Canada and Denmark's Whiskey War and other food and drink news

Hans Off! Canada and Denmark's Arctic Dispute - Canada and Denmark are known for their peaceful and democratic nature; one does not think of them as nations prone to sabre-rattling. Despite this, Canada and Denmark have been engaged in a territorial dispute for almost a century. At the centre of this dispute is a tiny outcropping known as Hans Island. ... As successive Danish and Canadian landings on the island erect and dismantle flag poles and markers, they leave presents for the next contingent. This 'whiskey war' was initiated in 1984, when the Danish minister for Greenland landed on the island leaving a bottle of schnapps and a sign proclaiming “Welcome to the Danish Island.” Peter Takso Jensen, head of international law department of the Danish Foreign Ministry, noted that “when Danish military go there, they leave a bottle of schnapps. And when Canadian military forces come there, they leave a bottle of Canadian Club and a sign saying 'Welcome to Canada'”

It's Final: FDA Issues Long-Awaited Food Safety Rules - Five years ago, Congress promised an overhaul of the nation's food safety system, passing the Food Safety Modernization Act. It took much longer than expected, but the Food and Drug Administration has now released the centerpiece — or at least, the most contested — part of that overhaul. These are rules that cover farmers who grow fresh produce, as well as food importers.

What's 'Natural' Food? The Government Isn't Sure And Wants Your Input - The Food and Drug Administration is seeking your input to answer a question: How should the agency define "natural" on food labels? Disagreement over what "all natural" or "100 percent natural" means has spawned dozens of lawsuits. Consumers have challenged the naturalness of all kinds of food products. For instance, can a product that contains high fructose corn syrup be labeled as natural? What about products that contain genetically modified ingredients? The FDA has received three citizen petitions asking for clarification. And, beginning Thursday, the agency will ask us — the public — to weigh in. Comments can be submitted electronically.

Sour beer, brewed by methods used centuries ago, is the new pint du jour - 'Ear-tickling' and 'weird', sour beer was on everybody's lips at this year's Manchester Indy Beer festival. It's the defining pint of 2015, says brewer Daniel Tapper

A brief history of the wine corkscrew

Cider industry body calls for alcohol to be included in new Country of Origin labelling system

The House That Julia Built - La Pitchoune, which became Julia Child's link with France and a place she returned to again and again in her mind and in her recipes, is for sale on the open market for the first time.

Are Junk Food Habits Driving Obesity? A Tale Of Two Studies

Weight-loss companies freed to target obesity in ads for first time - Weight Watchers and other programmes were previously banned from referring to obesity in case they signed up people who needed medical treatment

Mechanics Of Eating: Why You'll Miss Flavor If You Scarf Your Food - When it comes to enjoying the flavors in food, our tongues really aren't that useful. They can detect just a few basic tastes: sweet, salt, sour, bitter, umami, and maybe fat. But real complexity comes from a food or drink's aroma, and the main way we sense all the compounds isn't from sniffing. Our bodies actually blast scents from the back of our mouths up into our nasal cavity where we can take in the difference between merlot and Chianti, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.