Simmering Food Issues

A million strong and counting!  That's the number of petition signatures the Just Label It campaign has announced in efforts to get mandatory disclosures on genetically engineered foods.  The Food and Drug Administration has yet to respond with more than an acknowledgment of receiving the petition.  Meanwhile, Just Label It is continuing to collect signatures, so you can go here to add yours.  A survey shows more than 90% of consumers want labels on GE foods so they can make informed choices.

Family farmers, seed companies and farm groups are appealing their right to be heard in court.  They want protection against global biotech leader Monsanto and the ability to continue producing food that is not transgenic.  A federal district court judge dismissed their case against Monsanto earlier this year.  Maine organic seed farmer Jim Gerritsen says, "We are honor-bound to challenge an erroneous ruling which denies family farmers the protection the law says we deserve.  We're not asking for one penny from Monsanto.  Ultimately, our fight is for justice and is waged to defend the right of the people to have access to good and safe food."

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California had praise this week for a leading business that's made a consumer-friendly move.  Feinstein commended Abbott Labs for discontinuing the use of hormone disrupting bisphenol A (BPA) in packaging of its infant products.  Abbott Labs makes the popular Similac brand of baby formula.  Feinstein and several consumer groups, including the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, have been working to eliminate BPA from consumer products.  After years of health concerns from the scientific community, the FDA is expected to announce a decision by this weekend on whether to ban BPA from food packaging.