised to become largest market, consumers need to demand the switch to lighter packaging. It's the environmental and affordable thing to do. Once open, a box preserves wine for about four weeks, compared to a day or two for a bottle.
By Tyler Colman
The New York Times 2008-08-17 (entry)
As agriculture, large-scale irrigation, market competition and climate change fuel 'water war,' Spain reconsiders its water policy. Farmers, who use 80 percent of the country's water and now irrigate historically arid crop of olives to boost production, are blamed for tapping up to 1.5 million illegal wells. Desalination offers some hope.
By Christine Spolar
Chicago Tribune 2008-08-18 (entry)
Latin America is major food producer, but sometimes must import to prevent shortages. Political left turn was tied to food problem - Brazil's 'Zero Hunger' plan, Argentina's price controls, Venezuela's land reform. Assuring food security must avoid protectionism and requires new international regime of free trade for agricultural commodities.
By Khatchik Der Ghougassian
Journal of Turkish Weekly 2008-08-18 (entry)
Diet rich in legumes - peanuts, soybeans and other beans - reduces risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 40 percent, study indicates. High intake of soybeans linked to 47 percent risk reduction. Study used food-frequency questionnaires to chart health of 64,227 middle-aged Chinese women for about 4.6 years.
By Stephen Daniells
Food Navigator 2008-01-08 (entry)
As horseweed, Palmer amaranth, johnsongrass and other weeds develop resistance to Monsanto's Roundup, Arkansas farmers pin hopes on Bayer CropScience LibertyLink soybeans. New soybeans will be resistant to Ignite, a potent weedkiller. And: EPA classifies active ingredient, glufosinate ammonium, as 'persistent' and 'mobile' (click 'See also').
By David Bennett
Delta Farm Press 2008-08-13 (entry)
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Rice farmers' suits against maker of biotech rice too dissimilar to consolidate into class-action, judge rules. After Bayer CropScience's Liberty Link rice contaminated public food supply in 2006, mostly likely from plot at Louisiana State University, some countries temporarily banned U.S. rice exports, drying up foreign markets and causing drop in U.S. rice price.
The Associated Press; International Herald Tribune 2008-08-14 (entry)
Food poisoning suspected in pre-Olympics illnesses of 15 percent of about 150 American athletes on track team in town outside of Beijing. Events official says he was told illnesses were 'normal stomach bugs' and not out of the ordinary for an international trip.
By Gina Kolata and Jason Stallman
The New York Times 2008-08-16 (entry)
Farm/food bill architects in Congress say that proposed USDA rule would cut out payments to small-acreage farmers by ignoring 'statement of intent' that accompanied law. But USDA says Congress debated provision that would have aggregated acreage to qualify for payments but removed it to save $34 million over five years.
By Aliya Sternstein
CQ 2008-08-13 (entry)
It's time to apply lessons from energy sector to food policies and create an OPEC-like group for grain. As biofuels cropland demand increases and climate change alters global harvests, Organization of Grain Exporting Countries could regulate grain stocks - and institutionalize food as a human right. And: Russia plans to form state grain trading company (click 'See also').
By Mike Stones
nutraingredients.com/Decision News Media 2008-08-11 (entry)
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It's a good time to start a small farm, based on organic farming popularity, growing awareness of food sources, say entrepreneurs, experts. Profit requires time, niche product such as truffles or natural meats; good target is annual sales of less than $10,000, so don't quit the day job.
By Brent Bowers
The New York Times 2008-08-06 (entry)
After protests from industry, environmental groups, Senate committee urges that USDA restore funding for surveying pesticide, fertilizer application on U.S. farms. But official says that without additional funding, $8 million program won't return. Higher standard would be implementing California's exacting reporting requirements nationally, says researcher.
By Erika Engelhaupt
American Chemical Society 2008-07-30 (entry)
Genetic engineering comes to Honduras corn fields, and country distributes seed, fertilizer to supplement pricey imported corn, rice. And: Transformation from farmer to agricultural entrepreneur in Honduras and other developing countries begins with seeds, fertilizer but requires decent roads, irrigation and help in using technology (click 'See also').
By Dan Charles
National Public Radio/Morning Edition 2008-08-07 (entry)
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After shoppers and businesses shun biotech hormone that increases milk yields, agribusiness giant Monsanto looks to sell its Posilac business. Company says it will focus on its genetically modified seed. And: Sale of business means sale of Georgia facility, which employs 200 (click 'See also').
By David Biello
Scientific American 2008-08-07 (entry)
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Nebraska Beef, an Omaha meatpacker recalling 1.2 million pounds of beef - including some from Whole Foods - has history of food-safety and other violations and has fought USDA over plant shutdowns. Last month, it recalled more than 5 million pounds of beef. And: For recall, click 'See also.'
By Annys Shin and Ylan Q. Mui
The Washington Post 2008-08-08 (entry)
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Processed food makers, meatpackers raise prices, shrink packages while ranchers thin herds to pass high grain, energy prices on to shoppers; 'sticker shock' in meat case predicted. Food service suppliers look to shorten contracts. Stock prices are up for fertilizer maker Mosaic, biotech (GMO) seed creator Monsanto and farm equipment supplier Deere & Co.
By Scott Kilman
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-08-08 (entry)
Reflecting industry ties, California forestry board turns down emergency salmon protection bid. Board regulates logging on private land. Coastal coho salmon numbers have plunged 73 percent since last year and may be near extinction. And: Logging and conversion of timberland have harmed coho salmon, fisheries group says (click 'See also').
McClatchy Newspapers/The Guardian (UK) 2008-08-07 (entry)
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Obesity is a public health disaster and is threatening our children. About half of Americans' food budget is spent at restaurants. If we can force oil companies to tell us octane level of fuel for our cars, surely we can demand that fast-food and restaurant chains tell us what we're putting into our bodies.
By Harold Goldstein and Eric Schlosser
Los Angeles Times 2008-08-05 (entry)
As economy struggles, wine, liquor and beer sales rise in Iowa. Treasury gathered $87.6 million for the 12 months ending June 30, up 3.7 percent from year earlier. Most of the money went to general fund, for education, environmental protection, welfare and public safety; 16 percent goes to substance abuse programs.
By William Petroski
The Des Moines Register 2008-08-04 (entry)
Court papers show that Agriprocessors' human-resources employee helped distribute false green cards to Iowa slaughterhouse workers. In 2006, Swift official was charged with harboring illegals and failing to report crime after meatpacking raid. Companies seem to rely on a mid-level manager to create bogus documents, then claim ignorance.
By Rekha Basu
The Des Moines Register 2008-08-03 (entry)
Development encroaches on Qorsaya island in the Nile, long home for fisherman, his two wives and their 13 children, at least one grown and a fisherman like his dad. 'If you ask me to choose between eating food or drinking from the Nile, I choose the Nile. I can't describe the value of the Nile. There are no words.'
By Jeffrey Fleishman
Los Angeles Times 2008-08-03 (entry)
Country-of-origin labels required by Sept. 30 for beef, chicken, fresh produce, frozen fruits and vegetables and other products; restaurants exempt. In hint on price shoppers may pay, retailers' costs about 7 cents a pound for beef and 4 cents a pound for pork. Ground meat labels must list all countries of origin or list of all reasonably possible countries of origin (click 'See also').
By Michael Doyle
Mcclatchy-Tribune; The Houston Chronicle 2008-08-01 (entry)
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Jellyfish unwelcome residents at beaches worldwide after severe overfishing removes their predators (tuna, sharks, swordfish) and food competitors, and pollution saps oxygen needed for other predators to thrive in coastal shallows. Their presence signals declining health of the world's oceans, scientists say. And: Jellyfish could take place of fish with chips (click 'See also').
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
The New York Times 2008-08-03 (entry)
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Potato chip producers agree to reduce carcinogen - acrylamide - in their chips over three years and pay penalties to settle California lawsuit. Accord means a 20 percent cut for Frito-Lay products, 87 percent cut for Kettle Chips, and warning label on Cape Cod Robust Russets. And: FDA tells home cooks to reduce chemical by not over-browning potatoes (click 'See also').
By Bob Egelko
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-08-02 (entry)
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Iowa slaughterhouse workers treatment is disgrace. Bush administration abandoned mercy and proportionality, devised new, harsher traps for illegal workers. By treating desperate employees as criminal class, government is attempting to inflate illegals' menace to level that justifies its rabid efforts to capture and punish them. And: Immigrants' stories (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2008-08-01 (entry)
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There's too much we don't know about what we eat, and food industry is largely to blame. After 9/11, food industry spent $2.6 million lobbying against stronger food safety rules that would have required source tracing. Bush administration backed business; this season, tomato growers alone lost $250 million so far in salmonella outbreak.
The editors
Reno Gazette-Journal (NV) 2008-07-28 (entry)
Some flight attendants balk at collecting $1 and $2 for coffee and sodas on US Airways; assertive passengers likely to still score free non-alcoholic drinks. New policy is expected to make $500 million yearly and help offset rising fuel prices, spokesperson says.
Bloomberg News; The New York Times 2008-08-01 (entry)
Collapse of trade talks indicates revolution in way we see economics of agriculture, and it should be reflected in freer trade. It's time for U.S. to let markets and need determine what farmers grow and how they farm - and lead by example. And: Doha failed after U.S., India and China couldn't agree on farmer protections in developing countries (click 'See also').
By Victor Davis Hanson
The New York Times 2008-08-01 (entry)
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Obesity, already public health crisis, likely to cost $956.9 billion by 2030 if epidemic grows at current rate, researchers suggest. More than 86 percent of population projected to be overweight or obese by then, including 96 percent of black women and 91 percent of Mexican-American men. Analysis shows that, over time, heavy Americans become heavier.
By Natalie Wood-Wright
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2008-07-28 (entry)
Fat build-up, triglyceride surge greater from fructose consumption than other sugars, small study reports. Researchers also note that fat was created from fructose by liver within four hours of consumption, which means that the next meal's fat is more likely to be stored. Fat synthesis may be revved up in overweight, obese patients.
By Stephen Daniells
nutraingredients.com 2008-07-25 (entry)
Though childhood obesity best treated by diet and exercise, data suggest that several hundred thousand children now taking medicines to treat its eventual complications, with greatest increase in Type 2 diabetes drugs. Many patients live in neighborhoods without grocery stores and attend schools that have no physical education programs. And: Series on childhood obesity (click 'See also').
By Stephanie Saul
The New York Times 2008-07-26 (entry)
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Conservation program land won't be released for planting without penalty because of good harvest projections and because many farmers have already paid their way out of program, returning 288,726 acres to farming, USDA says. Decision disappoints bakers and livestock owners, who face high grain costs; hunters, conservationists pleased.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2008-07-30 (entry)
When one in eight families who bring children to Maryland emergency room are undernourished, there's growing need for nutrition programs. Baltimore officials are right to urge physicians to screen young patients for malnutrition and refer families to food pantries. But encouraging families to get help isn't enough; city needs a plan.
The editors
The Baltimore Sun 2008-07-18 (entry)
Some Kellogg's Eggo products advertised for sale a pirate bandana 'like the one worn by Jack Sparrow' in a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie.
Pitches for sodas, restaurant items, boxed cereals led $1.6 billion in spending to sell processed food items to children in 2006, FTC report says. Beyond that 63 percent, $860 million aimed for children 12 and younger; $1 billion was directed at adolescents. And: In 1999, candy and snack ad spending was $1 billion; USDA spent $333 million on nutrition education, evaluation, and demonstrations (click 'See also').
By Bob Dart
Cox News Service/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2008-07-29 (entry)
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Use diet, physical activity to treat pre-diabetes, endocrinologists say in issuing guidelines for diagnosing metabolic syndrome. Group calls for training primary-care doctors in helping patients with lifestyle changes. 'Most doctors don't know how to deal with this,' says research director. And: More children taking drugs related to childhood obesity (click 'See also').
By Mary Brophy Marcus
USA Today 2008-07-22 (entry)
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Eat Maine lobster, but leave the tomalley - the soft green liver - says FDA. Red tide in Atlantic waters from Canada to South Carolina may have deposited toxin that could cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. And: Florida lawmakers push for red tide research (click 'See also').
The Associated Press; U.S. News & World Report 2008-07-28 (entry)
Trayless dining, which cuts food waste up to 50 percent and reduces water, energy use, catches on at universities.Then, there's pleasing the students: 79% of the 92,000 students surveyed this spring said they supported move. And: In Maine, colleges also compost, and buy in bulk (click 'See also').
By Bruce Horovitz
USA Today 2008-07-23 (entry)
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Congress must write stimulus plan with more spending for food stamps and more direct aid to states and local governments. Food aid helps most vulnerable Americans; food stamps are spent quickly and in full. Direct aid to states and localities reaches Medicaid recipients and others, and extra money is passed on.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-07-27 (entry)
As their profits soar, agribusiness giants form group to protect ethanol subsidies and to push for genetically modified crops so renewable fuels won't cut into global food supplies.
In the opposing corner: food producers in U.S. lobbying to get ethanol subsidies scrapped or reduced.
By Doug Cameron
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-07-25 (entry)
Obesity now tops list of parent concerns, study shows. Drug abuse, smoking, bullying are runners-up; environmental toxins and lack of opportunity for physical activity finish off the top 10 list. Researchers saw priorities change depending on race, income or whether children were living at home, indicating no universal approach to problems, says physician. And: Slide show of obesity trends across the U.S. (click 'See also').
By Krista Hopson
University of Michigan 2008-07-14 (entry)
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Tyson wrestles with costs of grain in chicken farming and ingredients for processed and pre-cooked items. Tyson has raised prices, closed a Kansas factory, cut 1,500 jobs. It also faced bird-flu scare, floods in Midwest and was required by USDA to pull a 'raised without antibiotics' label off some chickens (Tyson is suing over decision). And: corn price was 69 percent higher on average during the quarter than a year earlier (click 'See also').
By David Benoit
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-07-28 (entry)
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Teens found working at kosher slaughterhouse during immigration raid; afterward, they described labor violations that could result in criminal charges, lawyers say. And: Demonstrators expected in Iowa to protest immigrant treatment at Agriprocessors; Jewish groups debate buying their meat, labeled Aaron's Best and Aaron's Choice. (click 'See also').
By Julia Preston
The New York Times 2008-07-27 (entry)
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Ann Veneman, former agriculture secretary to George Bush, floated as possible Obama running mate. Veneman was seen as experienced leader but often clashed with Democrats on regulation and over expanding subsidies for small farmers. She led administration's mad cow response; light U.S. testing has led to continuing barriers for American beef exports.
By Amie Parnes and Ben Smith
Politico 2008-07-25 (entry)
Coast Guard opens Mississippi River to limited traffic two days after oil spill; some nearby suburbs find another source for drinking water; fate of fish unknown. And: Between 55 percent and 65 percent of all U.S. corn, soybean and wheat exports leave from the Gulf of Mexico (click 'See also').
By Adam Nossiter
The New York Times 2008-07-25 (entry)
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Smell, taste experts gather to share latest research, insights to these intimately connected senses that are perceived so differently among individuals. One new tool: the olfactometer. It dispenses puffs of scented air, then judges ability to name a smell; to distinguish one odor from a slightly different one; and to find the threshold of scent detection. And: Asthma drug restores sense of smell for some (click 'See also').
By Sabin Russell
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-07-25 (entry)
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Democratic senators say administration-rejected EPA report declares that greenhouse gases endanger public welfare. It forecasts worse heat waves, more strain on scarce water sources, worse flooding and erosion, more stress on damaged ecosystems. And: EPA administrator refuses to grant Dems' request to appear at hearing on climate change inaction (click 'See also).
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-07-25 (entry)
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Strong demand for corn, soybeans (click 'See also'), pushes DuPont
quarterly earnings higher than expected. Its $9 billion revenue aided
by global agriculture boom, which offset weak performance in housing,
automotive markets. Delaware-based chemical company sells genetically
modified seeds, other agriculture products.
By Euan Rocha
Reuters 2008-07-22 (entry)
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Cool, wet weather delays peak harvest, breeds soil fungus, bloats berries and melons and proves treacherous for farm equipment - but on bright side, irrigation not required. Farmers counsel patience and explain to customers the unpredictability of agriculture.
By Jenna Johnson
The Washington Post 2008-07-25 (entry)
In Midwest, vast fields of crops release moisture into the air, causing pockets of humidity. Dew points, a measure of moisture, may soon reach near 80 in sections of Missouri and Iowa--a level most often associated with tropical rain forests.
By Tom Skilling
Chicago Tribune 2008-07-25 (entry)
Citing safety risk to toddlers, EPA bans residue of carbofuran. It's used mostly in developing countries on rice, bananas, coffee, sugar cane, corn, potatoes, soybeans and alfalfa. It kills bees and, over last 40 years, it has killed millions of wild birds, including golden and bald eagles, red-tailed hawks and migratory songbirds, environmental groups say.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-07-25 (entry)
McDonald's likely to raise prices on dollar menu items, which are 14 percent of U.S. sales. Franchisees bear the rising costs of commodities; dollar menu limits revenues. One target: double cheeseburger (cheese prices to rise 21 percent). And: double cheeseburger holds 440 calories, 210 from fat; 34 grams of carbohydrates and 1,150 milligrams of sodium (click 'See also').
By Mike Hughlett
Chicago Tribune 2008-07-24 (entry)
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After 1,251 reported illnesses, FDA finds Saintpaul salmonella match in Mexican hot peppers, but contamination source unclear. And: North Carolina recalls jalapeño peppers and Hass avocados for Orangeburg salmonella (click 'See also').
By Bina Venkataraman
The New York Times 2008-07-21 (entry)
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As ocean warms, octopus appear in Scottish seas lobster traps and might be eating the more lucrative catch; their price drops to that of cod. Squid, deep-sea John Dory fish, red blenny and Japanese skeleton shrimp among those invading - others have hitched rides on ship hulls.
By Paul Kelbie
The Observer (UK) 2008-07-20 (entry)
In study, those who kept food diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn't. Other aids: low-fat diet high in produce, weekly support sessions, moderate exercise. Losing nine pounds each would vastly decrease U.S. rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, says researcher. And: At senate hearing, childhood obesity called 'medical emergency' (click 'See also').
The Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente 2008-07-08 (entry)
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EU debates produce grading - cucumber's maximum arc, refractive ability of a peach, 29 pages on quality standards for onions. Some favor stringency since shoppers aren't allowed to touch merchandise, but agriculture commissioner wants regulations pared, citing waste, food prices and bureaucracy.
By John Ward Anderson
The Washington Post 2008-07-08 (entry)
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Controversy over risks of BPA, a leaching chemical in some food containers, shows divergence in results of industry- and government-sponsored research because funding sources shape questions asked, data gathered and definitions used. De-linking sponsorship and research is crucial to credibility.
By David Michaels
The Washington Post 2008-07-15 (entry)
Politics, poverty hinder farmers' yields abroad. Farmhands in Ukraine scavenge junked equipment to keep their ancient tractors and combines running. And: Argentina senate votes against government's new tax on grain exports; the issue has paralyzed country's rich agriculture sector (click 'See also').
By Greg Burns, Alex Rodriguez and Oscar Avila
Chicago Tribune 2008-07-18 (entry)
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Alice Waters leads 150 in planting of updated version of a World War II victory garden at San Francisco's Civic Center. Slow Food Nation Victory Garden will be centerpiece of the group's conference over Labor Day weekend. Produce will be distributed to local charities.
San Francisco Chronicle 2008-07-13 (entry)
Better access to healthful foods, walkable streets and recreational areas and sense of community reduces residents' risk of high blood pressure, study shows. Links diminished when researchers factored in the 2,612 participants' race and ethnicity.
Reuters 2008-07-15 (entry)
Climate change may bring water shortages in West and increased spread of diseases contracted through food and water, as well as heat waves, hurricanes and increased death rates in inner city, EPA says. And: Oil industry arguments helped block regulations on greenhouse gases (click 'See also').
By David A. Fahrenthold and Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2008-07-18 (entry)
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Starbucks reveals the 600 stores that will be closed after information begins to leak out. Stores targeted are across the country and in diverse locales - inside malls, near beaches, in college towns. Seattle is scheduled to lose seven cafes. For list, click 'See also.'
By Janet Adamy
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2008-07-18 (entry)
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