Maine lobstermen are upset with Whole Foods, not because they stopped selling lobster in their stores last year because of animal rights concerns but because they're going to start selling them again in a soon-to-open Portland store. "Lobster groups were fine with the ban until the company announced that it will change its rules for Portland after finding a New Hampshire company with a more compassionate way to bring lobsters to retailers. "The suggestion is, they know how to do it better," said Kristen Millar, executive director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council."... More

I am as big a champion of sustainable agriculture and responsibly, ethically raised meat as most, but I have to say I'm baffled by Whole Foods' recent decision not to sell live lobsters and crabs in their stores because these crustaceans suffer unnecessarily in captivity and subsequent death. I'm sure lobsters and crabs don't look forward to being put in tanks, killed and eaten, but if we can't eat lobsters and crabs with impunity, what's next? Whole Foods banning the sale of Bumble Bee (or even a fabulous fancy-pants brand like Ortiz) tuna because the tuna suffer horribly on their way to the can? Talk about slippery slope.... More