4.25.2008

No Bread? Eat Cake.

Call it the revenge of Marie Antoinette. The French queen, who on being told that her subjects had no bread suggested they eat cake instead, has gone down in history as callous, unworldly and fully deserving of the guillotine. Last year, however, farmers in Pennsylvania began following her advice. Since standard animal feed had become too dear, they started giving their pigs and cows chocolate - and banana chips and cashews and yogurt-covered raisins, any of which were cheaper than run-of the-mill corn and beans. One farmer even supplied his cattle a special "party mix" of popcorn, pretzels, cheese curls and crisps. This, he told reporters, saved 10% on feed costs. (Full Story)

I wonder about cows. In the past few years "foodies" have been touting the great advantages of grass fed beef, but it has always been more expensive. With grain prices the way they are, will that change? I hope so.

[Story via fanaticcook]