Food + Drink

The problem that is our food industry is a large and worrying one. The issues are innumerable. Over one third of food produced in the world for humans every year is wasted. Food packaging was the second most common item retrieved during annual beach clean ups by the Ocean Conservancy in 2018. And this isn’t even touching on the transportation costs to both individual consumer and the planet.

The auburn curls of Anne Ridley bounced up and down like rabbits as she frolicked around the Southaven County Fair in her home state of Mississippi. This wasn’t just any old county fair, this year would be the very best one ever. Working 364 days on her best apple pie recipe, she had finally perfected her craft and was ready to snag that shiny blue ribbon which would show everyone she was #1. This would be the most satisfying for her parents, as they had become sick of consuming apple pie every day.

An apple a day really may keep the doctor away. That’s a red apple, to be precise. Red foods are particularly rich in disease-fighting antioxidants. These compounds are believed to combat the effects of free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can damage cells and foster illness and aging. Lycopene, the antioxidant that gives red fruits and vegetables their bright red color, is believed to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. While most plant-based foods are generally healthy, these seven red fruits and vegetables rise to the top as particularly smart choices for anyone interested in supporting good health and longevity.

When the topic of drinking laws is brought up, Prohibition is usually what initially comes to mind, as this marked a particularly stringent era of federal restriction in regards to alcohol. However, across the world, there are plenty of odd drinking laws that structure the ways in which we are or aren’t allowed to consume alcohol, and some of them certainly prove that truth is stranger than fiction. From banning certain types of alcohol to implementing meticulously specific laws about how or when it can be served, there are plenty of bizarre legal hoops that people have to jump through if they want to drink. The weirdest drinking laws throughout the course of history are comical reminders that alcohol and our aversion to it make us do strange things.

Foraging for wild food can have many benefits. Besides being an enjoyable hobby and a good excuse to get out and enjoy a productive walk in the fresh air, it can save you money on your grocery bill, and give your health a boost, because wild foods often contain more nutrients than those grown in intensive farming conditions.

Farmers have been developing favorable traits by selectively breeding crops since the beginning of agriculture. The age old practice of creating more tolerant and pest resistant plants with higher yield has turned into a complicated, and sometimes secretive and modern process of genetic engineering. With modern technology, alterations can be made directly to the DNA of various plants. With only a few companies leading the market in genetically modified crops, and sometimes entire strains becoming eradicated by a single illness, controversy envelops present-day regulations concerning genetically modified foods. Issues being discussed include the safety and treatment of farmers, gene-patenting, food affordability, the environment, and the quality assurance of the crops being produced. How do genetically modified foods affect humans and other wildlife? Do consumers have the right to know when genetically modified crops are present in food products?