Weekly Food News Roundup: Celebrity chefs debate seal hunt, Amazon to enter the Canadian grocery business, US food stamp cuts hit & more

This week's food news roundup, sharing news, links and stories of interest to or from those of a lefty viewpoint.

 US Humane Society led boycott of Canadian seafood to protest the Canadian seal hunt called "ill-considered" by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/boycott-of-canadian-seafood-ill-considered-says-anthony-bordain/article15133191/

Canadian celebrity chef Michael Smith follows suit: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/canadian-chefs-fight-against-chefs-for-seals-boycott-1.2288423

Other chefs disagree: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/chef-fires-back-at-anthony-bourdain-over-seal-hunt-boycott-1.2303147

Health Canada issues warning over bacteria in bottled water produced by the Blue Glass Water Co. and found across Southern Ontario: http://metronews.ca/news/canada/839313/health-canada-issues-new-warnings-on-contaminated-blue-glass-bottled-water/

Federal government launches food recall app; NDP health critic Libby Davies says the most important thing is food labeling: http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2013/10/20131030-173116.html

Canada-EU Trade Agreement to place restrictions on the use of 145 food names: http://www.betterfarming.com/online-news/canada-eu-trade-agreement-restricts-name-use-food-products-53958

Amazon to get into the Canadian grocery business: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/food-fight-amazon-to-take-on-canadian-grocery-stores-1.1522149







Disgraceful and devastating $5 billon food stamp cut takes effect in the USA: http://www.salon.com/2013/10/28/riots_always_begin_typically_the_same_way_food_stamp_shutdown_looms_friday/

Some residents of Irwindale, CA say that fumes from the local Sriracha factory are seriously hurting air quality: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/10/29/241587163/sriracha-factory-under-fire-for-fumes-city-sues 

McDonald's drops Heinz as its ketchup supplier after Heinz appoints former Burger King chief exec as their new CEO!: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2477311/Heinz-squeezed-McDonalds-fast-food-chain-drops-ketchup-menu-40-years.html

Food is a "human right" Vatican Archbishop tells U.N., saying "Hunger is not just a technical problem awaiting technological solutions. Hunger is a human problem that demands solutions based on our common humanity.”: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/food-is-a-human-right-vatican-archbishop-tells-un/

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Weekly food news update: Republicans attack access to food stamps, the high cost of banana plantations & more!

This week's Friday food news roundup, sharing news, links and stories of interest to or from those of a lefty viewpoint.    

The terrible assault on those living in poverty continues in the United States as Republicans seek to cut food stamp access: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/09/18/223627228/house-bill-would-cut-40-billion-from-food-stamp-program


New research finds pesticides from banana plantations in spectacled caiman blood: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/world-on-a-plate/2013/sep/19/bananas-pesticides-spectacled-caiman-costa-rica
 
New Canadian research suggests gluten-free products are getting cheaper as gluten-free diets become more popular: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cost-of-gluten-free-food-falling-as-diet-becomes-more-popular-1.1861036

AwesTRUCK 2013 Toronto Food Truck Festival hits Toronto this weekend:  https://www.uniiverse.com/listings/awestruck-2013-presented-by-car2go-toronto-XM49W

The Calgary Food Bank is seeing a big jump in demand this month and needs your help:  http://ca.news.yahoo.com/calgary-food-bank-supplies-023246515.html

The Oromocto food bank is getting short on supplies and  needs your help: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/oromocto-food-bank-short-on-supplies-1.1859299

Canadian website rabble.ca launches an Eat Local! food and sustainability challenge starting September 29th: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/eat-local/2013/09/join-rabbles-eat-local-food-and-sustainability-challenge-september-

Ontario Government Launches New Local Food Fund:  http://sustainontario.com/2013/09/18/19092/blog/more-info-on-ontarios-newly-launched-local-food-fund
 
Coffee shop workers in Halifax organizing through the Baristas Rise Up campaign:  http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/talking-radical-radio/2013/09/coffee-shop-workers-halifax-get-organized-baristas-rise

Deadly E. coli outbreak linked to B.C. Gouda cheese: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Deadly+coli+outbreak+linked+gouda+cheese/8924611/story.html