Food Regulations and Policy Archives

My Nightmare Meal: A Personal Reflection of Our Food System

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently cautioned Americans not to fear their food. That’s an amazing thing for any public official to do, let alone the Secretary of Agriculture. Have we really come to the point that people must be told by a cabinet-level government official that their food supply is okay to eat?

Food Regulations and Policy, Food Safety

What's Happening in Ag?

Here is an update on significant news as it relates to agriculture, farming, policy, and the environment.

Agricultural Technology, Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy

Rallying for our Flooded Farmers

The ongoing flooding in Nebraska and Iowa has pushed many farmers over the edge, making the next harvest an impossibility for some. Many have lost their homes, their farms, and their livelihood. Here is how you can help.

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Security

The Green New Deal: Where's the Beef?

Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal outlines how the ag industry can achieve net-zero emissions in the next ten years, but without any plans. However, farmers have had their own green initiatives in place for years now.

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy

The Year in Food News: What To Know Before 2019

Trade disputes. Scientific debates. Food safety. Plenty of newsworthy food-related topics have made major headlines this year. Let’s look back and see where some of them stand before we enter 2019.

Agricultural Technology, Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Trade

In the News: Glyphosate (again)

The science tells us that glyphosate is safe to use as directed. Farmers use it because it enables them to use less herbicide and practice no-till farming, which is beneficial for soil health. Why is it still making headlines as a "toxin" in our food?

Conservation, Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Safety, Soil and Crop Management

FAO Reports an Increase in Hungry People Around the World

The Food and Agricultural Organization has reported that the number of hungry people in the world is increasing rather than decreasing.

Food Regulations and Policy, Food Security

How will CRISPR impact our food?

CRISPR-Cas9 will soon surpass GMOs as the most influential gene editing technology for food production.

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Technology

The FDA’s Role in Solving a Foodborne Illness Outbreak

The United States has one of the safest food systems in the world— the CDC and FDA are here to make sure of that! We’ve examined the role of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, now we will

Food Regulations and Policy, Food Safety

How Does the CDC Detect Foodborne Illnesses, like E. coli in Romaine lettuce?

The U.S. recently experienced a multi-state E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce. Five people died and hundreds became sick from eating the contaminated lettuce. Though the infected romaine is no longer for sale

Food Regulations and Policy, Food Safety

What is the Farm Bill -- and why should you care?

The Farm Bill affects the lives of all Americans, but many of us don’t even know about it. The Bill is comprehensive and can be difficult to understand. Here is what you need to know.

Food Regulations and Policy

A Stop Sign for Obesity?

Obesity is a global health challenge that requires action. Recently, Chile has adopted black stop sign labels to warn consumers of food products high in sugar, saturated fat, calories, and sodium.

Diet, Food Ingredients, Food Regulations and Policy, Health

China, Soybeans, Pork and the American Farmer

Recently the U.S. and China have locked horns in a battle of words over trade that has resulted in both countries threatening increased tariffs.

Food Regulations and Policy, Food Trade

What is NAFTA?

NAFTA is a free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. How does it impact price and availability of food?

Food Regulations and Policy, Food Trade

Sustainable Ag Series: Farmers

What role do farmers play in agricultural sustainability? And how does this affect your food and the environment?

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Soil and Crop Management

Sustainable Ag Series: Governments

What does sustainability mean to government regulators? How do local or national governments work with NGOs, farmers...

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Soil and Crop Management

Sustainable Ag Series: Corporations

What does sustainable agriculture mean to big corporations? Do corporations reach across the aisle to government regulators, NGOs, farmers and consumers...

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Soil and Crop Management

Sustainable Ag Series: NGOs

What is sustainability? How do non-government organizations (NGOs), corporations, governments, farmers, and consumers address sustainability? And how does this affect you, your food, and the environment?

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Soil and Crop Management

When is "Science" Truly Science?

The phrase "new research shows…” might not always give the most dependable health information. How do we distinguish science from pseudo-science?

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Safety

Such a Waste!

What if, every day, you bought three bananas and threw one away? Approximately one-third of global food is wasted every year.

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Security

Trading Beef

The United States is the largest beef producer and the largest beef importer. How does beef trade around the world, and how do global trade agreements and tariffs affect the price of beef on your dinner plate?

Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Trade

Do we need a Sugar Tax?

In an attempt to create healthier humans, government agencies on the local and global level have proposed a sugar tax. But, would a tax really benefit the health of Americans or is it simply a disguise to collect additional revenue?

Diet, Food Regulations and Policy, Health

What's the Catch?

The fish on our plate often comes from all over the world, but we really have no knowledge of exactly where the fish spawned, swam, and was processed. Has the fish on your plate been caught or farmed sustainably? Was it fed a healthy diet before it was harvested?

Food Ingredients, Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Safety

Supplements: Natural or Synthetic?

With a few exceptions—such as vitamin E, natural beta-carotene, and vitamin B12—all of the vitamins used in dietary supplements are synthetic.

Diet, Food Ingredients, Food Regulations and Policy, Health

GMO Labeling: What's the Point?

Vermont legislation has announced that effective July 1, the state will require all foods that are made with GMOs to be labeled as such. You might be thinking, “So? What is all the fuss about? Isn’t transparency a good thing?” While that reasoning sounds logical, in this case it does not make sense.

Agricultural Technology, Food Production, Food Regulations and Policy, Food Technology