Slashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.comSlashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gifSlashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Guy Fieri Joins Lawmakers to Promote Family Dinnershttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/guy-fieri-lobbies-lawmakers-to-promote-family-dinners/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/guy-fieri-lobbies-lawmakers-to-promote-family-dinners/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/guy-fieri-lobbies-lawmakers-to-promote-family-dinners/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo


Yes, his overbearing manner and spiked blond hair can rub people the wrong way, but at his core, Guy Fieri seems like a pretty decent guy. Recently, the host of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" used his clout to try to convince the California legislature to adopt a resolution urging the families to meet and cook weekly meals together every Sunday, reports the Associated Press.

Fieri, who helped pass a 2008 initiative to make the second Saturday in May "Cook With Your Kids Day" says he thinks cooking at home builds healthy habits.

"Let them stand there and work the saute pan, let them do the plate up, let them deliver it to the family," Fieri told the lawmakers. "Start them off slow. Educate them as you go."

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]]>cook with your kids dayguy fieriSlashfood EditorWed, 27 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTWhat the Republican Budget Means for Food Stampshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/what-the-republican-budget-means-for-food-stamps/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/what-the-republican-budget-means-for-food-stamps/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/what-the-republican-budget-means-for-food-stamps/#commentsFiled under: ,

federal food stamps debit cardPhoto: Joe Raedle / Getty Images


Food stamp users, prepare for some belt-tightening. Harkening back to Clinton-era welfare economics of 1996, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan has proposed a $6.2 trillion cut to annual federal deficits for the next decade. The proposal, which passed the House earlier this month and resumes legislation today as Senators return from Easter-Passover break, would have a major impact on nutritional assistance programs.

The Ryan budget plan looks to cut the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 20 percent between 2012 to 2021 by capping the open-ended system with a block-grant -- either by capping eligibility or benefits, or both. This means benefits would not fluctuate with economic need. States would instead be allotted a max.

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]]>featuredfood stampsFoodStampsSNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramJessie CacciolaTue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 ESTOrganic Valley Accused of Violating Organic Egg Standardshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/organic-valley-eggs-accused-of-violating-organic-standards/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/organic-valley-eggs-accused-of-violating-organic-standards/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/organic-valley-eggs-accused-of-violating-organic-standards/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: Saul Loeb, AFP / Getty Images


Organic Valley, the nation's largest name-brand marketer of organic eggs, is being accused of misleading consumers about the living conditions of its California hens, and for violating federal organic standards, according to a story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The bombshell was dropped by the California-based organic watchdog group Cornucopia Institute, which says the hens at the Petaluma Egg Farm were confined in screened "porches" and not allowed to forage naturally in pastures with direct sunlight.

"The federal organic standards clearly state that 'year-round access for all animals to the outdoors' is a requirement," says Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst with the group in a release on their website.

The Cornucopia Institute has filed a legal complaint with the USDA over the matter. The current dust-up may be prompted by the USDA's National Organic Standards Board meeting scheduled for the end of April, where the board is expected to address whether "porches" meet the definition of access to the outdoors.

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]]>CAFOcage-freeCornucopia InstituteeggsfarmingorganicOrganic ValleyClare Leschin-HoarTue, 19 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTBoston Bans Soda on City Propertyhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/08/boston-bans-soda-on-city-property/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/08/boston-bans-soda-on-city-property/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/08/boston-bans-soda-on-city-property/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boston bans Coke and soda on city propertyPhoto: Jewel Samad, AFP / Getty Images


Boston's long-time mayor, Thomas M. Menino just made quenching the thirst of city-workers that much harder. According to The Boston Globe, Menino issued an executive order to phase out sugary drinks from all city property in an effort to curb rising obesity rates. So long non-diet sodas. Adios sweet tea. Arrivederci you sexy sports drinks, you.

City departments have six months to phase out the sinister sugary beverages in cafeterias, vending machines, concession stands and during city-run meetings. And just in case parched public workers aren't quite sure what constitutes a healthy beverage, the Boston Public Health Commission is applying the familiar red, yellow and green labels to drinks, and reinforced by nearby posters that say, "Stop. Rethink Your Drink. Go On Green."

According to a release from the Mayor's office, "red" beverages include non-diet sodas, sweetened ice teas, sports drinks, etc. Diet sodas and diet iced teas, 100 percent fruit juices and low calorie sports drinks qualify as "yellow" beverages, while "green" drinks mean bottled water, low fat milk or unsweetened soy milk. Mmmm. Unsweetened soy milk -- yum.

Boston's not alone in trying to combat obesity through mandated choices. Cities like San Francisco, San Antonio, Los Angeles County and New York City have also set standards to limit or prohibit the sale or distribution of unhealthy food -- including sugary drinks.

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]]>BostonobesityschoolssodaClare Leschin-HoarFri, 08 Apr 2011 12:00:00 ESTDebate Raging Over Concentrated Animal Feeding Operationshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/31/debate-raging-over-confined-animal-feeding-operations/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/31/debate-raging-over-confined-animal-feeding-operations/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/31/debate-raging-over-confined-animal-feeding-operations/#commentsFiled under:

aCAFO pig facilityPhoto: Daniel Pepper / Getty Images


It's a particularly tense debate being played out in rural communities across the country, but most recently at a heated meeting in Knox County, Missouri, where residents voiced concerns over local concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) and whether or not the county's health ordinance is being properly enforced.

The conversation is especially timely. Here's a round-up of activity just this month: In Missouri, House Bill 209 and Senate Bill 187 would restrict compensation for damages caused by CAFOs. In Idaho, lawmakers are considering a move to shield data related to CAFOs from the public. In Iowa, lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it illegal for activists to film farm operations while undercover; while a Florida bill was introduced that would make photographing a farm a felony. (That bill has since been amended to target those who trespass on private land.)

Add to that, two weeks ago a federal court of appeals ruled that the EPA cannot require livestock farmers to apply for Clean Water Act permits unless manure from the farms are actually discharged into U.S. waters.

At the same time, concerns over drug resistant bacteria and its connection to antibiotic use in livestock is mounting. That's certainly a worry for Lynn Bradley who attended the Knox County meeting on Monday.

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]]>CAFODrug resistantfarmingfeaturedlivestockClare Leschin-HoarThu, 31 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTNew Lawsuit Filed over GMO Alfalfahttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/new-lawsuit-filed-over-gmo-alfalfa/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/new-lawsuit-filed-over-gmo-alfalfa/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/new-lawsuit-filed-over-gmo-alfalfa/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: Photo: Pro-Soil Ag Solutions, Flickr


The next skirmish over genetically modified foods is getting underway, pitting a coalition of environmental, consumer and food-safety groups against the federal government.

Early this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved unrestricted planting of a type of GM alfalfa engineered by Monsanto. To the average consumer, that might not sound like such a big deal-after all, we're not rabbits.

But rabbits aren't the only animals that like to munch on the sweet grass. Alfalfa is the primary food source for cows, too. No only that, but alfalfa has a wily propensity to cross-pollinate across miles; over time, opponents say, there's no way to ensure that the GM variety doesn't intermix with the non-GM variety.

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]]>gmo alfalfagmo lawsuitmonsantoJason BestTue, 22 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTA Dubious Alliance of Food Giantshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/18/a-dubious-alliance-of-food-giants/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/18/a-dubious-alliance-of-food-giants/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/18/a-dubious-alliance-of-food-giants/#commentsFiled under:

Grocery store produce aislePhoto: AP Photo


We guess alliances like the Snack Food Association and the Council for Biotechnology Information (whose megacompany members include BASF, DuPont, Dow, and Monsanto) felt they just weren't big enough or strong enough to convince Congress and consumers that big ag is good ag. So now 55 of the big-boy alliances have bonded together to form what might be called a supersociety, the new Alliance to Feed the Future.

Telling "the real story of modern food production" and "balancing the public dialogue on modern agriculture" is the Alliance's mission, according to its debut press release. What is also very modern is that the alliance, which also includes members such CropLife America (whose website features stories such as "Benefits of Pesticides and Crop-Protection Chemicals") the National Frozen Pizza Institute, and the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers, has decided to locate in Washington, D.C. After all, Dave Schmidt, President and CEO at the International Food Information Council and coordinator of AFF told Sustainable Food News, its target audience is that of "opinion leaders, including those in the university sector, professional societies, journalists and government officials."

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]]>sustainabilitysustainable foodThe Alliance to Feed the FutureNanette MaximFri, 18 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTDo Culinary Schools Actually Get Chefs Jobs?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/17/do-culinary-schools-get-chefs-jobs/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/17/do-culinary-schools-get-chefs-jobs/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/17/do-culinary-schools-get-chefs-jobs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chefs in class at Le Cordon BleuPhoto: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images


Federal regulators are threatening to crack down on for-profit schools that are eager to take students' cash, but aren't necessarily coming through with lucrative paying gigs upon graduation. Those for-profit schools include a number of culinary schools around the country that are increasingly taking the heat. Several are embroiled in actual lawsuits.

According to Politico, the Department of Education is expected to set what many call "gainful employment" rules as early as this month. That move could severely limit the ability of for-profit schools to access federally-backed student loans. That means cooking schools like Le Cordon Bleu, Art Institute of Houston, Western Culinary Institute and dozens more, might be facing their own elimination challenge as they face increasing pressure to prove their students are able to secure jobs upon graduation, and have the ability to pay back student loans that can quickly reach $50,000.

Attorney Michael Louis Kelly, who is suing Career Education Corp. (the parent company of Le Cordon Bleu) on behalf of California students, told NPR that the school made unrealistic promises.

"The model doesn't work," Kelly told NPR. "You can't got to school, accumulate $30-, $40- or $50,000 in debt and then go into an industry where you're going to have to start out at $8 or $12 an hour."

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]]>culinary schoolsfeaturedTop ChefClare Leschin-HoarThu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:00 ESTMovie Theaters Fight Mandate to Post Calorie Countshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/16/movie-theaters-fight-mandate-to-post-calorie-counts/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/16/movie-theaters-fight-mandate-to-post-calorie-counts/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/16/movie-theaters-fight-mandate-to-post-calorie-counts/#commentsFiled under: ,

Movie Theater Popcorn BagPhoto: Wahlander, Flickr


Thanks to a new law, clearly posted calorie counts will soon tell you exactly how much weight that burger will add to your hips. But you'll also be faced with some eye-popping news at your local movie theater concession stand. The new law, which goes into effect March 23, mandates that all chain restaurants with at least 20 U.S. locations must display the calorie counts of their menu items -- but it also includes concession stands at grocery stores and movie theaters.

Movie theater owners are up in arms about the impending regulations. Why? Maybe because an average bag of the buttery stuff contains 1,460 calories, nearly equivalent to three Big Macs.

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]]>fast-food caloriesmovie theaterspopcorn caloriesJessie CacciolaWed, 16 Mar 2011 13:00:00 ESTU.N: Small-Scale Farming Could Double the World's Food Productionhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/u-n-small-scale-farming-could-double-the-worlds-food-productio/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/u-n-small-scale-farming-could-double-the-worlds-food-productio/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/u-n-small-scale-farming-could-double-the-worlds-food-productio/#commentsFiled under:

organic zucchini farmPhoto: John Moore / Getty Images


The United Nations released a whopper of a report today. In the midst of soaring global food and oil prices, the agency let loose a public stunner: World hunger and climate change cannot be solved with industrial farming. So much for seed-giant Pioneer Hi-Bred's "We Feed The World" slogan. Yowch.

The U.N. study makes it clear -- small-scale farmers can double food production in 10-years by using simple farming methods. According the The Guardian, insect-trapping plants in Kenya or weed-eating ducks in Bangladesh's rice paddies may be the way to feed the world's burgeoning population.

"To feed 9 billion people in 2050, we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques available. Today's scientific evidence demonstrates that agroecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production in regions where the hungry live," says Olivier De Schutter, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the right to food and author of the report.

De Schutter told the Wall Street Journal that promoting natural farming techniques is the only sustainable way to guard against future food crisis.

"We set up our farming techniques in the 1920s when we thought there would be a never-ending supply of cheap oil," he said. "Developing farming in a way which makes it less addicted to fossil energy is much more promising."

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]]>global hungerOlivier De Schutterorganic farmingsmall farmsU.N. reportClare Leschin-HoarTue, 08 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTNutritional Labels for Booze?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/07/nutritional-labels-for-booze/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/07/nutritional-labels-for-booze/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/07/nutritional-labels-for-booze/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nutrition label on a beer bottlePhoto: reivax, Flickr

Some chatter over at The Soapbox caught our eye. Should boozy beverages sport nutritional labeling? It's a topic federal regulators have been reviewing and one that's been brewing since 2003.

Current labeling regulations are complex. Wine, beer and liquor producers are not required to list actual ingredients on the label, but must list items like sulfites or FD&C Yellow No. 5 for consumers who are sensitive. Whether or not nutritional information like calories, carbohydrates and serving size should be added to labels is up for discussion, but Tom Hogue, spokesman for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) told USA Today that it's unclear when federal officials might make a decision.

"I hear echos of the topic, but I don't think it will become a government mandate," says Rob Cooper, president and founder of St-Germain/Cooper Spirits Company. "There are already a lot of regulations surrounding alcohol. You have to go through the TTB formal approval process to ensure consumers are getting a safe product. It's not the Wild West. You can't just do what you want. They're strict about the ingredients."

And besides, adds Cooper, "Alcohol is not a critical component of ones sustenance. It's for recreational use. Who cares if it's good for you?"

He's got a point.

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]]>alcoholboozecocktailslabelingspiritswineClare Leschin-HoarMon, 07 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESTOne More State Joins the Drug-Test-for-Food-Stamps Debatehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/23/one-more-state-joins-the-drug-test-for-food-stamps-debate/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/23/one-more-state-joins-the-drug-test-for-food-stamps-debate/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/23/one-more-state-joins-the-drug-test-for-food-stamps-debate/#commentsFiled under: ,

groceriesPhoto: qmnonic, Flickr


Should recipients of food stamps be required to pass a drug test in order to receive their benefits?

Some Republican legislators in New Hampshire think so, and they've proposed a new law that would subject food-stamp recipients to random drug tests. A number of other states, such as Oregon, Kentucky, Missouri and Nebraska, are considering similar laws.

No doubt, when taken at face value, these laws sound eminently reasonable. After all, thousands of U.S. workers are required to pass drug tests in order to apply for or keep their jobs.

But as a number of civil liberties and public health organizations point out, such testing relies on unproven stereotypes about people who receive public assistance and the testing can cost taxpayers more money than it saves.

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]]>drug testsfood stampsFoodStampsNew HampshireJason BestWed, 23 Feb 2011 15:30:00 ESTA Ban on Fast-Food Lawsuits Passes a Hurdle in Minnesotahttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/a-ban-on-fast-food-lawsuits-passes-a-hurdle-in-minnesota/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/a-ban-on-fast-food-lawsuits-passes-a-hurdle-in-minnesota/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/a-ban-on-fast-food-lawsuits-passes-a-hurdle-in-minnesota/#commentsFiled under: ,

fast food burger and friesPhoto: lehcar1477, Flickr


Okay, you can still blame Ronald McDonald if you're overweight. But it's going to be harder to take him to court. At least in Minnesota, where a House committee has just ok'd the Cheeseburger Bill -- the first such statute in the nation. The debate over the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act-the bill's official name-was spirited, with most House members voting along party lines, reports The Pioneer Press.

How you feel about it might depend on your views on whether individuals should be able to sue tobacco companies or not. (In all fairness, cheeseburgers might be addictively good, but they're not really addictive, and, as far as we know, no fast-food execs ever lied to the U.S. Congress about the number of calories in a Big Mac.) The bill still has to pass the full House and the Minnesota Senate to become law. So pig out at the Mall of America food court while there's still time to place the staff under citizen's arrest. And call your lawyer if your salad dressing didn't come on the side as requested.

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]]>Cheeseburger BillFast-food lawsuitMinnesota politicsBill SertlTue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 ESTVeterans Come Home To Farminghttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/11/veterans-come-home-to-farming/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/11/veterans-come-home-to-farming/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/11/veterans-come-home-to-farming/#commentsFiled under: ,

Farmer-Veteran CoalitionPhoto: Farmer-Veteran Coalition


Here's an agricultural trend we can all get behind. Combat veterans are making the transition to civilian life by way of farming, reports Cooking Up A Story. Even better, they're not being asked to hoe that row on their own. Groups like California's Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training program; Nebraska's Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots program and the California-based Farmer Veteran Coalition are providing training, funding and support to get veterans back on the land that they fought to protect.

"This is an excellent path for veterans," says Weldon Sleight, dean of University of Nebraska's College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA). "There are huge numbers of veterans that come from rural communities -- 17 percent of the U.S. population is rural, yet 45 percent of the military come from those communities."

The problem, he says, is that there are few economic opportunities in rural America, and many veterans end up in urban cities.

"They don't know how to go home, so we teach them that," said Sleight.

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]]>farmingmilitaryorganicveteransClare Leschin-HoarFri, 11 Feb 2011 13:00:00 ESTGMO Salmon: Soon to be Banned in Alaska?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/03/gmo-salmon-soon-to-be-banned-in-alaska/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/03/gmo-salmon-soon-to-be-banned-in-alaska/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/03/gmo-salmon-soon-to-be-banned-in-alaska/#commentsFiled under: ,

salmon swimming in alaskaPhoto: endora57, Flickr


The Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve genetically engineered salmon, but lawmakers in California and Alaska are not waiting around for the FDA's ruling on the so-called "Frankenfish." Representatives in both states recently introduced bills to keep the GE salmon in check.

As we previously reported, the AquaAdvantage salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies is essentially an Atlantic salmon modified with genes from a Chinook salmon and an ocean pout, which makes for a faster-growing fish that requires 10 percent less feed. Regardless of a wary public, a protest letter by 11 Pacific Northwestern senators, and strong warnings by an overwhelming amount of government scientists and public interest groups, the FDA looks to be moving closer to approving the salmon.

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]]>Alaskan salmonGMO FishGMO SalmonGMO Salmon billJessie CacciolaThu, 03 Feb 2011 11:00:00 ESTWhoopie Pie Bill Leads to Food Fighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/whoopie-pie-bill-leads-to-food-fight/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/whoopie-pie-bill-leads-to-food-fight/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/whoopie-pie-bill-leads-to-food-fight/#commentsFiled under: ,

whoopie piesPhoto: joyosity, Flickr


Maine's official state dessert is up for debate -- and it's turning into a war of health vs. nostalgia. The legislature is close to passing a bill, L.D. 71, that would give the crown to the whoopie pie, a dessert that has a storied history in the state, reports the Kennebec Journal. But local nutritionists say the crown should go to wild blueberry pie, since the flavorful berries are abundant in the state -- and far healthier.

The Journal article reports that lawmakers don't want to be seen endorsing a high-fat treat. "At a time when 31.3 percent of Maine's children are considered overweight or obese, do we want to glorify a dessert that lists lard as its primary ingredient?" asked Rep. Donald Pilon.


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]]>Maineobesitystate dessertswhoopie piesJessie CacciolaTue, 01 Feb 2011 15:00:00 ESTPETA's "Sex with Vegetables" Super Bowl Ad: Now With Outtakeshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/petas-sex-with-vegetables-super-bowl-ad-now-with-outtakes/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/petas-sex-with-vegetables-super-bowl-ad-now-with-outtakes/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/01/petas-sex-with-vegetables-super-bowl-ad-now-with-outtakes/#commentsFiled under: ,

PETA tv commercial sex with vegetablesPhoto: peta.org

Whatever you think of PETA, there's no denying that the group knows how to create buzz. Last year, they stirred up controversy by trying to buy ad time during the Super Bowl for a commercial that had a woman trying to get hot and heavy with...vegetables. Even for $3M, the network wasn't willing to air the "Veggie Love" spot, but (as planned, no doubt) the ad went viral and PETA got the press it was after.

This year, they're trying to milk some additional mileage out of the "Veggie Love" ad by offering up outtakes from the commercial's casting.

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]]>PETASuper BowlSuper Bowl adsSuper Bowl CommercialsSuperbowlSuperbowl AdsSuperbowl commercialsSlashfood EditorTue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00:00 ESTGMO Alfalfa is Officially Approvedhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/31/gmo-alfalfa-is-officially-approved/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/31/gmo-alfalfa-is-officially-approved/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/31/gmo-alfalfa-is-officially-approved/#commentsFiled under: ,

alfalfa in a fieldPhoto: daryl_mitchell, Flickr


Got organic milk? Maybe not for long.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its approval of "unrestricted planting" of genetically modified alfalfa sold by Monsanto, according to The Atlantic. So what does that have to do with organic milk?

Cows eat more alfalfa hay than anything else, and as a crop, alfalfa is what The Atlantic calls "notoriously promiscuous." Bees and other insects can spread alfalfa pollen for up to five miles, meaning it's only a matter of time before the unrestricted GMO alfalfa cross-pollinates with non-GMO varieties.

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]]>alfalfaGMO alfalfaGMO cropsOrganic MilkJason BestMon, 31 Jan 2011 13:00:00 ESTUSDA To Introduce "Biobased" Labelhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/20/usda-to-introduce-biobased-label/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/20/usda-to-introduce-biobased-label/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/20/usda-to-introduce-biobased-label/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

USDA sample label for new biobased packagingPhoto: USDAgov, Flickr

There's a new eco label coming out this spring to address products -- like water bottles and grocery bags -- made with bio-based ingredients (primarily corn), which decompose instead of requiring recycling: "USDA Certified Biobased Product."

Totally Green, for example, produces a corn-based water bottle that can be composted along with other food waste, and plans to use the label as soon as it is released, reports the Des Moines Register. Unfortunately, compostable chip bags never caught on thanks to their insanely loud crinkling, but these water bottles have no noise issues, so perhaps they'll have better luck.

Cotton and wool products won't apply because the program is intended to support the agricultural commodity market. That being corn, of course. Look for the label on anything from dish soap bottles to skin-care products. Will you make the switch?

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]]>biodegradablecompostableecoUSDAJessie CacciolaThu, 20 Jan 2011 17:00:00 ESTWal-Mart's 5-Year "Health" Planhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/20/wal-marts-5-year-health-plan/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/20/wal-marts-5-year-health-plan/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/20/wal-marts-5-year-health-plan/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Michelle Obama at a Wal-Mart press conferencePhotos: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images; Cliff Owen / AP Photo


Heeding First Lady Michelle Obama's call to improve our country's access to better food and reduce childhood obesity, Wal-Mart today announced a five-year plan to reduce the price of fresh produce sold in its stores and to lower the salt, fat and sugar content in its Great Value house-brand food products, reports the New York Times.

Wal-Mart will also be urging its highest-selling suppliers, like Kraft, to follow suit. Similar initiatives have been made by the city of New York and major food corporation ConAgra, which set a goal to "reduce sodium content in its foods by 20 percent by 2015," notes the Times.

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]]>healthy foodHealthyFoodMichelle ObamaMichelleObamawal-martJessie CacciolaThu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST