USDA And The Future Of Food Policy
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-08-08/usda-and-future-food-policy
Late last month, a sustainability newsletter for Department of Agriculture employees recommended reducing one's carbon footprint by adopting Meatless Mondays. Almost immediately, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association called on the USDA to withdraw the endorsement of Meatless Mondays, and the USDA complied within a few days. We find out why some say this dustup provides an interesting lens for looking into the future of food policy in the United States.
Guests
Robert Martin
Senior Advisor for Center for a Livable Future,
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Philip Brasher
Editor of CQ’s Executive Briefing on Agriculture and Food
Comments
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How scary to see a government agency so responsive to the industry it regulates; the whole notion of agency capture comes to mind. The more intertwined legislators and regulators become with an industry, through shared or rotating staff or hefty campaign contributions to an individual or party, the more we see those same people tasked with keeping us safe and healthy slacking their regulatory obligations and failing the American people. Sure, this one instance didn't cost human lives, but to see the Cattlemen's Beef Association get as much weight (pun intended?) as to exercise some control over the USDA's e-newsletter is certainly in the realm of surreal.
Meatless Mondays; unquestioning dismissal of a low-carb diet; lack of dynamism.
Goodness, Kojo - send in the varsity players. It's two years overdue.
Book Gary Taubes. Stat.