State of Science :: Food Safety

 

"Stopping E. coli Outbreaks in Ready-to-Eat Produce"
Two-page summary of the Center's "Critical Issue Report" on how organic production systems can help minimize the risk of E. coli O157 contamination in leafy greens.

 

Comments to the FDA Food Safety Docket
Daniel Cohen has submitted comments to the FDA on the agency's proposed new rules governing the safety of fresh produce.

 

"Simplifying the Pesticide Risk Equation: The Organic Option"
The potential to reduce pesticide dietary risks through organic food and farming is quantified through analysis of USDA residue data and EPA pesticide risk assessment methods.

 

Smell a rat? Results from animal feeding trials give us reasons to be fearful.
A summary of recent evidence from animal studies of food safety hazards linked to genetically modified foods has been published by the Soil Association.

 

Pesticide Exposures Increase Risk of Gestational Diabetes
Occupational exposure to pesticides during the first trimester of pregnancy more than doubles the risk of gestational diabetes.

 

Society for Nutrition Education Presentation
A wide-ranging presentation of new science supporting the benefits of organic food and farming was well received at the annual meeting of the Society for Nutrition Education.

 

"Unfinished Business: Preventing E. coli O157 Outbreaks in Leafy Greens"
The likely causes of the 2006 spinach outbreak are reviewed, along with steps the industry and individual companies have taken to prevent future outbreaks.

 

Is Irradiation of Fresh Produce Safe and Effective?
Four deaths triggered by the E. coli O157 outbreak caused by fresh-cut spinach in 2006 led to calls for the FDA to approve the irradiation of fresh produce. But is this application of radiation safe and effective?

 

Hormone Growth Promoters Fed to Beef Cattle Linked to Adverse Impacts on Male Sexual Development
A remarkable new study establishes a link between maternal consumption of hormone-treated beef and semen concentrations among male offspring.

 

Is the FDA's Cloning Proposal Ready for Prime Time?, An Organic Center Critical Issue Report
The FDA has given animal cloning the green light, after an "exhaustive" scientific assessment. What has FDA proposed? What does the science show? And what does this mean for consumers and organic livestock producers?

 

Key Differences Found Between Organic and Conventional Red Wines
Organic wines are found to have higher levels of resveratrol and total antioxidants, and are less prone to contamination with mycotoxins.

 

Comments to the Western Growers Association on E. coli O157 GAP Metrics
Recent science points to the need for several further additions to the "Good Agricultural Practice Metrics" developed by the Western Growers Association to prevent future E. coli O157 outbreaks.

 

E. coli Frequently Asked Questions "Critical Issue Report" 2006.3
Find out where E. coli comes from, how it moves around, and what can be done to prevent future outbreaks.

 

FAQs on Pesticides in Milk
Recent USDA data is raising new questions about pesticide residues in milk. The Center covers the bases in this set of "Frequently Asked Questions."

 

"The Vegetable-Industrial Complex," by Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan delves into the causes and possible measures to prevent future E. coli O157 outbreaks.

 

E. coli O157 Op-Eds
Organic Center op-eds and letters to the editor emphasize the need for prevention in reducing the frequency and severity of future E. coli O157 outbreaks.

 

Human Genome Sheds Light on Problems with Animal Cloning
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon announce approval of animal cloning for use in livestock agriculture, a decision that is bound to raise new scientific concerns and questions in the minds of many consumers.

 

Published Research on the Sources and Spread of E. coli 0157
There is a large body of science on pathogenic E. coli that will help trace the current outbreak to its source, or sources. Published research also points a clear path to how farming systems and food safety practices need to be changed in order to prevent similar episodes in the future. Here we provide a roadmap to the extensive literature on pathogenic strains of E. coli.

 

Errors in MSNBC Story on Organic Milk
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility respond to a biased and misleading article on organic milk that appeared on MSNBC.

 

Consumer Summary of Pesticide SSR
Consumer friendly, two-page summary of the Organic Center's work comparing pesticide residues in organic and conventional foods.

 

Consumer Summary of Mycotoxin SSR
Consumer friendly overview of the mycotoxin SSR.

 

A Predominantly Organic Diet Virtually Eliminates Children's Exposures to Two Common Insecticides
A landmark study confirms that serving children organic food can virtually eliminate exposure to two insecticides known to disrupt neurological development.

 

Breaking the Mold -- Impacts of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems on Mycotoxins in Food and Livestock Feed
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi in response to stress or to assure survival and reproduction. Different mycotoxins pose moderate to severe risks to humans and livestock. This State of Science Review shows that mycotoxins are found about twice as frequently in conventional foods compared to organic foods, and at about twice the level.

 

Minimizing Pesticide Dietary Exposure Through the Consumption of Organic Food
Choosing organically grown fruits and vegetables can significantly decrease the frequency and level of dietary exposure to pesticides, thus reducing the magnitude of one risk factor that can contribute to a variety of health problems.

 

Italian Scientists Develop Novel Approach to Compare the Safety of Organic and Conventional Foods
A new method has been developed to rigorously test the impact of organic and conventional food on human health, taking into account the presence of pesticide residues, mycotoxins, and different levels of health-promoting antioxidants and vitamins.

 

Cover Crops Trigger Unique Gene Expression Patterns That Promote Plant Health
The tools of biotechnology have proven useful in studying how plants respond to a common organic farming practice - the planting of crops in a hairy vetch (HV) mulch-based system. The authors of an important new study report "a distinct expression profile of gene transcripts and proteins..." that reflect beneficial changes in hormone signaling in plants grown using a hairy vetch mulch.

 

Congressional Briefing on Organic Food Safety
Dr. Mary Mulry, a member of the Center's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) presented an invited briefing to members of Congress and their staff on the impacts of organic food production and processing on food safety.