Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 116, Number 10, October 2008

An increasingly vast body of evidence shows that some chronic conditions such as birth defects, cancers, and developmental disorders among children are linked to the poisons that are dumped into the food children eat, the water they drink, and the air they breathe. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of many chemicals, but industrial chemicals are rarely tested for health and safety before sale. Although many birth defects, cancers, and developmental disorders are preventable, neither government nor industry is taking the steps needed to prevent them. In their new book, Philip and Alice Shabecoff argue convincingly that this is a scandal and a crime. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ethicurian
by Elanor Starmer

It’s been a whirlwind few days on the campus of North Carolina State University, where I attended “The Politics of Food,” a conference organized by the Environmental Leadership Program. There’s lots to report on: Panels during the three-day event ranged in topic from the role of business in a sustainable food system to the role of government in the growth of factory farms (the panel I spoke on) to ag workers’ justice. And I owe you all a thorough write-up of the bus tour we took through the nation’s most CAFO-dense counties, an eye-opening experience if I’ve ever had one. Read the rest of this entry »

By MARCIA STEFFENS
Niles Daily Star

DOWAGIAC - In the former milk room, where it came fresh from the cow, now sit rows of various products all with a similar theme - they are organic.

The Clark family is excited to host the grand opening of their new Roseland Organic Market, on Dailey Road, four miles south of Dowagiac, Saturday, Oct. 11. Shown are Merrill Clark with her son, Lincoln, his wife, Shelly and their children, Emily, Landon and Gracie along with their helper, Buddy.

Roseland Organic Farms isn’t new, but the market at the home of Lincoln and Shelly Clark is having a grand opening from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.

“It’s new life to an old building,” Lincoln said. Read the rest of this entry »

Farm Policy Group Says Almond Board Withholding Key Research

The Cornucopia Institute

Cornucopia, WI – The Cornucopia Institute has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Almond Board of California seeking public documents justifying the merits of the almond pasteurization rule and the science supporting it.

Since the passage, in spring 2007, of the controversial rule mandating pasteurization of raw almonds grown in California, policy analysts at The Cornucopia Institute have made numerous requests for public information from the Almond Board of California (ABC). Repeatedly, the Almond Board has failed to turn over documents they allege prove the effectiveness of pasteurization and the comparative nutrition, quality, and safety of pasteurized almonds and raw untreated almonds. Read the rest of this entry »

Data used to help gauge food safety

Chicago Tribune
By Stephen J. Hedges | Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON—The Bush administration has abruptly halted a government program that tests the levels of pesticides in fruits, vegetables and field crops, arguing that the $8 million-a-year program is too expensive—a decision critics say could make it harder to protect consumers from toxins in their food.

Data from the 18-year-old Agricultural Chemical Usage Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture were collected until this year, and the Environmental Protection Agency used the data to set safe levels of pesticides in food.

The information was also widely used by university and food industry researchers, including a University of Illinois program to help farmers reduce the amount of pesticides they use.

The program was launched in 1990 to answer congressional concerns over the use of the chemical daminozide, or Alar, on apples. But now USDA contends the program is too expensive. Read the rest of this entry »