The Science of Food

Fish Health Claims May Cause More Environmental Harm Than Good, Researchers Say

ScienceDaily (Mar. 17, 2009) — The health benefits of fish consumption have been over-dramatized and have put increased pressure on wild fish, according to a new research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). In an innovative collaboration, medical scientists from St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto have teamed up with researchers from the University of British Columbia’s Fisheries Centre and author Farley Mowat to closely examine the effects of health claims with regard to seafood [MORE].

The Food Miles Mistake - Saving the planet by eating New Zealand apples

Reason Online | November 4, 2008
Modern technologies like canning and refrigeration made it possible to extend the food trade from staple grains and spices to fruits, vegetables, and meats. As a result, world trade in fruits and vegetables—fresh and processed—doubled in the 1980s and increased by 30 percent between 1990 and 2001. Fruits and vegetables accounted for 22 percent of the exports of developing economies in 2001. If farmers, processors, shippers, and retailers did not profit from providing distant consumers with these foods, the foods wouldn't be on store shelves. And consumers, of course, benefit from being able to buy fresh foods year around....

But for some activists, eating local foods is no longer just a pleasure—it is a moral obligation. [MORE]

How much food do we throw away every year?

 According to a government statistics, household food expenses in the 1940's took up over 30 % of disposable personal income. Today takes up less than half that amount. Yet, an estimated 27 percent of the food available for consumption ends up in the landfill, It it happens at the supermarket, in restaurants and cafeterias and in your very own kitchen. It works out to about a pound of food every day for every American.[MORE]