Free Republic

Berkeley in northern California will ban the sale of junk food from supermarket checkout displays -- becoming the first US city to do so, according to local media. The city council unanimously passed a bill this week to promote healthier eating, by prohibiting products with over 5 grams of added sugar or 250mg of sodium from checkout aisles. Drinks high in sugar and artificial sweeteners will also be restricted. "The healthy checkout ordinance is essential for community health, especially in the time of COVID-19," said councilmember Kate Harrison. "What is good for Berkeley customers is also good for our businesses."

Would you rather sip on unpasteurized milk or a cold glass of soda? Do you prefer Saturday lunch at a fast food joint or a farmers market? Regardless of your choices, your food freedom -- your right to grow, raise, produce, buy, sell, share, cook, eat, and drink the foods you want -- is under attack. Here are ten food freedom issues to keep an eye on in 2014. 1: FDA May Ban or Restrict a Growing Number of Food Ingredients. The FDA has proposed banning oils containing trans fats, an ingredient found in foods like coffee creamers and muffins....

Aleppo rebel religious committee forbids ‘colonial’ croissants A sharia committee in a rebel-held area of Aleppo issued a fatwa deeming croissants ‘haram’ (forbidden in Islamic law) because of their “colonial” significance, pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Tuesday. Croissants’ crescent shape celebrates European victory over Muslims, according to the fatwa (religious ruling). Rebel-controlled areas of the Syrian city have experienced several strict fatwas recently from Islamic sharia committees. Such edicts are uncommon in Aleppo’s society, which usually adheres to moderate Islamic teachings, Asharq al-Awsat reported. A sharia committee in the city issued a fatwa on Facebook prohibiting “Muslim women...