Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations have reached an agreement to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative for another two months. The scheme began last summer to allow Ukraine to ship goods through the Black Sea without break, to parts of the world suffering from hunger, while an existing civil war had driven up prices. Whilst Russia exports of food and fertiliser are not subject to Western sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says that restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have become a challenge for shipments.
Animal disease outbreaks requiring mass culls to control such as bird flu are leaving farmers and vets exposed to mental health challenges with inadequate support, according to a report by the UK Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The report called on the UK government to provide frontline health workers with specialist knowledge of rural issues, and additional long-term health services in the countryside. There is also concern over how isolation, poor public transport, and a lack of digital connectivity affect mental health outcomes for those in rural communities.
Food banks have reported a 54% rise in food parcels handed out in the North East of England in 2022-23 compared with the previous year, among a record three million parcels provided across the UK by The Trussell Trust over the same period. The charity has to buy 13% of emergency supplies as food donations have proved inadequate, with donors failing to provide the most-needed items. A software engineer has now created Donation Genie, which can tell people exactly which groceries and toiletries are running low in their local food bank. Visitors can enter a postcode or area to identify the nearest four banks and their most-needed items.
A petition calling for the UK's NHS Food Scanner app to be revised, as it continues to advise families to consume ultra-processed foods, has been signed by approximately 14,000 people. The app has been downloaded at least half a million times. The Soil Association raised the issue earlier this year, highlighting the recommendations for biscuits, cakes, crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks; 2,000 people also wrote to their MP. The petition calls for the removal of a good choice badge from ultra-processed products, dietary guidelines regarding the foods, and a 2030 percentage reduction target.
Since Mariupol in southern Ukraine fell to Russian control last year, steel-workers from the town have moved away to other towns; some found work in a central Ukraine steelworks in Kamianske, 168 miles away. Former Mariupol steelworkers, or the "Mariupol diaspora", connect over the loss suffered from their city and jobs. Some have saved their old work cards and hope one day to need them again. Others remember building holiday homes together when Russia invaded. A group of workers talk about one friend and former colleague who has disappeared. Managers say fewer than half the 10,500 workers at Azovstal are now accounted for. While keeping some semblance of community makes some workers feel stronger, for others it only serves to exacerbate their trauma. With there being no sign of Ukraine retaking the town, some of the steel-workers will contemplate nothing other than their current fate forwards.
Chinese food delivery firm Meituan is launching its KeeTa app as early as next week in Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter. It is marking the firm's first expansion outside of mainland China and it is unclear whether KeeTa will be rolled out beyond Hong Kong, though the company is offering prospective riders an app for Apple Inc's iOS system on the city’s store.
Fairview Mall in North York, Canada, is transforming into an Asian food destination, with seven new food outlets opening, each serving Asian cuisine. The change has been brought about by the proliferation of online shopping, which has had an impact on traditional retail malls. The transformation was ignited when T&T, a Loblaws-owned Chinese supermarket opened in the former Sears space, the first of the new food spots to sign on in 2019. CEO of T&T, Tina Lee, said a lot of retail developers ask how to repurpose a defunct department store, many are deciding on new food outlets as they become increasingly popular. Other recent food outlets in the building include Lucullus, which sells Chinese baked goods, and Fuwa Fuwa, which serves Japanese-style souffle pancakes. The success of T&T has encouraged other Asian food outlets to rent space there too. It is hoped that despite the move to online shopping, the growing Asian food presence will encourage more visitors to physical retail malls.
Scientists from China and Australia have discovered an effective antidote to the potent toxin found in Amanita phalloides, otherwise known as the death cap mushroom. The mushroom is responsible for 90% of mushroom-related deaths globally, with almost 800 deaths and 40,000 illnesses recorded in China alone in the decade to 2020. Researchers have been unable to understand how the α-amanitin in the mushroom poisons humans and there was previously no antidote. But in vitro tests and experiments on mice showed that the medical dye indocyanine green could reduce the toxicity of the death cap toxin in human cells and mice.
What will Toronto's next mayor do to address food insecurity? Advocates press for solutions
CBC
23-05-18 08:00
Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington hosted the first major debate of Toronto's by-election campaign earlier this week, with a view to exploring how candidates would tackle problems of food insecurity. Hetherington pointed out that housing affordability and low Ontario social assistance rates are directly contributing to the use of food banks, which have seen a doubling of clients during the pandemic. While some candidates set out ideas to address the issue, chef and activist Joshna Maharaj said she would have liked a greater focus on concrete solutions.
Tampered eye drugs were distributed in Newfoundland and Labrador, documents show
CBC
23-05-18 08:00
Pharmacists in Canada are suspected to have been putting the lives of more than 2m patients at risk by administering expired or fake drugs. A CBC News investigation has uncovered allegations of tampering with injectable doses of Eylea and Lucentis, used to treat age-related macular degeneration. The vials are supplied in pristine, single-use condition by the manufacturers, but a whistleblower has said that vials were being tampered with to create multiple doses. Under Canada's food and drugs act, the sale of adulterated drugs is illegal and being investigated by provincial authorities in Nova Scotia. Bayer, the manufacturer of Eylea, notes under the terms and conditions of sale that “under no circumstances may a customer multi-dose, compound or vial-split any Bayer product.” A story in June identified fake drugs, including insulin, as posing an increasing threat to the population in lower-income countries.
Chick-fil-A will close its first-ever store, in the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, after 54 years, according to reports. The reason for the closure was unclear, and a request by CNN for comment from Chick-fil-A had not received an immediate reply. Greenbriar Mall has been struggling in recent times with attracting shoppers, especially since its largest tenant, Macy's, closed its doors last year. In contrast, Chick-fil-A has enjoyed great success over the years, with the Greenbriar Mall location helping grow the chain into its current 2,600-location operation. The original menu offered just a 59-cent chicken sandwich, one salad, and limited sides. However, the company now sells more than 50 menu items.
Chicken wings and tenders have become the quintessential bar snacks in the US, although they have become popular only relatively recently. Chicken production during World War II boomed, driven by a US Department of Agriculture competition to create fatter and faster-growing birds. Production became more industrialised and efficient and by the 1950s, chicken became one of the cheapest meats. Up until the 1960s, Americans preferred white meat, although buffalo wings suddenly became popular, changing the global structure of the chicken trade, and America because of its own large bosomy chooks began exporting feet and keeping the wings. Chicken tenders, which are a single piece of meat made from tenderloin, devolved because there was a surplus of white meat. The popularity of wings and tenders reflects a desire for consistency and convenience. Tenders are easier to cook and eat, while wingettes and drumettes can be uneven and require much more concentrated eating to remove the meat from the bones.
Global wheat prices fall as Russia-Ukraine grain deal extended
CNN
23-05-18 12:09
Wheat futures fell 2% on Thursday after Russia and Ukraine extended their deal which allows the export of grain from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell to $6.12 a bushel, taking the total fall in prices to 23% since the start of the year and 57% since record highs of $14.30 a bushel in March last year. Russia had threatened to pull out of the agreement, which was signed in July, complaining about a related UN agreement made to facilitate shipments of Russian grain and fertilizers.
A social media user has criticised British retailer Morrisons for selling 190g jars of Douwe Egberts instant coffee for £9.25 ($12.54), £3 more than the price of the same product in Asda and £2 more than in Waitrose. The user was contact by a Morrisons representative on Twitter, who asked her to supply more information. Other Twitter users described the price as "outrageous" and accused supermarkets of "clear profiteering". Despite inflation pushing up costs, retail figures have fallen since grocery price cuts were instigated by Morrisons, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Iran's President Raisi has warned the Taliban not to violate Iran's water rights over the shared Helmand River, which flows from Afghanistan into Iran. He emphasized the importance of the river, and called for Iranian hydrologists to check its water levels. Iran has long stressed the importance of the 1973 Helmand River treaty between the two countries, which envisions shared water resources. Drought has been a problem in Iran for 30 years, but has worsened recently, with an estimated 97% of the country facing some level of drought.
Dan Keeling, owner of the Noble Rot wine empire, has spoken about the irreverent and inclusive way in which he and business partner Mark Andrew approach wine. Keeling, who is also owner of three wine-led restaurants, a wine shop and an import business, said that the way that wine is presented in the UK often has "elitist overtones", whereas it is essentially a product of farmers. He added that much wine journalism was lacking in diversity and that this was a factor contributing to Noble Rot's success. The business' success is underlined by the release of the 10th-anniversary edition of its eponymous magazine. Keira Knightley, Jarvis Cocker and Irvine Welsh are among the many creatives from other fields to have contributed to its contents.
The UN's humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, is in discussions with Lloyd's to secure insurance coverage for Russian agricultural exports to developing countries suffering from high food prices. Griffiths said the UN is liaising at all levels of the private sector, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as the organisation seeks to ensure it can facilitate Russian food and fertiliser exports. The country has complained that sanctions have hurt its shipping, insurance and financing situations, although the implementation of wheat exports via other ports appears to belie the claims.
Walmart's strong Q1 results saw like-for-like sales in the US rise 7.4% — contrasting sharply with Target's decline of 0.9% and Home Depot's 4.6% fall. Walmart has experienced sales growth as higher-income customers have begun shopping at its stores for groceries, hence the company's success in the long-term during times of economic downturn and inflation. Although sales from Walmart's global advertising side of the company are relatively small compared to Walmart's overall income, margins are between 70% and 80% which could support revenue when customers shift away from the company's food-aisle products.
A standoff in the Newfoundland crab fishery is having an impact on small towns as harvesters refuse to fish crab in protest at prices they say are too low to make a living. Fish processing plants, which normally employ hundreds of people at peak season, are struggling, with some operations being forced to remain closed. Crab prices have been set by a panel that hears arguments from the union representing inshore fishers and fish plant workers and the association representing fish processors, with the former accused of using ‘bullying and intimidation tactics’ to keep them on shore.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that Covid-19 booster vaccines should be updated to target existing dominant strains of the virus, with the WHO advisory group recommending that the vaccines aim to produce antibody responses to the XBB.1.5 or XBB.1.16 variants. The group suggested that "other formulations or platforms that achieve neutralising antibody responses against XBB lineages could also be considered". Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers are already developing versions of their respective vaccines targeting these strains.
