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Are Rejected Melons the Next Form of Renewable Energy?
A colossal food fight is one way to use up the season's supply of subpar produce. But scientists have discovered another: convert rejected fruits into biofuel. The study, conducted by USDA researchers and published in the journal Biotechnology For Biofuels, found that the 360,000 tons of fruit rejected by US retailers each year could be converted into roughly two million gallons of biofuel.
Could America Be Facing a Sugar Shortage?
If you've got a sweet tooth, you may be forced to reckon with a bitter truth. In a letter sent to US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, several of the country's largest food companies, including General Mills, Kraft, Hershey, and Mars, said the United States could "virtually run out of sugar" if the government doesn't let up on sugar import limits.
To keep prices within reason for domestic sugar farmers, the government only allows unlimited sugar imports from the Mexican market without paying tariffs.
Produce and Meat's COOL Move
America is moving one more step closer to awareness of where its food comes from.
The US Department of Agriculture has mandated that all produce as well as meat, fish, and poultry sold in US retail stores will be required to have country of origin labels (COOL) beginning next Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Holy Cow - Another Beef Recall !!!
Yes, I'm sorry to say, but Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is voluntarily recalling 129,000 lbs of beef products in 15 states because of possible E. coli contamination.
The USDA said that the meat products were made between March 1 and April 30, and were shipped to Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Buy Local Produce at Your Local Farmers' Market
If you are interested in talking to the farmers that grow your food, you have to shop at your local farmers' market. It is the best way to learn how your food is grown and always cool to meet the folks that grow it. Farmers often share great tricks for storing their (and soon to be your) produce, sometimes they offer up great cooking techniques or favorite food combos.
MyPyramid: The USDA Gets Personal
Remember the food pyramid? You know the one that we were all taught was so important for us in grade school even though it really made absolutely zero sense? Well the food pyramid has had a bit of a face-lift and I must say, it's about time!
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Burning Question: At What Temperature Is a Turkey Cooked?
No matter what kind of turkey you'll be having this year, there's one question you'll need the answer to: What temperature does a turkey need to reach in order be considered "done"?
Until last year, the USDA recommended cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 180ºF. But based on the fact that bacteria threat salmonella cannot withstand temperatures of 160ºF after 30 seconds, the FDA now suggests a minimum internal temperature of 165ºF as measured by a food thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.
USDA Closes School Lunch Meatpacker, Kids Don't Know Pork
The USDA just shut down an LA slaughterhouse that had been the distributor for Westland Meat Company, the ground beef supplier for the National School Lunch Program.
Meanwhile, on the UK side of the pond, LEAF, Linking Environment and Farming, just released a video to help kids learn that sausages don't grow on trees. The video "demonstrates the sausage-making process, from farm to plate."
How Pink Can My Pork Be?
Last night my hubby cooked a pork loin roast — I love when he cooks me dinner. The recipe said to cook the meat until the internal temperature registers 140 to 145°F, and while the meat rests the temperature will rise another five to 10 degrees. He did this, and the pork was pink running with pink juices.
USDA Orders Audit of National Organic Program
In the wake of the economic downturn, not only has the organics industry lost a significant share of customers, but it's been plagued by scandal as well. The natural foods industry was also the subject of debate when a recent UK study found that organic food is no healthier than conventional. Now, the US Department of Agriculture, hoping to address the ongoing organics problems, has ordered an audit of its National Organic Program (NOP), the organization that sets standards for organic products in America.
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