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New York Times
Business correspondent for the New York Times
PROFILE
Stephanie Strom
Guest
FROM Stephanie Strom
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Whole Foods vs. Organic Farmers Whole Foods is practically synonymous with “organic.” But now the grocery chain is on the outs with organic farmers. As other stores have begun to take over the organic market -- Costco is now the biggest seller of organic foods -- Whole Foods has had to innovate. One of their new sales tactics could, ironically, push customers away from organic foods. This is making organic farmers in California and elsewhere very angry. What’s their (organic, grass-fed) beef?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
New Menu Item: Calorie Counts If you’ve ever wondered how many calories are in that tub of buttered popcorn at the movies, it looks like you’re about to find out -- whether you want to or not. This morning, the FDA announced new rules that will require movie theaters to post calorie counts, along with chain restaurants, vending machines, and amusement parks. We look at how the Affordable Care Act paved the way for more food labeling, and the intense lobbying to control who’s affected.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
If You Like Us, You Can't Sue Us How much do you like Cheerios? Enough to give them a thumbs-up on Facebook? Well, if you do end up “liking” Cheerios - or any other product made by General Mills - you could be giving up your right to sue the company.
To the Point
China and America's Food Supply The United States once called itself the "food basket" for much of the world, but that was before economic globalization. Last year, the US imported 4.1 billion pounds of food products from China. More than half the cod and tilapia we eat -- 50% of the apple juice and 31% of the garlic -- originated in China, a country infamous for food-safety problems. The FDA inspects less than 3% of the imports, but China reportedly treats food for export very differently from what it grows for domestic consumption. Where do Chinese food imports turn up without your knowing it? Are they getting a bad rap because of international politics?
To the Point
Whole Foods to Label Genetically Modified Products Whole Foods Market has announced plans to become the first US retailer to require labeling of all genetically modified foods sold in its stores. In California, often called America's food basket, the food industry spent millions of dollars last year to defeat a ballot initiative to require the labeling of genetically modified foods. Now Whole Foods will go the way of the European Union. Stephanie Strom, who reports for the New York Times , has more on the possible impact.
To the Point
Website Exposes Petty Bribery Worldwide It's estimated that one in every four people on Earth pay a bribe every year, with a total cost of $1 trillion. Bribes are said to be one fourth of Afghanistan's GDP. Can social media campaigns make a difference? Websites exposing petty bribery are "spreading like kudzu around the globe," following the paradigm set by IPaidABribe.com in India. There, it costs an extra 10,000 rupees to get a legitimate income tax refund and 120 rupees to get a birth certificate for one's own baby. That's according to Stephanie Strom in today's New York Times .
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LA Observed
A councilman under a cloud LA City Councilman Jose Huizar returned to work today for the first time since the FBI raided his home and offices. There is still little to no information about what federal agents took or what they are looking for.
Hollywood Breakdown
Awaiting judge's ruling on CNN's lawsuit against the White House CNN sued the president, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and others over the confiscation of reporter Jim Acosta's press pass. Other news networks--including Fox--have expressed support for CNN.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
As some residents return to Malibu, what does the damage look like? The Woolsey Fire is 94 percent contained, after burning close to 100,000 acres. Authorities have begun allowing some residents back into Malibu. But officials warn that broken power poles, debris-filled roadways, and broken gas lines still pose serious threats to safety.