Welcome to my first “blog update." As promised in early September, loyal fans of the Informed Eating newsletter will still find the same cutting-edge, no-holds-barred reporting in my new Big Food Watch blog. Here’s what I’ve posted over the last couple of weeks.
IN THE NEWS
Victory for Local Food Democracy
- Read how California food
activists successfully defended their right to keep out
genetically-engineered crops despite heavy lobbying from Big
Agriculture.
Read story.
Soda LobbyÂ’s Back-to-School PR Campaign
- Read about how the American
Beverage Association is spending $10 million on ads to convince you that
the bogus voluntary agreement signed back in May is actually worth more
than the paper itÂ’s printed on. DonÂ’t let them fool you.
Read story.
Special Report on Food Policy Conference
- Read my summary of the Consumer
Federation of AmericaÂ’s 29th Annual National Food Policy
conference, including my own presentation on state legislation to help
curb the sale of soda and junk food in schools.
Read story.
Lawsuit Against McDonaldÂ’s Goes Forward
- Read about how the 2002 lawsuit (Pelman
v. McDonaldÂ’s) in which two teenaged girls sued the fast food giant for
making them sick is back in court despite corporate lawyersÂ’ best
efforts to wear the plaintiffs down.
Read story.
McDonaldÂ’s Targets China
- While McDonaldÂ’s defends itself
against litigation at home, the company is resorting to disgusting
marketing tactics to lure in Chinese youth. View both the print and TV
commercials to see how well globalization is working.
Read story.
SPEAKING EVENTS, ETC
Politics of Food Panel in San Francisco, October 10
- If youÂ’re in the
San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to come to an exciting panel discussion
that I am honored to be part of. Below is the organizerÂ’s description.
The Politics of Food looks at what we eat and why it matters. Food is rapidly becoming one of the most politicized commodities in America. From toxic agribusiness to genetically modified foods to Wal-MartÂ’s push into organics, the subject of what we put in our mouths and how it affects not only our bodies, but the earth, is a red-button issue in the 21st century. This panel of journalists, food activists, and scientists will discuss the politics of food from every angle.
Speakers:
Ignacio Chapela,
Christopher D. Cook,
Michele Simon, and
Bryant Terry.
Moderator:
Julie Cummins.
When: Tuesday, October 10, 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. program
Where: The Commonwealth Club (595 Market Street, Second Floor)
Cost: $12 for Commonwealth and Litquake subscribers; $20 otherwise
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood Summit, October 26-28 - Join me in Boston as I kick off my book tour with one of my favorite organizations working hard to protect children. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free ChildhoodÂ’s 5th Annual Summit is called, Consuming Kids: Marketing in Schools and Beyond. I cannot think of a better forum to organize around school food. Other speakers include CCFC co-founder and author of Consuming Kids, Susan Linn, Jean Kilbourne, author of CanÂ’t Buy My Love, and many more experts and advocates devoted to keeping children safe from corporate greed. For details and to register, visit CCFCÂ’s website.
New Book Review for Appetite for Profit
- My first book, Appetite for
Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health, will be in
bookstores by early November. Meantime, visit my website to read the
latest rave review from Library Journal. You can also read free
content, see my fall book tour schedule, and pre-order the book.
Visit website.
The Fine Print
Feedback, hate mail? Email me at:
Michele@informedeating.org.
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Big Food Watch is a project of the Center for Informed Food Choices, a 501 (c)(3), nonprofit organization that educates about the politics of food. To support our work with a tax-deductible donation, visit us online.
Center
for Informed Food Choices
P.O. Box 16052
Oakland, CA 94610
