Photo: Hanoi Mark

By: Saira Malhotra

Yet again, eyebrows are being raised at the food industry; this time it’s rice. It’s hard to imagine why these tiny pearly whites have become a cause for concern (unless you are an avid follower of the Montignac diet), but they have and the reason is alarming. Recent studies are pointing at rice for causing increased level of arsenic in our system. High levels of arsenic ingestion can lead to cardio vascular problems, cancer and skin lesions, however now, researchers are concerned about a specific community who are at great risk with even a ‘low-dose’ of exposure- pregnant women. Scientists are linking low dosage exposure of the chemical to low-birth weight and even infant death. Read More

Photo: Mark Robertson

By: Dylan Rodgers

One of the most influential foods in human history is also one of the smallest: rice.  Due to recent flooding in South East Asia their most important economic and nutritional element is threatened.  An estimated 12.5 percent of farmland in Thailand has been damaged, along with 6 percent in the Philippines, 12 percent in Cambodia, and 7.5 percent in Laos.

To put these numbers into perspective, in 2007 Thailand produced some 30 million tons of rice.  If they were going to harvest roughly the same amount this year, they will have possibly lost 3,360,000 tons of rice.  That is a huge number considering the average person eats roughly 300 pounds of rice a year.

But for these countries, this isn’t simply a food shortage; it’s a huge economic loss as well.  Read More

Brown rice is a delicious and healthy alternative to white rice.

For many home cooks, white rice is a go-to starch. It fills you up fast and acts as a blank canvas for spices, herbs, and delicious sauces. Read More

Weekly Dish Recommendation By Julia Burgi

Chicago, the windy city, has been on foodies’ radars for a while for temples of grand cuisine like Charlie Trotter‘s, and Alinea. What also makes this city a great food destination, though, is the diverse immigrant populations that brought their food with them from their places of origin. Read More

It was an honor to visit the Dylan Ratigan Show last Thursday to discuss the food price situation.  The issues are pervasive, and affect many around the globe. Read More

Water

As I prepare to enjoy a meal with family and friends during the Thanksgiving holiday, I think it is important to take a moment to be grateful.

Here are food and drink that I’m grateful for: Read More