Sending a postcard from the Lone Star State!
In the absence of school, we whisked away to watch the solar eclipse and visit family this week. The clouds parted just in time, and it was an unforgettable experience for the senses. While plenty of professional and amateur astronomers captured incredible images, less-than-stellar attempts like mine showcase the view from the cheap seats (and a confused street lamp):
A Bit of Food Reading
I checked the news for the first time yesterday to see that inflation is fighting fit. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the cost of living continues to rise with verve. However, the total food inflation rate was slight in comparison. But we shelled out significantly more for eggs again in March, with the index of a dozen up 4.6% from February. Sigh, and no surprise. Large producers might cite avian flu or weather or supply chain snarls, but a new book written by an agricultural and antitrust expert explains how food prices and supply chains are far more complicated.
Austin Frerick's “Barons: Money, Power, and The Corruption of the Food Industry” illustrates how the food industry became what it is today through the stories of small farmers turned corporate moguls. Along the way, he details how changes in government regulation and modern food conglomerates affect our grocery prices and the quality of our food (or lack thereof).
Two more quick(ish) reads:
“Stanford’s Vegan Twin Study: Science or PR Stunt?” by Nina Teicholz is an interesting read if you watched the Netflix documentary “You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.” I took the series as a big commercial for a vegan diet (and all its products). In her article, Teicholz points out how big players in the vegan scene - dubbed the “vegan mafia” - fund the researchers who conducted the trial. For in-depth reading on how even the best scientists can be subconsciously influenced by food companies who fund research, read Marion Nestle’s book “Unsavory Science.”
“How Big Food Co-opted the Anti-Diet Movement for Profit” on All Things Considered is an interview with health reporter Sasha Chavkin of The Examination, who uncovered General Mills was paying dietician “influencers” to sell the “anti-diet” trend (basically eating what you want, whenever you want, not smart). It is a lesson and reminder of the power of social media and corporations with cash to burn.
Back next week…
Eat + be well,
Christina