Milk Producer Group Adds Examples Of “Fear-Based” Labeling To Its List

The National Milk Producers Federation, based in Arlington, VA., has added more items to its list of foods found to be misleadingly labeled “non-GMO,” “no added hormones,” etc. The organization has launched a “Peel Back the Label” campaign targeting “fear-based” labeling such as non-GMO on foods or products that contain no DNA to modify – e.g., table salt – and “no added hormone” labels on poultry products that are already barred from adding hormones by federal law. New examples of deceptive labeling include canned sliced carrots with "non-GMO" labels, a "GMO-free" label on lettuce, and mandarin oranges. None of these foods have ever been genetically modified, the group says.

"Dairy Industry Group Decries 'Fear-Based' Labeling", Rapid City Journal Media Group, October 22, 2017

San Francisco Requires Reporting Of Antibiotics Contained In Grocery Store Meat

The San Francisco board of supervisors has passed a law requiring larger grocery retailers in the city report the type of antibiotics used in raw meat products they sell. Grocery stores with 25 locations or more will have to report antibiotic use by their suppliers to the city Department of the Environment. The department’s website would make the information available to consumers. Meat and grocery industry representatives have panned the law as costly, unnecessary, and potentially confusing to consumers. Last month, in a victory for the meat industry, the U.S. Congress repealed a law requiring that packages of pork and beef sold in grocery stores be labeled with country of origin. 

"San Francisco to Require Stores to Report Meat Antibiotics", SF Gate, October 25, 2017

Food Retailer Partners With Iowa Farmers To Obtain GMO-Free Pork

California food retailer Raley's has launched a program to offer non-GMO and antibiotics-free pork in its stores. The company has partnered with supplier American Homestead Pork, a group of 35 family farms in Iowa whose animals have never been given antibiotics or growth-promoting chemicals, and have never been caged. Family-owned Raley’s says it now offers more than 15,000 natural and organic foods.

"Raley’s Partners With American Homestead To Offer GMO-Free Pork", The Shelby Report, October 30, 2017

P&G To Spend $2.5M On Solar Panels For Chinese Pampers Factory

Procter & Gamble Co. announced plans to invest $2.5 million in upgrading the electrical system at a Pampers factory in Luogang, China, with 8,500 rooftop solar panels. The system, which is expected to reduce both energy costs and pollution, will be designed, built, and maintained by Asia Clean Capital, which will also will cover all of the expense of the equipment. The solar panels will cut the plant’s sulfur dioxide emissions by 22 tons, carbon dioxide emissions by 34,733 tons, and water consumption by 64,835 tons over the life cycle. 

"P&G to install massive solar power system at plant", bizjournals.com , November 01, 2017

It’s Official: Hydroponic Cultivation Is Organic

Organic farmers are hopping mad over a recent 8-7 decision – a final ruling, in fact – by the National Organic Standards board that vegetables grown hydroponically do not violate the principles of organic farming. The farmers argue that organic farming is all about “soil health, regenerating the soil,” and not about growing vegetables in nutrient-filled fluids. Hydroponic farmers, however, say their methods are more environmentally sound. Tomatoes, for example, can be grown with three to five gallons of water per pound of production. Growing tomatoes in open fields can use up to 37 gallons of water. Open field cultivation "uses more water, more land, destroys more natural habitat. I mean, what is the true essence of organic?" The government-appointed board advises the USDA on rules for the organic industry. 

"Hydroponic Veggies Are Taking Over Organic, And A Move To Ban Them Fails", National Public Radio, November 02, 2017

Foods Meet FDA Pesticide Residue Standards That May Be Badly Out Of Date

The FDA reported that almost all domestic food, and 90 percent of imported food, it had tested was free of pesticides residues. Foods tested included almonds, fish, milk, soybeans, apples, cabbage, etc. Pesticide chemical residues were higher than federal tolerance levels in less than two percent – 15 out of 835 – of domestic food samples and less than 10 percent of import samples. However, the FDA tolerance levels may be too low, since they are usually set for healthy adult males, and they are years out of date anyway. They should be higher for pregnant women and children, according to the Pesticide Action Network, which advocates buying organic foods when possible.

"Pesticides in Our Food Supply: What the Latest FDA Report Found", Palm Beach Post, November 08, 2017

USDA, U.S. Pork Producers, Slam WHO Guidelines On Antibiotics Use

The World Health Organization says that reductions in the use of antibiotics in food animals would reduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the meat production chain by as much as 39 percent. WHO recently published guidelines that proposed ending the use of antibiotics in food animals for disease prevention and growth promotion. Specifically, the organization proposed complete restriction of use of all classes of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals for prevention of infectious diseases that have not yet been clinically diagnosed. USDA acting chief scientist Chavonda Jacobs-Young said the new guidelines “are not in alignment with U.S. policy and are not supported by sound science.” The National Pork Producers Council also expressed strong disagreement with WHO’s guidelines. 

"WHO Proposes Ending Antibiotics for Prevention in Food Animals", National Hog Farmer, November 10, 2017