On AlterNet: usda

Stories, blog posts, and videos tagged as "usda"

Is the USDA's New Symbol of Dietary Correctness a Coup for the Dairy Industry?

Ari LeVaux, AlterNet. June 10, 2011.

While there's some good news when it comes to fruit and vegetables, the new guidelines seem tailored to encourage maximum dairy industry profitability.

Organic Meat and Dairy Are About to Be History, But There Are Two Ways You Can Help Stop It

Ari LeVaux, AlterNet. February 11, 2011.

Even as the Obama administration is starting to look like the Monsanto administration, we can still fight back.

What the Heck Happened? The Politics of GM Alfalfa Explained

Marion Nestle, Food Politics. February 4, 2011.

How did the USDA's plan for peaceful coexistence among alfalfa growers end up with the agency approving GM alfalfa with no restrictions?

Why You Can Now Kiss Organic Beef, Dairy and Many Vegetables Goodbye

Ari LeVaux, AlterNet. January 28, 2011.

The USDA ruled that farmers are now free to plant GE alfalfa, and USDA won't even keep track of who plants it where. The implications are huge.

USDA Fires Organic Farming Specialist for Expressing Opinions

Jeff Deasy, AlterNet. January 18, 2011.

He brought 20 years of experience in organic farming to his government service and he had played a key role in the development of the USDA's organic standards.

USDA Funds Domino's Secret $12 Million Bailout

Sara Novak, Planet Green. January 14, 2011.

Under the guise of the Dairy Management organization, the USDA funded Domino's rebranding campaign.

Why Is a Corruption Watchdog Doing Corporations' Dirty Work Going After an Obscure USDA Official?

Mike Elk, The American Prospect. January 13, 2011.

CREW has an admirable record on exposing corrupt politicians, but it has also intervened in a high-stakes fight on the side of corporations.

Obama Taps Food-Industry Exec from Multinational Junk-Food Giant Mars, Inc. for Important USDA Post

Tom Philpott, Grist.org. October 4, 2010.

In her new role, Catherine Woteki will direct the U.S. government's entire agricultural research budget. Somewhere in the East Wing, Michelle Obama must be fuming.

Hightower: Why Is No One Talking About the Real Tragedy Behind the Shirley Sherrod Fiasco?

Jim Hightower, AlterNet. July 30, 2010.

The Shirley Sherrod fiasco didn't just expose ugliness on the part of Breitbart, Fox News and Obama. It also overshadowed another, truly racist act.

Revealed: Monitoring of Organic Food a Travesty

Barry Estabrook, The Atlantic. March 26, 2010.

The USDA's own Office of the Inspector General came out with a formal report on its monitoring of its organic program during the Clinton and Bush years and it's scathing.

Will Obama's USDA Atone for Decades of Racism?

Kari Lydersen, AlterNet. March 18, 2010.

For decades, rampant racism blocked access to critical government farm loans for thousands of farmers. President Obama appears ready to change that.

8 Steps the Department of Justice Could Take to Reform Farming

Robyn O'Brien, AlterNet. March 16, 2010.

If our farmers are going to survive, large agricultural companies need oversight and regulation -- not free rein on the market.

How Shopping Carts May Be Our Greatest Weapon in the Health Care Fight

Robyn O'Brien, AlterNet. February 8, 2010.

Including the USDA in health discussions could lead to better subsidies for organic farms -- and healthier Americans.

Last Chance to Save Wild Bumble Bees -- Has Commercial Shipping Been Wiping Them Out?

Adam Federman, CounterPunch. January 21, 2010.

Getting to the bottom of why bee populations have collapsed.

Why Is Crappy Fast Food Safer Than School Lunches?

Tara Lohan, AlterNet: PEEK. December 28, 2009.

Thanks to the USDA, at school our kids are eating the equivalent of pet food.

No One Wants to Die From Dinner -- Here's a Quick Primer on What's Safe to Eat and Who's Looking Out for Your Health

Vanessa Barrington, EcoSalon. October 17, 2009.

Thousands are dying every year from food-borne illness and we have a confusing morass of regulations and agencies charged with enforcing them. How to sort out the mess?

Find a Sustainable Means of Food Production

Food Democracy Now!, June 22, 2009.

We're at a crossroads. Be part of a new wave of environmentally conscious food production.

Is Your Organic Food Really Organic?

Jill Richardson, AlterNet. August 7, 2008.

Imported foods found with unacceptable pesticide levels have drawn attention to the USDA's shoddy certification process.

USDA Renews Approval of 46 Non-Organic Ingredients in "Organic" Foods

Guest Blogger, Natural News AlterNet: Health and Wellness. May 8, 2008.

At the same time, the USDA withdrew approval for a type of food coloring and a food additive.

Federal Agencies Pummel Public Health

Terry J. Allen, In These Times. March 29, 2008.

Our federal agencies have been crippled by conflicts of interest, cronyism, poor leadership, and dispirited staffs.

Who's to Blame for the Biggest Meat Recall in U.S. History?

Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet. March 3, 2008.

The USDA is in endless denial.

U.S. Government's Plan to Protect You From Terrorist Livestock

Jim Hightower, Hightower Lowdown. September 19, 2007.

A new animal-tracking system could put Big Brother in your backyard -- even if you're not a farmer.

Why Americans Keep Getting Fatter

Scott Kahan, The Baltimore Sun. June 21, 2007.

The USDA grossly underfunds the healthiest foods while pouring billions into a farm bill that supports many of the foods its dietary recommendations warn against.