Agenda for October Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky is Jam-Packed Meeting Could be Cancelled by Government Shutdown (A version of this appeared in the Fall newsletter from Cornucopia) UPDATED: Oct. 7 By Pamela Coleman Loyal Cornucopia members are aware of our commitment to closely monitor the activities of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB,… Read more »
Eyes on Washington State GMO Food Labeling Vote
[An earlier version of this story appeared in Cornucopia’s Fall newsletter] After the narrow defeat last November of the statewide vote in California to require the labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, supporters of food transparency have brought the issue to numerous other states. Connecticut and Maine have adopted GMO labeling laws, contingent on… Read more »
Senate Kills Monsanto Protection Act
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) has announced the end of the controversial Monsanto Protection Act. Snuck into a federal government funding resolution in 2012, as a rider (at the behest of Republican Senator Roy Blount of Missouri), the act shielded Monsanto from legal review and challenges brought to federal courts that would halt the sale or… Read more »
Seed Industry Structure – Dr. Phil Howard
Dr. Phil Howard, the creator of the popular Who Owns Organics infographic, has developed an updated set of compelling graphics detailing corporate consolidation in the global seed industry. Since the 2008 economic downturn, Dr. Howard notes that “there have been more than 70 seed company acquisitions by the top eight firms, as well as a number… Read more »
Act by 11:59 PM (EST) to Save Your Organic Eggs…
You have until midnight tonight (Eastern) to send a brief electronic message to the FDA. Their proposed guidance on preventing salmonella contamination of eggs turns logic and science on its head. The FDA wants to crack down on organic flocks with outdoor access while flagrantly ignoring documented food safety issues on giant factory farms. Click… Read more »
FDA Food Safety Rules Threaten to Crush the Good Food Movement
New Report Suggests Proposed Rules Could Drive the Nation’s Safest and Best Farmers Out of Business After years of deliberation in Congress, interagency meetings, lobbyist activity, and a never-ending stream of food poisoning outbreaks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finally poised to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). However, according to a… Read more »
Man Who Sued Organic Inspector Accused of Trying to Hire a Hit on Witnesses in Unrelated Trial
A Nebraska beef producer facing charges for selling mislabeled or uninspected meat to Omaha Public Schools has been accused of trying to hire someone to kill two witnesses in that trial. This is the same man, Paul Rosberg, who filed a multi-million-dollar complaint in 2012 against organic inspector Evrett Lunquist after the USDA’s National Organic… Read more »
Biotech Attack GMO Labeling in WA—Organic Brands Hide Behind Lobby Group
The Cornucopia Institute releases shopper’s guide: pro/con I-522 brands Proposition I-522, a citizen’s initiative on the ballot on November 5 in Washington state, would mandate clear labeling of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients on food packages. It has become the latest battleground pitting consumer and farmer advocates against multi-billion-dollar agribusiness corporations. Recent polling indicates strong support for… Read more »
GMO Food Labeling in Washington State – Supporters and Opponents
The Cornucopia Institute has created this infographic designed to inform consumers about companies and organizations funding the campaign around Washington state’s November 5 vote on the labeling of GMO foods, known as I-522. The infographic allows consumers to identify supporters and opponents of the right to know what is in your food. And it helps… Read more »
Legalizing Raw Milk Takes Center Stage at Wisconsin’s Capital
[Listen to Cornucopia’s Mark Kastel go toe-to-toe debating industry lobbyist Shawn Pfaff on WI public radio.] Wisconsin is currently considering Senate Bill 236 and Assembly Bill 287, bills that would permit the sale of raw milk directly from Wisconsin farmers to consumers. Raw milk has been a staple of Wisconsin and American diets for many… Read more »
