Oct. 24: A day to ponder food choices, policies

Published 5:00 am Tuesday, October 18, 2011

If Earth Day looks at the environment, what would Food Day involve? Well, of course, food, in all its breadth and depth. That’s the hope of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, which has spearheaded an effort to use Oct. 24 as a national day to consider not only what we eat, but also the policies behind those decisions and the people who grow and harvest.

“We try to create a national event that local groups can take advantage of,” said Michael Jacobson, longtime director of CSPI, in a phone interview. “What happens at the local level is out of our control.”

On the agenda — which keeps growing — are both big and small events. You can find out what’s planned around the nation on an interactive map on its website (foodday.org).

In the next four weeks, Jacobson hopes to inspire more activities, including events at schools, churches or in homes as people gather and celebrate with potlucks (presumably healthy). Should the diners want to talk food issues, so much the better.

“Organize events around issues that excite you, whether it’s hunger, nutrition or farm subsidies,” said Jacobson.

Around the country, schools are offering special Food Day menus, governors in several states are issuing proclamations about Food Day, a progressive dinner and bike tour are being held in Tucson, Ariz., and a regional festival in Savannah, Ga., expects 15,000 attendees.

On board is a wide-ranging group of organizations that have supported the concept, from the American Culinary Federation and American Dietetic Association to the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America, the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University to the Vegetarian Resource Group. Dole Foods will post stickers on 100 million bananas promoting the event. The Cooking Channel and epicurious.com, which will offer specific regional menus, are also partners.

Jacobson said CSPI has tried to make this a nonpartisan event. In fact, the organization does not accept funds from government or industry. He’s hoping this will become an annual fall event, in the same manner that Earth Day has evolved.