FoodPrint

Oats can improve soil and water quality. All that’s missing is a market for them. A group of Midwestern oat farmers wants to improve soil and water quality and grow a nutritious local crop. All that’s missing is a market.

This week I look at the science behind what happens when Midwestern farmers add a "healing crop" of oats to their corn + soybean rotations — and how it literally removes nitrate from soil and water.

My latest for FoodPrint
foodprint.org/blog/oats-ca...

We second this! 🌾

Oats can improve soil and water quality. All that’s missing is a market for them. A group of Midwestern oat farmers wants to improve soil and water quality and grow a nutritious local crop. All that’s missing is a market.

Oats can improve soil and water quality. All that’s missing is a market for them. Read more in our latest by @lelanargi.bsky.social:

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Want to know how 100+ food chemicals bypassed government safety review? The short answer: the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) loophole. For the long answer, sign up for our newsletter and read the story tomorrow: foodprint.org/what-is-food...

Episode 19: Losing Biodiversity, Losing Flavors Listen to our podcast episode where we discuss how biodiversity loss is causing us to lose varieties and flavors of food.

On episode 19 of our podcast, we dive into our current biodiversity crisis — and how we are not just losing plant and animal varieties, but also the cultures and flavors that go along with them.

Listen to the episode to learn more: foodprint.org/what-youre-e...

RFK Jr. pushes to close a food additive loophole – but is a gutted FDA up to the task? GRAS lets companies approve food additives without FDA review. But can regulation advance under a deregulatory administration?

Learn more about GRAS under the current administration:

More Than 100 Food Chemicals Entered the US Market Without FDA Review, New Report Finds A new report from the Environmental Working Group identified 111 food chemicals that companies labeled “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, without notifying the FDA. The practice is perfectly leg...

According to a new report by @ewgofficial.bsky.social, more than 100 chemicals in the U.S. food supply entered the market without formal FDA review under the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) loophole.

How to Use Every Part of Scallions, Spring Onions and Leeks Leek tops should never go to waste! Scallions, spring onions and leeks can be used in many ways from scallion pancakes to Vichyssoise.

Throwing away leek or scallion tops is like tossing out flavor, food and money. Instead of wasting them, check out our tips to make the most of these alliums: foodprint.org/blog/how-to-...

California's new folic acid mandate for tortillas sparks controversy over fortified foods When California implemented a new law on January 1, 2026, that tortillas and other foods made from corn masa had to include a new ingredient, folic acid, few people expected the policy to make waves. ...

California’s new folic acid mandate for tortillas sparks controversy over fortified foods: foodprint.org/blog/new-fol...

How I used cookbooks to spring clean my pantry Are you also over it? And by “it” I mean winter? The flat gray overhead, the cold and damp, the threat of more snow (again)? By the time March rolls around, our early-winter hygge fantasies have given...

How our editor used cookbooks to spring clean her pantry:
foodprint.org/blog/how-i-u...

What You're Eating Podcast The FoodPrint podcast, What You're Eating, explains how your food gets to your plate, showing its impact on animals, planet and people.

Check out all of our episodes: foodprint.org/what-youre-e...

Have you listened to our podcast, What You’re Eating? It will help you understand how your food gets to your plate, and see the full impact of the food you eat on animals, planet and people.

If you’re already a fan, feel free to leave a review wherever you get your podcasts!

What to do when your favorite "better" brand gets called out online What should ethical consumers do when a trusted "better" food brand turns out to be less sustainable or ethical than it claims?

What do you do when your favorite “better” brands get called out on social media? We broke down the recent online controversies around Vital Farms and Kerrygold — plus what to do (and not to do) when any food company is exposed for being “less than” what you hoped: foodprint.org/blog/eco-eth...

5 easy-to-grow vegetables and herbs for beginner gardeners Beginner gardener? These five beginner-friendly vegetables and herbs will help you confidently grow your garden. Read more.

Ready to start a garden? Try these easy-to-grow vegetables and herbs first: foodprint.org/blog/5-easy-...

The Water Footprint of Your Plastic Bottle There's more water contained in your plastic water bottle than you can see. Read to learn the true water footprint of your water bottle.

In addition to its other environmental problems, plastic production requires a tremendous amount of water. Learn more about the water footprint of a plastic water bottle: foodprint.org/blog/plastic...

California's new folic acid mandate for tortillas sparks controversy over fortified foods When California implemented a new law on January 1, 2026, that tortillas and other foods made from corn masa had to include a new ingredient, folic acid, few people expected the policy to make waves. ...

A new CA law calls for fortifying corn tortillas with folic acid, a move intended to protect Latino babies from neural tube defects, which impacts them disproportionately. Food fortification has been around for decades but the law sparked a backlash. Why the controversy? Read on:

How I used cookbooks to spring clean my pantry Are you also over it? And by “it” I mean winter? The flat gray overhead, the cold and damp, the threat of more snow (again)? By the time March rolls around, our early-winter hygge fantasies have given...

Our content editor took on the Eat Down Your Pantry challenge with the help of some pantry-friendly cookbooks. Then, she put them to the test: What do I do with all this pasta? Can I make more than my usual chili with these beans?

Read about her experience:

Make the most of the last few weeks of winter by checking out what fruits and vegetables are in season near you: www.seasonalfoodguide.org

30+ things to do with a can of beans Discover 30+ delicious and creative ways to use a can of beans — from cozy soups and hearty bean bakes to fun ideas like pizza beans.

Up your fiber intake with these simple meals that use a can of beans: foodprint.org/blog/30-thin...

Less scrolling, more bread baking 🥖 Which analog hobby will you try? ⬇️

What to do when your favorite "better" brand gets called out online What should ethical consumers do when a trusted "better" food brand turns out to be less sustainable or ethical than it claims?

What do you do when long-trusted food brands pop up on social media for being “less than” what you hoped? Popular food companies Vital Farms and Kerrygold butter have recently faced some customer backlash — we dig into the claims to help you sort fact from fiction: foodprint.org/blog/eco-eth...

The Black Farmer Fund Looks Ahead to a Sustainable Future As the organization embarks its second round of funding, members consider how far they’ve come and what’s left to accomplish

Black farmers have faced a long history of discrimination, and they’re still being denied necessary resources today. @blackfarmerfund.bsky.social is working to support Black farmers and create a more equitable food system.

Learn more this #BlackHistoryMonth: foodprint.org/blog/black-f...

45-plus ways to use leftover cabbage Did you buy more cabbage than you need? Here are 45-plus ideas and cabbage recipes to use leftover cabbage.

Check out more ways to use up cabbage: foodprint.org/blog/45-plus...

Apparently, 2026 is the year of the cabbage — and we couldn’t be more stoked. Whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours, this hardy winter vegetable provides so many tasty meals with just a single head 🥬

Reimagining wild fisheries with the whole ecosystem in mind Improving fisheries requires rethinking how we prioritize nature, economies of scale and Indigenous voices, say researchers.

As Americans eat ever more seafood for our health, global fish stocks are being depleted. Even “good” wild fisheries management rarely considers habitat impacts and interactions between species. Could a more holistic, ecosystem-based approach move us toward more sustainable seafood harvests?

Use up what’s in your fridge and pantry and turn it into a warm and comforting soup perfect for snowy days ❄️

What to make with leftover buttermilk Learn how to use up any leftover buttermilk. From buttermilk salad dressing to buttermilk shakes, we have you covered.

Bought buttermilk for waffles or biscuits and need to use up the rest? Check out 15+ suggestions for what to do with it: foodprint.org/blog/what-to...

Episode 11: The Many, Many Labels on Your Eggs We talk with experts to understand how consumer demand for eggs has changed and what that means for egg production.

Confused about all the labels on your carton of eggs? You’re not alone. Listen to our podcast episode to learn what they really mean: foodprint.org/what-youre-e...

Episode 18: Coffee: From Seed to Cup Ever wondered how your coffee gets to your cup? Listen in as we talk to the experts on how coffee goes from seed to cup.

Bartholomew Jones, founder of Cxffeeblack, is on a mission to reinstate the Black foundations of coffee, whitewashed by centuries of consumerism and hypercapitalism.

Listen to episode 18 of our podcast to learn more: foodprint.org/what-youre-e... #BlackHistoryMonth

New Congressional Report Exposes How Meatpackers Manipulated Policy to Dodge COVID-19 Restrictions Learn how meatpackers lobbied lawmakers to stay open during the worst parts of the COVID-19 pandemic in spite of the risks.

It also isn’t the first time President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act — usually a wartime measure — to support big agribusinesses. In 2020, Trump signed a similar order to keep meatpacking plants open even though they were hotspots for COVID-19 transmission: