Growers and Grocers

The European Union continues its genetically-modified rice woes. After having banned the importation of US rice, China could be the new GMO culprit. The EU fears that GMO rice has been used in processed products imported from China, such as vermicelli and rice sticks. China denies the allegations.

Not that European food merchants are above food skulduggery. Reuters reports that a German meat wholesaler sold rotten meat in eight other European countries. Authorities also found tons of spoiled meat, ready to be sold, in the company’s warehouses. In a gruesome finish to the scandal, Spiegel online announced on Wednesday that the manager of the meat distribution plant had committed suicide.

Stateside, debate is intensifying over a possible new definition of grass-fed beef. USA Today reports that the The Agriculture Department has proposed a new standard for grass-fed meat which doesn’t specify that animals need pasture and that would allow supposedly “grass-fed” animals to eat a small percentage of other types of forage such as leftover corn stalks. Organic eaters as well as many ranchers oppose the plan.

Californians are rightly proud of Laura Chenel’s Chevre Inc., which makes some of America’s best goat cheese — goat cheese which stands right up to its French counterparts. Now her cheese will be French, at least in the corporate sense. SFGate has announced that Chenel sold her company to Rians, a French family-run cheese company. Explaining the sale, Chenel said “I’ve dedicated my life wholeheartedly to my work. I’m ready for a change, and to find some balance.”

To finish on a light note – if you can call salami light –The Guardian features a story about fegatello d’oca, an Italian oven –cooked salami made from pork and goose. The Pavia province of Italy is famous for other goose-based charcuterie products , and in late September the town of Mortara will celebrate them in its annual Sagra e Palio dell’Oca Festival.

I had a little fun taking a look at all of the local festivals in that region, many of which revolve around food. If you miss the Goose Sausage Festival in September, maybe you can hit the Asparagus and Pig Festival in May!