While the Washington State labeling initiative appears to have been defeated, being outspent by opponents by a ratio of nearly 3-1, and with the focus now shifting to labeling initiatives in Oregon, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we look at other important stories that you may have missed in the pre-election buzz.
Cholesterol decreasing juice, anti-cancer green tea, and cherries as James-Bond agents to neutralize cancer — believable or not? FDA’s confusing food labeling rules are criticized for allowing many companies to make misleading claims on food labels.
Calling antibiotic resistance in the population a “major public health crisis,” Rep. Slaughter introduced legislation to prohibit the use of antibiotics for sub-therapeutic purposes in food animals.
Another study finds inert ingredients in glyphosate formulations to be toxic human cells, questioning regulators’ focus on the active ingredient during the risk assessment process.
Analyzing over 20 years of data, two researchers concluded that pesticide use, not habitat loss, was the most important factor contributing to widespread declines in populations of U.S. grassland birds.
One of the causes of antibiotic resistance in humans is the overuse of antibiotics on industrial animal farms. Despite the urgent public health crisis, neither the FDA nor lawmakers have stemmed the overuse of such important medicines for purposes of growth and disease prevention, not treatment.
In a case of national prominence, farmers, seed selling businesses and agricultural organizations are fighting for their right to seek legal protection from accusations of patent infringement by the agri-giant Monsanto should they become contaminated by Monsanto’s GMO seed.
European Food Safety Authority’s analysis of neonicotinioids acknowledged a number of serious risks to bees associated with their use. The agency recommended that, among other things, these systemic pesticides be only used on crops not attractive to honey bees.
Food and supplement makers complain they are under siege all the while making deceptive health claims and doing little to improve nutrition. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has been behind many of the lawsuits over unsubstantiated and misleading labeling.
A recent study found that a combination of two pesticides impairs the natural foraging behavior of bumblebees, increases worker mortality as well as increases the propensity of bumblebee colonies to fail.
The term “GMO” is an acronym that more Americans recognize because of the events that transpired in 2012. Here are the stories that concerned, disappointed and inspired us during this past year. Thank you for reading and have a healthy and happy New Year!
Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility sued for the release of FDA’s records that would demonstrate the effectiveness of the agency’s voluntary approach of phasing out the use of medically important antibiotics on animal farms. Guess what they revealed.
A judge recently ordered Fish and Wildlife Services to halt the planting of genetically engineered crops on the national wildlife land in the Southeast Region. Similar result eluded environmental groups in a related lawsuit over GMO use on refuge lands in the Midwest Region.
The historic drought of the 2012 season is far from over, but one side effect of the drought is already predicted to extend into the next year on the scale not seen before.
There was no shortage of vitriol against a new long-term GMO study showing cancers in rats fed GM maize, as well as those fed Roundup, in amounts well below the officially set safety limits. Is the orchestrated response to discredit Seralini et al anti-science?
Despite overwhelming popular support during the campaign season, early indications show that California’s Proposition 37 has been defeated by opponents of our basic right to know what’s in our food.
Polls open tomorrow in California and Californians are asked to choose whether genetically modified foods and ingredients should be labeled. Vote YES on Proposition 37 and urge others to do the same.
