Bogus headline of the week: It’s hot — Put down that burger!
More drivel in the war against meat,
Obama kicks off first foreign speech with an astonishingly false statement on global warming
“Our changing climate is already making it more difficult to produce food,” Obama said at the Seeds & Chips conference in Milan, Italy Tuesday.
Stirring in electricity production with Greek yogurt
The Greek yogurt boom has taken the nation by storm. And while many enjoy the dairy product for its unique, flavorful taste, others are finding it to be a delicious means to produce electricity.
USDA shirking its responsibility to inspect organic food!
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits synthetic nitrogen fertilizer in organic production and encourages natural compost. But it does not test for un-composted feces. At least 140 people across eight states have now fallen ill after consuming hepatitis-A-infected certified-organic frozen berries and pomegranate seeds; 61 were still in hospitals in mid-July.
Can wood feed the world?
Wood is used for everything from kitchen tables to baseball bats, but might it also be a source of food for a growing world population?
Why should “organic” mean “untested”?
Organic farmers in many developing countries – such as Turkey, the apparent origin of this outbreak – still use raw human sewage to fertilize crops! In many people’s opinion, that practice qualifies as “organic” – whereas using safe modern fertilizers and insecticides does not! Even worse, feces contamination cannot be washed off. It’s embedded in the plant.
Think local, shop global
Are foods like lettuce, eggs and beef better for you if they’re grown locally in your area, than if they’re shipped in from far away? Not necessarily . . .
How safe is your organic food?
How safe are organic foods, especially when compared to conventionally grown varieties? Not as safe as many assume. A recall has just been announced for certified organic berries sold at Costco. According to the Centers for Disease Control, at least 106 people in eight states have contracted hepatitis A, a debilitating disease that can last for weeks or months, and even be deadly, after eating Townsend Farms frozen berries bought at the box store retailer.
How ethanol programs cause 200,000 deaths each year
The EPA claims that ethanol, a fuel made from corn, has only a minimal impact on food prices. But Sam Kazman, general counsel for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, disagrees. . .
Anti GM-foods leader offers stunning apology
Opposition to genetically modified food has been a top issue for environmental activists, and has led to bans and other official anti-GMO policies in Europe and Asia. But now, in a stunning turnaround, Mark Lynas, the British activist who helped spur the anti-GMO movement worldwide, says he got it all wrong.
Novel fish farm reels in eco-benefits
To feed a growing world population, our ability to maximize fish yields has become a very important priority. But with environmental concerns being raised about depleted ocean stocks, and health alarms scaring others away from eating farmed fish, this matter has become a slippery one to solve.
Canada crushes anti-plastic bottle hype
For years, charges have been made that a common chemical found in plastics, known as BPA, is responsible for birth defects, obesity and even cancer. And while activists have been successful getting their message into the media, they’ve been less successful in getting it validated by peer-reviewed science.
Palm oil greasing the skids out of poverty
A campaign is growing to pressure food companies and consumers into boycotting palm oil because of its alleged environmental impacts. But according to a new report by the non-profit group, World Growth, palm oil is a highly efficient source of food and fuel, and is a good way to produce fossil fuel alternatives and capture carbon from the atmosphere.
Enjoying cheeseburgers with a little less climate guilt
Worried about how milk and meat production are causing global warming, singer Paul McCartney and the U.N. recently launched a campaign in Europe called “Less Meat=Less Heat” while other activists are promoting “meatless Mondays.”
Organic’s eco-benefits less than appealing
While taste and quality may spur some consumers to purchase organic fruits and vegetables, it appears their benefits to the natural world are clearly less appealing.