Did you think Michelle Obama’s highly visible natural/organic garden was the only recent garden on the White House grounds?

Hillary Clinton had a rooftop veggie garden there while Bill occupied the Oval Office, but it received little public attention according to Tom Philpott in Mother Jones Magazine.

The Prez may have still been weaning himself off Mickey D’s when he lived at 1600, but he went vegan afterward to save his life, so he obviously eats organic now.  (See related article here.)

According to Philpott, who interviewed presidential chef Walter Scheib, both Clinton and George W. Bush ate natural and organic meals during their time in the White House. “The Clinton and Bush families dined regularly on organic foods. Both wagyu and grass-fed beef were frequently used.”

Scheib says that Laura Bush “insisted that fresh, organic foods be served in the White House,” but she just didn’t talk “much about it outside the house.”

Philpott points out that “while the Clintons and Bushes quietly dined on organic and grass-fed, their administrations pushed policies that propped up industrial agriculture and the companies that dominate it. Clinton promoted GMOs to the very end of his term—a cause his wife Hillary has kept up as secretary of state.”

But Michelle Obama was very open about bringing organic vegetables to the White House—until she was essentially silenced by the agribusiness industry, according to Philpott.

Where does Mitt Romney fit into the organic food secrecy? Sources report that on the campaign jet, “shelves are stocked with a wide variety of healthy fare. Kashi cereals, hummus, pita as well as organic applesauce. Everything’s organic, I’m told, including the ingredients to Romney’s favorite, peanut butter and honey sandwiches.”

All the naturally sordid details are at Mother Jones article here.

So there you have it—the October surprise! Organic cider, anyone?

*Adapted from Living Green Magazine.

 

Richard Kujawski is the Managing Editor of Living Green Magazine which informs and educates readers on a range of environmental and lifestyle issues. They balance news stories with articles that highlight nonprofit causes and provide sustainable solutions for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Their readers come in all shades of green, and want to create a healthy environment for themselves and others. Some people describe Living Green Magazine as the NPR and PBS of green websites.

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Editor: Edith Lazenby

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