This week, Food Safety News is acknowledging leaders who help keep our food supply safe.  Today we celebrate consumer organizations.  In the days ahead we’ll celebrate leaders in non-government organizations, the food industry and the news media. Of course, no list is ever complete so if you think we’ve forgotten someone, please leave us a note in the comments. Consumer organizations are a driving force behind food safety policy.  Each of these organizations advocates for food safety in a different way—while one may focus on presenting information through science and research, another focuses on showing the real-life impacts of foodborne illness on families while yet another focuses on consumer education.  All of these organizations work tirelessly to make our food safer. Center for Science in the Public Interest The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is a consumer advocacy organization whose twin missions are to conduct innovative research and advocacy programs in health and nutrition and to provide consumers with current, useful information about their health and well-being.  CSPI also provides information about food safety-related science and technology to policymakers and conducts research on food, health, the environment and other matters before regulatory, judicial and legislative bodies. Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention The Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention (CFI) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing foodborne illness through research, education, advocacy and service.  CFI works with other organizations to develop better food protections and improve public health. Consumer Federation of America Consumer Federation of America’s Food Policy Institute conducts research and advocacy to promote a safer, healthier and more affordable food supply.  The Food Policy Institute supports research that respects scientific principles, values inclusiveness and builds relationships capable of achieving change that benefits the public. Consumers Union Consumers Union’s food safety efforts seek to focus public attention on food safety risks and regulatory deficiencies that can result in harm to the public.  The organization advocates on behalf of efforts to protect consumers from food contaminants such as disease-causing bacteria, chemicals and other elements that do not belong in food.  Consumers Union is also active on labeling issues. Food & Water Watch Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish Americans consume is safe, accessible and sustainably produced.  Among its accomplishments, the organization cites its work on food-labeling issues, such as mandatory country-of-origin labeling and ensuring that foods treated with technologies like food irradiation continue to be labeled. Partnership for Food Safety Education The Partnership for Food Safety Education is a non-profit that supports health educators and influencers by making their work more visible, collaborative and effective. The Partnership fosters an active network of 10,000 field educators, providing them with tools they can use to educate people about protecting their health through safe food handling and hygiene. Pew Charitable Trusts The Pew Health Group works with consumers and other non-profits to advocate for the advancement of science-based policies that seek to limit the impact of foodborne illnesses, improve the nutritional quality and safety of food sold and served in U.S. schools, curb the overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms and assess the risks associated with chemicals added to food and its packaging. STOP Foodborne Illness STOP Foodborne Illness is a national non-profit public health organization dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policy, building public awareness and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.