Quartz – “Consumer Reports’ latest investigation suggests that 20% of commonly sold fruits and vegetables contain unsafe levels of pesticides. Some of your favorite produce might be dicier to eat than assumed. An analysis from Consumer Reports published Thursday suggests that a substantial portion of commonly sold fruits and vegetables have a significant risk of… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Food and Nutrition
Where our food crops come from
‘Explore the geographic origins of our food crops – where they were initially domesticated and evolved over time – and discover how important these “primary regions of diversity” are to our current diets and agricultural production areas.” Read more about the study → The interactive crop map displays the native origins and primary regions of… Continue Reading
The 12 Companies That Together Own 500+ Consumer Brands
Quartr: “Warren Buffett famously popularized the term “moat,” stating that “a truly great business must have an enduring moat that protects excellent returns on invested capital.” This can take shape in various forms, and according to Buffett, one of them is “possessing a powerful world-wide brand (Coca-Cola, Gillette, American Express).” The consumer goods sector is… Continue Reading
What you need to know about the plastic crisis
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): “Global annual production of plastic has increased exponentially over the past 65 years, growing from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 460 million metric tons in 2019. Much of this plastic quickly becomes waste, and plastic waste is found everywhere, including the farthest reaches of the Arctic, the deep seabed, and even… Continue Reading
FTC Report Says Grocers Exploited Consumers During COVID-Era Supply Chain Disruptions
New York Times via MSN: “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery prices skyrocketed as shelves were left bare of novelties and necessities. The culprit? Supply chain disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic severely strained the U.S. food supply chain, exposing vulnerabilities from farm to table. With limited capacity to meet surging demand due to sick workers and supply… Continue Reading
Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America (2024)
Wallethub: “Location matters when it comes to health. Some places promote wellness by expanding access to nutritious food and recreational facilities. Others strive to keep healthcare costs affordable for everyone or keep parks clean and well-maintained. When a city doesn’t take care of these important issues, it can be hard to keep up good health.… Continue Reading
WHO The state of the climate in 2023
WHO Climate Report – Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023. The state of the climate in 2023 gave ominous new significance to the phrase “off the charts.” Key messages: State of Global Climate report confirms 2023 as hottest year on record by clear margin Records broken for ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic… Continue Reading
Researchers publish dataset of over 6,000 agri-environmental policies from all over the world
“The database is accessible to the general public at this link…researchers from the University of Bonn and the Swiss Federal Institution of Technology (ETH) Zurich have published a database containing over 6,000 agri-environmental policies, thus enabling their peers as well as policymakers and businesses to seek answers to all manner of different questions. The researchers… Continue Reading
EWG 2024 Dirty Dozen List
Via this link: “The Environmental Working Group 2024 Dirty Dozen™: Of the 46 items included in our analysis, these 12 fruits and vegetables were most contaminated with pesticides Of the 46 items included in our analysis, these 12 fruits and vegetables were most contaminated with pesticides. These 19 items were included in the fruit and… Continue Reading
State of the science on plastic chemicals
PlastChem – Identifying and addressing chemicals and polymers of concern. “Chemicals are a central aspect of the plastics issue. Although there is a wealth of scientific information on plastic chemicals and polymers to inform policymakers, implementing this evidence is challenging because information is scattered and not easily accessible. The PlastChem report and database address this… Continue Reading
Report: The Dollar Store Invasion
ILSR – Communities are in Revolt, But the Chains’ Predatory Tactics Also Demand Federal Action. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar are targeting vulnerable communities, opening stores at a breakneck pace in urban and rural areas alike. It’s tempting to assume that these chains simply fill a need in cash-strapped places. But the evidence… Continue Reading
Libraries are on the front lines of America’s problems
Axios: “…Zoom out: At the same time, libraries are grappling with everything from the high cost of e-books to the need to provide free outdoor Wi-Fi so people without broadband can have off-hours access. Many libraries are trying to ease food insecurity by adding gardens, nutrition classes, food pantries and cooking lessons. “During the pandemic,… Continue Reading
