SoFAB Institute

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SoFAB Presents: Keeping Food Legal

Nov 25, 2013·82 visitors

Baylen Linnekin

Cohost

Stage· 231 messages

Nov 25, 2013

Join Liz Williams and Baylen Linnekin as they discuss food policy and food policing. Baylen Linnekin is Executive Director of Keep Food Legal, the first and only nationwide membership organization devoted to food freedom. Liz Williams is President & Director of the SoFAB Institute.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:01 AM

Good evening.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:01 AM

Hi there, Liz.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:02 AM

I can see your comments, Liz.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:02 AM

Though I cannot see my own comments.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:03 AM

That's a great question. And one I answer differently each time (though always with that introduction).

Baylen Linnekin · 1:04 AM

I'll start in law school, where I noticed that many of most important cases in my Constitutional Law class were about food. Though they were discussed as a unit. Nor did we discuss them as cases about food qua food.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:05 AM

It was more the case that there were these cases (e.g., Wickard v. Filburn) in which government power often squashed individual rights.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:05 AM

I didn't like that.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:05 AM

I thought (as I still do) that people have a right to make their own food choices.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:05 AM

So that really helped steer my interest. That and the fact that I like to cook. And eat. And garden. And drink.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:06 AM

I can't see my own responses here. Is that normal?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:07 AM

Will do.

SoFAB Institute · 1:07 AM

Ok, I think that I am in.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:07 AM

Ah. There we go. The entire discussion just magically appeared.

SoFAB Institute · 1:08 AM

Were you already a lawyer when you made the discovery that you wanted to do this?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:08 AM

Nope. I was in law school.

SoFAB Institute · 1:08 AM

Sorry, I am just getting the hang of this

Baylen Linnekin · 1:08 AM

Ditto.

SoFAB Institute · 1:08 AM

And then did you practice?

SoFAB Institute · 1:09 AM

I practiced for years before I figured out what I wanted to do.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:09 AM

I did practice law for a brief period. I worked for a small firm that did alcohol beverage labeling and was trying to branch out into FDA labeling. Tedious work.

SoFAB Institute · 1:09 AM

Good thing you did not get discouraged.

SoFAB Institute · 1:10 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“So, what kind of choices were being taken out of the individuals' hands?”

SoFAB Institute · 1:10 AM

How did you decide to start Keep Food Legal?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:10 AM

I love being an advocate and doing legal analysis around food issues. So I'd have been surprised if practicing that particular area of law was boring.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:11 AM

*wasn't boring*

Baylen Linnekin · 1:12 AM

I decided to form Keep Food Legal while I was getting an LL.M. degree at the University of Arkansas Law School after I earned my J.D. I knew that the government was restricting all sorts of food choices.

SoFAB Institute · 1:12 AM

And after you decided to do it, how have you selected the policy issues that you are pursuing

Baylen Linnekin · 1:12 AM

I decided that was my calling.

SoFAB Institute · 1:12 AM

What is the major issue that you are pursuing now?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:13 AM

Well, everything we do at Keep Food Legal falls under the umbrella of "food freedom," which we define as an individual's right to grow, raise, produce, buy, sell, share, cook, eat, and drink the foods of their own choosing.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:13 AM

Foie gras, raw milk, value-added farm products, soda, haggis, food trucks.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:13 AM

They're all threatened or banned by governments.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:14 AM

Along with many other foods.

SoFAB Institute · 1:14 AM

So tell us about the foie gras issue. What is the status of those small farms in California?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:14 AM

There was one producer in California. After the state ban took effect last year, there are no foie gras farms in the state.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:15 AM

And producers all around the country--and the world--are harmed by the ban.

SoFAB Institute · 1:15 AM

What is the status of the law?

SoFAB Institute · 1:15 AM

My understanding is that really only small farmers were producing this product anyway, and we have tried to protect small farmers.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:15 AM

A lawsuit challenging the ban is slowly winding its way through federal court in L.A.

SoFAB Institute · 1:15 AM

Is Keep Food Legal a part of that lawsuit?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:16 AM

Congress and state governments always claim small farmers are wonderful. And then they do their best to regulate small farmers out of business.

SoFAB Institute · 1:16 AM

And tell us about raw milk?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:17 AM

No, we're not part of the lawsuit. Though we did help spark it.

SoFAB Institute · 1:17 AM

And raw mild?

SoFAB Institute · 1:17 AM

Milk?

SoFAB Institute · 1:17 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“How damaging are farm subsidies to small farmers?”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:17 AM

Raw milk's banned by the federal government. And many states ban it, too.

SoFAB Institute · 1:18 AM

Isn't raw milk dangerous? What is the government's role in protecting us?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:19 AM

My screen stopped loading. Didn't fix itself when I refreshed.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:19 AM

Looks like it's back.

SoFAB Institute · 1:19 AM

Good

SoFAB Institute · 1:20 AM

no doubt you overloaded the screen with your erudition

Baylen Linnekin · 1:20 AM

Raw milk can be dangerous. So can raw spinach, sprouts, ground beef, chicken, fish, etc. etc. etc.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:20 AM

LOL

SoFAB Institute · 1:20 AM

So what is the government's role?

SoFAB Institute · 1:20 AM

Where should the line be drawn?

SoFAB Institute · 1:21 AM

What about soda? I find it interesting that the regulators want to stop soda drinking while it is in decline.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:21 AM

I always like to say that where a warning will suffice, a ban is inappropriate. The government forces sellers to slap a warning on raw ground beef (and many local health depts. have pushed restaurants to display the "consuming raw or undercooked...)

Baylen Linnekin · 1:22 AM

The line should be at the warning stage, I think.

SoFAB Institute · 1:22 AM

Just like cigarette label warnings?

SoFAB Institute · 1:22 AM

Pregnant women and alcohol warnings?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:22 AM

Tell consumers that a raw product might harm them, then let them decide.

SoFAB Institute · 1:22 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I mean, I know I want my food and restaurants subject to significant quality inspection...”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:22 AM

More like pregnant women and alcohol.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:22 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“But shouldn't someone monitor how food is stored, transported, etc?”

SoFAB Institute · 1:23 AM

Jordan makes a good point about quality control. What is the difference beween that and other types of control?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:23 AM

I'm not necessarily opposed to health inspections, but do you have data on the benefits of health inspections? Because otherwise you're just suggesting you want a false veneer of safety.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:24 AM

From my research, much of what the government tells us about the efficacy of food safety is false.

SoFAB Institute · 1:24 AM

I think that it is interesting that we have regulations, but still get food poisoning.

SoFAB Institute · 1:24 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I owned a restaurant. I am very conscientious, but I know that other owners got dinged on annual inspections and had to clean up their act or get closed down...”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:24 AM

Right.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:24 AM

I think private, 3rd party inspections make a ton of sense.

SoFAB Institute · 1:25 AM

Third party inspections were the way most inspections in this country began.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:25 AM

Yes.

SoFAB Institute · 1:26 AM

And the original FDA and Dept of Ag levels of inspection were inspired by really dangerous abuses.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:26 AM

In our comments on the latest proposed FDA regulations, I noted that the FDA claims that it will spend more than $900 billion dollars annually to make our food between 3.7% and 4.7% safer. And that's a best-case scenario.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:26 AM

Right, too.

SoFAB Institute · 1:26 AM

What is your position on big ag subsidies?

SoFAB Institute · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“As for food at the source, I have NO idea, but probably fall for the veneer of safety.”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:27 AM

Inspections themselves aren't a problem per se. But today's claims by those agencies that they need billions more in funding to make our food safer don't play out in the real world. It's just agencies seeking more money and power.

SoFAB Institute · 1:27 AM

I think that we want to trust our government, but they are motivated by politics

SoFAB Institute · 1:27 AM

And big ag?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:28 AM

Money and politics.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:28 AM

On both counts.

SoFAB Institute · 1:28 AM

Money is politics

Baylen Linnekin · 1:28 AM

I want government to try to do much less when it comes to food. We'll be more free, government will be more efficient. And our food choices will flourish.

SoFAB Institute · 1:28 AM

What about other organizations like the Institute for Justice? How is Keep Food Legal different?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:29 AM

The Inst. for Justice is great. Their main role is suing the government. The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund does a lot of education and litigation and serves small farmers in legal trouble.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:29 AM

I love both of those groups.

SoFAB Institute · 1:30 AM

And what motivates some of those people that want more regulation for our own good?

SoFAB Institute · 1:30 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Is there anything the average person can do to support small farmers?”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:30 AM

Keep Food Legal engages in whole bunch of different areas around food freedom--advocacy, education, outreach, research, and (now) a bit of litigation.

SoFAB Institute · 1:31 AM

It will support small farmers if we buy directly from them.

SoFAB Institute · 1:31 AM

CSAs and Farmer's Markets help there.

SoFAB Institute · 1:32 AM

And also supporting a reduction in reporting and regulation. THe small farmers cannot put lots of effort into reporting the way industrial ag can

Baylen Linnekin · 1:32 AM

People who want more regulations are motivated by will--good and bad. Big companies want to give customers what they want, but the also support more regulation because it will help them squash small competitors. So they don't have to do so alone.

SoFAB Institute · 1:32 AM

We can all eat healthy food if we can reach the farmers.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:32 AM

Public health activists and consumer rights groups want more regulations because they want to rein in corporations. And others think they know what's best for you and me to eat.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:33 AM

They're all wrong.

SoFAB Institute · 1:33 AM

I like marketing as the means of control. It preserves choice.

SoFAB Institute · 1:33 AM

If you want to market to me, go for it. I may listen, I may not.

SoFAB Institute · 1:33 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“So more regulations actually HELPS big ag by crushing the little guy?! I had no idea...”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:33 AM

Yes, agreed.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:33 AM

Absolutely.

SoFAB Institute · 1:34 AM

It takes so much time and energy to comply with and keep up with regulations, small farmers do not have the means

Baylen Linnekin · 1:34 AM

Look who supported the Food Safety Modernization Act. It was big companies...

Baylen Linnekin · 1:34 AM

...along with public health advocates.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:34 AM

Small farmers almost to a (wo)man opposed the FSMA.

SoFAB Institute · 1:34 AM

Then after you learn what the regs are, you have to change everything to comply with them.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:34 AM

Until they change again.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:35 AM

And you have to change again.

SoFAB Institute · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Wow. I wonder how many other industries experience the same thing.”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:35 AM

My expertise is in food and ag. But I think it's pretty universal.

SoFAB Institute · 1:35 AM

I think that it is often true with other small industry that is regulated heavily.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:36 AM

Look at brick-and-mortar restaurants trying to force cities to regulate food trucks out of existence in many munipalities.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:36 AM

*municipalities*

SoFAB Institute · 1:36 AM

I think that we can make a distinction between the farmers who grow our food and restaurants that make fancy food. We have little time these days to cook.

SoFAB Institute · 1:37 AM

Everyone forgets history, when street food was the norm because no one had an oven or a stove.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:37 AM

They're different, but they're all providing consumers with food choices that those consumers want.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:37 AM

Right.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:37 AM

Street food preceded restaurants in this country by at least 150 years.

SoFAB Institute · 1:38 AM

Maybe more. In New Orleans people had coffee stands on the street in the 18th century

SoFAB Institute · 1:38 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Is there a higher incidence of tainted food from street vendors than restaurants?”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:38 AM

There were o7ster stands in NYC in the 1600s. And the first U.S. restaurant didn't open until 1793.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:39 AM

What's everyone listening to, BTW. I've got my Pandora "Wynton Marsalis Channel" on.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:39 AM

And that's "oyster," not "o7ster," which might be a good band name.

SoFAB Institute · 1:39 AM

There have been cases of hunters trying to donate game to homeless shelters and food banks. Regulators in the health dept have destroyed the food.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:39 AM

Total food safety means no food.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:39 AM

Pure and simple.

SoFAB Institute · 1:39 AM

Bake sales at schools have been banned in some places because the baked goods are made in home kitchens

Baylen Linnekin · 1:40 AM

Eating can be risky. But not as risky as not eating.

SoFAB Institute · 1:40 AM

People who have distributed food to the homeless have been arrested for giving them food from their kitchens

Baylen Linnekin · 1:40 AM

I'm a Pats fan. Score?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:40 AM

Right.

SoFAB Institute · 1:40 AM

I have my granddaughter playing and pretending to talk on the telephone

SoFAB Institute · 1:41 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Are the bake sales ban based on anything real, or speculative fear?”

SoFAB Institute · 1:41 AM

I think that bake sale bans are based on fear and the desire for control. I am not aware of any real threat

Baylen Linnekin · 1:41 AM

The specter of what might happen is sufficient for them to ban bake sales. (Damn Denver.)

Baylen Linnekin · 1:42 AM

On the bright side, more than 40 states now have some form of Cottage Food law on the books.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:42 AM

These laws help foster small food entrepreneurs.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:42 AM

Exactly.

SoFAB Institute · 1:42 AM

I think that is because common sense from the citizenry prevailed

Baylen Linnekin · 1:43 AM

They never kept the doctor away, either.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:43 AM

Re: cottage foods, yes.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:43 AM

Though not all of the laws are very good. Some stink.

SoFAB Institute · 1:43 AM

That is usual. Often they are cobbled together

SoFAB Institute · 1:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“That reminds of the "razor in the apple" Halloween legend, that has in fact never happened in the history of the country.”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:44 AM

True. The MN law, which the Inst. for Justice just sued the state over, is one lousy law. NY's is bad, too.

SoFAB Institute · 1:44 AM

And Halloween and other cultural practices suffer from groundless fears

Baylen Linnekin · 1:44 AM

We have nothing to fear but the unknown.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:44 AM

That and the known.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:44 AM

As govt might say.

SoFAB Institute · 1:45 AM

And the imagination of politicians. I fear that.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:45 AM

That's what keeps me up at night.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:45 AM

That and lots of coffee.

SoFAB Institute · 1:46 AM

And because we keep changing our nutritional advice people are constantly finding a new basis for regulation

SoFAB Institute · 1:46 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“One word: decaf”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:46 AM

Right. Fats were bad and carbs were good. The federal government still says that, but a growing body of evidence says just the opposite. Trans fats, too, were good before they were bad (according to groups like CSPI).

Baylen Linnekin · 1:47 AM

One word on decaf: Never.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:47 AM

Though if it floats your boat, go for it. (Food freedom.)

SoFAB Institute · 1:47 AM

The nutrition police wants to react to every study, often just the popular press version of the study

Baylen Linnekin · 1:47 AM

The popular press is often pretty lazy.

SoFAB Institute · 1:48 AM

We actually ought to discuss all of the weird, but legal things that we like to eat.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:48 AM

They seek opinions from the same small group of experts.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:48 AM

SoFAB Institute · 1:48 AM

Some experts have made a good living off warning people

Baylen Linnekin · 1:48 AM

I'm game.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:48 AM

Oysters are pretty damn weird.

SoFAB Institute · 1:48 AM

So are soft shell crawfish. FRIED

Baylen Linnekin · 1:49 AM

Sounds good. They're essentially fried bugs.

SoFAB Institute · 1:49 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Yes, @Liz. Joseph McCarthy comes to mind.”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:49 AM

I also like citrus-fruit rinds. So I'll eat a whole lemon. Or grapefruit. Or orange.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:49 AM

Rinds and all.

SoFAB Institute · 1:49 AM

Joseph McCarthy would have blacklisted chefs, and food companies.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:50 AM

But he'd have been a big proponent of dairy subsidies (Wisconsin, after all). Actually, he probably was a big supporter of dairy subsidies.

SoFAB Institute · 1:50 AM

I can imagine a food industry controlled by whether you eat butter

SoFAB Institute · 1:51 AM

That is because dairy was considered wholesome and American

Baylen Linnekin · 1:51 AM

True.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:52 AM

I consider Keep Food Legal to be a small "food ACLU," so an anti-food McCarthy would have been a likely modern-day foil (if he were around today).

SoFAB Institute · 1:52 AM

Today people want the new, but are afraid. I find it ironic that people want to eat the whole animal - quite the craze - and yet do not want to know they are eating it in sausage, for exampel

SoFAB Institute · 1:52 AM

I agree, re KFL

SoFAB Institute · 1:53 AM

That is why I am proud of it.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:53 AM

Thank you!

Baylen Linnekin · 1:53 AM

I'm always amused by fans of trends like molecular gastronomy who bemoan processed food. Or your sausage example.

SoFAB Institute · 1:53 AM

We need to remember that there are principles of freedom and not just politics to be considered

SoFAB Institute · 1:53 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“We need an ACLU for every industry! Glad you have this one covered!”

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

We've occupied the field.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

Freedom is always more important than politics.

SoFAB Institute · 1:54 AM

We have been eating processed foods for thousands of years.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

E.g., bread.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

Right.

SoFAB Institute · 1:54 AM

Pickles, anything fermented, is processed

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

Beer. Wine.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

Coffee is roasted.

SoFAB Institute · 1:54 AM

ANything cooked is processed

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

Salted fish.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:54 AM

There's that, too.

SoFAB Institute · 1:55 AM

Ground food

Baylen Linnekin · 1:55 AM

Like dirt?

Baylen Linnekin · 1:55 AM

Or food that's ground up?

SoFAB Institute · 1:55 AM

Smoking it

Baylen Linnekin · 1:55 AM

Is this the part of the conversation where it's OK for me to admit that I smoked "Bacos" in college? Or maybe not.

SoFAB Institute · 1:55 AM

Food that is ground up. Although some people have been known to eat dirt when they have a vitamin deficiency

Baylen Linnekin · 1:56 AM

Right. Pica, I think.

SoFAB Institute · 1:56 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“The other day my friend told me about the "paleo" diet, in which you don't eat anything that wasn't around during the Paleozoic era.”

SoFAB Institute · 1:56 AM

Jordan, that is very limiting since so many animals have evolved since that era

Baylen Linnekin · 1:56 AM

Paleo's pretty popular in some circles these days.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:57 AM

It's really just Atkins with a Ph.D.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:57 AM

Which is not to say it's right or wrong.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:57 AM

Again, food freedom.

SoFAB Institute · 1:57 AM

I agree. We should be allowed to eat according to our Zodiac signs if we want to

Baylen Linnekin · 1:57 AM

Yep.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:57 AM

One thing I don't do is suggest what people eat. Paleo? Vegan? Breathatarian? Go for it.

SoFAB Institute · 1:58 AM

I do like being adventurous. I want to try to eat more bugs

SoFAB Institute · 1:58 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Really? What does an Aries eat?”

SoFAB Institute · 1:59 AM

An Aires should eat whatever he or she wants!!!

Baylen Linnekin · 1:59 AM

Thankfully the FDA permits bugs to be in many foods. So you're eating bugs unintentionally every day.

SoFAB Institute · 1:59 AM

Thank you Baylen, for spending time with us.

Baylen Linnekin · 1:59 AM

What does an Aries eat? What does the fox say?

Baylen Linnekin · 2:00 AM

Thank you! This has been a lot of fun.

SoFAB Institute · 2:00 AM

We should definitely do it again, especially now that we have the hang of it.

SoFAB Institute · 2:00 AM

Thanks to all of the Listeners, too

Baylen Linnekin · 2:00 AM

Agreed. I'd be happy to come back and chat again.

Baylen Linnekin · 2:00 AM

And thanks tawkers.

SoFAB Institute · 2:01 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I've heard many say that bugs are the food of the future. High in protein along with an expected food shortage...”

SoFAB Institute · 2:01 AM

Yep.

SoFAB Institute · 2:02 AM

Thanks, Jordan

Baylen Linnekin · 2:02 AM

I've heard that, too. America's bedbug problem could be a feature rather than a flaw.

SoFAB Institute · 2:02 AM

And if we eat invasive species, that might help keep them under control

Baylen Linnekin · 2:03 AM

Iv'e eaten Snakehead fish, which are invasive in the DelMarVa region. I was happy to help do my part. And they're very tasty.

Forum · 54

Forum· 54 comments

82 visitors

Tawkers AdminNov 21, 2013, 4:14 PM

Welcome to the Forum! To get involved, click "Who's Here" and then FOLLOW people.

Tawkers AdminNov 21, 2013, 4:14 PM

Once 25 people gather in the audience, a comment needs at least one LIKE to become visible to the two Hosts and anyone not following them. So LIKE the comments you want everyone to see!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 12:59 AM

Whenever people advocate smaller government, I wonder if they consider food inspections...

Liz WilliamsNov 25, 2013, 1:00 AM

Hi, Baylen, Welcome to SoFAB at Tawkers.

Liz WilliamsNov 25, 2013, 1:00 AM

We are hoping to have many conversations here

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:01 AM

Liz, if you are here, who is manning the SoFAB account?

Liz WilliamsNov 25, 2013, 1:01 AM

I must be doing something wrong. I do not seem to be able to get into the tawk

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:02 AM

Liz, the Tawk is with the SoFab account, not your personal account. You have to log back in as the SoFAB account...

Liz WilliamsNov 25, 2013, 1:02 AM

Ok, so Tell us about how you have come to be interested in food policy.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:05 AM

Aside from GMOs, what type of food issues arise on the courts?

Liz WilliamsNov 25, 2013, 1:06 AM

did you decide first to become a lawyer?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:06 AM

What kind of choices were being taken away from the individuals?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:07 AM

@Baylen - no, try refreshing your browser...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:08 AM

NOW we're rolling!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:09 AM★ Spotlighted

So, what kind of choices were being taken out of the individuals' hands?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:17 AM★ Spotlighted

How damaging are farm subsidies to small farmers?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:21 AM★ Spotlighted

I mean, I know I want my food and restaurants subject to significant quality inspection...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:22 AM★ Spotlighted

But shouldn't someone monitor how food is stored, transported, etc?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:23 AM

I don't trust the profit motive when it comes to our health.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:24 AM★ Spotlighted

I owned a restaurant. I am very conscientious, but I know that other owners got dinged on annual inspections and had to clean up their act or get closed down...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:25 AM★ Spotlighted

As for food at the source, I have NO idea, but probably fall for the veneer of safety.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:28 AM

Sigh. Doesn't it always come back to money and politics...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:30 AM★ Spotlighted

Is there anything the average person can do to support small farmers?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:32 AM

Do they sell on the Web and ship to people? They should!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:33 AM★ Spotlighted

So more regulations actually HELPS big ag by crushing the little guy?! I had no idea...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:34 AM★ Spotlighted

Wow. I wonder how many other industries experience the same thing.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:38 AM★ Spotlighted

Is there a higher incidence of tainted food from street vendors than restaurants?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:39 AM

Lol. I have Sunday Night a Football in the background...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:40 AM★ Spotlighted

Are the bake sales ban based on anything real, or speculative fear?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:41 AM

Den just returned a fumble to take a 7-0 lead.

Philip DobardNov 25, 2013, 1:41 AM

Ties at zero...

Philip DobardNov 25, 2013, 1:41 AM

Tied!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:42 AM★ Spotlighted

That reminds of the "razor in the apple" Halloween legend, that has in fact never happened in the history of the country.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:44 AM

Ah, I never considered that "special" brownies might make their way to a bake sale. Really puts an emphasis on BAKE sale...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:45 AM

That's a whole lot to fear, Baylen!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:45 AM★ Spotlighted

One word: decaf

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:46 AM

The other day I heard that STRESS is now considered good for you! What's next? Cigarettes?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:47 AM

Atta boy! Decaf us for quitters!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:49 AM★ Spotlighted

Yes, @Liz. Joseph McCarthy comes to mind.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:49 AM

14-0 Broncos. Sorry @Baylen.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:51 AM

Are heart attacks wholesome and American, too?

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:53 AM★ Spotlighted

We need an ACLU for every industry! Glad you have this one covered!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:55 AM★ Spotlighted

The other day my friend told me about the "paleo" diet, in which you don't eat anything that wasn't around during the Paleozoic era.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:56 AM

Lmao, @Baylen. (Bacos are A

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:56 AM

(Bacos are Always funny!)

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:57 AM

@Liz I know! I couldn't do it!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:58 AM★ Spotlighted

Really? What does an Aries eat?

Philip DobardNov 25, 2013, 1:58 AM

Well New Orleans enjoys an abundance of flying cockroaches.

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 1:59 AM★ Spotlighted

I've heard many say that bugs are the food of the future. High in protein along with an expected food shortage...

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 2:00 AM

Wow, that was a FAST hour. Great Tawk, you two! People are going to enjoy this when they catch it after the fact!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 2:00 AM

Great content, guys!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 2:01 AM

Always ahead the curve, Liz!

Jordan BirnbaumNov 25, 2013, 2:02 AM

Don't let the bedbugs bite...before you bite them!

sari sorrellJul 1, 2014, 4:21 AM

Heyy