Michael Pollan argued that what is at stake in the Prop 37 vote is not just the fate of genetically modified crops but the public’s confidence in the industrial food chain: (full story, New York Times)

Food prep for the vast majority of supermarkets today is done off-site to reduce staff size and labor costs, and this leads to a (frankly) horrifying amount of waste; this article investigates some of the strategies that could improve the situation, from bargain shelves to “sell by,” “best by,” and “use by” labeling to help reduce consumer confusion: (full story, National Resource Defense Council)

Hog farmers are under increasing pressure from animal rights groups and corporate pork buyers (Dunkin’ Donuts, ConAgra and Chili’s new to the list this week!) to put sows in group housing pens instead of gestation crates, a challenge as many farmers find the crates more profitable and easier on the pigs: (full story, New York Times)

For many years, breeders and seed companies have been breeding tomatoes for everything except taste, but as American palates get more sensitive, complaints about grocery-store tomatoes are leading agribusinesses to pour millions into efforts to hike up the flavor: (full story, Wall Street Journal)

Looking for snacks to serve at your upcoming Halloween or holiday parties? Get a load of what Pringles has cooked up: holiday pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon sugar, and white chocolate peppermint potato chips! Man oh man: (full story, Grist)