"Meatstock," the carnivore diet convention. A few newsletters ago we highlighted a recent diet fad—the "carnivore diet"—expressing concerns about the short- and long-term implications for health, especially for gut health. As reported by Dani Blum in the May 5, 2026 edition of the New York Times ("Inside a Carnivore Convention Where Meat Is Considered Medicine"), the diet is still very popular among people who distrust mainstream medicine. The movement is organized enough that 1,400 people attended a convention in Gatlinburg, Tennessee called "Meatstock." At this convention, vendors were around to sell meat-based products, including lotions and a cereal made from ground beef. One woman said she had replaced her sunscreen with one made from tallow (!! How well could that work?). From the comments reported, it seemed that many people at the convention felt alienated from mainstream society and were there looking for a feeling of belonging to a community. We've said it before: food is a major way that people bond with others and signal belonging to a social group. I do worry about gut health for this group down the line though.