When we think of Monsanto, it is easy to associate the company with the health risks of genetically modified (GM) foods. However, “Empire of Seeds” by Bart J. Elmore, a US scholar of environmental history, shows that the influence of agricultural capital—epitomised by Monsanto—on the human food system is actually…
On 17 July, on the eve of the 2024 Summer Olympics opening in Paris, a coalition of international organisations launched the “Kick Big Soda Out of Sport” campaign, taking on the world’s largest soft drink manufacturers, including Coca-Cola. The initiative contends that “Big Soda” – soft drink industry giants epitomised…
Editor’s Note In the previous column, Master Yiguo showed us how, from an urban setting, she uses a “small dining table” to serve friends in her neighbourhood meals that are both wholesome and delicious. Yet even more “hardcore” is the grower of the rice served at that very table: Chen…
In this episode of *Food Talk*, we focus on the recent tanker truck incident that has captured widespread attention, exploring how food safety concerns impact our everyday lives. Despite numerous past food safety scandals, consumers still feel largely powerless in the face of our current food environment. This sense of…
A tanker truck caught mixing mineral and edible oils has thrust cooking oil into the spotlight, capturing unprecedented public attention. While people are asking how to ensure the vegetable oils they consume are safe, as a food enthusiast, I’m posing a different question: do we really need to be eating…
Editor’s Note You are what you eat; dining well is never a trivial matter. The recent scandal involving edible oil transported in tanker trucks has once again reignited anxiety over food safety, while tracing the origins of what we consume remains fraught with difficulty. Along the lengthy chain from field…
Recently, the chaotic practice of using tankers intended for coal-derived oil to also transport edible oils has sparked public outrage, once again bringing food safety and public health to the forefront of national concern. In truth, hidden risks in our food supply have always been present. In March this year,…
Recently, the chaotic practices surrounding the tanker transport of edible oil have once again sparked public concern over food safety. From production to processing, and from transport to sale, every stage impacts food safety. The workers, managers, regulators, researchers, and financial interests behind each link in the chain collectively determine…
I. Catastrophic Harvest Collapse: Lychees Face a ‘Super Lean Year’ Conghua District in Guangzhou is one of Guangdong’s main lychee-growing regions. July is normally the peak of the local harvest, yet familiar sights are disappearing. Branches that once bowed under heavy fruiting are now just lush with green leaves; you…
“These oats were sown in mid-October last year, and we found the ‘Eagle’ variety gave the best performance. If we opt for closer planting, the yield per hectare will be higher.” “Have you ever tried wider spacing?” On 12 June, at Gut Wilmersdorf, an organic farm an hour’s drive from…
