Cornucopia’s Take: Cornucopia supports a consumer’s right to know what’s in their food. Give your input for the draft rule at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/gmo-questions by Monday. The simplest way to avoid genetically engineered foods is to buy certified organic. Urgent: Comment on GE labeling by Monday! Beyond Pesticides Source: CT Senate Democrats USDA regulations will determine whether… Read more »

Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) On October 20, the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced that the U.S. country-of-origin labeling of meat violated international trade rules. WTO found that the goal of the labeling program was not illegal, but its implementation presented a trade barrier by treating Canadian and Mexican livestock less favorably than U.S. livestock…. Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Germany is determining whether to classify crops developed with the new gene-editing technology as genetically modified or to acquiesce to industry mouthpieces declaring that classification unnecessary given no genes have been added to the DNA. Cornucopia supports the precautionary principle and advocates for strict regulations that help consumers understand the food they are… Read more »

Roger Blobaum: Organic Policy Pioneer Speaks Out on Organic Controversy PRWatch by Rebekah Wilce Alexis Baden Mayer arrested and removed from NOSB Meeting When organic activist Alexis Baden Mayer of the Organic Consumers Association was arrested after leading a “spirited protest” against watering down organic standards last month, she wasn’t at a rally on the street… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: While President Obama considers signing the GMO labeling compromise, the newest GMO technique, gene editing, is escaping federal regulation. Cornucopia supports the precautionary principle: companies should prove the safety of their products before bringing them to market. Americans Are Buying Gene-Edited Food That’s Not Labeled GMO Bloomberg Technology by Craig Giammona and Jack Kaskey Source: Neil Howard… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: CRISPR technology has been talked about as something of a dream come true, with media coverage suggesting that human DNA modification to prevent disease may be right around the corner. A new study shows that unexpected effects abound with CRISPR, and scientists will need to broaden their view to find unintended mutations. CRISPR… Read more »

The Seattle-based grocery chain said it will spend $100,000 to help collect signatures in support of legislative Initiative 522, which would require labeling in Washington of food with GMOs. The company also has launched an in-store signature-gathering campaign. The Seattle Times By Melissa Allison, Seattle Times business reporter PCC Natural Markets has joined the fight… Read more »

Center for Food Safety 90 different pesticide formulations. Sprayed 2 to 3 times a week. Up to 16 times a day. No mandatory disclosure or notifications. No regular monitoring. LAWSUITS against three counties to protect their right to spray. These are the dangerous pesticide practices detailed in Center for Food Safety’s new animated video Pesticides in… Read more »

Feedstuffs Source: Socially Responsible Agricultural Project After testing dust in the air near cattle feedlots in the Southern High Plains, researchers at The Institute of Environmental & Human Health at Texas Tech University found evidence of antibiotics, feedlot-derived bacteria and DNA sequences that encode for antibiotic resistance. The study was published online Jan. 22 in… Read more »