A major 2010 salmonella outbreak in eggs, centered on “factory farms” in Iowa, shone a spotlight on industrial-scale egg houses confining tens of thousands of hens, each, in filthy and dangerous conditions. This past July, the FDA issued a Draft Guidance for the prevention of salmonella enteritidis in shell eggs for egg producers providing outdoor… Read more »
NO GOOD FARMS—NO GOOD FOOD: Tell the FDA to Back Off — New Regs Could Crush Organic/Local Farmers
(This Action Alert is Over) The FDA’s new food safety rules have the real potential to force some of the safest local and organic farms out of business! There is a critical need for the good food community to come together right now. Please sign and mail back the linked proxy-letter today! (Mail your proxy to… Read more »
Protection Of Pollinators Or Smoke And Mirrors?
By Maryam Henein, HoneyColony Original “In an ongoing effort to protect bees and other pollinators”, the Environmental Protection Agency recently developed a new pesticide label that will (supposedly) prohibit use of some pesticide products where bees are present. Specifically, the new label applies to ‘systemic pesticides known as neonicotinoids, such as imidacloprid, dinotefuran, clothianidin and thiamethoxam…. Read more »
The Cornucopia Institute is Hiring!
The Cornucopia Institute is seeking to hire a Farm and Food Policy Analyst. We are looking for an individual to join our team and conduct research and investigations into organic and sustainable food and farming production practices. This individual will also be involved with networking and communicating with farmers, consumers, and other organizations. A heartfelt… Read more »
Close Enough for Government Work — OIG Auditors Look at the USDA Organic Program
By Will Fantle After a formal request, from The Cornucopia Institute, the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has spent the last couple of years focusing on the question of whether certified organic dairy farms are following the federal organic standards. An additional focus of their research has been to determine if the USDA’s National… Read more »
Playing Chicken with Organic Eggs
For whom will government food safety rules make organic eggs safe? This Saturday at 9am Pacific, the Food Chain Radio show with Michael Olson hosts farmers Christian & Stephanie Alexandre, and The Cornucopia Institute’s farm policy analyst Mark Kastel, for a conversation about proposed government food safety rules for eggs. The Food Safety Modernization Act,… Read more »
The New Green Giants
[CBC will be rerunning “The New Green Giants” documentary this coming Thursday, August 15th at 9 PM (that means it will air in all the various time zones at 9PM local time) – Cornucopia’s Mark Kastel is among those interviewed for the program.] The last ten years have seen a phenomenal explosion in the organic… Read more »
FDA/USDA Collude to Eliminate True Organic Egg Production
Onerous Food Safety Rules Could Abolish Outdoor Access for Laying Hens Cornucopia, WI – Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a draft guidance document to clarify how egg producers, including organic farmers with outdoor access, can comply with its 2009 egg safety rule aimed at reducing salmonella contamination in the nation’s egg supply…. Read more »
FDA Poised to Release Guidance Restricting Outdoor Access for Organic Poultry
Draft Favors Industrial-Scale Operations Over Family Farms On Tuesday, July 23, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will release a draft guidance for organic egg producers (and other farmers who allow outdoor access for their chickens) to comply with its salmonella food safety rule, which went into effect in 2010. The draft guidance is in… Read more »
Public Hearing for New York State GMO Labeling Bill
New York State’s GMO Labeling Bill, A3525-A, is getting a public hearing on July 30, 2013. The New York state Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection will be holding the hearing. Testimony is by invitation only but anyone can attend, according to GMO Free NY. The Assembly committee is seeking information regarding scientific research… Read more »
