Food safety

President Soft-pedals on Mercury Reform

Widespread mercury pollution is contaminating our water and our fish as well as poisoning our children. The environmental and health damages caused by mercury have been fairly well documented. In this article the financial costs of children and adults exposed to mercury are considered.  

China Bans Poultry Imports from North Korea

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, April 5, 2005 -- On March 31, 2005, China's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) made a joint announcement to ban poultry product imports from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), due to outbreaks of high pathogenic avian influenza in that country.

Protecting Children From Mercury Exposure is Cost Effective

We have a big problem - widespread mercury pollution is contaminating our waters, our fish and poisoning our children. The environmental and health damages caused by mercury have been fairly well documented. Now, for the first time, we are learning more about the financial costs of mercury exposure.

Letter to the South American Ministers of Agriculture on CAFTA and U.S. Food Safety

This letter was sent in response to the U.S. demanding that the authorities in these countries recognize all USDA certified meat processing and slaughterhouse establishments as eligible to export to their countries and all U.S. meat hygiene and inspection measures as equivalent to what they already use. And this is in spite of the considerable and on-going food safety issues in the U.S.

Mad Cow and the Agony of the Cattle and Beef Markets

Can a country have "less than two (BSE) cases per million (cattle) during each of the last four consecutive 12 month periods" and still be considered a "minimal risk country" for purposes of international trade and not put public health at risk? This paper takes a hard look at the subject, including how the USDA fits into the equation.  

BSE in Germany - Update Covering 2004

In 2004, 65 cases of BSE were confirmed in Germany, compared to 54 in 2003, and 106 in 2002. Until January 19, 2005, one additional case was confirmed, taking the number of confirmed BSE cases since the first detection of BSE in Germany in November 2000, to a total of 358. In Germany all cattle older than 24 month at slaughter have to be tested for BSE, compared to 30 months in the EU.

Smart Produce Guide

Pesticide residue levels on produce vary depending on the type and how it is grown. This guide will help with choosing fruits and vegetables that have lower residues, avoiding other contaminates affecting produce and information on locally produced and organic foods. Both the long and short versions are included.
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