Catching Up on Edible Headlines

I’ve spent much of January offline and in my pajamas, but I’m not convalescing.  In order to finish a manuscript, I took myself off the blogging grid and hunkered down in my writing cave.

I’m thrilled to report that the manuscript for “Licking Your Chops: A Meatless Guide for Meat Lovers,” has been turned over to my editor at Da Capo Press.    A collection of 52 meatless menus, the book will be released in September.

Over the past few days, I’ve been catching up on sleep – and headlines. Here’s a sampler of edible news nuggets that are worth chewing on.

The theme of today’s Oprah show is “Do You Know Where Your Food Really Comes From?” featuring  journalist Michael Pollan.  Best known for his seminal work, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma, ” Pollan has penned a new book, “Food Rules.”  Word has it that Steve Ells, founder and co-CEO of Chipotle, will join the conversation.

A trailer for “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” is now available for public consumption. Brit celeb chef Jamie Oliver spent last fall filming his newest reality show in Huntington, W. Va., “the unhealthiest city in America.”  The show airs March 26 on ABC.

A movie version of food writer (and editor of the recently defunct Gourmet magazine) Ruth Reichl’s memoir “Garlic and Sapphires” is reportedly under development with Fox.

Target has sworn off farmed salmon in all of its stores and swapped in wild Alaskan salmon.  Casson Trenor has the seafood scoop.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement of “concern” about the possible health risks of  bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used to harden plastic bottles and to line canned goods.   Banned for use in baby bottles in Canada and the EU, BPA remains “safe” in the eyes of the FDA, but will be subject to further review this year.  Expect more developments on this story in the coming months.

President Obama has nominated Dr. Elisabeth Hagen as Undersecretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) a post that has been vacant since October, 2008.  The job of the FS Undersecretary  is to oversee food safety issues related to inspection of meat, poultry and egg products.

First Lady Michelle Obama has called on the nation’s mayors to join her in a nationwide campaign against child obesity.  One of her guests at tonight’s State of the Union address is Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett, who’s launched  an initiative called This City Is Going on a Diet.  The First Lady’s campaign is expected to kick off in February.

Activists in Prince George’s County, Md., are lobbying to put a moratorium on permits for new fast food restaurants.

And now that I’m out of my cave,  I’ll be filing more regular installments in this space.