Just Label It, News Roundup 11-10

This week, the World Health Organization, worried about an increasing epidemic of drug-resistant infections, has thrown its considerable weight behind the campaign to cut the use of antibiotics in pigs, chickens, and cattle raised for meat. A new report shows toxins from suppliers to companies like Tyson Foods are pouring into waterways, causing marine life to leave or die. Also in the news, big meat and big dairy’s climate emissions put Exxon Mobil to shame. Few meat and dairy companies calculate or publish their climate emissions. So for the first time, we have estimated emissions from livestock, using the most comprehensive methodology created to date by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Trump made agriculture news twice this week: first by choosing big meat producers over small farmers. Rural Americans voted for him, but he didn’t return the favor when it came to an Obama rule meant to level the playing field. The second story features Trump’s plan to overturn a ban on chlorpyrifos that had been in the works for many years. The pesticide chlorpyrifos damages the brain and reduces IQs, and causes tremors in children. It has also been linked to lung cancer and Parkinson’s disease in adults.

Glyphosate continues to dominate food and agriculture news this week. People across the country are suing Monsanto, alleging that their health problems and the deaths of their loved ones are connected to glyphosate. At least 1,100 such cases are now in state courts, and an additional 240 are in federal courts. Learn how Monsanto captured the EPA and twisted science to keep glyphosate on the market. Glyphosate is also getting attention from a study out this month, highlighting the need to bolster monitoring and regulation of pesticide uses and risks. Experts say farmers could manage without glyphosate and are studying how an EU ban may harm farmers.

WHO To Farmers: Stop Giving Your Animals So Many Antibiotics

The World Health Organization, worried about an increasing epidemic of drug-resistant infections, has thrown its considerable weight behind the campaign to cut the use of antibiotics in pigs, chickens, and cattle that are raised for their meat. The WHO is calling on governments to follow the example of Denmark and the Netherlands, which have banned the use of these drugs to make animals grow faster, or simply to protect healthy animals from getting sick.

Farming without glyphosate — would it work?

Experts say farmers could manage without glyphosate.

Big meat and big dairy’s climate emissions put Exxon Mobil to shame

Did you know that three meat companies – JBS, Cargill and Tyson – are estimated to have emitted more greenhouse gases last year than all of France and nearly as much as some of the biggest oil companies like Exxon, BP and Shell?

Few meat and dairy companies calculate or publish their climate emissions. So for the first time ever, we have estimated corporate emissions from livestock, using the most comprehensive methodology created to date by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Meat industry blamed for largest-ever ‘dead zone’ in Gulf of Mexico

A new report shows toxins from suppliers to companies like Tyson Foods are pouring into waterways, causing marine life to leave or die.

Iowa State Extension forester warns of dicamba dangers

When sprayed, dicamba becomes airborne and settles on plants that are not resistant to the herbicide. With application occurring later in the growing season when the weather is warmer, Randall said more dicamba would volatilize and fall beyond the protected soybean crops. Dicamba does not target specific trees or plants, but anything it touches. It will kill neighboring soybean crops that are not resistant. It burns the roots of trees, killing them.

Trump Chooses Big Meat Over Little Farmers

Rural Americans voted for him, but he didn’t return the favor when it came to an Obama rule meant to level the playing field.

How Monsanto Captured the EPA (And Twisted Science) To Keep Glyphosate on the Market

Since 1973, Monsanto has cited dubious science, like tests on the uteri of male mice, and the EPA has let much of it slide. People across the country are suing Monsanto, alleging that their health problems and the deaths of their loved ones are connected to glyphosate. At least 1,100 such cases are wending their way through state courts, and an additional 240 through federal courts.

Analysis: Glyphosate exposure trends demand a public health-driven response

A study out this month once again highlights the need for bolstered monitoring and regulation of pesticide use and risks—this time the alarm bells are ringing over the world’s leading herbicide, glyphosate.

Trump’s Legacy: Damaged Brains

Chlorpyrifos, the pesticide, which belongs to a class of chemicals developed as a nerve gas made by Nazi Germany, is now found in food, air and drinking water. Human and animal studies show that it damages the brain and reduces I.Q.s while causing tremors among children. It has also been linked to lung cancer and Parkinson’s disease in adults. And now the Trump administration is embracing it, overturning a planned ban that had been in the works for many years.