Not in My Food.org : Know what you're eating
Food Contaminants
Consumers Union Documents
- CU letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack regarding pork safety
CU informs the USDA of new findings on pathogens in pork products appearing in the January 2013 issue of CR
- CU letter to USDA regarding arsenic in rice
Consumer Reports released an article involving findings on arsenic levels in rice and rice-based products
- CU letter to the EPA regarding arsenic in rice
Consumer Reports released an article involving findings on arsenic levels in rice and rice-based products
- CU letter to the FDA regarding arsenic in rice
Consumer Reports released an article involving findings on arsenic levels in rice and rice-based products
- State laws on BPA
Tens of thousands of you joined our national campaign to get the harmful chemical bisphenol A out of children’s products–and your work is having a huge impact! Eleven states have now passed bans on BPA in certain children’s food and drink containers, and bills have been introduced in Congress to do the same nationally. Some Continue Reading
- BPA Factsheet
What is BPA? BPA is short for bisphenol A, a chemical found in the linings of cans and in many plastic products, including sports bottles, food-storage containers and baby bottles. BPA helps make plastics strong while staying lightweight, and is also used as a coating inside metal food cans. Why the concern? Unlike other chemicals, Continue Reading
- Getting BPA out of our food and drink products
What is BPA? BPA is short for bisphenol A, a chemical found in the linings of cans and in many plastic products, including sports bottles, food-storage containers and baby bottles. BPA helps make plastics strong while staying lightweight, and is also used as a coating inside metal food cans. Why the concern? Unlike other chemicals, Continue Reading
Press Releases
- Consumers Union calls on EPA to ban arsenic-containing pesticides
Congress-directed review could delay needed action for years; Public still waiting for guidance on arsenic in apple juice
- Consumer Reports investigation prompts letter to USDA on pork safety
CU informs the USDA of new findings on pathogens in pork products appearing in the January 2013 issue of CR
- Congress introduces “R.I.C.E. Act” to Limit Arsenic in Rice after Consumer Reports Investigation
Consumer Reports that found concerning levels of arsenic in tests of more than 200 samples of rice and rice products
- Info-graphic: How Arsenic Gets Into Rice and Tips to Limit Your Exposure
Complete Consumer Reports Arsenic In Rice Results
- Consumer Reports: Arsenic levels in rice show need for federal action
Government data shows eating one rice food item can increase arsenic exposure by 44 percent
- CU Praises FDA Action to Ban BPA in Baby Bottles, Sippy Cups
Consumers Union has long advocated for a ban on BPA in baby bottles and kids’ spill-proof cups
- CU to FDA: Protections from mad cow are inadequate
This letter from CU to the FDA details the additional steps the agency should take to protect the health of animals and the public.
- CU cites risks in “l-type” strain of mad cow disease
Urges USDA to conduct thorough investigation of California case
- Consumers Union statement on BSE positive cow
CU is seriously concerned by the announcement of a new case of mad cow disease in a cow from California
- Consumers Union calls on OMB to let new food safety rules move forward
In letter to OMB, CU says recent salad greens recall highlights the need for action
Blog Posts
- Consumer Reports finds antibiotic-resistant bacteria in pork
A new Consumer Reports study released today warns shoppers that they may be getting more than they bargain for in their packages of pork. Tests of pork chops and ground pork found widespread contamination by several different bacteria, much of which showed resistance to one or more antibiotics used in human medicine. The study points Continue Reading
- Fast action on arsenic in food!
The latest issue of Consumer Reports features a powerful report on the presence of arsenic in rice and makes recommendations to both consumers and the government. Almost immediately, the FDA took steps to address the problem and lawmakers filed bills. We’re a long way from real reform, but this was a big first step. This Continue Reading
- Tips To Limit Your Exposure To Arsenic In Rice Products
Consumer Reports latest investigation has found troubling levels of arsenic in many of the 200 rice products we tested, everything from brown rice to infant cereal – even some popular name-brand cereals. We’ve compiled some tips to help you cut your risk of exposure to this possibly dangerous carcinogen: Test your water. If your home is not on Continue Reading
- How does arsenic get into rice anyway? (infographic)
Having trouble viewing this? Try this version. Complete Consumer Reports Arsenic In Rice Results
- CU responds to inaccurate statement in NY Times organic article
A New York Times article covering the recently-released study on organic food discussed the finding that organic meat contained lower levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria than conventional meat did, but went on to state that “bacteria, antibiotic-resistant or otherwise, would be killed during cooking.” If this were true, says Consumers Union’s Jean Halloran in a Letter to Continue Reading
- Toddler’s tainted meat scare prompts mom to fight antibiotics in meat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2012 CONTACT: Pulin Modi, Senior Campaigner, Change.org, (202) 684-2552, press@change.org ***PRESS RELEASE*** TODDLER’S TAINTED MEAT SCARE PROMPTS MOM TO FIGHT ANTIBIOTICS IN TRADER JOE’S MEAT SUPPLY Mom’s petition on Change.org calls on Trader Joe’s to stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ by banning meat from animals fed antibiotics. TROUTDALE, OR – 130,000 people Continue Reading
- FDA says no more BPA in baby bottles
New parents have one less thing to worry about after the FDA’s announcement today that baby bottles and kids’ sippy cups can no longer contain bisphenol A, or BPA, a common chemical in plastic products. Consumers Union has long advocated for banning BPA from baby bottles (and other products such as infant formula containers and Continue Reading
- Superbugs in chicken point to need for antibiotics reform
Chickens and bladder infections – two things you’d never expect to make headlines together – have captured attention this week after new findings were released showing a link between superbugs in chicken and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans that are increasingly tough to treat. The common trait? A strain of antibiotic-resistant E. coli that researchers found in both Continue Reading
- Why the delay on new food safety rules?
Scary news for salad eaters this week: organic baby spinach from California was recalled in 16 states because of Salmonella contamination. It was because of these kinds of pathogens infiltrating our food supply – and in particular two outbreaks associated with spinach and peanut butter that claimed several lives – that the Food Safety Modernization Act was Continue Reading
- FDA rejects ban on BPA
The FDA last week rejected a petition to ban the chemical BPA from food and beverage containers, citing insufficient evidence of its health effects. Consumers Union expressed disappointment at the announcement, noting in a press release that there’s ”ample scientific evidence about the health risks of BPA for the agency to take action now and Continue Reading
News Articles
- Study Finds an Increase in Arsenic Levels in Chicken Source: New York Times (Saturday May 11, 2013)
- Report: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in ground turkey Source: Reuters (Tuesday April 30, 2013)
- Group Finds More Fake Ingredients in Popular Foods Source: ABC World News (Tuesday January 22, 2013)
- More Health Harms for Children Exposed to BPA Source: Time (Wednesday January 9, 2013)
- What I'm telling my patients about arsenic and rice Source: Boston Globe (Thursday November 1, 2012)
- FDA testing rice products after (Consumer Reports) arsenic report Source: Medill Reports (Thursday October 18, 2012)
- Food Sickens Millions as Company-Paid Checks Find It Safe Source: Bloomberg News (Thursday October 11, 2012)
- Peanut Butter Recall Expands to Just About Everything Source: LA Weekly (Monday October 8, 2012)
- Arsenic levels in rice trouble experts Source: Today Show (Wednesday September 19, 2012)
- FDA working on plan to limit arsenic levels in rice Source: Washington Post (Wednesday September 19, 2012)