In Colorado it is against state law to capture and water your garden with the rain and snow that falls on your own roof, as we discussed in Part One of this Editorial. And now 24 U.S. Senators, all Democrats except for Independents Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have proposed legislation, S.787, to assert an even more draconian de facto government ownership over nearly every drop of water in the United States.

Dry milk recall expands to cereal, hot cocoa, popcorn toppings

What began as a small investigation into tainted milkshake powder has become a nationwide recall of related products. No illnesses have been linked to the contamination of ingredients sold by a Minnesota milk cooperative, says the Food and Drug Administration’s Stephanie Kwisnek. But the recalls, which are cascading through the food system and are expected to expand, illustrate the interconnectedness of the system, in which just one tainted ingredient can affect dozens of companies. Recalled products range from Malt-O-Meal’s Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal packets to Meijer hot chocolate mix to some Kroger popcorn toppings. more

BBC Report: Chinese Babies Stolen; “Sold”

The BBC is reporting that dozens of Chinese babies have been forcefully taken from their parents by the government and sent into the international adoption system. The report–which I couldn’t find any trace of elsewhere–suggests that families breaking the family planning policy and unable or unwilling to pay the fine for doing so have had their children removed instead. The babies are said by the report to have been “sold” to foreign adoptive parents. But there is a fine line, in the China system between “buying” and “adopting.” It is true that the adoption fees parents pay are between $3,000 and $5,000. But the money is supposed to go back to the orphanage to pay staff and maintain its programs and buildings. In recent years, some doubt has been cast on how the money is really spent. more

Organic foods may not be

There is an old Latin saying: “Caveat emptor”, translated as “Let the buyer beware.” Where food labeled as “USDA Organic” is concerned, this old adage is a good warning. Consumers, who pay significantly higher prices in many instances for organic foods, are not always getting just what nature put there. What you see isn’t necessarily what you get. Baby food, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish–any and all of these, and more, are allowed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Organic Foods Production Act (1990) to contain additives that are either synthetic or non-organically produced. more

Residents find family help from Angel Food Ministries

Feeding a family of four for an entire week on $30 may sound like a nearly impossible task, but one local congregation is partnering with a national ministry to make sure that is exactly what can happen. First Baptist Church in Marshalltown recently started offering boxes of food locally through a program known as Angel Food Ministries. The program is open to anyone who wants to use it. more

Fourth of July food safety tips

With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, the USDA has issued several food safety tips to ensure that your festivities aren’t hampered by sickness due to improper food handling. Since many families will be grilling this Fourth of July weekend, it’s important to know more than how to grill a great burger; food safety tips are imperative for keeping family and friends healthy and happy. Cooking meats, fish, and poultry during warm summer months increases the prevalence of foodborne illness. As the temperature rises, so does the rate that bacteria multiply. Preparing, handling, and cooking food must be performed cautiously to make certain your food is safe for consuming. more