Meat products

May 23, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. –It’s that time of year again. The temperatures are rising outside and Kentuckians are lighting up their grills to cook beef. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognizes this American tradition by proclaiming May 2008 Beef Month in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Steak: Photo by Robin (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a rule closing a loophole in current law that can result in animals that are too sick to stand entering the food supply.

Cattle at sunset: Photo by Brad Smith (CC)    » read more »

Urges USDA to conduct industry-wide investigation

January 31, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged the Department of Agriculture to conduct an industry-wide investigation, following the release of a video which documented cases of animal cruelty and illegal activity at the Westland’s meat packing plant in Chino, California.    » read more »

January 30, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today wrote to both U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and California Attorney General Jerry Brown calling for an immediate investigation of a California meat processing plant, in light of an under cover report released today that documents numerous potential violations of laws intended to prevent animal cruelty and preserve food safety.

The text of the letters follows:

January 30, 2008

The Honorable Ed Schafer

United States Department of Agriculture    » read more »

24 January 2008 -- The Brazilian government says deforestation of the Amazon surged during the last five months of 2007.

The report, issued Wednesday, says that between August and December of last year more than 3,000 square kilometers of the world's largest rain forest were cleared. Environment ministry officials say that number may be higher after they analyze satellite images with a higher resolution.

Brazil's environment minister, Marina Silva, and other ministers are meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Thursday to discuss how to curb deforestation.    » read more »

Statement from CFA’s Carol Tucker Foreman

January 15, 2008 -- The Bush Administration, after days of internal debate, has rejected public opposition and the pleas of the food industry and consumer groups and approved putting milk and meat from cloned animals in our food.

Milk and meat from cloned animals and their offspring will enter the food supply. They can do so immediately. The products will not be labeled as such and American consumers will have no way to avoid consuming them.    » read more »

Statement by Margaret Mellon, Union of Concerned Scientists

WASHINGTON (January 15, 2008) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released a report concluding that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring pose no public health threat. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would ask producers of clones to continue to abide by a “voluntary moratorium” and keep their products off the market.

Below is a statement by Margaret Mellon, Director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists:    » read more »