Food Safety
Food Safety Issues You Care About
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 Sewage sludge leaches chemicals and pathogens into soils used to grow crops. Learn more. |
Get the latest on food safety on our blog.
Fungicide in Orange Juice
The FDA recently sent a letter to the juice industry about the fact that the fungicide carbendazim was found in several samples of orange juice concentrate coming from Brazil. Read more.
Arsenic in Apple Juice
Four months after calling on the FDA to take long overdue action on the contamination of apple juice, we received a response from the agency. 
The letter explains that the FDA is currently analyzing data and working towards setting guidance on levels of heavy metals such as arsenic in juice.
We are encouraged that the FDA is taking steps in the right directlion, but much more needs to be done to protect consumers.
Read 
our letter to the FDA that contains the data that reveals levels of arsenic contamination in one juice sample that was more than five times higher than what the EPA would allow in drinking water. See the lab report outlining the heavy metals tested for in several brands of apple juice.
Read more in our press release.
Listeria in Cantaloupe
Contaminated foods — the list includes cantaloupe, ground turkey, spinach, peppers, peanut butter and eggs — have killed and sickened too many Americans. Now, Congress wants to cut the budgets of the agencies that oversee our food and water protections even further.
Why Is Our Food’s Safety at Greater Risk Now Than Ever Before?
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It’s complicated.
- As small farms have given way to factory farms, corporate operations grow bigger and our food is in greater jeopardy from the longer more complicated supply chains.
- The trends towards factory farming increase production and profits for the industry AND increase the likelihood of food contamination problems.
- Although the government provides inspectors to protect consumers, their authority is waning as the government has handed over much of the responsibility to the industry to self-regulate.
- Another reason our food is at greater risk is inadequate funding in the federal budget. Learn more.
Opportunities for Action:
Farm Bill
The Farm Bill controls how food reaches all of our plates: how it’s grown, processed and distributed, and who has access to healthy food.
It’s up for re-authorization this year and if we can implement certain changes, we can create a healthy food system for everyone.
Learn more about the farm bill in our report, Farm Bill 101, and act now.
Genetic Engineering
Genetically engineered food are often untested and frequently require dangerous chemicals in their farming. Since Obama took office, approvals of GE foods has accelerated.
GE sweet corn could hit your grocery store by the end of 2012 and it won’t be labeled, so we will have no way of knowing if the corn we’re eating is genetically engineered or not. Learn more about the dangers of GE foods or act now to call for mandatory labeling.
Legislation Update
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
Act Now: Demand a better, safer food system for all!
On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act into law.
- This legislation is the first major overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety responsibilities since 1938.
- It is a first step towards modernizing FDA’s food safety program.
- It will take several years to put the law into effect.
- Congress will have to appropriate an additional $1.4 billion over the next five years to give the FDA the resources it needs to implement and enforce the law.
- The law only covers foods under the FDA’s jurisdiction (including produce and processed foods).
- It does not cover meat, poultry, or certain egg products that are regulated by the USDA.