Salty foods are making people sick − in part by poisoning their microbiomes

Salt is an essential nutrient that has helped civilizations flavor and preserve their foods for millennia. Too much dietary salt, however, is linked to a host of health problems.

Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Washington • conversation
March 12, 2024 • ~10 min

Rancid food smells and tastes gross − AI tools may help scientists prevent that spoilage

Pantry food can go bad if exposed to oxygen, but an AI model might help develop more effective preservatives and keep food fresher for longer.

Lucas de Brito Ayres, PhD Candidate in Chemistry, Clemson University • conversation
Oct. 19, 2023 • ~7 min

What is listeria? A microbiologist explains the bacterium behind recent deadly food poisoning outbreaks

Listeria causes serious illness and food recalls nearly every year.

Yvonne Sun, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Dayton • conversation
Aug. 19, 2022 • ~10 min

Ukraine produced a lot of grain – can farmers elsewhere replace the crops lost to war?

Ukraine and Russia account for around 12% of the global market in food calories.

Hana Trollman, Lecturer in Food Industry Management, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
April 12, 2022 • ~6 min

Soaring crude prices make the cost of pretty much everything else go up too because we almost literally eat oil

Oil is used throughout the US economy and not just as fuel. Petroleum goes into packaging, toys, clothing and especially the food we eat.

Veronika Dolar, Assistant Professor of Economics, SUNY Old Westbury • conversation
March 28, 2022 • ~7 min

Corporate concentration in the US food system makes food more expensive and less accessible for many Americans

Food production in the US is heavily concentrated in the hands of a small number of large agribusiness companies. That's been good for shareholders, but not for consumers.

Mary Hendrickson, Associate Professor of Rural Sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia • conversation
Feb. 8, 2021 • ~10 min

To reduce world hunger, governments need to think beyond making food cheap

A new UN report shows that hunger and food insecurity are rising worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic is adding to this trend, but is not the major driver.

Ntina Tzouvala, Senior Lecturer in International Law, Australian National University • conversation
July 17, 2020 • ~7 min

To understand the danger of COVID-19 outbreaks in meatpacking plants, look at the industry's history

COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred at more than 100 US meatpacking plants. Geography, workforce demographics and economic concentration make it hard for workers to fight for better conditions.

Michael Haedicke, Associate Professor of Sociology, Drake University • conversation
May 6, 2020 • ~10 min

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