China just banned the inclusion of melamine – used in fertilizer and plastics – in food. Great.  You mean it was not illegal before?  What else is not illegal? But the country’s government still denies it caused the pet deaths, and does not mention the human food chain.  The current…

The FDA truly is in denial.   The agency expanded its ingredient target list from China today. The FDA named the six grain products to be inspected as wheat gluten, corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein, rice bran and rice protein. But "believes" the import food safety system works:  "We…

The Senate Ag Committee and the House Ag Committee each held hearings last week on competition issues in the Farm Bill.  Representative Robin Hayes (R NC) played defense for the packer lobby, in concert with Tim Walberg (R MI).  Leonard Boswell (D IA) held the hearings for the House Livestock…

FDA said there was "no evidence" of contamination of the human food chain.  I said before it was merely wishful thinking. Their wish did not come true. Hog farms in three states have been quarantined for feeding the ingredient to pigs.  A Missouri poultry farm is being investigated now for feeding…

A criminal probe has now been opened by the FDA.  The agency has also identified three other chemicals in the urine of sickened pets, including cyanuric acid, a chemical used to clean swimming pools.  The Chinese goverment has denied FDA requests to allow FDA personnel to inspect the facilities, in…

One of the most perishable items in the human food chain is fresh milk. To be regarded as fresh implies that food’s origin must be near the buyer. More and more, products once regarded as fresh are being accessed from across distant borders. What drives this process whereby a people…

"China’s Health Ministry reported almost 34,000 food-related illnesses in 2005"   Reported? With cancer, liver, or kidney disease,  and so many other ailments caused by a variety things we probably don’t have any understanding of now, all we currently know of is the people who ate something and became ill…

Mergers in agriculture and the general economy are often championed as providing more efficiency, consumer benefit, and shareholder value.  But very little data supports these assumptions.  In a New York Times article today: Research shows that mergers are often poorly timed, with the volume of deals reaching a crest just…

The Chinese wheat gluten that caused pets to die is revealing more than free trade radicals would like about food system risks.  The U.S. is no longer the world’s breadbasket but a net food importer 9 years running.  About 13 percent of the wheat gluten consumed in this country is imported…

The U.S. Department of Justice has extended its review period for the Smithfield Foods (SFD), Premium Standard Farms (PSF) merger until May 6, 2007.  The Organization for Competitive Markets has been working hard opposing the merger.  Smithfield is the largest hog producer and largest hog packer in the country.  PSF…