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The Cornucopia Institute has been fighting to protect access to truly raw American almonds. When the USDA announced their intention to gas almonds with a toxic fumigant or steam-heat the raw nuts – and still call them raw – Cornucopia began working with almond farmers, consumers and retailers to block this misguided food safety measure.

The USDA requires that raw almonds be treated with propylene oxide (a toxic fumigant recognized as a carcinogen by the EPA) or steam-heated before sale to American consumers. Foreign-grown almonds are exempt and are rapidly displacing raw domestic nuts on the market. Almonds treated with propylene oxide or steam heat can still be labeled as “raw”. This is extremely misleading for consumers looking for raw food choices.

Coca-Cola is natural?

I don’t drink it, my family doesn’t drink it, but millions do.

And if you believe the latest “Pemberton” ads, it’s got “No added preservatives. No artificial flavors. Never had it. Never will.”.

Boyd Rutherford, Assistant Secretary for Administration, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is interviewed about the Bio-Preferred Program which mandates federal government procure renewable, bio-based products where possible. The government hopes to expand the program to certify consumer products as "bio-preferred" as well.

The Recent USDA Beef Recall and Why It Should Matter to the Future of American Consumerism. Recently, the US government called for the recall of the largest amount of beef in U.S. history. To me, this issue is important because industrial-style factory farming is a very environmentally-destructive modern practice. Not only is it posing a huge problem for open space conservation and preservation of natural resources out in the American countryside, but it is obviously a food safety / consumer issue as well. Take a look at the articles here and submit your own / let me know what you think.

 Wow! Origins is giving away a cute organic tote and free full sized organic skin care products. About a $75 value! Just add your email address to enter. 

A rule designed to protect the public against salmonella poisoning from almonds is leaving a bad taste in the mouth of organic almond growers.

Products displaying the USDA Organic seal must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. Processed products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients can use the phrase "made with organic ingredients" and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the front of the package.

The USDA's proposal to list 38 non-organic ingredients that can be used in foods labeled "USDA Organic" has met with controversy. So far, 1,322 people have commented, and the public has until Aug. 27 to make their voices heard.