A Prickly Question

A Prickly Question

California’s harsh new measure to deal with long-term drought is making waves. Residents caught wasting by washing sidewalks with their garden hose and committing similar reckless acts are incurring fines of up to $500. Is that fair? Or will the fine be...
Sick Pig Problems

Sick Pig Problems

A pound of bacon now costs more than $6. That’s a record increase from $3.86 a pound four years ago. What’s driving this spike? Blame Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus. The disease, known as PEDv, is rattling the pork industry after claiming over 10 percent...
Cargill’s Integrity-Free Soybean Oil

Cargill’s Integrity-Free Soybean Oil

Can you have your hypocrisy and eat it, too? I don’t think so. But Cargill Inc. is doing its damndest to invalidate the old admonition that eating your cake today means not having it tomorrow. As a leading producer and user of ingredients that contain...
Extreme Nutrition

Extreme Nutrition

To most people, “bonking” implies an R-rated activity. To marathon runners, cyclists, and other endurance athletes, it’s something else entirely. In sports jargon, someone who “bonks” suffers severe fatigue after running out of their...
The High Cost of Cheap Shrimp

The High Cost of Cheap Shrimp

The Guardian recently revealed shocking results from a six-month investigation of the Thai fishing industry: Much of the shrimp sold in American and British supermarkets were produced with slave labor. While shrimp sold to U.S. consumers hail from a number of...
Jilting My Sugar

Jilting My Sugar

A cartoon drawn by Marty Bucella going around Facebook these days depicts an overweight man on a scale with his doctor. “No, it’s not water,” the doctor says. “You seem to be retaining food.” That was me. Yes, it’s true, I write...