Not in My Food.org : Know what you're eating
Imports
Consumers Union Documents
- Comments to the USDA regarding Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken
In January of 2009, USDA published a final rule on COOL that covered Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Wild and Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, Peanuts, Pecans, Ginseng, and Macadamia Nuts. Almost immediately, a number of countries challenged the COOL requirements for muscle cut meat commodities, saying that the US COOL regulations discriminated against the importing country’s product.
Press Releases
- 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
- Consumer Product Database Turns One
New analysis shows database is working as intended
- CU: Add auto safety protections to transportation bill
Congress has a great opportunity to help make cars safer and save lives on our highways
- CU letter to Representative Ed Markey in support of petitions to ban BPA
Congressman has filed three petitions to the FDA proposing a ban on BPA in baby food packaging, canned food, and reusable food containers.
- Consumer Groups Petition FDA to Ban GE Salmon as an Unsafe Food Additive
Groups say GE salmon as an unsafe food additive couldn’t pass proper review
- CA Assembly fails to pass bill to label GE fish
Consumers Union deeply dismayed at the failure of a bill that would have required labeling of genetically engineered fish, and protect consumer choice.
- Consumer Reports finds concerning levels of arsenic and lead in juice
Apple and grape juice tests show levels that can contribute to long-term health problems.
- CU in support of better labeling for meat and poultry products with added solutions
CU submitted comments to the USDA in support of labeling meat and poultry products that have added salt solutions or marinades, which is currently not required.
- House Committee Votes to Gut Safety Database
CPSC will be severely limited to protect the public from unsafe products.
- CU to California State Assembly: Stand up to the chemical industry and ban BPA
BPA, a synthetic estrogen, is a plastic chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins found in many food and drink containers.
Blog Posts
- Is your holiday Made in the USA?
Are you part of the 1-in-3 people who haven’t started their holiday shopping yet? Or maybe you still have a few more gifts to cross off your list? Then it’s not too late for you to pick up a few presents made right here in the U.S. of A. Consider the impact, says ABC News, Continue Reading
- Food safety bill update: So close, but not done yet
The food safety reform bill – nearly worthy of its own Schoolhouse Rocks episode to explain all of the twists, turns and delays it’s endured – hangs in the balance once again.
- Food safety: Are some farms and processors too small to fail?
The reopening of my neighborhood farmers’ market two weeks ago felt like a turn to heaven after months in supermarket purgatory. Irregularly shaped lettuce! Fish caught yesterday! Milk in glass bottles! With these fine products in mind, a recent guest editorial in the Lansing Michigan paper grabbed my attention. “Shouldn’t Mom be allowed to sell her apple Continue Reading
- Industry Calls For Stronger Consumer Protections On Mad Cow
76 Cattle Industry Groups Are Calling for Stronger Protections Against Mad Cow Disease
- Chi Tribune Article on E. coli in Beef
beef, e. coli, usda
- Working with the Sustainable Community to Make Food Safety a Reality
CU believes that FDA food safety reform legislation will not hamper the development of sustainable agriculture.
- Consumers need safer food sources – Farms included
- CU Tells House to Make Our Food Safe!!
Consumers Union with the Make Our Food Safe coalition has just sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging them to: …pass H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (FSEA) before the August district work period.
- Obama Administration Working Group on Food Safety
Working group releases report on what is needed.
- Good Grief! Could it be true? UPDATED
The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FCLDF), a group primarily devoted to preserving the right to sell raw milk, has mounted a vociferous internet campaign to defeat HR 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act (FSEA), alleging that the bill will hurt small farms. The bill was recently received unanimous approval from the House Energy Continue Reading
News Articles
- Foreign Food Inspections on Decline as Illnesses From Imported Goods Rise Source: New York Times (Tuesday May 7, 2013)
- Survey Finds That Fish Are Often Not What Label Says Source: New York Times (Thursday February 21, 2013)
- Russia Announces Barriers on Imports of U.S. Meat Source: New York Times (Saturday December 8, 2012)
- FDA Suspends Orange Juice Imports to Examine for Fungicide Source: Bloomberg News (Thursday January 19, 2012)
- FDA unveils strategy to ensure safety of imports Source: The Hill (Monday June 20, 2011)
The explosion of products, manufacturers and countries involved in FDA-regulated markets has created a “perfect storm” for the agency and called for a “dramatic change in strategy.”
- Deadly E. coli outbreak in Germany: Reminder of importance of funding food safety Source: Baltimore Sun (Monday June 6, 2011)
One clear message Americans can take from the German experience it that this is not a time to let our food safety guard down.
- Imported Farmed Fish Not Adequately Tested, Report Finds Source: ConsumerAffairs.com (Tuesday May 17, 2011)
FDA urged to step up sampling of imported seafood containing residues of drugs not approved for use in the United States
- Overhaul of U.S. food safety system is overdue Source: LA Times (Tuesday December 15, 2009)
FDA oversight hasn’t had a major revision for more than 50 years. Farms are inspected about once a decade; about 1% of imported food is examined. Congress should act now to protect the public.
- Country of origin labeling shows your steak's from three countries Source: St. Petersburg Times (Tuesday April 7, 2009)
After a seven-year congressional wrangle among trade groups angling for a leg up, supermarkets finally deployed country-of-origin labeling across the fresh food departments.
- FDA to detain food shipments from China Source: Associated Press (Wednesday November 12, 2008)
Federal health officials on Thursday slapped a sweeping detention order on dozens of imported food products from China, from snacks and drinks to chocolates and candies.