America is suffering from two serious health crises that initially seem contradictory. Levels of obesity have risen to epidemic proportions in recent decades, while the high frequency of eating disorders has become cause for serious concern. Healthcare professionals are now charged with the difficult task of simultaneously fighting two diseases located on opposite ends of … Read more
When Michelle Obama planted a community garden in the South Lawn of the White House in 2009, the First Lady made clear the priorities she would have as first lady: food and nutrition. Michelle’s advocacy of healthy eating at the national level is symbolic of the expanding role of the government in twenty-first century food … Read more
The battle to save Florida’s natural treasure. When I fly home to Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, I always look out the window. The view is spectacularly beautiful and mechanistically awe-inspiring. Vast fields of marshes, swamps, and saw grass stretch out past the horizon’s end, accompanied by a harsh grid of concrete canals that scar the … Read more
Humans have been genetically modifying foods since the beginning of agriculture by simply selecting crops that are nutritious and have high yields. With the recent advent of transgene technology, scientists have been exploring new ways to modify a plant’s genes without relying on the slow process of artificial selection. The development of these “genetically modified … Read more
Will China Get Fat Before it Gets Rich? With the American public increasingly wary of obesity and diabetes, sales of unhealthy food products in the US have slowed over the past few years. Nevertheless, the profits of American food corporations continue to grow, due in large part to the corporate focus on emerging markets. Particularly … Read more