Are GE Potatoes Coming to a Store Near You?

Meet the genetically engineered (GE) potato: it’s virtually indistinguishable from normal potatoes, except that it bruises less easily… and that its long-term health effects are completely unknown. ?J.R. Simplot, the biotech company who created the GE potato, plan to use it in a variety of fried foods like french fries, and may even market the crop as a “healthier alternative”. But the real story is that this crop has yet to be thoroughly tested for human health risks. Plus, altering enzymes in crops like the potato can unintentionally affect other characteristics of the crop, meaning it could have negative side effects that we haven’t discovered yet. With these GE potatoes being sold unlabeled in supermarkets and restaurants, consumers won’t even be able to decide for themselves whether to purchase them. Sign the petition below to tell the USDA to stop the approval of the GE potato.

Stop the Chinese Buyout of Smithfield!

Smithfield, the largest U.S. pork producer may be bought out by Shuanghui International, China’s largest meat processing company. This could threaten U.S. national security and food security, raising prices for U.S. consumers, putting U.S. farmers at a disadvantage, and creating new food safety risks. The current method in which the U.S. produces meat on an industrial scale, is already disheartening. With a buyout, it is likely that safety procedures will become increasingly less consistent and enforced.?Ask your members of Congress to block this purchase, and investigate the risks of a foreign company buying out American food companies.

Help Ensure that Sustainable Palm Oil is Deforestation-Free

You may not think you buy much palm oil, but it is an ingredient in thousands of products we use every day,?from baked goods to cleaning products to shampoo. Unfortunately, the production of palm oil tends to be an environmentally destructive process, including massive deforestation. Fortunately, it is possible to grow palm oil without destroying tropical forests and many companies have made public commitments to environmentally friendly and sustainable palm oil. Unfortunately, the group that certifies “sustainable” palm oil, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?made up of nonprofits and businesses such PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, and Wal-Mart?still considers deforestation a sustainable practice. While many companies plan to use RSPO certification to meet their commitments, it’s clear that the standards aren’t strong enough.?It’s time to put the RSPO on notice and let them know you will be holding companies to a higher standard.?Please tell the RSPO that there’s nothing sustainable about forest destruction and that you will be demanding that their member companies go beyond RSPO certification to meet their environmental commitments.?Take action today!

?