UPDATE!

Blomberg Businessweek
Mary Clare Jalonick

A procedural snafu may hold up action on food safety legislation that passed the Senate Tuesday.

The Senate bill contains fees that could be considered tax provisions, which under congressional rules supposed to originate in the House, according to House and Senate aides who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the situation.

House Republicans could call a vote to send the bill back to the Senate for another vote. That could hurt the bill’s chances as Congress rushes to wrap up for the year.

A Senate aide said the problem was caused by a misunderstanding between Senate and House floor staff. Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News, Media/News

A neurotoxic chemical solvent is commonly used to process soy foods — including food labeled as “natural” — The Cornucopia Institute explains how consumers can avoid hexane-extracted foods in the grocery store.
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Posted in Video Gallery

Solvents Banned in Organics all too Common in “Natural” Food Production

CORNUCOPIA, WI—Since 2009, when research by The Cornucopia Institute exposed “the dirty little secret” of the soyfoods industry, vocal concern from consumers over the use of the toxic solvent hexane has led several prominent food companies to switch to cleaner soy ingredients in their veggie burgers and nutrition bars.

The Cornucopia Institute has now released a new report to assist consumers and wholesale buyers in identifying brands that use hexane-extracted soy protein ingredients from those that have committed to cleaner sources. Toxic Chemicals: Banned In Organics But Common in Natural Food Production also contains an online guide for buyers who want hexane-free soy foods (viewable at http://www.cornucopia.org/2010/11/hexane-soy/).

“Many soy foods, thought of as ‘healthy options’ on grocery store shelves, contain ingredients that were processed with a neurotoxic and highly-polluting petrochemical compound called hexane,” said Charlotte Vallaeys, Farm and Food Policy Analyst for The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based non-profit farm policy research group. “We are pleased to see that several industry leaders have responded to consumer concerns by switching to ingredients produced without the dangerous chemical.” Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News

The prohibition of hexane in the processing of organic foods, contrasting with its widespread use in non-organic veggie burgers, meat alternatives, nutrition bars and other “natural” foods, is a perfect example of the importance of the organic label.

Posted in Reports

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Gary Porter

Dietrich Gosser and Courtney Herring arrived at LoveTree Farmstead near Grantsburg in far northwestern Wisconsin one hour ago. Fresh from their home in Chicago, they were already busy clearing small trees and brush from the edge of a pond. Soon they’ll help make pizzas with sheep cheese and organic ingredients picked fresh from the farm.

As part of WWOOF, the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program, individuals exchange work for room and board at organic farms in Wisconsin, other parts of the United States and around the world. The concept is simple, but the opportunities are diverse and widespread. Read Full Article »

Posted in Media/News