General Mills Cereals announced earlier today that it has committed the brand to removing artificial flavors and colors from artificial sources from the rest of its cereal products. The commitment comes on the heels of growing consumer demand for products that are made entirely from naturally derived ingredients. Today, more than 60 percent of General…
The EPA has proposed a pesticide labeling change that would prohibit the spraying of pesticides during the bloom period. Bloom is a critical phase for many growing operations. In order to boost future yields, many farmers and growers enlist the help of a local beekeeper’s hives to ensure their plants receive sufficient pollination. The beekeeper brings…
The California Department of Water Resources has proposed changes to the state’s existing landscape ordinance that would prohibit the installation of grass at most new residential or commercial properties. According to the new rule, the size threshold for landscapes would be reduced to 500 feet for both types of properties. New California yards and commercial…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) final rule, an important piece of the agency’s overall strategy to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. This strategy will bring the use of these drugs under veterinary supervision so that they are used only when necessary for assuring animal…
Based on a thorough review of the scientific evidence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS for use in human food. Food manufacturers will have three years to…
On June 12, 2015, the Canada’s Minister of Health Rona Ambrose unveiled a number of proposed measures designed to give Canadians the information they need to make better choices about their nutrition and their families’ dietary needs. At the center of the Minister’s package is a proposed nutrition label change that aims to make it…
MillerCoors, an American brewer with more than 450 years of combined heritage, today announced that its Milwaukee Brewery and corporate offices are landfill-free. The brewer eliminated 65 tons of waste that was previously sent to landfill each month from its brewery and corporate offices, logging its first landfill-free month at the brewery in December 2014. This…
On May 7, 2015, Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) introduced the Global Food Security Act of 2015 (SB 1252), a bill that would authorize United States foreign assistance to third-world nations for the purpose of reducing global hunger and poverty. The bill is also geared to improving food and nutrition security in developing countries,…
The Almond Board of California recently convened other state-based agricultural groups, food processors, and interest groups to identify potential solutions to the ongoing sustainability challenges impacting the state, including California’s current historic drought. Although many sectors have implemented successful sustainability programs, the meeting represented the first time that these groups have joined forces to discuss…
A new feature film, The Ivy League Farmer, tells the story of a father and son in conflict over the future of the family dairy farm. It’s also a love story that explores a small town’s concern about local kids not getting enough to eat. The movie’s U.S. premiere, June 5-7 in Cedar Rapids, raises funds for an all-volunteer…
