Category Archives: international

Things that Matter: Drug Residue in Chinese Pork

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

You could tell a lot about your average foodie or food-safety advocate by asking them to list food-related issues by level of importance. Some people tend to focus on the latest feel-good trend (e.g., at least some versions of localism) … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, factory farms, health, international, meat, safety | 4 Comments

Global Food Crisis

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

While many of us in the wealthier parts of the world are busy arguing about just which sub-type of organic lettuce we’re using in our salads, or whether we ought to take an “animal rights” approach versus an “animal welfare” … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, international, public policy | 3 Comments

Seafood Certification for Iceland

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

Fisheries are undeniably an important part of the global food supply. Whether they are, 20 years from now, a smaller or larger part of that supply depends chiefly on whether they are managed in a sustainable way. Doing so isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in certifiction, fisheries, international | Comments Off on Seafood Certification for Iceland

Endangered Dinner DNA

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Earlier this month, the print version of Popular Science ran a really interesting story on using genetic technology to fight the traffic in endangered species. Here’s the web version: Is Your Dinner Endangered? DNA Detectives Investigate In the ongoing campaign … Continue reading →

Posted in endangered species, environment, fisheries, genes, international, regulation, science | Comments Off on Endangered Dinner DNA

The Tragedy of the (Endangered) Tuna

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

I love tuna. But do I love tuna enough to help stop it from going extinct? According to CBC News: Tuna reviewed for endangered status Canadian scientists are reviewing whether to list Atlantic bluefin tuna as an endangered fish, concerned … Continue reading →

Posted in aquaculture, ethics, fisheries, international, regulation | 6 Comments

Salmonella in Eggs, Rabies in Dogs

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

It’s good to have the occasional reminder that food safety is an issue everywhere. See this item, by By Donald G. McNeil Jr. for NYT Health: Vitenam: With Rabies Deaths on the Rise, a Menu Item Gets a Closer Look. … Continue reading →

Posted in health, international, meat, safety, science | Comments Off on Salmonella in Eggs, Rabies in Dogs

GMO Vigilantes

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

The world of GM foods is apparently reinventing the spaghetti western. In Italy these days, the debate over GM has turned into a wild-west-style battle between vigilantes. Here’s the story, from Elisabeth Rosenthal, writing in the NYT: In the Fields … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, agriculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, environment, farmers, genetic modification, international, regulation | 10 Comments

Milk and Meat from the Offspring of Clones

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

OK, so lots of people are put off by the idea of eating cloned cows or pigs, or drinking the milk of cloned cows. Some of those people have genuine ethical concerns; others are just subject to the “yuck factor.” … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, cloning, ethics, international, regulation, science | 2 Comments

Chocolate, Labour Standards, and Blood

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Here’s a petition calling for changes in labour standards in the cocoa industry: Tell Big Chocolate CEOS We Want Fair Trade Cocoa. I’m bringing the petition to your attention, not necessarily endorsing it. I’m not signing it myself, because I … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, international, labour | Comments Off on Chocolate, Labour Standards, and Blood