Not In My Food

The contamination of eggs underlines the urgent need for improvements in the way FDA regulates food safety Monday, August 23, 2010 EGG RECALL GROWS; CONSUMERS UNION CALLS FOR SENATE ACTION ON FOOD SAFETY BILL WASHINGTON, D.C.–As the recall of salmonella-contaminated eggs, previously 380 million, expanded with a new recall from Hillandale Farms of 170 million Continue Reading

Read CU’s news release applauding the Senate for taking the next step towards passing food safety legislation News Release Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Thursday, August 12, 2010 Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement on Food Safety: Statement by Consumers Union WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, today Continue Reading

Comments of Consumers Union of United States, Inc. to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on “Agenda and Priorities FY 2012” Presented by Ami Gadhia On behalf of Consumers Union, Kids In Danger and Consumer Federation of America August 11, 2010 Introduction Thank you for the opportunity to comment on CPSC’s agenda and priorities.  My Continue Reading

CU commends the USDA for finally updating the Salmonella performance standard for poultry. Setting the performance standard at 7.5% for chicken, based on estimated prevalence of Salmonella-positive results from the 2007-2008 young chicken baseline survey (YCBS), rather than the present level of 20% is a significant step forward for food safety. Consumers Union (CU) welcomes the Continue Reading

“The overwhelming majority of Americans want Congress to make our food safe now,” said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives for Consumers Union. For Immediate Release: July 12, 2010 Consumers Union Poll: 80 Percent of Americans Want Congress to Pass Food Safety Legislation Immediately Yonkers, NY—Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today Continue Reading

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2010 Consumers Union Commends California Assembly For Banning Bisphenol A Yonkers, NY—Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today commended the California Assembly for passing a bill that would ban bisphenol A (BPA) from food and drink containers designed for children ages 3 and younger. BPA—a chemical found in Continue Reading

URGENT! The Senate Should Act on FDA Food Safety Reform Each year, 76 million Americans are sickened, 325,000 hospitalized and 5,000 die from consuming contaminated food. Most at risk are young children, the elderly and people whose immune systems are weakened by other diseases or treatments like chemotherapy. Recent outbreaks of deadly E. coli and Continue Reading

Results contradict USDA’s position that consumers don’t care March 2, 2010  Consumers Union Poll: Two-Thirds of Organic Foods Consumers Concerned with Genetically Engineered Contamination  Results Contradict USDA’s Position That Consumers Don’t Care  Public Comment on Draft USDA Environmental Impact Statement on Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Due March 3  Yonkers, NY–Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, Continue Reading

There is enough scientific evidence to date to warrant a ban on BPA in food contact products now January 15, 2010 Consumers Union Disappointed with FDA’s Action on BPA, Despite Admission of “Some Concern” Yonkers, N.Y.–Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, expressed disappointment with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) failure to Continue Reading

Strong evidence indicates that minority children are more likely to have fatal accidents October 9, 2009 Consumers Union Applauds Government Efforts to Reduce Product-Related Injuries in Minority Children Washington, DC—Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, praised recent government efforts to identify and reduce the impact of unintentional product-related injuries on minority children. Continue Reading

CU opposes plan to extend voluntary California leafy green marketing agreement to farmers nationwide September 21, 2009 Consumers Union Opposes USDA Proposal on Salad Safety; Urges Congress to Pass FDA Food Safety Program USDA to Hold Hearing On Proposed Leafy Green Marketing Agreement on September 22-24 in Monterey, CA SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A proposed Continue Reading

The bill would ban the use of BPA in food products and packaging designed for children under three September 8, 2009 Consumers Union Urges California State Assembly to Vote Yes on S.B. 797 Tomorrow: Ban Bisphenol A for Children Under Three San Francisco, CA—Tomorrow, the California State Assembly will vote on Senate Bill 797, which Continue Reading

Consumers should heed the CPSC’s call to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets Thursday, August 20, 2009 Consumers Union: Infant Deaths Prompt New Alert to Stop Using Simplicity “Close-Sleeper/Bedside Sleeper” Bassinets WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2009 – Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, is urging consumers to heed the Consumer Product Safety Continue Reading

Nano-sunscreens are being promoted as safe but the evidence collected shows otherwise August 19, 2009 New Report From Public Interest Groups Warns of Risks From Nanomaterials in Sunscreens WASHINGTON, D.C.—Friends of the Earth, Consumers Union, and the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) released a report today detailing why consumers should be wary of sunscreens Continue Reading

The bill will make a fundamental difference in keeping food and families safe Thursday, July 30, 2009 Consumers Union Praises House Passage of Food Safety Enhancement Act WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, today applauded members of the U.S. House of Representatives for approving a historic bill to overhaul Continue Reading

The bill is essential to restoring the trust of American consumers in the safety of our food supply Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention ◊ Center for Science in the Public Interest ◊ Consumer Federation of America ◊ Consumers Union ◊ Food & Water Watch ◊ The Pew Charitable Trusts ◊ Safe Tables Our Continue Reading

A much-needed overhaul of the nation’s food-safety system is needed Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Consumers Union Urges Immediate House Passage of Food Safety Enhancement Act WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, today urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a much-needed overhaul of the nation’s food-safety system, the Continue Reading

The current food safety system is broken and has been in need of an overhaul for more than a decade American Public Health Association ◊Association of Schools of Public Health ◊ Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention ◊ Center for Science in the Public Interest ◊ Consumer Federation of America ◊ Consumers Union ◊ Continue Reading

Several jurisdictions have banned BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups Thursday, July 16, 2009 Consumers Union Raises Concern as California Regulators Reject BPA Warnings Statement by Elisa Odabashian, Director, West Coast Office and State Campaigns, and Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Technical Policy, Consumers Union Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, is Continue Reading

House agriculture committee holds hearing on Food Safety Enhancement Act July 16, 2009 HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON FOOD SAFETY; CONSUMERS UNION URGES CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION ON FOOD SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT Concerns that the Bill Will Unduly Impact Small and Organic Farmers Unfounded Washington, D.C.—Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, urges Congress Continue Reading

Governor Strickland should repeal a 2008 emergency rule for labeling dairy products in his state GROUPS URGE OHIO GOVERNOR TO REPEAL EMERGENCY DECISION ON MILK LABELING Rule Fails to Serve Consumers, Dairy Processors, and Ohio Family Farmers Trade Associations to Enter Into Mediation over Rule with Ohio Department of Agriculture Columbus, OH; July 13, 2009 Continue Reading

CU statement: The new measures represent real progress towards improving the safety of food in the U.S. Tuesday, July 7, 2009 White House Food Safety Announcement: Statement by Consumers Union WASHINGTON, D.C., July 7, 2009 – The White House today is announcing new food safety standards aimed at reducing salmonella and E. coli outbreaks, plus Continue Reading

The bill would prevent outbreaks like the ones we have seen with spinach and peanut butter Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Food Safety Bill Approved by House Committee Statement by Consumers Union WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union (CU), the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today applauded the unanimous vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee Continue Reading

CU urges passage of a strong bill to protect consumers June 16, 2009 Food Safety Bill Up for House Committee Vote June 17 Consumers Union Urges Passage of a Strong Bill to Protect Consumers WASHINGTON, D.C. — Food safety legislation will be marked up by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday, June 17. Continue Reading

CU urges Congress to maintain bill’s strong provisions June 10, 2009 House Subcommittee OKs Food Safety Bill; Consumers Union Urges Congress to Maintain Bill’s Strong Provisions WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today approved the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, sending the bill to the full committee for a Continue Reading