The perils of non-scientific thinking...

I've written before about the value and importance of evidence-based thinking. A friend just sent me a link to a rather shocking article by Gary Baum writing in the Hollywood Reporter about rapidly declining vaccination rates in the elite schools of the Westside in Los Angeles (where I live).  In popular talks I note that non-scientific thinking is not a 'red' or 'blue' issue--it's rampant and I use the example of low vaccination rates in the Westside. Baum's article is a wake-up call for science-based policy and decision making.  Read and discuss it at your next party!

Tiny...the movie

Just saw the film Tiny last night: excellent and conversation provoking film about what size live we want to have.  The film's about the tiny house movement (imagine living in 100 square feet!) but really it's about what our goals and aspirations are.  Check it out!

American dietary guidelines and greenhouse gasses

If Americans altered their menus to conform to federal dietary recommendations, emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases tied to agricultural production could increase significantly, according to a new study by University of Michigan researchers.

Read more in the Science Daily.

Eat organic because production is good for the environment

The organic 'debate' continues!  Here's the latest I've read in Vox.

Take home for me--fewer pesticides are good but more importantly the production of organic food is better for us all!

Eating unwashed fruit is better than eating junk food...

According to a report in the Huffington Post...check it out!

Of course, this raises the larger issue of pesticides in agriculture...which is really what the piece is about!

Help save a grass-fed bison farm in California

It's always hard to buck the trends and I've just learned about the Linder's organic, grass-fed bison farm  near Mt. Lassen in northern California.  They've been selling their natural bison at LA Farmer's Market but unless they get some outside financial help, they'll be forced to cull their herd.  The trouble is that their well broke and shipping in hay to feed their bison is prohibitively expensive. They are risking the loss of their herd and farm.  The story's and their request for help is here:  http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/water-for-bison--3

Mark Bittman on chicken and salmonella...

I think Mark rants a bit but hey, if Sweden can sell salmonella-free chicken it's certainly possible if we want to do it and this raises a very good question about who is in charge of our food safety and security...a really good dinner party conversation topic!

CONTRIBUTING OP-ED WRITER

Should You Eat Chicken?

By MARK BITTMAN

Published: October 15, 2013 393 Comments

I tell this friend about the latest salmonella outbreak, and she asks me, “Should I stop eating chicken?”

It’s a good question. In recent weeks, salmonella on chicken has officially sickened more than 300 people (the Centers for Disease Control says there are 25 illnesses for every one reported, so maybe 7,500) and hospitalized more than 40 percent of them, in part because antibiotics aren’t working. Industry’s reaction has been predictably disappointing: the chicken from the processors in question — Foster Farms — is still being shipped into the market. Regulators’ responses have been limited: the same chicken in question is still being sold.

Until the Food Safety and Inspection Service (F.S.I.S.) of the Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) can get its act together and start assuring us that chicken is safe, I’d be wary.

Read the rest at the New York Times.