Special Coverage: Food

Jill Richardson, Commonweal Institute. November 25, 2009.
Obama's statements about food and agriculture trend moderate to progressive, but his nominations for top positions in his administration tell a different story.

Don't Be Scared of Food: Are We Being Needlessly Hysterical About Food Safety?

David E. Gumpert, Chelsea Green Publishing. November 25, 2009.
Despite all the media hype, there's little to actually suggest we're facing a major food safety crisis.

10 Tips for a Sustainable Thanksgiving

Sarah Newman, Takepart. November 24, 2009.
Here's what you need to know, from tips on a meatless meal to options for a humanely raised turkey to having diversity on your actual dinner table.

The War on Soy: Why the 'Miracle Food' May Be a Health Risk and Environmental Nightmare

Tara Lohan, AlterNet. November 21, 2009.
Vegetarians aren't the only ones who should be concerned; there's soy in just about everything you eat these days -- including hamburgers, mac 'n cheese and salad dressing.

8 Steps Obama Could Take to Save Food

Robyn O'Brien, AlterNet. November 19, 2009.
No longer are our families guaranteed a healthy livelihood, not in the face of the current rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimers and allergies. We need a new food system.

Is Obama's Latest Agriculture Nominee a Textbook Pesticide-Pusher?

Kate Sheppard, Mother Jones. November 19, 2009.
Obama recently tapped as chief agricultural negotiator for the office of the US Trade Representative a senior executive from one of the pesticide industry's main trade groups.

Modern Life Is Probably Screwed by Peak Oil, But It's Not Too Late to Avoid Mass Starvation

George Monbiot, Monbiot.com. November 19, 2009.
The challenge of feeding 7 or 8 billion people while oil supplies are falling is stupefying. It'll be even greater if governments keep pretending that it isn't going to happen.

Fresh Food From Small Spaces: A Beginner's Guide to Urban Farming

Makenna Goodman, Chelsea Green Publishing. November 18, 2009.
You don't need a red barn and rolling wheat fields. Urbanites, too, can grow their own food indoors, in cramped spaces, and without access to land! For real.

Is BPA, a Chemical Commonly Found in Food Containers, Ruining Your Sex Life?

Elaine Shannon, AlterNet. November 17, 2009.
Erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems were two side effects in a recent study of men exposed to high levels of bisphenol A, or BPA.

Why I Drink Raw Milk (That's Sold Illegally)

Joel Salatin, Chelsea Green Publishing. November 16, 2009.
The local heritage food movement -- the raw milk movement -- is all about respecting and honoring indigenous wisdom.

Rebellious Teens Should Have Rebellious Diets

Sarah Newman, Takepart. November 16, 2009.
Kids are obsessed with self-expression. So why are their food choices so monotonous?

Lab-Grown Meat: The Answer to Animal Cruelty and Environmental Ruin From Feedlots?

Ari LeVaux, AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
If and when lab-grown meat begins filling the processed-food troughs of the masses, will the Oscar Mayer wiener-eaters of the world even notice?

Quitting Meat Is a Process -- Almost Impossible to Do All at Once

Jonathan Safran Foer, AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
When it comes to meat, change is almost always cast as an absolute. You are a vegetarian or you are not. It's a strange formulation, and it's distracting.

Soda Helps Make Americans Unhealthy and Fat -- Will Soda Tax Prevail Despite Pushback by Beverage Industry?

Christine Spolar, Joseph Eaton, The Huffington Post Investigative Fund. November 10, 2009.
Soft drink makers, supermarket companies, agriculture and the fast-food business have poured millions into campaigning against taxes on sweetened beverages.

Despite Censorship By Beef Magnate, Michael Pollan Spreads Message About the Real Price of Cheap Food

AlterNet. November 9, 2009.
Pollan took on Big Ag and cheap food in a panel discussion, after the protests of a meat industry chairman led to his speech at a University being canceled.

The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights

Makenna Goodman, TreeHugger. November 7, 2009.
Because of its health benefits, many more people are turning to raw milk. But there's one hitch: Raw milk is illegal.

7 Diseases That Big, Juicy Steaks Could Give You

Sara Novak, Planet Green. November 5, 2009.
We know meat isn't necessarily the most healthy dietary choice; it could also be a fatal one.

Jonathan Safran Foer's 'Eating Animals' Book Will Fundamentally Change the Way You Think About Food

Kathy Freston, AlterNet. November 4, 2009.
"He is the Michael Pollan of a younger generation: grittier and more daring, more insightful and decisive."

From the blogs

White House Releases Turkey Pardon Spoof Then Does The Real Thing

Damn Good Recipe for Stuffing Right Here

Japan Fines 'Fat' People, Companies Must Measure Waist Lines of Employees

Sarah Palin Celebrates Her Humble Roots by Eating at a Restaurant That Serves a $25,000 Dessert

Considering a Faux Turkey for the Holidays? Better Read This First

Why There Are More Than 1 Million Hungry Kids in the U.S.

Sorry Monsanto, You're Wrong: More GE Crops Mean More Pesticides

What's Really So Frightening About Burger King's $1 Double Cheeseburgers

MIT: Eating Local Food Is the Key to Solving Our Obesity Epidemic

PETA Teams Up With Glenn Beck to Bash Al Gore

White House Garden Won't Make Up for Obama's Nomination of Pesticide Lobbyist for US Chief Agriculture Negotiator