Biting the hands that feed us How fewer, smarter laws would make our food system more sustainable

Rules, regulations, and laws are made for the public benefit, but Linnekin, an attorney and author specializing in food law and policy, boldly and vociferously argues that many of the general food rulings lead to food wastage, exclusion of artisanal produce, and in some instances may affect public health. Many of the agricultural rulings benefit monoculturalist growers, while the legal demands are too costly for small farmers. The work delves into topics such as how natural quality sausage is unnaturalized by the requirement to include nitrites, natural skim milk is required to have vitamin A added, and time-proven wooden shelves are outlawed for use with the aging of cheese. The author also interestingly describes how food wastage is high in the United States, but the country's school lunch programs are extreme contributors to this problem. Personal stories are detailed, illustrating how rulings enforced through bureaucratic systems have stymied artisanal and natural produce from the home and marketplace. This volume provides helpful insight into the many restrictive edicts that hamper the sustainability of the public and private food system. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Rita A. Hoots, Sacramento City College

Food-safety laws inspections, warning labels, and mandatory hand washing by food preparers make good sense. Linnekin, an attorney specializing in food law, agrees that all rules aren't bad, but his stance on government involvement in the food system (particularly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and FDA) can simply be described as less is best. He contends that government oversight of food policy has resulted in the obstruction of sustainable food practices and extensive food waste. He believes that fewer rules would spawn a superior food system. Linnekin cites many examples of how too many regulations, bad laws, layers of bureaucratic red tape, and unintended consequences work against an ideal food system, including the USDA National School Lunch Program (promotes food waste on a massive scale), farm subsidies, bycatch (collection of nontargeted marine life), spent grains, and ugly produce (bruised, distorted-appearing fruit or vegetables). Linnekin is fervent about flawed policy. His book cleverly and precisely decries how the federal government's rules and restrictions regarding food are a serious disservice to producers and consumers alike.--Miksanek, Tony Copyright 2016 Booklist