The latest food safety debacle involves Nestle's refrigerated cookie dough, which was recalled after 65 people in 29 states got sick. Microbiologists and food safety investigators are stumped as to how the E. coli 0157 strain, a bacterium that lives in the intestines of cattle, managed to find its way into a product rather unlikely to contain it.
[Washington Post]

The Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement to include a federal menu-labeling law as part of new healthcare legislation, which would mean that you would be well aware a Whopper with cheese has 1,250 calories when your order it.
[Time]

Amateur beekeepers in New York, and especially in Brooklyn, are bucking a law that prohibits keeping bees, despite the high risk of getting caught. The New York City Beekeepers Association encourages novice beekeepers with classes and starter kits. The growing popularity of the hobby may be due to reports of colony collapse, which can be battled with the introduction of small hives.
[NY Times]

Caterpillars hiding in your organic salad is a small price to pay for foods that aren't cheap and predictable. Factory-produced meat and vegetables have also resulted in an unhealthy American diet. Our health problems are linked to our industrialized agriculture system, which should also come under scrutiny as we reform healthcare.
[NY Times]

A team of Brits has built a new racing car with a steering wheel made from fibers derived from carrots, a fuselage made from potatoes, and a seat made from soy beans. The new Formula 3 vehicle has parts greased with a plant oil-based lubricant and its engine is powered by biodiesel.
[CNN]