Monsanto’s GM Sugar Beets Require Further Testing Says CourtJune 6th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
The USDA must complete an Environmental Impact Study before Monsanto’s GM sugar beets will be allowed to continue being grown for commercial use, a federal appeals court decided in late May. Read More:Monsanto’s GM Sugar Beets Require Further Testing Says CourtDozens of Unapproved Toxic Pesticides Found on Fresh CilantroJune 3rd, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
Random USDA produce tests showed at least 34 unapproved pesticides on samples of fresh cilantro that were not removed with washing, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune. Read More:Dozens of Unapproved Toxic Pesticides Found on Fresh CilantroUSDA Announces New Testing Rules for Foodborne PathogensApril 11th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, announced a new rule proposed by the USDA that would require all beef, pork and poultry producers in the US to test their products for potential contaminants, and hold them until test results had proven the meat products safe, before releasing the foods for sale . Read More:USDA Announces New Testing Rules for Foodborne PathogensSchool Lunch Reform Causes Big Menu ChangesApril 9th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
With 25 million children and teens—nearly one third of American kids — overweight or obese, the USDA announced new nutrition standards for school lunches earlier this year, making dietary changes for the first time in more than 15 years. Read More:School Lunch Reform Causes Big Menu ChangesNutrition Facts Coming to the Front of Food LabelsFebruary 9th, 2011 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Important nutrition facts may soon appear on the front of food labels, hopes the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute, who this week announced a new labeling system called “Nutrition Keys” to make important health data that much more accessible. Nutrition Keys, which is voluntary, asks food producers to display calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar content on the front of food packages; currently nutrition facts appear on the back of most food products. Read More:Nutrition Facts Coming to the Front of Food LabelsUSDA Permits Planting of GM Sugar BeetsFebruary 8th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
Despite a court order to conduct a thorough Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of genetically modified (GM) sugar beets before deregulating the seeds, The USDA has decided to continue allowing the planting of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beets. Read More:USDA Permits Planting of GM Sugar BeetsUSDA Urged to Define ‘Outdoor’ for Organic AnimalsFebruary 5th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
Current regulations are unclear when it comes to the definition of “outdoors” for factory-farmed animals. The common “cage free” and “free range” labels may lead consumers to imagine a picturesque pastoral setting, but it’s not the norm according to Mark Kastel, co-founder of The Cornucopia Institute, a consumer watchdog group. Read More:USDA Urged to Define ‘Outdoor’ for Organic Animals‘All Natural’ Confusing and Misleading ConsumersJanuary 5th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
For all the confusion about diet and health in America, it turns out consumers are a lot smarter than they may seem—at least when it comes to claims of natural versus organic, according to a recent survey. Read More:‘All Natural’ Confusing and Misleading Consumers$50 Million To Grow Organic in 2011January 3rd, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
In an effort to increase the number of US organic producers, the USDA announced the third year of Organic Initiative, a program making up to $50 million available to small and medium-sized farmers for 2011 in alignment with the 2008 Farm Bill. Read More:$50 Million To Grow Organic in 2011Book Explores Threats to Family FarmsOctober 15th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Zecchinelli’s target: the National Animal Identification System (NAIS)—a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that collects data on farm animals. The book exposes how the USDA provides loopholes for massive industrial farms, favoring corporate operations at the expense of family farmers and consumers. Read More:Book Explores Threats to Family Farms |
