21-05-2025
With Its NYSE Listing Looming, Elizabeth Warren Has Questions For JBS
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
It's been quite a week, and I don't just mean for those of us who are all-in on the second season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I can't stop thinking about the casts' extremely complicated orders at Utah-based soda chain Swig and what my go-to would be. I think I'd commit to the sparkling water-based fruity refreshers like Mikayla.
But this subset of Mormons are not the only ones making food headlines recently. To start off, the JBS saga continues. After my feature published last week on the billionaire Batista brothers and the looming New York Stock Exchange listing of their meat conglomerate JBS, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the CEOs of JBS USA and Pilgrims' Pride questioning whether Pilgrims' $5 million donation to this year's inauguration was done 'to curry favor with the Trump administration.'
The analysts I've spoken with expect a windfall for JBS shareholders, including the Batistas, if the listing goes through. But JPMorgan analysts are now preparing for the opposite. In their latest report, analysts who cover JBS for JPMorgan said they created a hedging strategy to protect shareholders in case shares drop. The final shareholder vote on the listing is this Friday, May 23. I'm no Steve Kornacki, but I'll be watching the results closely.
I'm also looking out for the highly anticipated MAHA assessment report on causes of chronic childhood diseases, which is set to be released on Thursday. It is expected to take on pesticides used in farming, which has become a source of Trump Administration in-fighting, according to the Wall Street Journal. Also on the docket are other known factors for disease in children, like diet, lack of exercise and screen time.
And for those who are in New York City with me, I'd love to see you to celebrate the documentary The Price of Milk, which is premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on Sunday, June 8, with an additional screening on Thursday, June 12. I did a few interviews for the film a few years ago, and I'm excited to finally see it all come to life!
Ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend, I'm curious, what's on your barbecue lineup? I've enjoyed the image going around online for a fake cookbook aptly titled How To Cook Like The People You Just Deported: Authentic Ethnic Flavors For Bigots Who Don't Deserve Them. There's a lot to reflect on this weekend, and I hope you have a good one.
— Chloe Sorvino
This is Forbes' Fresh Take newsletter, which every Wednesday brings you the latest on the big ideas changing the future of food. Want to get it in your inbox every week? Sign up here.
A dust storm that originated in central Illinois moves through downtown Chicago on the evening of Friday, May 16, 2025.
A 2025 Dust Up: I'm coming off my paperback book tour, so I've been sounding the alarms on climate change and extreme weather for months. And when I've mentioned that another Dust Bowl is coming, people sometimes roll their eyes. But the news of recent dust storms in Illinois are just more proof. The images of what the New York Times describes as 'a wall of dust' are foreboding at best.
A bicyclist fills a water bottle from a water fountain on May 16, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
Dirty Water: The Trump Administration is weakening water pollution laws, and dismantling landmark protections against PFAS, which are the toxic forever chemicals that have been present in public drinking water for decades due to industry deception and government inaction. Even at low levels, PFAS have been linked to cancer, reproductive harm, immune system damage and other serious health problems. The Environmental Working Group describes the move as 'a shocking reversal of one of the most significant public health victories in a generation' that will put millions at risk and let polluters like 3M and Dupont off the hook. EWG cofounder and president Ken Cook said 'This is a betrayal of public health at the highest level. You can't make America healthy while allowing toxic chemicals to flow freely from our taps.'
Banners showing images of Donald Trump and Abraham Lincoln hanging off the side of the Department of Agriculture building in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2025.
New Headshots Dropped: While facing criticism for budget cuts to programs, grant funding and staffing as well as threats to relocate out of D.C., USDA headquarters in Washington now has, according to Civil Eats' Food Policy Tracker, a giant banner of President Donald Trump side-by-side with another of former President Abraham Lincoln, who founded the department. The installation marks the USDA's 163rd anniversary.
Chloe Sorvino
Wild foraged ramps make a mean pesto, and that's all I needed to make this mafalde pasta sing this week. I had to obtain some ramps before the season ended, and after making pesto, I also whipped up a ramp butter and pickled the bulbs.
Thanks for reading the 143rd edition of Forbes Fresh Take! Let me know what you think. Subscribe to Forbes Fresh Take here.
