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BREAKING NEWS: MINNESOTA - Bad Basil Sickens Some In Twin Ports
Imported basil sickened nine people at two restaurants in the Twin Ports in June as part of a multi-state cyclospora illness outbreak, according to the Minnesota Department of Health
No Ongoing Risk, Health Department Says
Written By: News Tribune | Jul 26th 2019
Imported basil sickened nine people at two restaurants in the Twin Ports in June as part of a multi-state cyclospora illness outbreak, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
The department said there were four lab-confirmed cases from Outback Steakhouse in Hermantown and five cases from meals catered by Duluth Grill at a Duluth conference. There were 26 confirmed cases at City Market in Rochester. None of the Minnesota cases required hospitalization.
"It's important to note that the illnesses are the result of contaminated imported food product, not anything the restaurants did or did not do," department spokesman Doug Schultz said. "We have no evidence of any ongoing risk at the restaurants involved."
The contaminated basil was exported from Mexico to the United States by Siga Logistics de RL de CV, according to the Food and Drug Administration; the company has agreed to a voluntary recall.
There have been four hospitalizations out of 132 total illnesses in 11 states since the cyclospora outbreak was first reported in late June, according to the FDA. The last reported illness came on July 9.
Cyclospora is a parasite that is transmitted when infected feces contaminated food or water and can take about a week from infection to sickness; symptoms include diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and fatigue.
Lead Photo: Basil seedlings. Credit: extension.umn.edu
Don’t Let Monsanto Decide If Its GMOs Are “Safe” or Not
t's so important that we submit comments urging USDA not to let chemical companies approve their own genetically engineered plant experiments!
t's so important that we submit comments urging USDA not to let chemical companies approve their own genetically engineered plant experiments!
The Trump administration just released new rules to change how genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) are regulated. Unfortunately the rules being proposed would make almost every GMO exempt from regulation and instead allow the companies that make GMOs decide the safety of their own products before selling them. If we don’t stop these new rules, the vast majority of GMOs will not be reviewed by the government. Instead chemical and food companies would decide whether or not their own GMOs are harmful. Talk about a conflict of interest!
Stop the Trump Administration from letting chemical companies decide if the GMOs they sell are safe!
With these new rules, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a radical voluntary review system for GE crops. These new regulations leave it up to chemical companies—like Monsanto/Bayer and Dow—to “self-determine” review; in other words, these chemical companies would make their own determinations as to whether or not their GE plant experiments should even be reported to USDA at all.
If a chemical company has “self-determined” that its GE plant experiment does not need USDA oversight, it would skip being evaluated under the standards of our federal health and environmental laws. It would go straight to farm fields to be planted or to market to be sold. We at Center for Food Safety (CFS) believe that it should not be up to a chemical company—interested in improving its bottom line—to decide what is safe for our health, endangered species, and the environment.
And even in the rare instances when a company will volunteer to have their GE plant experiment regulated by USDA, the agency is proposing such a narrow scope of its review that it will only have a meaningful review processfor a tiny percentage of GMOs. This allows for the illusion of regulation, while actually letting the companies go scot-free.
One of the big problems with GMOs is their ability to cross-contaminate with conventional and organic crops as well as with plants in wildlife refuges. USDA perversely touts that there will be fewer “unauthorized releases” of GMOs with this new system, but that’s only because the vast majority of GE plant experiments will be totally exempt from any regulation in the first place! It’s like saying the crime rate will go down because the government legalized most forms of robbery. In reality, deregulating nearly all GMOs with no oversight will dramatically increase the frequency of contamination—which has already cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars over the past decade. When you go from bad oversight to no oversight, many more incidents of contamination are sure to follow.
Don’t let USDA fool you; self-regulation is no regulation at all!
Under the new proposal, the vast majority of GE plant experiments would not even have to be reported to USDA, much less grown with measures to prevent escape. So rather than increasing its monitoring of open air GE plant experiments, USDA’s new proposal abdicates the agency’s responsibility entirely, and leaves it solely up to chemical companies to self-police their new experiments. This change would exacerbate harm to farmers and the environment from increased contamination, while leaving the public completely in the dark as to where these new experiments are taking place.
USDA’s proposed GE regulations work very hard to make sure as little as possible is regulated. These proposed regulations rely on chemical companies deciding whether or not their GE plant experiments should be reviewed by a government agency at all. They do not address the massive increase in overall pesticide use that GMOs have caused or the continuing epidemic of increasingly pesticide-resistant “superweeds.” They fail to protect endangered species or farm workers. They even leave dangerous new “biopharm” GMOs completely unregulated, making our food system vulnerable to contamination from experimental pharmaceuticals. These rules leave our public health and environment completely at the mercy of chemical companies. USDA could do so much better, but instead it’s just doing the bidding of Monsanto and other chemical companies.
Onwards,
George Kimbrell
Legal Director
Center for Food Safety
Conversations About Food: Food Tank Live in NYC Speakers Series
A year-round event series by Food Tank featuring incredible speakers followed by a delicious reception/networking held in partnership with NYU Steinhardt, the NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter, and Salon.com
Tue, Jul 16 (7:00 PM) Tue, Aug 13 (7:00 PM)
A year-round event series by Food Tank featuring incredible speakers followed by a delicious reception/networking held in partnership with NYU Steinhardt, the NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter, and Salon.com.
May 14: "Equity in the Food System." Speakers: Joel Berg, CEO, Hunger Free America; Manny Howard, Salon.com; Qiana Mickie, Executive Director, Just Food; Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank; Krishnendu Ray,NYU Steinhardt; Raymond Figueroa, Jr, President, New York City Community Garden Coalition; Chloe Sorvino, Forbes; Noreen Springstead, Executive Director, WhyHunger; and Ellen J. Wulfhorst,Reuters.
June 11: "Good Tech in Good Food." Speakers: Roee Adler, SVP, Global Head of We Work Labs, WeWork; Emma Cosgrove, Supply Chain Dive; Alexander Gillett, CEO, HowGood; Jennifer Goggin, Co-Founder, Startle Innovation; Manny Howard, Salon.com; Bertha Jimenez, CEO, RISE Products; Jenna Liut, Heritage Radio Network; and Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank.
July 16: "Eating for a Healthier and Sustainable Planet." Speakers: Lisa Held, The Farm Report; Manny Howard, Salon.com; Martin Lemos,Interim Executive Director, National Young Farmers Coalition; Chris McGrath, Chief Sustainability and Well-Being Officer, Mondelez;Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank; Alex Sammon, The New Republic; Shino Tanikawa, Executive Director, NYC Soil & Water Conservation District; Beth Weitzman, Professor of Health and Public Policy, New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; Walter Willett, EAT Lancet primary author, Harvard University; and more to be announced.
August 13: "Healthy Food at Every Age." Speakers: Meserete Davis, Culinary Education Training Developer, NYC DOE School Foods; Dan Giusti, Founder, Brigaid; Manny Howard, Salon.com; Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank; and more to be announced
In partnership with Great Performances Catering, a leading caterer committed to balancing inequalities in our communities, the events will be followed by networking opportunities as well as some delicious food.
Each of the talks will also be aired as part of a Facebook Live series in partnership with Facebook Community Leadership Program and released on our charting iTunes podcast, “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg.”
Hurry each event has limited availability!
To join the waitlist for a full event,
please apply at www.foodtank.com/waitlist.
Tags United States Events New York EventsThings To Do In New York, NY New York Appearances New York Charity & Causes Appearances
BREAKING NEWS - USA: Check Your Pantry: Several Brands of Buns And Are Recalled Because of A Choking Hazard
Flowers Foods is recalling hamburger and hot dog rolls and buns because of a potential choking hazard from small pieces of hard plastic, the Georgia-based company said in a statement
By Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN
Updated 2:08 PM ET, Wed July 10, 2019
Wonder Is One of The Brands Whose Buns Are Subject To Recall
(CNN) Flowers Foods is recalling hamburger and hot dog rolls and buns because of a potential choking hazard from small pieces of hard plastic, the Georgia-based company said in a statement.
The company found small pieces of the hard plastic inside production equipment, though there haven't been any illness or injuries reported.
Some of the products were sold under the brand names of 7-Eleven, Great Value, Food Depot, Market Pantry, Natural Grain, Nature's Own, Publix and Wonder.
The recalled items were distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Flowers Foods says that consumers with any of these products should immediately throw them out or return them to the point of purchase for a full refund.
Stop The Trump Administration From Letting Chemical Companies Decide if The GMOs They Sell Are Safe!
The Trump administration just released new rules to change how genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) are regulated
The Trump administration just released new rules to change how genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) are regulated. Unfortunately the rules being proposed would make almost every GMO exempt from regulation and instead allow the companies that make GMOs decide the safety of their own products before selling them. If we don’t stop these new rules, the vast majority of GMOs will not be reviewed by the government. Instead chemical and food companies would decide whether or not their own GMOs are harmful. Talk about a conflict of interest!
Stop the Trump Administration from letting chemical companies
decide if the GMOs they sell are safe!
With these new rules, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a radical voluntary review system for GE crops. These new regulations leave it up to chemical companies—like Monsanto/Bayer and Dow—to “self-determine” review; in other words, these chemical companies would make their own determinations as to whether or not their GE plant experiments should even be reported to USDA at all.
If a chemical company has “self-determined” that its GE plant experiment does not need USDA oversight, it would skip being evaluated under the standards of our federal health and environmental laws. It would go straight to farm fields to be planted or to market to be sold. We at Center for Food Safety (CFS) believe that it should not be up to a chemical company—interested in improving its bottom line—to decide what is safe for our health, endangered species, and the environment.
Tell the Trump administration's USDA: Relying on chemical companies to regulate their
own GE plant experiments is no regulation at all! Do your job.
And even in the rare instances when a company will volunteer to have their GE plant experiment regulated by USDA, the agency is proposing such a narrow scope of its review that it will only have a meaningful review processfor a tiny percentage of GMOs. This allows for the illusion of regulation, while actually letting the companies go scot-free.
One of the big problems with GMOs is their ability to cross-contaminate with conventional and organic crops as well as with plants in wildlife refuges. USDA perversely touts that there will be fewer “unauthorized releases” of GMOs with this new system, but that’s only because the vast majority of GE plant experiments will be totally exempt from any regulation in the first place! It’s like saying the crime rate will go down because the government legalized most forms of robbery. In reality, deregulating nearly all GMOs with no oversight will dramatically increase the frequency of contamination—which has already cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars over the past decade. When you go from bad oversight to no oversight, many more incidents of contamination are sure to follow.
Don’t let USDA fool you; self-regulation is no regulation at all!
Under the new proposal, the vast majority of GE plant experiments would not even have to be reported to USDA, much less grown with measures to prevent escape. So rather than increasing its monitoring of open air GE plant experiments, USDA’s new proposal abdicates the agency’s responsibility entirely, and leaves it solely up to chemical companies to self-police their new experiments. This change would exacerbate harm to farmers and the environment from increased contamination, while leaving the public completely in the dark as to where these new experiments are taking place.
USDA’s proposed GE regulations work very hard to make sure as little as possible is regulated. These proposed regulations rely on chemical companies deciding whether or not their GE plant experiments should be reviewed by a government agency at all. They do not address the massive increase in overall pesticide use that GMOs have caused or the continuing epidemic of increasingly pesticide-resistant “superweeds.” They fail to protect endangered species or farm workers. They even leave dangerous new “biopharm” GMOs completely unregulated, making our food system vulnerable to contamination from experimental pharmaceuticals. These rules leave our public health and environment completely at the mercy of chemical companies. USDA could do so much better, but instead it’s just doing the bidding of Monsanto and other chemical companies.
Tell USDA: These proposed GE regulations would end any oversight of GMOs. Protect our
environment, endangered species, and public health by regulating GE crops responsibly!
Onwards,
George Kimbrell
Legal Director
Center for Food Safety
Heat Hitting Growing Areas In U.S., Chile Still Bundling Up
Above-average temperatures continue in Michigan. Highs over the next seven days will be well above normal: into the upper 80s with a possible 90 degree temperature coming next Monday
BY DAVID ROBIDOUX | JUNE 28, 2019
Above-average temperatures continue in Michigan. Highs over the next seven days will be well above normal: into the upper 80s with a possible 90 degree temperature coming next Monday. Minimum temps are also above normal at 68 over the next seven days. Temperatures will finally drop back down to normal of 80 for a high and 60 for a low by Saturday, July 6.
WARMING TREND COMING TO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST – GRAPES AND MELONS
The desert regions of California and Arizona are in for a hot few days. The high and low temps will begin to rise starting today with a high of 107 and reaching a peak high of 113 on Monday. Low temps will also rise reaching 78 on Saturday night. These warm temps will continue all next week. These regions are still shipping grapes and melons.
INDIANA WILL SEE WARM TEMPS THIS WEEKEND – MELONS TO BE AFFECTED
The growing regions in Indiana will see warm temps this weekend with highs getting up into the low 90s and lows reaching in the 70s. These above-average temps will last through Wednesday of next week. Melons should be starting out of this part of the country early next week.
CHILE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET – CITRUS AND AVOCADOS
Although the worst of the cold weather has passed in Chile earlier this week, they can expect one last shot of cold and rain this Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, many growing regions of Chile will see up to 0.35 inches of rain. High temps for Saturday and Sunday will only reach into the low 50s while the minimum temps will be at or below freezing. Some regions will drop as low as 29 on Sunday.
FIRST NAMED HURRICANE OF THE SEAON IN THE PACIFIC
Alvin is the first hurricane of the season in the Pacific off the west coast of Mexico. Alvin will not affect land as it is approximately 500 miles off the coast of Mexico and is heading northwest off into the Pacific. There is a second disturbance forming in the Pacific due west of Costa Rica and due south of Chiapas, Mexico. This storm is heading west-northwest, well away from the coast of Mexico.
There are currently no storms forming in the Atlantic.
The Weathermelon app offers consolidated lists of global growing regions for each commodity; a 10-day detail forecast for each region; current radar maps (U.S. only); estimated harvest start/end dates for each commodity; monthly average high/low temps for each region; and custom daily alerts for temperature, precipitation and severe weather based on 10-day forecasts.
(David Robidoux is a co-founder Weathermelon)
The EPA Continues To Defy The Science and Deny Glyphosate's Carcinogenic Threat
Now is the time to make your voice heard. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking for public comment on its preliminary decision to renew the approval of the herbicide glyphosate, best known as the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup.
Glyphosate is bad news for people and nature. The World Health Organization’s cancer authorities have found that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen. Their determination is supported by the medical science community, but EPA continues to defy the science and deny glyphosate’s carcinogenic threat.
Tell EPA: Don’t approve glyphosate! Listen to scientists, not Monsanto!
Juries have already found Roundup use implicated in the cancers of four plaintiffs who sued the company. We must stop further suffering from this hazardous herbicide!
And glyphosate also threatens the natural world. 300 million pounds of the herbicide are sprayed every year in the U.S. alone. Glyphosate has played a key role in the disastrous decline of monarch butterflies by virtually eliminating the monarch’s milkweed host plant in corn and soybean fields sprayed with it. And Roundup formulations are also extremely toxic to frogs, and may be contributing to the worldwide decline in amphibian populations.
To make matters worse, EPA is proposing to renew glyphosate before having completed critical elements of its assessment, including its impacts on threatened and endangered species and pollinators! This will effectively deny the public input on these critical issues.
Thank you for standing with us,
Center for Food Safety team
Connect With Us
CFS welcomes your questions and comments.
Please contact us at office@centerforfoodsafety.org, or at one of our offices.
Washington, D.C. Office
660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, #402
Washington, DC 20003
phone (202) 547-9359 | fax (202) 547-9429
www.centerforfoodsafety.org
CONTRIBUTE
BREAKING: I’m At The EPA Right Now - Join Us In Demanding A Ban on Monsanto’s Roundup Weedkiller!
First, please submit your comments to the EPA before midnight on Friday, July 5. Demand that the EPA heed the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer determination that glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen.”
Dear Supporter,
I’m here at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with our allies to deliver the petition signatures we’ve collected so far demanding that the EPA end the use of glyphosate-based herbicides. (Live video here.)
Even if you’re not here with us, you can help!
First, please submit your comments to the EPA before midnight on Friday, July 5. Demand that the EPA heed the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer determination that glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen.”
Next, sign this petition asking Congress to ban Monsanto-Bayer’s cancer-causing Roundup weedkiller.
TAKE ACTION
There are members of Congress who are ready to join us in pressuring the EPA to conduct an unbiased, scientific review of the evidence that Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
We’ve even heard from some of them that they would consider introducing a bill to ban glyphosate--if they heard from enough of their constituents!
When we learned that members of Congress were considering introducing a bill to ban glyphosate, we decided to postpone our Storm the EPA action until the legislation is introduced. This way, we can coordinate our Storm the EPA action with a lobby day in support of the new bill—and give ourselves time to raise the money needed to make these events a success.
Our plan is to gather Roundup-exposed cancer victims, top-level scientists with the latest research on the pesticide’s harm, successful farmers and ranchers who are living proof that we don’t need Roundup weedkiller to grow food and local leaders who have banned Roundup from their cities.
Our first events will be in Washington, D.C. But then we’ll take the campaign to ban Roundup to St. Louis in October for teach-ins and rallies timed with the next Monsanto trials and World Food Day, the tenth anniversary of the first Global Day of Action against Monsanto.
We can’t do this without you!
1. Tell the EPA: Ban glyphosate! If you haven’t already, please submit your comment to the EPA in addition to signing our petition. Tell the EPA why glyphosate should be banned. Be sure to include your personal story, especially if you or someone you know has cancer or another illness due to exposure to Monsanto-Bayer’s glyphosate-based herbicides. You can attach photos to your submission.
2. Tell Congress: Tell Congress to ban Monsanto/Bayer’s cancer-causing Roundup weedkiller! Your Member of Congress might consider introducing a bill to ban Roundup. All they need is a little encouragement from you!
3. Donate to help us cover the costs of organizing impactful, educational and visually interesting events that bring together Roundup-exposed cancer victims, top-level scientists, successful organic farmers, and local leaders who have banned Roundup, in Washington and St. Louis.
TAKE ACTION
Thank you!
Alexis, for the OCA team.
P.S. To help support this, and other campaigns, please consider making a donation to OCA. Nearly 80 percent of our support comes in the form of small donations from individual donors. Thank you!
BREAKING NEWS: Keurig Dr Pepper Withdraws Peñafiel Bottled Water From US For High Arsenic Levels
Keurig Dr Pepper announced it was withdrawing Peñafiel spring water products from the U.S. market because sampling by an independent lab found they contained arsenic levels higher than the 10 parts per billion allowed by the FDA. The company did not say how high the levels were.
AUTHOR Cathy Siegner
June 24, 2019
Keurig Dr Pepper announced it was withdrawing Peñafiel spring water products from the U.S. market because sampling by an independent lab found they contained arsenic levels higher than the 10 parts per billion allowed by the FDA. The company did not say how high the levels were.
All unflavored Peñafiel mineral spring water products in PET bottles, which are imported from Mexico, are being pulled back. Keurig Dr Pepper said it had notified retailers, including Walmart, Target and others. Consumers can return products to retailers for a full refund.
The company noted arsenic is found in nature, including in aquifers where mineral water is sourced, and that levels can vary over time. It also said enhanced filtration systems had been installed at its facilities where Peñafiel is produced, and "the product now being produced is well within regulatory guidelines.":
Problematic arsenic levels in Peñafiel spring water became public several months ago. According to a recent Consumer Reports investigation, this brand and five others tested at 3 ppb or higher in a recent sampling of 130 bottled water brands. The report found that it was able to purchase Peñafiel products on Amazon and at retail stores in two states despite an existing FDA import alert issued in 2015 because the product contained arsenic levels above 10 ppb.
After the report came out, Keurig Dr Pepper told the group it had conducted new tests and found average arsenic levels of 17 ppb in Peñafiel samples. The company then suspended production at its bottling plant in Mexico for two weeks and said it was improving filtration. However, it did not issue either a voluntary withdrawal or a recall at that time.
Although arsenic occurs naturally, consumption over time has been linked to cardiovascular problems, lower IQ scores in children and certain cancers, according to the World Health Organization. On June 3, a California man filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging the company "acted irresponsibly and unlawfully" by selling bottled water containing unsafe levels of arsenic. More lawsuits could be coming since it took the company this long to withdraw the product from market. The complaint referenced the Consumer Reports investigation and stated the company had to have known there were high levels of arsenic in Peñafiel products before the report came out.
It's likely the ongoing controversy — and possibly higher arsenic levels in more recent testing — prompted Keurig Dr Pepper to issue the withdrawal. While Keurig Dr Pepper's core businesses include soft drinks, specialty coffee, tea, water and juice drinks, it's taking the time and money to withdraw the "very limited" Mexican products and invest in enhanced filtration systems, so Peñafiel's sales must be worth the effort.
This episode raises troubling questions about Peñafiel and could cause consumers to wonder whether it's safe to drink. Consumer Reports asserted in April that records it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show FDA has known about high arsenic levels in the brand's products "since at least 2013." The group is continuing to press the company and the FDA for more action about the problem and is advocating for reducing the federal arsenic level from 10 ppb to 3 ppb.
Meanwhile, Keurig Dr Pepper is working on its consumer-facing image by recently issuing a new corporate responsibility strategy and commitments document. Among pledges involving the environment, supply and communities, the company said it would "partner with leading organizations to accelerate portfolio innovation and transparency for health and wellbeing."
Other manufacturers have faced similar challenges, including Walgreens with acrylamide in cookies and General Mills, Kellogg and Post with acrylamide in cereal. Glyphosate has been found in most wine and beer, Tropicana and Safeway Signature Farms orange juice, Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, General Mills' Nature Valley granola bars and Ben & Jerry's ice cream. These incidents can lead to lawsuits, reformulations, new labeling and tightening up on production processes. But this latest case could also mean bad news for all the bottled water companies named in Consumer Reports' investigation, which may want to increase testing around their products.
Companies typically defend products by noting they meet state and federal standards for chemical residues, which is why Consumer Reports and other groups want to see permissible levels revised downward. Still, continuing negative news and withdrawals tend to leave a bad taste for consumers wanting healthier, untainted products.
Recommended Reading:
The Way We Eat Is Killing The Planet — Here’s How Tech Can Help
by CAMILLE CHARLUET - May 10, 2019
As someone who gets way too excited about delicious food, it really pains me to admit that our modern diets are the largest cause of climate change and biodiversity loss in existence. While it’s usually easier to be blissfully ignorant, yesterday at TNW Conference I received the wake-up call I (reluctantly) needed.
On stage was Eva Gladek, the founder and CEO of sustainability consultancy, Metabolic. Gladek made it clear that the current global food system is killing the planet — and she didn’t shy away from sharing the damage our eating habits have caused.
“25-30 percent of greenhouse gases are linked to the food system, 50 percent of the planet’s surface that can support plant life is devoted to producing food, and we’ve exploited over 90 percent of fish in our oceans,” she explained. And if that wasn’t enough to instill fear, Gladek believes with the population growing, diets changing, and wealth increasing, we’ll have to double the output of food by 2050.
Despite the grim outlook, Gladek is optimistic that we still have time to right our wrongs. “Even though we have very little time left, we still have that window where we can really turn things around and make a change,” she explained. “Technology has to be one of the pathways forward.”
Precision agriculture
The first of three tech categories Gladek believes can help us create a sustainable food future is precision agriculture. By using AI and robotics, you can now deliver exactly the right amount of chemicals to help plants grow.
Satellites and sensing technologies can also tell you exactly when and where you should plant. As Gladek explained: “In some cases, due to weather patterns, planting crops just seven days earlier can increase a crop’s yield by 50 percent.”
Using a drone to control and optimize his harvest.
Vertical farming
Another area of tech that could improve the future of food is vertical farming. Not only can it produce significantly more food per unit of area, feeding more people, but it also can save a substantial amount of precious water.
Gladek was quick to admit that not all vertical farms are good for the environment, though, due to the energy they demand. However, as seen with Singapore Sky Greens — the world’s first low carbon hydraulic commercial farming system — she’s certain of the tech’s potential if applied in the right way.
Credit: https://www.skygreens.com/
Singapore based vertical farming company, Sky Greens
Sustainable consumption and dietary shift
While changing people’s eating patterns is no easy feat, there are lots of technologies emerging to facilitate this. With meat replacements like the Impossible Burger that actually tastes like real meat, (I tried it in New York and was blown away) and lab-grown meat slowly becoming more affordable, Gladek believes it’s not long before there are sustainable solutions around that people actually enjoy.
The Beyond Meat Burger’s patty is made from plant protein-based food products and tastes very similar to meat.
It’s clear that tech will play a big part in cleaning up the mess we’ve created. But as Gladek insisted, it’s our choices that’ll have the biggest influence on our future. We need to get better at considering the long-term effects of our decisions and the technologies we create. “Without that, we’re not going to have a planet that we can share with future generations.”
Vegetable Tray Recalled at WI, MN Kwik Trip Locations, Four Sick
by FOX 11 News
May 21st 2019
(WLUK) -- The Food and Drug Administration has recalled recalled Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip.
Food officials say three people got sick in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota after eating the trays.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak is due to salmonella.
Customers are advised not to buy the following:
Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) 6 oz.
Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) 12 oz.
Those who ate the items got sick between April 13 and April 27.
Health officials also say more people could become sick.
Cocaine Found In Shrimp, Shocking Study Reveals
A study looking at freshwater marine life in the U.K. has an alarming conclusion – cocaine and illegal pesticides inside freshwater shrimp
Published May 01, 2019
A study looking at freshwater marine life in the U.K. has an alarming conclusion – cocaine and illegal pesticides inside freshwater shrimp.
The research looked at the exposure of wildlife, including the freshwater shrimp Gammarus pulex, to different micropollutants when the researchers came to the startling revelation.
"Although concentrations were low, we were able to identify compounds that might be of concern to the environment and crucially, which might pose a risk to wildlife," the study's lead author, Dr. Thomas Miller, said in a statement.
Dr. Miller continued: "As part of our ongoing work, we found that the most frequently detected compounds were illicit drugs, including cocaine and ketamine and a banned pesticide, fenuron. Although for many of these, the potential for any effect is likely to be low."
(Credit: Kings College of London)
Ketamine is a powerful drug that has been used to provide pain relief and sedation and is often likened to opioids, but it is not a member of the opiate family.
Samples were tested from 15 different locations across Suffolk and all of them came back positive for cocaine, which Dr. Leon Barron found "surprising."
“Such regular occurrence of illicit drugs in wildlife was surprising," Dr. Barron said in the statement. "We might expect to see these in urban areas such as London, but not in smaller and more rural catchments."
At this time, it's unclear how the cocaine and the banned pesticides entered the shrimp, Dr. Barron added.
Further research is needed to determine if it's an issue only for Suffolk or if the issue is more widespread, Bury said. "Whether the presence of cocaine in aquatic animals is an issue for Suffolk, or more widespread an occurrence in the UK and abroad, awaits further research. Environmental health has attracted much attention from the public due to challenges associated with climate change and microplastic pollution."
"However, the impact of 'invisible' chemical pollution (such as drugs) on wildlife health needs more focus in the UK," Bury added.
The study was published in the scientific journal Environment International.
Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia
Seeds&Chips Launches Goals on Tour: FAO: 821 Million People Worldwide Suffer From Chronic Malnutrition, 672 Million From Obesity
Marco Gualtieri, Seeds&Chips: "Reaching the SDGs is the greatest business opportunity that has ever occurred for humanity"
Milan, 10 May 2019 - On the fourth day of Seeds&Chips, the most important international event dedicated to innovation in the food chain, Goals on Tour was launched as a global campaign to raise public awareness and support for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs).
Seeds&Chips 2019 houses 16 containers (the 17th represented by the unity of intent of the community gathered and represented here), which each symbolize an SDG. From here, they will embark on a sustainable journey around the world. The colorful containers, with the symbols of the Goals and full of graphic and interactive content will make stops in the main capitals of the world, functioning as a traveling exhibition that showcases artistic installations and displays of public and private sector initiatives that aim to realize the SDGs. The exhibition content has been provided by the partners of this project and by Elisabetta Lattanzio Illy, journalist and photographer with over twenty-five years of experience in the defense of equality and dignity for all.
The Summit was in fact the first part of this world tour, which immediately saw the participation of large global players like FAO, IFAD, WFP, UNIDO, UNECE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER, the Republic of San Marino, Deloitte Foundation, Oceana, Robert Kennedy Human Rights, Fondazione Politecnico. It is destined to grow bigger, combining international bodies, institutions and the private sector.
The SDGs were launched in 2015 by the United Nations and were included in the 2030 Agenda. They aim to resolve economic and social development problems in the world such as poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sustainable energy, urbanization, environment and social equality.
Marco Gualtieri, President and founder of Seeds&Chips, commented: "Reaching the SDGs represents the greatest business opportunity that has ever occurred for humanity. We have the honor of launching the Goals on Tour initiative because we must begin to create awareness, make systems and unite the intentions around the SDGs."
In the launch session of Goals on Tour, the major international humanitarian organizations came together at Seeds&Chips to share their initiatives and commitments in achieving the objectives.
According to FAO, 821 million people worldwide suffer from chronic malnutrition, which has steadily increased since 2014, while 672 million people suffering from obesity. In the world 1/3 of available food is wasted:#zerohunger is the campaign that FAO has presented on stage and is committed to supporting in the coming years. It has the same intent as the WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, the United Nations agency that assists over 100 million people.
IFAD (International Fund for Agriculture Development) is working toward increasing the sustainability of agriculture, while INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER is at the forefront in achieving gender equality from within and improving the sustainability of exporting goods around the world. UNIDO is committed to sustainably increasing the industrial activities of member countries while aiming to reduce emissions and their impact on climate change.UNECE is active in promoting approaches for greater economic integration and cooperation and sustainable development and prosperity for all.
The Republic of San Marino was the first State to join Goals on Tour, choosing to be part of the global network, "because environmental sustainability must be pursued concretely, the environment is not infinite,” declared Marco Podeschi the Secretary of State for Education and Culture of the Republic of San Marino.
For more information: https://www.seedsandchips.com/
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Seeds&Chips - The Global Food Innovation Summit, founded by entrepreneur Marco Gualtieri, is the world’s flagship food innovation event. An exceptional platform to promote technologically advanced solutions and talents from all over the world. An exhibition area and conference schedule to present, tell and discuss the themes, models and innovations that are changing the way food is produced, transformed, distributed, consumed and talked about. In 2017, Seeds&Chips’ keynote speaker President Barack Obama participated as a speaker The event hosted over 300 speakers from all over the world; over 240 exhibitors and 15800 visitors. It also garnered 131 million social impressions in 4 days. The 2018 edition saw more than 300 international speakers, among them former US Secretary of State John Kerry, President of IFAD Gilbert Houngbo and Starbucks’ former CEO and Chairman Howard Schultz. The 5th edition of Seeds&Chips – The Global Food Innovation Summit took place at Fiera Milano Rho, from May 6 to 9, 2019.
‘We Are Right At The Starting Gate’: Vertical Farming Could Change The Food System
08-May-2019 By Katy Askew
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) talks vertical farming, demand growth and its unique technological proposition.
To Read the Article and View the Video, Please Click Here
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Caito Foods Fresh-Cut Melons
Federal health agencies are investigating a Salmonella Carrau outbreak involving 93 people, linked to fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon from Caito Foods, Indianapoli
April 14, 2019
( Courtesy FDA. )
Federal health agencies are investigating a Salmonella Carrau outbreak involving 93 people, linked to fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon from Caito Foods, Indianapolis.
The company recalled all fresh-cut melon products from the Indianapolis processing facility April 12 and temporarily suspended production while the company and Food and Drug Administration investigate, according to a recall notice from Caito.
Retailers that received the products include Kroger Co., Target, Walmart and Whole Foods. Caito Foods and SpartanNash, which are also listed, distribute to independent retailers, according to the recall notice.
The products have best by/use by dates of April 18, and the recall extends to consumers who might have fresh-cut melon products from Caito. The products include fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon, and melon medleys and mixed fruit products. For a full list of products, brands, lot codes and Universal Product Codes, see the recall notice on the FDA’s recall website.
The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, according to the recall notice.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA notified Caito Foods of the outbreak, according to the notice.
The FDA traced the melon products to Caito through patient interviews, according to the FDA.
Salmonella Carrau is a rare type of salmonella, but has been historically seen in imported melons, according to the FDA, and Caito reported imported melons were used in the products. The FDA is examining shipping records to determine a source, according to an FDA news release that accompanied the recall notice.
The investigation includes collecting samples at the Indianapolis facility where the products were processed and packed.
2018 Caito recall
Caito Foods was named in a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon in 2018. The company recalled hundred of similar products in that outbreak, which involved 70 people.
“Epidemiologic and preliminary traceback evidence indicated that pre-cut melon distributed by Caito Foods LLC was a likely source of this outbreak,” according to a CDC news release on the 2018 investigation.
For more information:
CDC
Tel: 404-639-3286
Email: media@cdc.gov
Related articles:
UPDATED: Caito recalls fresh-cut melons in salmonella outbreak
Melon recall expands, hundreds of retailers pull products
Salmonella outbreak linked to fresh-cut melons over
Related Topics: Salmonella Outbreak Honeydew Watermelons Cantaloupe FDA
Singapore Focuses On Food Security To Counter External Threats
Singapore, which imports 90% of the food it consumes, is making concerted efforts to produce and store its own food, as it seeks greater food security in the face of external threats such as climate change and pressures from neighboring Malaysia
City-state rolls out 'agri tech park' project as it seeks to reduce dependency on food imports
JUSTINA LEE, Nikkei staff writer
MARCH 30, 2019
The Singapore government has launched a series of new food projects in order to be able to feed its growing population. Earlier this month, it announced it would open an 'Agri-Food Innovation Park' for high-tech farming processes. © AP
SINGAPORE -- Singapore, which imports 90% of the food it consumes, is making concerted efforts to produce and store its own food, as it seeks greater food security in the face of external threats such as climate change and pressures from neighboring Malaysia.
The Singapore government has launched a series of new food projects in order to be able to feed its growing population. Earlier this month, it announced that it would open a 18ha "Agri-Food Innovation Park" which will be used for high-tech farming processes and research and development activities including insect farms.
"We are working with local and overseas industry players to develop this first phase of the park, which will be ready from the second quarter of 2021 with potential for future expansion," said Koh Poh Koon, Singapore's senior minister of state for trade and industry.
Singapore is also looking to develop a new sector of agri-technology using local talent in its bid for more secure food supplies. SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of government agency Enterprise Singapore, has appointed seven co-investment partners to inject more than S$90 million into Singapore-based agri-food tech startups.
With no natural resources of its own, Singapore depends heavily on foreign food imports, including live animals, worth around S$11.3 billion in 2018 alone. Less than 10% of its food is homegrown due to its small territory and limited available land. Most of its food comes from countries including Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia.
Additional factors such as climate change and tensions with Malaysia mean the city-state is vulnerable to potential disruptions to its food supply.
Last December, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Malaysia's domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, said Malaysia was looking at limiting or stopping exports of eggs in order to ensure a sufficient supply for its domestic market. Singapore imports approximately 73 per cent of its eggs from Malaysia, according to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.
To prevent shortages from any such potential moves, and despite its limited resources, Singapore is aiming to triple its home-grown food productivity by 2030.
Some local companies are involved in the efforts. Sustenir Agriculture, a local vertical farming company, has successfully cultivated strawberry plants in the laboratory, with the fruits already being sold at Singaporean online supermarket operator Redmart. It has also grown some vegetables which are being sold locally.
Paul Teng, managing director and dean of the National Institute of Education in Singapore, noted that such efforts could help Singapore to boost its food productivity, as indoor vertical farms do not require "large land pockets" which the city-state does not have. "It can be expected that land will not be a major roadblock," he said.
However, due to the heavy involvement of technology in the growing processes, food grown in Singapore might become more expensive, he warned. "Singapore-produced vegetables need to have a justified price premium due to the relatively higher costs of per kilogram production when compared to imports from neighboring countries."
"Food safety, freshness and sustainable production may be part of the certification required to help consumers choose in favor of local produce," he added.
It‘s Impossible To Eat Healthfully. Here‘s Why
For millions around the world, hidden killers in our broken food system make healthy eating impossible, says a new report that warns of the damage from air pollution, water contamination and antibiotic resistance
By Milbank News Writer -
March 29, 2019
Increasing awareness of the impact of diet on health has led many people to reconsider what’s on their plate. For some, this may mean steering clear of processed foods and sugary drinks, for others cutting down on red meat. But eating healthily is not just about what we eat. It’s also about how food is produced.
For millions around the world, hidden killers in our broken food system make healthy eating impossible, says a new report that warns of the damage from air pollution, water contamination and antibiotic resistance. The report, released on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, calls for a redesign of the food industry.
Food has been as a major cause of health problems in the U.S., with of all deaths due to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Yet, even if we improve diet, we are still exposed to the damaging health impacts of what the report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation calls the “industrial” way that food is produced. By 2050, warns the report, around 5 million people a year could die.
“The way we produce food today is not only extremely wasteful and damaging to the environment, it is causing serious health problems,” said Ellen MacArthur, founder of the foundation and former record-breaking sailor. “People around the world need food that is nutritious, and that is also grown, produced and delivered in a way that benefits their health, the environment and the economy.”
According to the report, overuse and misuse of antibiotics in fish and livestock farming contributes to the and antibiotics to humans via waterways and the environment. Antibiotic resistance – which could make it impossible to treat common infections – may cost society as much as $125 trillion by 2050, says the report, with food and agriculture responsible for up to 22 percent of those costs.
Agriculture is estimated to be responsible for as much as 20 percent of air pollution deaths around the world, mainly due to the overuse of fertilizers and manure, according to the report. Farmworker exposure to pesticides costs $900 billion globally, with long-term exposure to low levels of pesticides linked to , and .
The other major killer is poor wastewater management or irrigation, which is to blame for spreading diseases and contaminating drinking water.
No Amount of Money Makes Up For The Pain And Suffering
Because these threats are still very real.
After years of battling Monsanto, of working to expose the lies about glyphosate and Roundup weedkiller, we’re seeing glimmers of hope.
But this fight is far from over. And we desperately need your help to keep it going.
We’ve extended our spring fundraising campaign because we simply must reach our goal. Can you make a donation today? Every donation, small, large and in-between, will help fund our work to get pesticides out of your food. You can donate online, by mail or by phone, details here.
Within the past eight months, juries in two key trials against Monsanto have unanimously agreed that Roundup caused the plaintiffs’ non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancers.
Both juries punished Monsanto-Bayer with huge fines.
No amount of money makes up for the pain and suffering Roundup weedkiller has caused the victims in these two trials, or the tens of thousands of other people sickened by exposure to glyphosate.
But here’s what both these trials have made clear: The overwhelming evidence points to Roundup as a cause of cancer. And what’s more, it shows that Monsanto has known all along that Roundup causes cancer—and yet the company has gone to great lengths, and spent millions of dollars, to hide that evidence from the public.
In an article published by the Guardian, U.S. Right to Know’s Carey Gillam wrote:
Even the US district judge Vince Chhabria, who oversaw the San Francisco trial that concluded Wednesday with an $80.2m damage award, had harsh words for Monsanto. Chhabria said there were “large swaths of evidence” showing that the company’s herbicides could cause cancer. He also said there was “a great deal of evidence that Monsanto has not taken a responsible, objective approach to the safety of its product . . . and does not particularly care whether its product is in fact giving people cancer, focusing instead on manipulating public opinion and undermining anyone who raises genuine and legitimate concerns about the issue.”
In 2016, 131,672,984 kilograms (290,289,239 pounds) of glyphosate was sprayed in the U.S., according to data published by the U.S. Geological Survey, obtained and analyzed by Pricenomics.
Where does all that poison end up? In soils, in drinking water, on your food—and in your body.
The widespread presence of glyphosate in everything from bread to cereal to snack bars to fruit juices to baby foods to ice cream to beer and wine has been well documented.
The latest report? Widespread glyphosate contamination in foods sold by popular chain restaurants, including many that market themselves as “healthy,” “natural” and even “organic.”
The anti-Monsanto verdicts, the testing and reporting about glyphosate in our foods, the investigative reports showing Monsanto’s extreme efforts to discredit the scientists who uncover the truth about glyphosate and Roundup have all led to greater consumer awareness.
But even as more cities and school systems announce plans to ban glyphosate, the U.S. EPA fails to act on the evidence. In fact, the EPA recently (and very quietly) moved to disapprove state efforts to impose their own restrictions on pesticide use!
We are in the middle of our own lawsuit against Monsanto, for placing misleading claims on bottles of Roundup sold to consumers.
We continue to test products for glyphosate, to report on those test results, and to go after the companies that claim their glyphosate-contaminated food is “natural.”
We are also a major funder of U.S. Right to Know, a nonprofit public interest, consumer and public health organization that has been deeply involved in exposing Monsanto’s lies and government ties.
But the simple truth is this: We can’t do this work without your help.
We rarely extend a fundraising deadline. We are doing it now because we must meet this quarter’s fundraising goal.
BREAKING: Court Finds That Monsanto’s Roundup Caused California Man’s Cancer
In the second of many cases involving Roundup and cancer, a court ruled on Tuesday that the herbicide did indeed cause one man’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Mar 20, 2019
By Dan Nosowitz
In the second of many cases involving Roundup and cancer, a court ruled on Tuesday that the herbicide did indeed cause one man’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Over 11,000 cases have been filed against Monsanto—and now its parent company, Bayer AG—alleging that Roundup, Monsanto’s glyphosate weed-killer, causes cancer. This case, with Edwin Hardeman as plaintiff, is only the second to go to trial. But as in the first case, the court sided with the plaintiff.
Monsanto developed glyphosate, which it sells under the brand name Roundup, in the 1970s, and since then it has become the world’s most popular herbicide. (The company doesn’t release specific sales numbers, but this much is known.) The most important development in its connection to cancer happened in 2015, when the World Health Organization labeled it a “probable” carcinogen. Studies have variously indicated that it does and does not cause cancer; the science is muddled as much of the research is industry-funded (or comes directly from Monsanto itself), and the industry obviously has a vested interest in findings that mark glyphosate as clean.
Last summer, the first case on whether glyphosate causes cancer went to court; initially, a jury awarded the plaintiff, a school groundskeeper, $289 million, though that was later reduced to $78 million, and Monsanto/Bayer is still appealing that verdict.
In this case, Hardeman, who used Roundup consistently on his property for decades, finds himself in a two-part trial. The first part, which just concluded, aimed to decide whether glyphosate caused Hardeman’s cancer, and whether Monsanto misled him, and the public, about the safety risks of the product. In a unanimous verdict, a six-person jury decided that glyphosate was a “substantial factor” in Hardeman’s cancer, according to the New York Times.
The second part of the trial, beginning Wednesday, will decide the possible liability of Monsanto, whether the company knowingly downplayed the connection between glyphosate and cancer in order to sell more product.
In response to the verdict, reports Reuters, Bayer’s shares took their biggest drop in 16 years, reducing the company’s valuation by a whopping $9.1 billion.
We’ve reached out to Monsanto for a statement and will update if they respond.
Photography Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock
Avocados Recalled In Six States Over Listeria Concerns
March 24, 2019
Henry Avocado Corporation is voluntarily recalling California-grown whole avocados sold in bulk at retail stores in 6 states over concerns they may be contaminated with listeria. (Business Wire via AP)
A California-based company announced Saturday it is voluntarily recalling California-grown whole avocados over fears of possible listeria contamination.
Henry Avocado Corporation said in news release it announced the recall as part of a precaution after positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes were discovered on environmental samples taken during a routine government inspection at its California packing facility.
“We are voluntarily recalling our products and taking every action possible to ensure the safety of consumers who eat our avocados,” said Phil Henry, president of Henry Avocado.
As of now, there are no reported illnesses associated with this recall.
TYSON RECALLS 69,000 POUNDS OF FROZEN CHICKEN STRIPS OVER POSSIBLE 'METAL' CONTAMINATION
The recalled products were packed at Henry Avocado’s packing facility in California and distributed in Arizona, California, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Wisconsin. All shipments from the facility are subject to recall, as the company did not begin packing there until late January 2019.
Avocados imported from Mexico and distributed by Henry Avocado are not subject to the recall and may continue to be sold and consumed, according to the company.
Consumers can identify the recalled products by the “Bravocado” stickers. The organic avocados are labeled "organic” and include “California” on the sticker, according to the company.
SOME BABY COUGH SYRUPS RECALLED OVER RISKS OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections on children, elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Henry Avocado issued the voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution due to positive test results on environmental samples taken during a routine inspection at its California packing facility. (Business Wire via AP)
"You should seek medical care and tell the doctor about eating possibly contaminated food if you have a fever and other symptoms of possible listeriosis, such as fatigue and muscle aches, within two months after eating possibly contaminated food," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This is especially important if you are pregnant, age 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system."
Henry Avocado said it is contacting all affected customers to confirm that the recalled products are immediately removed from store shelves. Retailers can identify Henry Avocado organic products by the barcode on the stickers.
Consumers who have purchased any recalled avocados are urged not to consume them, but to discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Those with additional questions may contact Henry Avocado at (760) 745-6632, Ext 132 or visit the company's website.
Travis Fedschun is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @travfed