Information about the Aspen Ideas Festival is here. I am scheduled for a session, The American Wellness Paradox, currently scheduled from 11:00-11:50 a.m., at the East Lawn Tent. This will be a discussion with senior HHS policy advisor, Calley Means. Here’s the blurb on it: “Americans are spending more than ever on healthcare, supplements, wellness trends, and “clean eating,” yet rates of chronic disease and metabolic illness continue to climb. As skepticism fuels the rise of movements like MAHA, debates over what Americans should eat have become deeply cultural, political, and economic. Two influential voices with sharply different perspectives on nutrition and food science explore how food systems, farming practices, consumer culture, and the wellness industry collided to create one of the defining public health debates of our time.”
Where are we on GMO politics: an update
State GMO labeling bills: While Congress dithers, states are getting busy. The Sunlight Foundation’s SCOUT database on state GMO legislative initiatives is searchable. Examples:
Detente between producers of GMO and labeling advocates: USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack held a meeting to attempt to forge some kind of accord between producers of GMO foods and advocates for GMO labels. By all reports, it didn’t work. Earlier, Vilsack tried to negotiate detente between GMO producers and producers of organic foods. That didn’t work either.
GMO Salmon: The FDA says it will not allow imports of GMO salmon. Since GMO salmon are produced in Canada and Panama, this action in effect bans GMO salmon from the US food supply. The FDA is working on labeling guidelines and probably wants them out before allowing imports.
Monsanto’s conversation: Monsanto’s interactive website invites you to be part of the conversation. Aything you like. Someone from Monsanto will respond. This site is clearly keeping Monsanto’s PR staff on its toes. Here is just one example:
