USDA Archives

Jay Byrne: Meet the man behind USAID-funded attacks on pesticide critics

Stacy Malkan | February 3, 2025

Monsanto’s former Director of Corporate Communications Jay Byrne, president of the public relations firm v-Fluence, is a key player in the covert propaganda and lobbying campaigns of the world’s largest agrichemical companies. Emails obtained by U.S. Right to Know, posted in the UCSF Chemical Industry Documents Archive, reveal a range of deceptive tactics Byrne and … Jay Byrne: Meet the man behind USAID-funded attacks on pesticide critics

Rachel Carson Environment Book Award Winner: Whitewash by Carey Gillam

Carey Gillam | October 8, 2018

Carey Gillam’s “Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer and the Corruption of Science (Island Press) has received rave reviews since its release last fall and has received several awards for outstanding reporting: Winner, 2018 Rachel Carson Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists 2018 Gold Medal winner, Outstanding Book of the Year, … Rachel Carson Environment Book Award Winner: Whitewash by Carey Gillam

GMOs 2.0: Is Synthetic Biology Heading to a Food or Drink Near You?

Stacy Malkan | June 20, 2016

This article was originally published in Huffington Post. By Stacy Malkan Our culture is smitten with the notion that technology can save us – or at least create great business opportunities! Cargill, for example, is working on a new food technology that mimics stevia, a sugar substitute derived from plant leaves, for the “exploding sports … GMOs 2.0: Is Synthetic Biology Heading to a Food or Drink Near You?

GMO 2.0 Foods Coming Your Way: Will They Be Labeled?

Stacy Malkan | September 28, 2016

Donate here to keep our investigation cooking and sign up for the Right to Know Review By Stacy Malkan Silenced genes, edited genes, algae engineered to produce compounds that taste like food: new genetically modified organisms (GMOs) made with these experimental techniques are making their way to your dinner plate. It’s the next wave of … GMO 2.0 Foods Coming Your Way: Will They Be Labeled?

Gene Editing Mishaps Highlight Need for FDA Oversight

Stacy Malkan | October 17, 2019

A Midwestern company’s quest to genetically engineer the world’s first hornless dairy cows hit a snag this summer when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found extra genes in the cows that weren’t supposed to be there. The mistakes that FDA caught – but the company missed – highlight the importance of government oversight of … Gene Editing Mishaps Highlight Need for FDA Oversight

Beverage Industry Finds Friend Inside U.S. Health Agency

Carey Gillam | June 29, 2016

This article was first published by Huffington Post. By Carey Gillam It’s been a rough year for Big Soda, sellers of those sugary soft drinks that kids (and adults) love to chug. A June 16 decision by city leaders in Philadelphia to impose a “soda tax” as a means to discourage consumption of beverages seen … Beverage Industry Finds Friend Inside U.S. Health Agency

USDA Drops Plan to Test for Monsanto Weed Killer in Food

Carey Gillam | March 24, 2017

By Carey Gillam The U.S. Department of Agriculture has quietly dropped a plan to start testing food for residues of glyphosate, the world’s most widely used weed killer and the key ingredient in Monsanto Co.’s branded Roundup herbicides. The agency spent the last year coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and … USDA Drops Plan to Test for Monsanto Weed Killer in Food

Tests Show Monsanto Weed Killer in Cheerios, Other Popular Foods

Carey Gillam | November 18, 2016

Independent testing on an array of popular American food products found many samples contained residue levels of the weed killer called glyphosate, leading the nonprofit organization behind the testing to call for corporate and regulatory action to address consumer safety concerns. The herbicide residues were found in cookies, crackers, popular cold cereals and chips commonly … Tests Show Monsanto Weed Killer in Cheerios, Other Popular Foods

Canadians Report Weed Killer Detected in 30 Percent of Food Tested

Carey Gillam | April 12, 2017

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has gone where the U.S. government dares not tread – testing thousands of foods commonly consumed by its citizens for residues of a controversial herbicide linked to cancer. And the findings are less than appetizing. The agency said it found the pesticide known as glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto … Canadians Report Weed Killer Detected in 30 Percent of Food Tested

Academics Review: The making of a Monsanto front group to attack the organic industry

Stacy Malkan | May 31, 2018

Academics Review, a nonprofit organization launched in 2012, claimed to be an independent group, but documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know revealed it was a front group, set up with the help of Monsanto executives and public relations operatives, to attack the organic industry and critics of GMOs — while appearing to be independent. … Academics Review: The making of a Monsanto front group to attack the organic industry

The misleading ways of Dr. Kevin Folta

Stacy Malkan | June 20, 2023

Kevin Folta, Ph.D., a professor in the Horticulture Sciences Department at University of Florida, has provided inaccurate information and engaged in misleading activities in his efforts to promote genetically engineered foods and pesticides. He is a senior contributing columnist to the Genetic Literacy Project, a chemical industry promotion group that receives funding from Bayer. He … The misleading ways of Dr. Kevin Folta

Why did the National Honey Board hire a PR firm that works for the pesticide industry?

Stacy Malkan | August 8, 2023

As Porter Novelli was downplaying concerns about pesticides in honey for the National Honey Board, the PR firm was also working for Bayer to create a report arguing against pollinator protection laws.

International Dairy Foods Association – key facts

Gary Ruskin | January 22, 2015

Summary *International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) represents dairy manufacturers, processors, and marketers *Petitioned to add artificial sweeteners to milk without special notation on package *Consumers Union sharply critical of petition to add sweeteners to milk without labeling * Close ally of the sweetener and candy manufacturers *Calls ice cream a “nutritious” snack for kids… *… … International Dairy Foods Association – key facts

FDA Finds Monsanto’s Weed Killer In U.S. Honey

Carey Gillam | September 21, 2016

By Carey Gillam The Food and Drug Administration, under public pressure to start testing samples of U.S. food for the presence of a pesticide that has been linked to cancer, has some early findings that are not so sweet. In examining honey samples from various locations in the United States, the FDA has found fresh … FDA Finds Monsanto’s Weed Killer In U.S. Honey

What Is Going on at the CDC? Health Agency Ethics Need Scrutiny

Carey Gillam | August 29, 2016

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have their hands full these days. An epidemic of obesity has hit Americans hard, raising the risks for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Childhood obesity is a particular prevalent problem. Last year, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan … What Is Going on at the CDC? Health Agency Ethics Need Scrutiny

Internal FDA Emails: Weedkiller Found in Granola and Crackers

Susan Lang | May 2, 2018

This article was originally published in the Guardian. By Carey Gillam US government scientists have detected a weedkiller linked to cancer in an array of commonly consumed foods, emails obtained through a freedom of information request show. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been testing food samples for residues of glyphosate, the active ingredient … Internal FDA Emails: Weedkiller Found in Granola and Crackers

USDA Shirking Obligation to Give Consumers Clarity Over Herbicide Residues on Food

Carey Gillam | January 11, 2016

When microbiologist Bruce Hemming was hired two years ago to test breast milk samples for residues of the key ingredient in the popular weed-killer Roundup, Hemming at first scoffed at the possibility.Hemming, the founder of St. Louis-based Microbe Inotech Laboratories, knew that the herbicidal ingredient called glyphosate was not supposed to accumulate in the human … USDA Shirking Obligation to Give Consumers Clarity Over Herbicide Residues on Food

Thailand’s reversal on glyphosate ban came after Bayer scripted U.S. intervention, documents show

Carey Gillam | September 17, 2020

A year ago Thailand was set to ban the widely used weed killing chemical glyphosate, a move applauded by public health advocates because of evidence the chemical causes cancer, along with other harms to people and the environment. But under heavy pressure from U.S. officials, Thailand’s government reversed the planned ban on glyphosate last November … Thailand’s reversal on glyphosate ban came after Bayer scripted U.S. intervention, documents show

A Short Report on Journalists Mentioned in our FOIA Requests

Gary Ruskin | September 28, 2015

Also see: Buckraking on the Food Beat: When is it a conflict of interest? Washington Post Food Columnist Goes to Bat for Monsanto On September 23rd, Washington Post food columnist Tamar Haspel admitted to receiving “plenty” of money from pro-agrichemical industry sources. Following her admission, I thought it might be useful to report on journalists … A Short Report on Journalists Mentioned in our FOIA Requests

New Data on Pesticides in Food Raises Safety Questions

Carey Gillam | November 23, 2016

As Americans gather their families to share a Thanksgiving meal this week, new government data offers a potentially unappetizing assessment of the U.S. food supply: Residues of many types of insecticides, fungicides and weed killing chemicals have been found in roughly 85 percent of thousands of foods tested. Data released last week by the U.S. … New Data on Pesticides in Food Raises Safety Questions

An Unappetizing Analysis from the FDA

Carey Gillam | October 28, 2019

Last month the Food & Drug Administration published its latest annual analysis of the levels of pesticide residues that contaminate the fruits and veggies and other foods we Americans routinely put on our dinner plates. The fresh data adds to growing consumer concern and scientific debate over how pesticide residues in food may contribute – … An Unappetizing Analysis from the FDA

Weed Killer Residues Found in 98 Percent of Canadian Honey Samples

Susan Lang | March 22, 2019

Study is the latest evidence that glyphosate herbicides are so pervasive that residues can be found in foods not produced by farmers using glyphosate. This article was originally published in Environmental Health News. By Carey Gillam As U.S. regulators continue to dance around the issue of testing foods for residues of glyphosate weed killers, government … Weed Killer Residues Found in 98 Percent of Canadian Honey Samples

Appeals court focused on damages question ahead of Johnson v. Monsanto hearing

Carey Gillam | May 14, 2020

A California appeals court looks poised to issue a ruling that would uphold the first U.S. trial victory involving allegations that Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer causes cancer. The California Courts of Appeal First Appellate District on Wednesday notified lawyers for plaintiff Dewayne “Lee” Johnson and legal counsel for Monsanto that they should be prepared to … Appeals court focused on damages question ahead of Johnson v. Monsanto hearing

Monsanto Makes New Bid to Block St. Louis Trial

Carey Gillam | September 23, 2019

Less than a month away from what would be the fourth Roundup cancer trial to pit cancer victims against the former agrochemical giant Monsanto Co., lawyers for the opposing sides continue to battle over how, when and where the case should – or should not – be heard. Lawyers for Monsanto and for its German … Monsanto Makes New Bid to Block St. Louis Trial

U.S. Review of GMOs Finds Risks, Rewards; Calls for Transparency

Stacy Malkan | May 17, 2016

By Carey Gillam A new study of genetically modified crop technology by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers a mix of observations about the controversial crops, and takes U.S. regulators to task for an ongoing lack of transparency that is fueling distrust by consumers and calls for mandatory labeling of GMO foods. … U.S. Review of GMOs Finds Risks, Rewards; Calls for Transparency

Organic Trade Meets in D.C. as Battle Brews Over Standards

Carey Gillam | May 25, 2016

This article originally appeared in Huffington Post. It’s “Organic Week” again in Washington, D.C., and attendees of the “signature policymaking event” for the Organic Trade Association (OTA) have much to celebrate. Last week, the OTA, the leading voice for the organic industry, announced that the sector posted its largest-ever annual dollar gain in 2015, with … Organic Trade Meets in D.C. as Battle Brews Over Standards

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