Author Archives: Jonathan

You’ve Been Slimed!

I’ve got slime on the mind. Not that old Nickelodeon show slime or the green ectoplasm stuff from Ghostbusters, but pink slime. The meat industry, in their zeal to be as efficient as possible, are now selling Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings, or BLBT, in supermarkets as ground beef. Apparently, this Play-Doh-like substance is in 70% […]

March 13, 2012 | Posted in General | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Don’t forget to enter the drawing for the new book White Bread by commenting here on your favorite use for stale bread. — — Good on ya, mate! Some green-minded Kiwis are pushing their city to ban food waste from the waste stream. — — Denver has a new composting facility. Always a good thing. […]

March 9, 2012 | Posted in Composting, Personal, Restaurant, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Guest Post: In Defense of Stale Bread

Aaron Bobrow-Strain is the author of White Bread: A Social History of the Store-Bought Loaf (Beacon Press, 2012). His writings have also appeared in Gastronomica and The Believer. Here is his impassioned ode to stale bread: — In July 1913, The New York Times announced a Dutch invention—“exceedingly complex and scientific”—that would keep bread fresh […]

March 8, 2012 | Posted in Guest Posts, Household | Comments closed

Baltimore Bound

Today, I’m headed to Baltimore to give a talk at the Enoch Pratt Free Library (7pm). I’m excited for the chance to spread the word on food waste. If you find yourself near Charm City and looking to hear all about it, come on down! Thanks to the United Way of Central Maryland, Wesleyan University […]

March 5, 2012 | Posted in Personal | Comments closed

On (Not) Wasting Meat

This piece of mine ran yesterday on Grist. You could call it preachy, but, hey, I think it’s warranted. Let me know what you think. — This is not about the guilt-ridden question: Should I eat meat? That personal dilemma has already been debated thoroughly on Grist and elsewhere. Instead, here’s another dose of angst for […]

March 2, 2012 | Posted in Farm, Household | Comments closed

Agribusiness Thinking About Waste?

It’s encouraging to see anyone in agriculture talking about reducing waste. It’s especially so when they’re part of Big Ag. For example, a speaker at the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum raising the flag against waste. — — Also, yesterday and today I’ve been at the Shared Tables Symposium at UNC and Duke. I’ve been heartened […]

February 29, 2012 | Posted in Farm | Comments closed

The Dreaded Hair(s)

Katy over at Non-Consumer Advocate posted an interesting question this morning: What do you do with takeout food when you find a hair in it? In her case, it wasn’t just a single one, but a “nest of hair.” The restaurant refunded her money, but the food remained, prompting that question. How we approach the […]

February 27, 2012 | Posted in Repurposing, Restaurant | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

How am I just hearing about Fenugreen? Paper that makes produce keep longer using just a mix of herbs? Sounds great! — — At the behest of @CompostCab, I was trying to think up compost slogans (found with the #WhyCompost hash tag). But after reading about how a California state prison and LEGOLAND are both […]

February 24, 2012 | Posted in Composting, Food Recovery | Comments closed

Offal Wasteful?

After watching this video love letter to offal, you might say today’s culinary system is missing an entire stream of animal protein. Or you might say, ‘Gross!’ What say you? (Oh, and don’t miss the ending.)

February 22, 2012 | Posted in Food Safety, Restaurant | Comments closed

Food Waste Reduction Is So Hot Right Now!

Wondering what you should be keeping your eye on this year? Well, marketing communications firm JWT has you covered with their 100 Things to Watch in 2012. Why am I telling you this? Why, because “Curbing Food Waste” made that list. See for yourself in their neat slide show (done in alphabetical order–see #16). Also encouraging–“Fuel from Waste” […]

February 20, 2012 | Posted in Energy, Environment | Comments closed