Honey, please pick up some grilled tilapia at the gas station

Gas stations and convenience stores just might be the next frontier for natural foods. The National Association of Convenience Stores says it would describe about one in 10 convenience stores across the U.S. as "food-forward"—that includes stores that are serving more fresh, healthful packaged and foodservice offerings. Some even have restaurants or cafes (that aren't fast food joints) attached, or draw food trucks to their parking lots. Read more at The New York Times... 

Un-sweetened: How a Maryland county cut soda sales without a soda tax

A three-year, community-led campaign in Howard County, Maryland, helped cut soda sales by 20 percent and fruit drink sales 15 percent with TV and outdoor advertising, social media engagement and education for health care professionals. Volunteers also led soda swaps at public events and campaigned for policies that would promote access to healthier food on government property. Read more at NPR...

U.S. approves 3 more types of Simplot GMO potatoes for sale this year

The federal government gave its OK to three more types of potatoes genetically modified to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine. This is Simplot's second generation of Innate potatoes. Read more at Idaho Statesman...

Senators want food safety review when U.S. firms sold overseas

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) introduced a bill that would require foreign companies that buy U.S. food and agriculture companies to undergo a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to ensure that the deal wouldn't affect U.S. food security. Read more at Reuters...

Diet and global climate change

A new study out of the University of Santa Barbara analyzed the potential of the food system and the health care system together to mitigate climate change. They found that the adoption of healthier model diets has potential to reduce disease, health care costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Read more at The UC Santa Barbara Current...