Remember all that noise not long ago that went on for years about labeling genetically engineered foods, aka GMOs? Four big states put the idea to voters, who all rejected it. Then little Vermont passed a single state law that might have become the national standard by default. But finally, Congress stepped in and turned…
FSN Briefly
Every hour of every day people around the world are living with and working to resolve food safety issues. Here is a sampling of current headlines for your consumption, brought to you today with the support of iwaspoisoned.com.
Food safety tips for diabetics
As November is National Diabetes Month, practicing safe food handling to…
Beach Beat: Del Monte’s pretty in pink with OK for GMO
You’ve gotta give it to those marketing magicians at Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. Back in the 1990s when they introduced the phrase “golden extra sweet pineapple” they stated the obvious with fabulous flair. I can’t help myself. I have to write down the entire phrase when drafting a shopping list.
That brilliance will no…
Three new GMO spuds earn permission from USDA
Two companies have green lights from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their non-browning potato varieties that have had their genes altered.
Calyxt, a company based in New Brighton, MN, got the go ahead for its cultivar known as “PPO_KO” and the J.R. Simplot Co. of Boise, ID, has permission for its “X17” and “Y9”…
Arctic Fuji apple gains approval despite anti-GMO opposition
A third genetically modified apple variety, the Arctic Fuji, has gained U.S. approval and the grower responsible for it plans next to seek approval for genetically modified Arctic Gala apples. 
Neal Carter founded Okanagen Speciality Fruits in 1996 in Summerland, British Columbia. The company has developed and gained approval for genetically…
Public comments so far show support for third GMO apple
There are 18 days remaining in the public comment period on the Arctic Fuji as Okenagan Specialty Fruits Inc. seeks permission to market its third variety of genetically modified, non-browning apple. 
Neal Carter founded Okanagen Speciality Fruits in 1996 in Summerland, British Columbia. The company has developed genetically modified apples that…
Just Label It takes a victory lap after losing; opts to move on
Just label It is throwing in the towel. The never-ending campaign by the organic industry’s top political players to force GMO labeling on the entire food industry says its time to move on. After a 63-30 vote late Friday for a national GMO labeling scheme that was opposed by Just Label It, Stonyfield Farm’s Gary…
Senate easily invokes cloture on GMO label bill; final vote next
After being showered with handful of paper money thrown over the gallery rail by a single protestor, the U.S. Senate invoked cloture on a GMO-labeling bill by a 65-32 vote Wednesday, meaning that the compromise proposal for a federal law on how grocery products will be labeled when they do and don’t contain genetically modified…
Ag secretary can’t find common ground for activists, industry on GE/GMO labels
Activists and industry reps sat down twice with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to see if they could find a compromise about labeling food processed with genetic engineering. No compromise could be found, and it’s unlikely there will be a third meeting. That the negotiations broke down hardly came as a surprise. The two sides…
Witnesses Tell House Agriculture Committee GE Foods are Safe, Don’t Need Labels
All six witnesses at Tuesday’s House Committee on Agriculture hearing argued against mandatory biotechnology labeling laws. Most of their testimony praised the efficiency they believe GE crops provide to farmers and enumerated the costs they say labeling would inflict on farmers, manufacturers and consumers. 
But they also brought up the safety concerns surrounding GE food.…