Not in My Food.org : Know what you're eating
Organics
Consumers Union Documents
- Consumer Opinion Poll on Antibiotics in Animal Feed
Survey Research Report, Consumer Reports® National Research Center
Press Releases
- Organic Board Decision a Victory for Organics, Preservation of Antibiotics
National Organic Standards Board votes to discontinue use of antibiotics in organic apple & pear production.
- CU urges National Organic Standards Board to discontinue use of antibiotics in organic apple, pear production
Poll: More than 80 percent don’t know or don’t think antibiotics used to treat disease in apple, pears
- Consumer Reports releases “Meat On Drugs” study; Consumers Union launches marketplace campaign
Report offers details on national supermarket chains that sell meat raised without antibiotics, a consumer poll on the issue and recommendations for shoppers. New campaign, “Meat Without Drugs” asks grocery retailer Trader Joe’s to only source meat raised without antibiotics.
- 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 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.
- House bill to limit arsenic in apple & grape juices
Consumer Reports tests of arsenic and lead levels in certain apple, grape juices raise concerns
- 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
- 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 commends Pfizer withdrawal of arsenic-containing animal drug
FDA should ban other similar drugs
- CU comments to USDA regarding new performance standards for Salmonella
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.
Blog Posts
- 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
- Uproar over organic
A new study released this week has caused a panic over organic, with news coverage blaring headlines calling into question the health benefits of organically produced foods. The report, produced by Stanford University researchers, looked at data from 240 studies comparing organic and conventional samples of produce and meat, and concluded that there is a Continue Reading
- Iowa Inches Closer to BPA Ban
On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate passed a bill banning bisphenol A or (BPA) in some children’s products. Concerns over BPA have been steadily mounting due to numerous studies linking BPA to a wide range of adverse health effects. Eight states, Canada and the European Union have already banned BPA in certain children’s products. The Iowa Continue Reading
- Food, Inc.’s Eric Schlosser, Consumers Union Urge Senate to Pass Food Safety Bill
Safe and sustainable: we need our food to be both, and nowhere has the case been made better than in the Academy Award-nominated documentary, Food, Inc.
- Why America Is Fat
Our friends at Consumerist found a great chart that explains why salad costs more than a Big Mac.
- Tests of Packaged Greens Reveal High Level of Bacteria; Are Organic or Loose Greens Clean?
Consumers Union recently tested bagged leafy greens and found bacteria in many samples, in some cases at rather high levels. A question that quickly comes to mind is whether organic salad greens, loose greens, or leafy greens from farmers’ markets, are cleaner or carry less risk of carrying pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7.
- Organic Tomatoes and S.510
Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union, writes about her recent trip to the White House garden with some fantastic food activists.
- 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.
- 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
- Accept our Thanksgiving Local and Organic Food Challenge!
In partnership with the Eat Well Guide, we invite you to find new sources for local or organic ingredients for your Thanksgiving dinner, then join our famous chefs and share a recipe!
News Articles
- Is your organic fruit laden with antibiotics? Source: CBS News (Friday April 12, 2013)
- Where Cows Are Happy and Food Is Healthy Source: New York Times (Saturday September 8, 2012)
- Don't give up on organic food, our experts urge Source: Consumer Reports (Wednesday September 5, 2012)
- Organic Foods No More Nutritious, Safe than Conventional, Study Says Source: Yahoo news (Monday September 3, 2012)
- Has 'organic' been oversized? Source: New York Times (Saturday July 7, 2012)
- Kashi Increases Commitment To Organic And Non-GMO Project Verification Source: PR Newswire (Monday April 30, 2012)
- Can you trust organic produce from China? Source: Boston Globe (Wednesday December 14, 2011)
- USDA's deputy secretary discusses challenges for organic food market Source: The Washington Post (Tuesday April 6, 2010)
Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary at the Agriculture Department, sat down with The Washington Post to discuss the agency’s eight-year-old National Organics Program and the challenges ahead for the organics market, which is growing as much as 20 percent a year.
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/business/29gmo.html?_r=1 Source: New York Times (Monday August 31, 2009)
Alarmed that genetically engineered crops may be finding their way into organic and natural foods, an industry group has begun a campaign to test products and label those that are largely free of biotech ingredients.
- Praise for Obama's USDA deputy choice Source: LA Times (Tuesday February 24, 2009)
Some sustainable and organic farming advocates are happy about the president’s choice for the No. 2 spot at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kathleen Merrigan.