Elizabeth Kucinich, wife of former Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a liberal Democrat from Ohio and two-time presidential contender, will join the Center for Food Safety as director of policy “to address the serious threats facing the food movement in Congress as well as push for better food and agricultural standards,” the group announced on Wednesday. “The food movement is under attack,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of CFS, in a press release. “Elizabeth Kucinich comes to us at a time of ultimate need. The chemical companies have their sights aimed squarely at the regulatory safeguards that protect our health. Elizabeth’s knowledge and skills as an organizer and advocate will help ensure that we in the food movement are ready and able to fight back.” “For years, I have worked on key issues related to the food movement, from health and sustainability to genetic engineering and intensive animal agriculture,” said Elizabeth Kucinich, who is a vocal vegan advocate. “I am proud to partner with Center for Food Safety which has stepped up as the leader of the food movement, providing legal guidance, depth of knowledge and political influence.” CFS has long been a driving opposing force to genetically engineered foods and has lobbied hard for GE restrictions, labeling, and to block the approval of GE salmon under consideration at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The group also recently won a court battle against the FDA over the agency’s delay in implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act. “Despite numerous legal victories to stop the onslaught of more pesticides in our environment and on our food, the chemical industry is pushing forward with even more dangerous GE crops that have been engineered to withstand exposure to older, more toxic herbicides like 2,4-D – a major component of infamous Agent Orange – and dicamba. The coming months will be critical and it is imperative that the full strength of the food movement is felt in Washington, D.C.,” said Kucinich. According to CFS, Kucinich is “an experienced champion for the environment and food policy,” having previously served as the former Director of Government Affairs for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She is also the Executive Producer of “GMO OMG,” a documentary exploring genetic engineering, according to the CFS press release.