Category Archives: regulation

Corporate Dilution of the Meaning of “Organic”

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Chris MacDonald

A few days ago there was an exceptionally interesting article in the NY Times on the corporatization of organic foods. See Has ‘Organic’ Been Oversized?, by Stephanie Strom. The story outlines the controversy over the composition of the US board … Continue reading →

Posted in Additives, agriculture, certifiction, organic, regulation | Comments Off on Corporate Dilution of the Meaning of “Organic”

Using, Regulating and Testing for Antibiotics in Milk

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

Here’s an interesting story about efforts to regulate competitive behaviour in the food industry: By William Neuman, for the NYT: F.D.A and Dairy Industry Spar Over Testing of Milk Each year, federal inspectors find illegal levels of antibiotics in hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, factory farms, health, milk, regulation, safety | 2 Comments

The Farmed Salmon Feed Controversy & Consumer Responsibility

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

Here’s an interesting video & writeup about the controversy over the production of fishmeal for the feeding of farmed salmon. From The Ecologist: farmed salmon feed controversy. The video & accompanying text focus on Peru, and in particularly on the … Continue reading →

Posted in choice, consumerism, ethics, fisheries, regulation, values | 2 Comments

Cloning and “Proportionate” Regulatory Response to Risk

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Regulation, it perhaps goes without saying, is a tricky business. It necessarily involves a small number of politicians, bureaucrats, and technical advisors devising and implementing rules on a staggering range of activities and products and services. The number of issues … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, cloning, ethics, health, meat, nanotechnology, public policy, regulation | Comments Off on Cloning and “Proportionate” Regulatory Response to Risk

The Controversial Pom & Pistachio Magnates

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Here’s an excellent piece on California philanthropists/fruit magnates Lynda and Stewart Resnick. By Susan Berfield, writing for Bloomberg Businessweek: A Pistachio Farmer, Pom Wonderful, and the FTC On an unexpectedly rainy October day in Los Angeles, Stewart Resnick looks out … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ethics, farmers, FDA, health claims, regulation | Comments Off on The Controversial Pom & Pistachio Magnates

Food Eco Labels vs Legislation

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

When is choice good? Do labels do enough to help us make good choices? When is legislation required? Should legislation facilitate good decisions, or force them? See this story, by Harry Wallop, for the Daily Telegraph: Food eco labels not … Continue reading →

Posted in certifiction, choice, environment, ethics, labeling, regulation, values | Comments Off on Food Eco Labels vs Legislation

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

A Better Factory Farm?

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

A few weeks ago, I asked When is a Factory Farm Not a Factory Farm? I suggested that the problem with some factory farms (including especially the ones that played a central role in the recent salmonella outbreak) is that, … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, factory farms, farmers, FDA, health, industrial, regulation, safety | 2 Comments

Energy Drinks

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Caffeine is popular. Most North American adults consume some every day, usually delivered via a hot beverage (coffee, espresso, cappuccino, tea, etc.). It’s very likely the world’s most widely-consumed drug. But it’s also entirely unregulated. Combine that fact with the … Continue reading →

Posted in health, junk food, kids, labeling, regulation, safety | Comments Off on Energy Drinks

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