Eating Matters

Demand for organic products continue to rise as consumers become increasingly conscientious about their food choices. Indeed, being mindful of the kinds of food and production methods used to produce that food is undeniably essential to creating a better and sustainable food system. But does that mean that we should exclusively eat organic foods? Are all conventional foods bad? Alexina Cather, Deputy Director Hunter College’s New York City Food Policy Center, joins host Jenna Liut to discuss whether organic food – and the USDA organic certification – is all it’s cracked up to be.

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Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution is wreaking havoc on our waterways - notably in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Great Lakes - and is getting worse every year. Science journalist Virgina Gewin discusses the extent of the problem, remedies that will drastically improve the sustainability of current farming practices, and what it will take for widespread adoption of these innovative methods. Later in the show, Edible Brooklyn’s Editor-in-Chief Ariel Lauren Wilson joins Jenna in the studio to talk about their upcoming Food Loves Tech conference happening on November 2nd and 3rd.

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The Farm Bill – the primary legislation passed by Congress that sets national nutrition, agriculture and conservation policy – officially expired on October 1st, with no new legislation to take it's place. So, what now? Helena Bottemiller Evich, Senior Food & Ag Reporter at Politico Pro, joins host Jenna Liut to discuss the status of the current bill, the repercussions for our domestic food system, and where we go from here.

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The United Nations calls the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria the "the greatest and most urgent global risk," an epidemic that is projected to cost the world $100 trillion (TRILLION) and cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050. For a long time, it was thought that antibiotic resistance was only caused by misuse of these drugs in medicine, but in her book ""Big Chicken: The Incredible Story of How Antibiotics Created Modern Agriculture and Changed the Way the World Eats," author Maryn McKenna documents how drug-resistant bacteria are being spread through our food system. McKenna joins host Jenna Liut to discuss her research on how the excessive use of antibiotics in the poultry industry in particular helped give rise to this public health epidemic and what we can do now to ensure safer, healthier eating for ourselves and future generations.

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The abundance and prevalence of CBD products has exploded in recent months – so much so that even Coca-Cola is considering making a line of wellness beverages infused with CBD. With the rapidly changing – and ever confusing – cannabis landscape, journalist Lisa Gill joins host Jenna Liut to shed light on the CBD industry in particular - discussing what it is, how it’s used, and why it has suddenly become so popular. Gill, an expert in the public health and drug field, is the Deputy Editor at Consumer Reports and has covered this issue extensively.

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With the renegotiation of NAFTA currently underway and a new trade agreement close to being finalized, host Jenna Liut welcomes author Alyshia Galvez to the show to discuss the repercussions the deal has had on the U.S. and Mexican food system. Alyshia is a Professor of Latin American and Latino studies at Lehman College of the City University of New York, and she is also the author of the recently published book, “Eating NAFTA: Trade, Food Policies and the Destruction of Mexico,” where she examines the effects of free-trade policies on Mexican food production and traditional culture as well as the collective health of the Mexican people.

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The agriculture industry, including both U.S. farms and agribusiness, has been undergoing widespread and persistent consolidation for decades. And yet, family farms continue to account for most U.S. food production. Those are among the conclusions of "Three Decades of Consolidation in U.S. Agriculture," a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS). At the same time, three mega-mergers between agricultural chemical and seed producers have been underway, which some believe will have major affects on global food production. Jim MacDonald, Chief of the Structure, Technology, and Productivity branch of ERS - and co-author of the department's new report on consolidation - joins Host Jenna Liut to provide further context about these industry changes and the likely repercussions for farmers, consumers, and our broader food system.

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In recent weeks, the Novo Dia Group, an Austin-based company that processes approximately 40% of SNAP transactions at farmers markets nationwide, said it will end its service by July 31st, leaving a big gap in the ability for farmers markets to serve low-income customers. Joining Host Jenna Liut to dig deeper into what exactly happened and the repercussions of Nova Dia’s decision is Leah Douglas, Associate Editor and Staff Writer at the Food & Environment Reporting Network who has covered this issue extensively, and Cheryl Huber, Greenmarket Assistant Director at GrowNYC, a non-profit that oversees a network of farmers markets throughout the NYC that are affected by this development.

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If the 1990s has taught us anything, we know that Kate Moss, Tom Brady, and Kermit the Frog certainly do! And that over 220 billion liters of fluid white milk was estimated to be consumed worldwide in 2016. Indeed, milk is one of those ubiquitous refrigerator staples available in vast quantities anywhere food is sold. And yet, despite its extreme popularity, author Mark Kurlansky refers to it as “the most argued over food in history.” In his new book, “Milk! A 10,000 Year Food Fracas,” Kurlansky demonstrates how dairy has framed cultural, genetic, medicinal and economic debates that have been raging for centuries - from the merits of breastfeeding to food safety regulations to the environmental impact of industrialized dairy farms. In this episode, Mark joins host Jenna Liut to unpack the human relationship to diary since we first started domesticating animals.

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Question: What has 3 times the protein, uses 15 times less water, and produces 2,000 times less methane gas than beef? Answer: crickets! Indeed, many believe that insects will be the food of the future, and crickets are one of the most palatable, sustainable, and nutritious options. Robyn Shapiro, CEO and Founder of Seek Food - makers of cricket protein food brands - joins host Jenna Liut to discuss how her company is working to make eating insects more mainstream in the West. Robyn also talks about the company's exciting new line of baking flours, celebrity chef partnerships, and Kickstarter campaign.

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