Pennsylvania officials are warning consumers who have purchased certain raw milk cheeses from Stone Meadow Farm to discard them immediately because samples from the dairy have tested positive for the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus. [node:read-more:link]
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam has launched an educational video series titled “The Science of Cooking” to engage 5th to 8th grade students in the science in daily activities, such as cooking. [node:read-more:link]
Whole Foods Market’s global buyers and experts announced the trends to watch in 2017. Among them, a trend toward “flexitarians” who embrace individualized forms of healthy eating. “In 2017, consumers will embrace a new, personalized version of healthy eating that’s less rigid than typical vegan, paleo, gluten-free and other special diets that have gone mainstream,” the Whole Foods team explained in a news release. [node:read-more:link]
In the United States, about 17 percent of cows are treated with bovine growth hormone, called rBGH, which increases milk production. The milk produced from these cows has no more growth hormone than milk produced from cows who are not given the hormone. Further, growth hormone is not well-absorbed, and bovine growth hormone is not active in humans. So, there is no effect from cows treated with this hormone in terms of height of human children. [node:read-more:link]
Panera Bread has revealed a new animal welfare policy concerning its broiler chicken supply, which includes a commitment to only source slower-growing chicken breeds by 2024. In addition to committing to only using slower-growing broiler breeds in its supply chain, the restaurant chain also promised to:Provide birds more space by reducing its stocking density Offer improved environments for the chicken, including litter, lighting and enrichment. Ensure that birds are rendered unconscious using multi-step controlled atmospheric stunning [node:read-more:link]
A number of farming leaders in the United Kingdom have expressed their fear about the prospect of unrestricted imports of foreign food as a result of post-Brexit trade deals. But in his recent address to the WTO, Dr Fox said international trade is the 'lifeblood' of the British economy, the 'driver of prosperity', and that commerce is part of the 'UK's national DNA.'Dr Fox told trade envoys during a meeting in Geneva: "The UK will work towards the reduction and ultimate elimination of trade barriers wherever they are found." The National Sheep Association, particularly, has raised concerns [node:read-more:link]
Beef, for example, has long been “the bullseye of the target for many campaigners” and the effort has successfully resulted in the decline of beef consumption due to negative PR surrounding food safety, environmental concerns and health risks (cancer, cholesterol, etc.). This sentiment created a significant opportunity for Beyond Meat to raise $180 million to develop the Beyond Burger, with backers such as General Mills, the Humane Society of America and Bill Gates. Additional examples of animal product companies dipping in to meatless territory in 2016: Unilever: After originally planning [node:read-more:link]
A 14 percent decline in United States consumer meat consumption over the past decade has caused alarm with one Texas A&M AgriLife scientist who warns the effects could be dire for overall human health and child development. Dr. Guoyao Wu, distinguished professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University, said U.S. consumers have been overwhelmed with misinformation about protein and fats in meats, which in turn has led to many consuming less meat or no meat at all.“Obesity rates have gone up the last 20 years, while consumption of meat has declined,” Wu said. [node:read-more:link]
riginally conceived to make crops more resistant to insects or viruses, genetically modified foods are almost unavoidable these days. We all know about Monsanto’s infamous GMO corn and bionic soybeans but today, there’s a new tampered food item in town. This time around, US food production company Del Monte has been fiddling with the DNA of pineapples. No, not to boost crop production or protect it against disease, but simply to turn it pink. [node:read-more:link]
