What’s so secret about Whole Foods? Under Amazon, a lot it seems

Once, Whole Foods Market was the bellwether of the natural and organic foods industry. Hedge fund managers eagerly anticipated the company’s earnings announcements. But since Amazon closed on its purchase of the once-independent grocery chain, no one outside of the board room can be sure of how it’s doing or what its results mean. Read more at Bloomberg …

Diet matters less than evolutionary relationships in shaping gut microbiome

Our gut biomes may not depend on what we eat, but rather on what our ancestors ate. Scientist have known that mammals who eat specialized diets possess gut biomes that are unique to each diet. But a study at Northwestern University found that evolution affects the gut biomes of non-human primates much more than diet does. The study involved only wild primates, so the results would not be altered by the diets of captive primates. Read more at Science Daily …

What is a genetically modified crop? A European ruling sows confusion

The top court in the European Union has ruled that crops whose genes have been edited are genetically modified organisms and must follow the same rules as plants that are altered with genes from other species. Scientists are dismayed, in part because the ruling could lead to developing countries also banning the gene-edited crops. The decision also could limit exports from the United States, which is more relaxed about gene-edited food. Environmental organizations have raised concerns about the safety of genetically modified crops. Read more at The New York Times …

Should big corporations pay for clean energy? Portland voters will decide.

A coalition of community and environmental organizations—led by people of color—is campaigning in favor of the Portland Clean Energy Fund, which would tax giant retailers to raise money for clean energy. Voters will decide in November whether mega-retailers should pay a 1 percent tax on revenue from sales in Portland, Oregon. Groceries and medicines would be exempt from the new fee. Half of the money designated for renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects would have to benefit low-income resident and people of color. Read more in Grist …

Feed your head: Foods that target depression and anxiety

An up-and-coming California chef stepped away from her vocation to work on her mental health. A holistic counselor suggested that what the former chef was eating might be contributing to her depression and anxiety. So Jessica Largey changed her diet to include more whole grains, leafy greens, avocado and other foods, and increase her consumption of turmeric and ginger. The adjustment helps her cope with her depression; she even returned to the kitchen recently and opened her own restaurant in Los Angeles. Read more at The Wall Street Journal …