The politics of food has become a hot issue lately, with wide-ranging concerns involving public health, the environment and world hunger.

As an example of how more people are paying attention, the Blue Cross Foundation next month will give its annual Health Leadership Award to Dr. David Wallinga, director of the Food and Health Program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis.

His bio notes that Wallinga's "expertise includes the impacts of food contamination and the means of food production on human health, including impacts on obesity and ecological health impacts from the inappropriate use of antibiotics and arsenic in livestock and poultry."

Wallinga also has researched — and been an advocate on — the issue of children's exposure to the neurotoxins found in fish and other foods and their impact on the brain and nervous system.

Previous winners of the award are:

• Atum Azzahir, co-founder and director of the Cultural Wellness Center in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

• Winona LaDuke, founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project and political activist.