New Scientist this week (print edition only) carries a long review
of "Food Wars: the global battle of mouths, minds and markets" by Tim Lang
and Michael Heasman.

While the book does not appear to have anything specific to say on Paleo
foods, it does have a lot to say about the history, the present and the
future of the food industry.  It is not kind to the food industry either.
The review opens with the statement: "Eating is the most political thing
we do on a daily basis" and it goes on to show how the book makes that
statement clear to the reader.

Here are a few snippets from the review:

#  in the US four companies control 81% of beef packing, 81% of maize
exports and 80% of soybean crushing

# the top 30 food retailers' turnover amounts to almost $1 trillion -
representing 1/17th of the world's formal economy

# for every $1 spent by WHO on improving nutrition, another $500 is spent
by food companies promoting processed food.

The authors say something we could all vouch for: "evidence fails to
inform policy: policy makers are often just not interested in the evidence
because it embarrasses a politically-driven agenda."

The review ends with a quote from the authors: "A diet that is good for
biodiversity is also good for human health".

This appears to be a wonderful source of ideas and new perspectives on
food.

Keith