Will Irradiated Foods Save Lives?

"For years, our Center has been demanding irradiation for spinach, lettuce, and other high-risk produce—to kill the food-borne bacteria that present a last big preventable risk in our food supply. On August 22, the Food and Drug Administration granted our plea.

FDA permission to irradiate produce is the biggest step forward in U.S. food safety since irradiation was approved for meat (read hamburger) in 1990. That followed dozens of needless “burger deaths” due to the rare-but-vicious E. coli O157 bacteria.

There’s a problem, however: scare-mongers have warned the public that irradiation itself is not safe. We’re not even irradiating much of our hamburger, even as recalls continue to warn us of the danger.

One scare-monger—a former professor of environmental medicine—said, “Every man, woman and child who takes a bite of irradiated food increases their chance of getting cancer.” Could he say that publicly without evidence? He could, and the papers quoted him. The truth, based on thousands of studies: Irradiation does not create dangerous cancer-causing organisms, nor does it make the food radioactive."

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Organic Lobby Calls for Origin Labels

"Organic agriculture advocates say the discovery of pesticides in imported Australian vegetables support calls by mainstream growers for country of origin labels on this side of the Tasman.

The insecticide dimethoate found in Australian capsicum labelled as "Product of New Zealand" in an Auckland supermarket, was a clear breach not only of voluntary origin labelling at the Woolworths supermarket but of the Fair Trading Act, the association said in the September issue of its Organic NZ magazine.

It alleged that a "NZ Hothouse 3Pack Capsicum" appeared to have been "topped up" with Australian produce dipped in dimethoate.

Dimethoate, a systemic organophosphate insecticide, is used as an insecticidal dip to kill the Queensland fruit fly in produce imported from Australia to New Zealand. It is difficult to rinse off."

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Ayala's Herbal Water Now at Safeway

"Wynnewood, PA (PRWEB) August 28, 2008 -- Herbal Water™, the only nationally available USDA Certified Organic flavored water, today announced that more than 500 Safeway stores have added the company's line of Herbal Water to store shelves. Locations carrying Herbal Water include Safeway Stores in Denver, Northern California, Portland and Seattle; Dominick's in Chicago; Genuardi's in Philadelphia; Randall's in Dallas and Houston; and Von's in Southern California.

Herbal Water blends hand-selected, organically grown herbs with purified water and nothing else - no preservatives, colors, artificial ingredients, sweeteners or calories - to create a refreshing taste and an enchanting aroma."

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U.S. and England Look to Peru for Organic Mangoes

"Exports of this product increased 79.4 percent. Holland, the United States and England were the main end- markets.

The preference for healthy food developed with non-contaminant techniques which protect the environment, is showing a significant international increase.

Peru is not far from this process and is making a big effort to introduce and position an attractive organic supply that fulfills the quality and standards that are demanded by this new market.

One of the Peruvian products that are being impelled is the organic mango, which is showing an interesting growth.

First sales took place in 2003 with non-significant amounts. In the year 2007, exports increased 79.4 percent, jumping from US$ 1.72 million to US$ 3.09 million; reports Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board – PromPerú."

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Food Stamps at Farmers' Markets

"BRATTLEBORO -- A pilot program that began last year in Vermont in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls to allows consumers to use food stamps at farmers' markets is now spreading across the state, and the rest of the country. In 2007, the experimental service was set up at the two Windham County markets. While there were a few glitches with the wireless technology, six other markets are also trying the service out this season across the state.

And at other markets from Maine to Hawaii, farmers are introducing the electronic debit systems that allow low income families to use their federal food assistance dollars to purchase local fruits and vegetables.

The number of farmers' markets across the country accepting electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, transactions increased from 532 in 2007 to 605 as of June 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Nancy Montanez Johner, said both food stamp recipients and farmers have benefited from the success of the program."

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Whole Foods Requests Different Judge

"WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Organic premium grocer Whole Foods (WFMI.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has asked the Federal Trade Commission, which is assessing whether its merger with rival Wild Oats is legal, to use an administrative law judge to hear the case, not a commissioner already on record as questioning the merger.

The FTC has named Commissioner Thomas Rosch to oversee the case, but Whole Foods said he should recuse himself, citing the fact that he was one of the commissioners who voted in June 2007 to investigate the merger as one that potentially violates antitrust statutes."

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Earth Balance Introduces Vegan Nut Butters

"Earth Balance®, a line of all-natural healthy buttery spreads, shortenings, nut butters, and cream cheeses, announced today that Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, is now offering Earth Balance®'s new vegan nut butter products in all of its stores nationwide.

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) will distribute all three new Earth Balance® products -- Almond Butter, Crunchy Peanut Butter and Creamy Peanut Butter -- to over 250 Whole Foods Market stores across the country.

"Whole Foods Market is already home to many of Earth Balance®'s all-natural products, so we are excited to add to the product mix, offering our shoppers even more of these unique, healthy and great-tasting alternatives," said Errol Schweizer, Whole Foods Market's Associate Global Grocery Coordinator. "The new nut butters are perfect additions to a brand that already strongly resonates with our customers."

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