Federal Agencies & Regulators
School meals have begun transformation, but all involved agree that turning this battleship requires commitment, money, will to make it happen
By Jane Dornbusch
The Boston Globe 2010-09-01
Adding fuel to meat safety debate, public health officials link ground beef to illnesses from a rare strain of E. coli; likely source was Cargill, which recalled 8,500 pounds of hamburger
By William Neuman
The New York Times 2010-09-02
Number of Americans receiving food stamps rose to record 41.3 million in June as jobless rate hovered near 27-year high
By Alan Bjerga
Bloomberg.com 2010-09-02
International Oversight
Spike in food prices triggers deadly riots in Mozambique, threatens Egypt's ruling regime's ability to provide masses with cheap bread; spurs demonstration threat in Serbia
The Associated Press; Fox News 2010-09-02
Analysis: Evolution of potash, phosphate, nitrogen to hunted, strategic commodities illustrates growing links between globalization, demographics, agriculture, food security
By Javier Blas and Leslie Hook
Financial Times (London) (may require registration) 2010-08-27
Opinion: Brazil's agriculture system, underpinned by research, capital-intensive large farms, openness to trade, new techniques is worthy of study in face of slow-motion food crisis
The Economist 2010-08-26
"Potash, for all intents and purposes, is food."
Judicial & Prisons
Shoppers Food Warehouse execs, Maryland senator indicted in bribery scheme; in separate case, grocery agrees to pay $2.5 million penalty
Federal Bureau of Investigation 2010-09-01
11 people, 6 corporations indicted in conspiracy to smuggle $40 million of Chinese honey into US; officials say documents were altered and labels changed
By Jeff Coen
Chicago Tribune 2010-09-01
After judge bans planting of Monsanto's genetically modified sugar beets, which supply half of nation's sugar, growers fret over availability of conventional seed varieties
By Michael J. Crumb
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2010-08-20
Local Government
Opinion: As manicured lawns become less politically correct, local governing groups begin rethinking rules on front yards and aesthetics of vegetables that might grow there
The editors
Chicago Tribune 2010-08-30
Chicago, Walgreens partner to bring fresh produce to city's food deserts; redesigned store will also sell frozen meat and fish, pasta, rice, beans, eggs, whole-grain cereals
By John Byrne
Chicago Tribune 2010-08-11
Opinion: San Francisco supervisor's "charge for harm" alcohol fee bill focuses on serious problem, targets $15 million in annual costs, and could make difference
By C.W. Nevius
San Francisco Chronicle 2010-07-01
State Government
California-sponsored program greatly reduces salmonella in hen houses but adds pennies to egg costs; regulatory confusion, public's desire for cheap eggs undermine safety efforts
By P.J. Huffstutter
Los Angeles Times 2010-09-01
Ohio ag chief says farm animal care accord brokered by state's agricultural interests, Humane Society through governor is "non-binding"
Feedstuffs 2010-08-26
Slaughterhouse that would kill 16,000 hogs daily divides Illinois community over environment, odors, lowered property values, hundreds of jobs, $16 million in tax breaks
By Monica Eng
Chicago Tribune 2010-08-16
U.S. Legislation
Opinion: Industrial meat, egg factories excel at manufacturing cheap food, but evidence shows model is economically viable only because it passes on health costs to public
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times 2010-09-02
Opinion: Industrial agriculture has reduced cost of food but at steep cost to public health, as salmonella outbreak shows; lawmakers must resist Big Ag to pass food safety bill
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2010-09-01
Opinion: Senate, balking at cost of House food safety bill, must weigh inspections' price against 5,000 annual deaths, $152 billion annual costs of food-borne ills, and adopt bill
The editors
The Philadelphia Inquirer 2010-08-26