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Court Advances OTA's Lawsuit Against USDA

March 1, 2019

Washington, D.C.—The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Organic Trade Association (OTA) has presented solid arguments that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s failure to put into effect new organic livestock standards has caused harm to the organic sector, and that the association has the legal...

Gottlieb to Talk to Congress Regarding Approaches to CBD

February 28, 2019

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C.—Hemp and CBD are making the news again, this time thanks to potential legal and regulatory movement. Scott Gottlieb, M.D., commissioner of FDA, gave a speech at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Winter Policy Annual Conference on February 26th, in which he mentioned that NASDA...

Impact of Government Shutdown on Small Business, Health

December 29, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C.—As the government shutdown that began on December 22 stretches into a second week, CNBC reports that there are no clear signs of a budget deal, and the shutdown is expected to continue into 2019. An overview of the projected impacts of the shutdown was prepared by the Appropriations Committee staff...

USDA Issues Final Rule on National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard

December 21, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C.—The USDA issued its Final Rule on the “National Bioengineered (BE) Food Disclosure Standard” (NBFDS), drawing comment from the Council for Responsible Nutrition and Food Marketing Institute. The rule sets the implementation date as January 1, 2020—January 1, 2021 for small food manufacturers—with a voluntary compliance date of December...

OTA Moving Ahead with Check-Off Program to Support Organic Farmers

September 10, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced plans to push for a voluntary, organic check-off program, which it says will help promote, educate and research the organic sector. This statement comes after a decision in May by the United States Department of Agriculture to terminate a proposed rule...

PCC Commits to Broiler Chicken Welfare; Launches Meal Kits

May 14, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Seattle, WA - PCC Community Markets continues to take the lead when it comes to treating animals humanely, and offering consumers fresh, organic food. WholeFoods Magazine's 2016 Retailer of the Year has just become the first retailer in the country to comprehensively address broiler chicken welfare - not only for...

USDA's Proposal for GMO Labeling Draws Industry Ire

May 12, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C. - The public comment period is open for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) recently unveiled proposal for food labeling of products using GMOs. Instead of food labels including the words "genetically modified" or "genetically engineered," the USDA wants to substitute the initials BE – for Bio-Engineered foods. ...

Animal Groups Join OTA Suit Against USDA

April 13, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C. - Two major animal rights groups have joined the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) court battle against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) failure to enact new organic livestock standards. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) are now co-plaintiffs...

USDA Authorizes Carrageenan as Organic Ingredient

April 8, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C. — Carrageenan, a seaweed extract used in ice cream, high-protein drinks and as a thickening agent in other foods, has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an allowable organic ingredient. This goes against a recommendation by the National Organic Standards Board to drop the emulsifier...

OTA Slams USDA for Withdrawing Animal Welfare Regulations

March 13, 2018

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has withdrawn the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) regulation, saying it exceeds the department’s "statutory authority" but the organic industry is not going to let things go unchallenged. USDA announced the move this week, reversing a regulation signed into law...