Understanding the current era of US economic malaise lies, at least in part, with the most basic of American enterprises - the production and marketing of food.   A historical, even defining feature of economic growth has been a decline in the share of expenditures that consumers devote to food and food services (hereafter food). However, since 2002 for the US, Engel's Law, so named for the economist who first observed it, has not held. Real inflation adjusted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased by 27%, but the share of consumer expenditures spent on food has flat-lined at 11.8%. [node:read-more:link]

Glyphosate is likely not carcinogenic to humans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says, again, in an issue paper posted to a federal regulatory website.  The paper's release comes ahead of a scientific advisory panel meeting scheduled to run from Oct. 18 to Oct. 21 in Washington, D.C.  The paper, titled "Glyphosate Issue Paper: Evaluation of Carcinogenic Potential," is a 227-page document outlining the voluminous studies examined by EPA to this point on the cancer-causing potential of the herbicide. [node:read-more:link]

More than ever, consumers care about not only where their food comes from, but how and under what conditions the animals in the food system are raised. A 2013 American Humane Association poll showed 89 percent of consumers surveyed stated they were very concerned about animal welfare with 74 percent willing to pay more for humanely raised meat, dairy and eggs. Participants of the survey also ranked humanely raised food the highest in importance over organic, natural and antibiotic-free. [node:read-more:link]

For some, there's a a glam factor attached to the vegan lifestyle. And these days, there seems to be a growing chorus singing the praises of the environmental and health benefits of a plant-centric diet.  Perhaps nowhere is the embrace of a vegetarian diet more on display than in Berlin, Germany, dubbed a global vegan mecca for its growing array of restaurants (think: vegan kebabs, pizza and ice cream) as well as vegan street festivals — and even a vegan butcher. [node:read-more:link]

A study by the Federal Reserve found that a quarter of Americans went without dental care they needed in 2014 because they couldn't afford it.  For those in rural areas, the problem is far worse. A 2015 report by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that people in rural areas are poorer and less likely to have dental insurance than their urban counterparts. They're also less likely to have fluoridated water, and more likely to live in an area where dentists are in short supply. Those dentists that are there probably don't take Medicaid, government health insurance for the poor.

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The British decision to leave the European Union, China’s economic slowdown, a strong dollar and other global factors spell trouble for states that depend on international tourists for tax revenue.  In Florida, where 23 percent of sales tax revenue comes from tourism, officials are worried that the weakness of the British pound, one effect of the “Brexit” vote, will keep British tourists away and hurt local businesses and tax receipts. [node:read-more:link]

A new statewide grant program aims to award start-up funds to programs outside the vortex of Wisconsin's metro areas.  The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced plans Monday to award a total of $500,000 to 10 or so business development groups in cities or rural areas that may have been overlooked by past entrepreneurship programs.  The agency ultimately will award grants between $10,000 and $100,000 to projects across the state, said Aaron Hagar, WEDC's vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation. [node:read-more:link]

There is no doubt in my mind that television advertising has contributed to the gap between consumers and the source of their food.  The primary reason is that showing a steer to sell steaks is not a great marketing strategy.  Most commercials for meat products don’t use live animals but when they do it is usually a cartoonish approach.  Only occasionally do we see realistic videos or photos of live animals.  We know that humor will get a commercial watched.  The latest Perdue commercials use humor after a serious message while Sanderson uses humor to present the serious message.  I have no [node:read-more:link]

The US has accused China of illegally subsidising rice, corn and wheat farmers, adding agriculture to a growing list of Washington's concerns over Chinese overproduction and distortion of global markets.  The launch on Tuesday of a new World Trade Organisation case comes as President Barack Obama is campaigning to get a vast new Pacific Rim trade deal ratified by Congress later this year and selling it as a vital element of America’s strategic response to China’s economic rise.  It also comes amid global concerns about China’s industrial overcapacity and a heated US presidential election in [node:read-more:link]