Food/Water

Edible Playgrounds and Political Vegetables

Panel: Farmed Fish Can be Called Organic

WASHINGTON - For the first time, a federal advisory board has approved criteria that clear the way for farmed fish to be labeled "organic," a move that pleased aquaculture producers even as it angered environmentalists and consumer advocates.

Posted in Food/Water, organics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2008
4:31 PM

CONTACT: Food and Water Watch

Tony Corbo or Erin Greenfield (202) 683-2500

FDA Bans Milk Products from China...For the Time Being

Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

WASHINGTON - November 13 - "After months of intense criticism for lack of action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the melamine milk scandal, the agency has finally banned all milk products manufactured in China. Unfortunately, FDA is getting into the habit of making these critical decisions too late in the game.

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Food & Water Watch is a national consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. Please visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.

Posted in Food/Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2008
11:23 AM

CONTACT: Consumers Union
Patty Lovera, Food & Water Watch, 202-744-0525
Shauna MacKinnon, Living Oceans Society, 604-307-8091
Urvashi Rangan, Consumers Union, 646-594-0212
George Kimbrell, Center for Food Safety, 571-527-8618

New Poll Reveals That Proposed 'Organic' Standards for Fish Will Fail to Meet Consumer Expectations

National Organic Standards Board Meeting November 17 – 19 to Decide on Final Recommendation That Does Not Meet Fundamental USDA Organic Principles

Tele-Press Conference, Friday, November 14 at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET Call In: 800-311-9403; Password: Salmon

WASHINGTON - November 13 - The USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is poised to dilute the meaning of the trusted organic label when it meets next week to decide what the label should mean for fish. The NOSB will vote on their recommendations for "organic" fish production that would allow fish to carry the USDA organic label-despite being raised under conditions that fail to meet fundamental USDA organic principles. The NOSB recommendations allow:

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Posted in Food/Water

Why Eating GM Food Could Lower Your Fertility

Genetically modified corn has been linked to a threat to fertility in an official study that could deliver a hammer blow to controversial 'Frankenstein Food'.

A long-term feeding trial commissioned by the Austrian government found mice fed on GM corn or maize had fewer offspring and lower birth rates.

The trial has triggered a call from Greenpeace for a recall of all GM food crops currently on the market worldwide on the grounds of the threat to human health.

Posted in Food/Water, gm food

Fast Food: Just Another Name for Corn

That the $100-billion fast food industry rests on a foundation of corn has been known more through inference and observation than hard scientific fact - until now.

Chemical analysis from restaurants across the United States shows that nearly every cow or chicken used in fast food is raised on a diet of corn, prompting fresh criticism of the government's role in subsidizing poor eating habits.

Posted in Food/Water

Environment, Economy Weigh on Bottled Water Sector

ZURICH - The world's top sellers of bottled water are trying to stop western consumers turning back to the tap by addressing environmental issues and trumpeting health benefits, while expanding aggressively in emerging markets.

Nestle, the world's biggest bottler of water with brands like Perrier and Poland Spring, said last week the economic slowdown and environmental concerns were hurting sales in western Europe and North America.

Posted in bottled water, Food/Water

Will a New Administration Give Us the 'Safest Food Supply in the World'?

How many times have we been told we have the safest food supply in the world? Do we really? I suppose it depends on the comparison. Somalia? Kenya? Eritrea? In developing countries close to two million children die every year from contaminated food and water. These countries don't really have much of a food supply, safe or otherwise, so compared to them we do quite well. How do we fare compared to other industrialized countries?

Posted in consumer watch, Food/Water

Message to the Next President: Eat the View!

Senators McCain and Obama, you've spent much of the past two weeks trying to win Joe the Plumber's support when you could have won many more votes by addressing me: Roger the Gardener. There are 90 million U.S. households that have a yard and garden and over 25 million households that grow some of their own food. As a representative member of this large demographic, I'd like to offer you some advice on how you can harvest our support by the bushel.

Posted in Food/Water

Hunting For The Seeds of Where It All Started

TURIN - Colette Murphy triumphantly holds up a long yellow pepper. The Toronto urban farmer may grow 180 varieties of vegetables, but there isn't a yellow pepper in the bunch.

"I can't find this in Canada," she says of the Italian vegetable. "There are only the regular bell peppers."

Murphy has come to Italy in search of new networks to supply her Toronto company, Urban Harvest.

Posted in Food/Water