The Farm Bill is the primary legislation authorizing federal agriculture and food policy programs. This massive bill, which Congress generally revisits and reworks every few years, deals with policies affecting farms, food assistance programs, and other initiatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The 2018 Farm Bill process is now underway. Consumers Union, the […]
FDA Takes Action: Proposes Limit on Arsenic The Issue Arsenic in Baby Foods On April 1, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposal to limit inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal to 100 ppb—very close to the level we recommended more than three years ago. While we are pleased with this development, we remain […]
What Consumers Should Know The development of bacteria that can resist antibiotics is now a public health crisis. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that every year antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause more than two million infections, killing at least 23,000 people. The problem is not limited to this country. Globally, the World […]
Closing the loophole for a strong organic label Improving the Organic Label Prohibiting Antibiotics in Hatcheries If you look for the “organic” label to ensure you are buying chicken that was never treated with antibiotics, you may be surprised to learn that the organic regulations contain a loophole. Federal organic law and regulations strictly prohibit […]
Working Toward a More Sustainable and Humane System Food Safety and Sustainability in Animal Agriculture Why it matters There’s a high cost to cheap protein. The way we raise the animals destined for our dinner tables has a direct impact on the health and safety of our food. There should be no debate: It’s crucial […]
A closer look at oranges Washing fruits and vegetables under running water can remove some pesticides, but not all. In some cases, pesticides penetrate the skin or peel of the fruit or vegetable, and appear in the flesh of the fruit that you eat. In other cases, the pesticides are systemic, which means they […]
What this claim means The “antibiotic free” claim is not allowed on the label of meat and poultry products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The “antibiotic free” claim is allowed on dairy product labels, like a milk carton, which are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA […]
The labeling claim “vegetarian fed” means that the animals used to produce the meat, dairy, or eggs were fed a vegetarian diet with no animal products. In the absence of such a label, the Food and Drug Administration allows livestock feed to include slaughterhouse by-products, processed litter from the floor of chicken houses, and processed […]
The Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certification program is comprised of a series of step levels, each corresponding to a set of animal welfare standards. The rigor of the standards increases with higher step levels. Step 5+ is a highly meaningful label for consumers who want to support farms with improved living conditions and high welfare […]
What it means The claim suggests that animals used to produce the meat, poultry, dairy, or eggs were treated humanely from birth to slaughter, on farms that provide decent living conditions that meet the animals’ needs (e.g., cows are allowed to graze and not confined to a feedlot). However, the government agencies that oversee labeling […]