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The Pig get Pigger

Posted by Susan Ponsolle on 05-14-07

Premium Standard Farms--America's Number 2 hog packer--seemed like a mighty big bite even for Smithfield Foods, whose insatiable appetite for smaller competitors has made it the nation's largest pork processor. Until last week, there Senator Chuck Grassley was some hope that Department of Justice would derail the merger as anti-competitive. But over protestations from politicians such as Senator Chuck Grassley R Iowa and consumer groups, the Antitrust Division's regulators gave the deal their blessing, proclaiming that the new meat-producing behemoth  was, "not likely to harm competition, consumers or farmers."

Given that Smithfield will now process about one-third of the hogs in the United States (and outright own one in five), I find the assertion somewhat hard to swallow.

When is Organic not Organic?

Cornucopia Institute When the term is applied to produce on the shelves of some Wal-Mart stores, it seems. The , an organic watchdog group, delivered an embarrassing nip to the retail giant's backside by complaining to the Wisconsin's Bureau of Consumer Protection that the megastore was displaying inorganic fruits and vegetables under cheery, green "Wal-Mart Organics" placards. After receiving assurances from the company that it "plans to implement additional measures to ensure that organic products will not be inadvertently or accidentally identified by shelf tags as being organic," the bureau said it would drop the complaint--but cautioned that it will be monitoring Wal-Mart's practices.

Clean Your Plate--Or Else

In this age of gigantic portions (and waistlines), The Christian Science Monitor reports that owners of Hong Kong's popular all-you-can-eat restaurants have come up with a reassuringly practical solution to diners whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs: You pay extra for food left on your plate. One hot-pot joint charges 64 cents an ounce for leftovers; at a more upscale sushi place, similar gluttony will set you back $1.28 an ounce.

 Source - Barry Estabrook - Politics of the Plate 

 Politics of the Plate

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Amy
Posts: 1
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All you can eat versus all you should eat
Reply #1 on : Wed May 16, 2007, 21:45:34
In my opinion, the days of "all you can eat" restaurants should be over. With increasing obesity rates in children and adults, healthy portions should become the standard. I have to wonder if charging for what is left on one's plate keeps people from going back for seconds or thirds or if it simply encourages the already full diner to shovel down the remains of the meal.