AP 6-6-11: “In a surprising U-turn, German officials said initial tests published Monday provided no evidence that sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany were the cause of the country’s deadly E. coli outbreak.”

Quotations attributable to Mark A. Kastel, Codirector and Senior Farm Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group based in Cornucopia, Wisconsin:

One of the suspected factors in this tragic outbreak of foodborne illness (now preliminarily cleared) was sprouted seeds from an organic farm. There’s a history of pathogenic contamination of fresh food, including sprouts. Correcting statements made over the weekend, the German government stated on Monday, June 6 that it has not found conclusive evidence that the deadly E. coli outbreak can be linked to sprouts from an organic farm. Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News

Biotechnology Giant Fails to Provide Binding Legal Protection; Farmers Threatened by Contamination from Genetically Modified Organisms

NEW YORK: New threats by Monsanto have led to the filing of an amended complaint by the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) in its suit on behalf of family farmers, seed businesses, and organic agricultural organizations challenging Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seed.

“Our clients don’t want a fight with Monsanto, they merely want to be protected from the threat that they will be contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed and then accused of patent infringement,” said PUBPAT Executive Director Daniel B. Ravicher. “We asked Monsanto to give our clients reassurances they wouldn’t do such a thing, and in response Monsanto chose to instead reiterate the same implicit threat to organic agriculture that it has made in the past.” Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News

Economic Justice Watchdog in Agriculture Announces New Leadership

CORNUCOPIA, WIS: The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group dedicated to promoting economic justice in the Good Food Movement, recently announced the appointment of several nationally prominent leaders to their Board of Directors and Policy Advisory Panel.

“From the beginning, Cornucopia has endeavored to build a bridge between its key constituency — family farmers — and their urban allies and supporters in the marketplace,” said Steve Sprinkel, a California certified organic farmer and Cornucopia’s Board President.

“With less than 2% of the nation’s population engaged in production agriculture, Cornucopia has always endeavored to engage and empower the passionate consumers in this movement,” according to Sprinkel. “Our secret weapon is that, unlike conventional agriculture, millions of families passionately care about protecting the authenticity of safe and nutrient rich organic and local food sources and the family farmers who are their heroes.”

Will Fantle, one of Cornucopia’s cofounders, added, “We are pleased to continue the tradition of a diverse leadership within our organization reflecting the important stakeholders in the community promoting positive changes in our food and farming infrastructure.”

New members of Cornucopia’s Board of Directors include: Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News

Consumers Cautioned to Choose Organic Milk without Dubious, Illegal Ingredients

Cornucopia, Wis.—The Cornucopia Institute filed a formal request with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today, asking for an investigation into Dean Foods’ advertisements for its Horizon milk with Omega-3 DHA, alleging the nation’s largest dairy conglomerate with consumer fraud in misrepresenting the nutritional benefits of its products.

The dairy giant’s White Wave division, which markets the Horizon organic milk brand, recently launched a major nationwide marketing campaign that focuses on purported benefits to children’s brain development from drinking milk with added DHA oil, which is highly processed from fermented algae.

According to The Cornucopia Institute’s complaint, Dean Foods’ claims that their proprietary DHA oil “supports brain health” are not based on credible scientific evidence, and are therefore misleading consumers. Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News

Factory Farm Egg Production, without Mandated Outdoor Access, Challenged

CORNUCOPIA, Wis. The Cornucopia Institute announced it has filed a formal legal complaint with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), alleging that one of the nation’s largest industrial egg producers, Michigan-based Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, is violating the federal organic standards by confining their laying hens in buildings on “factory farms” instead of providing legitimate outdoor access as required by law. Read Full Article »

Posted in Cornucopia News