What Else Is Making Us Sick This Month . . and More News
An occasional link roundup
From the Impossible Burger shortage to kelp jerky and more, here’s what’s happening in food.
USDA is ‘streamlining’ pork inspection
The Washington Post reported critically on USDA’s proposal to “streamline” pork inspection. USDA’s inspection arm, FSIS, had a hissy fit and issued a press release, and its main, um, beef seemed to be that the program model originated in the 1990s and not under Trump. FSIS forgot to mention that it was slammed for poor results at those new-model sites. The pork plan is based on the poultry inspection system, and there’s a lawsuit against USDA alleging widespread fecal contamination of chicken meat. How’s that working out?
Label us ‘not very hungry right now.’
Everybody wants new food labels, though in some views less is more. Meat-raising states don’t want plant-based products labeled as “meat” (neither does the EU), and the dairy industry doesn’t want plant-based dairy replacements labeled as “milk,” “yogurt,” or “cheese.” The FDA wants a host of new labels, as well as new definition of “healthy.” Rice growers don’t want you to call cauliflower rice “rice.” Doctors push for new “Added Sugar” labels, and want all USDA-inspected chicken (see above!) labeled “May Contain…
