October 2: Stories That Caught Our Attention This Week

This week, those of us who don’t have a lot of Dutch friends learned that the Dutch are very tall, and it might be because of cheese. They love cheese, reports the BBC. We love cheese, too. Any tall Dutch people wishing to bond over cheese can say so in the comments section.

CivilEats looked into how much money some companies have spent lobbying for and against GMO labeling. (Hint: It’s a lot.)

Surprising research out of China found that mealworms can eat and break down certain types of plastic, which could help lighten the load we’re burying our planet under.

While worms were eating plastic, world leaders at the UN munched on “landfill salad” and bread made from brewery waste. Chefs Dan Barber and Sam Kass served the food – otherwise destined for a landfill – to some big kahunas in efforts to talk about the global food waste issue.

Lastly, in tearjerking news, FoodBeast reports that The Rock’s adorable little french bulldog died from eating a backyard mushroom. Though you might be a skilled forager, your pets might still be curious, hungry, and eager to try anything. Take a walk around your backyard, and remove anything that could potentially harm your pup. (When in doubt, tear it out.)