Tag:
Public Health
In the age of free information, misinformation, and incomplete information, it’s often challenging for the info-hungry consumer to distinguish evidence-based facts from alternative facts, and truthful reporting from fake news. This concept is not new for you, readers. Collectively, we regularly debunk myths that threaten the integrity of our work, from correctly defining GMOs to preserving and defending appropriate farm animal welfare.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota published a report which outlines the extent of the lead problem in Minnesota’s residential drinking water and estimates the costs to eliminate it. The Minnesota Legislature directed the analysis in 2017, in the wake of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Tyson Foods, Inc. is recalling over 36,000 pounds of chicken nugget products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically rubber.
This week, the Lancet Commission published a comprehensive report on the “Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change.” Coined in the 1990s, the term “syndemic” refers to the co-occurrence of multiple epidemics that interact with one another and share common societal drivers.
Last week, farm advocates, families affected by farmer suicide, and mental health counselors called on Minnesota lawmakers in the House Agriculture, Food Finance, and Policy Committee to fast-track three funding bills for farmer support resources. The bills would provide $150,000 in additional funding through June 2019 for state mental health programs, including training for additional mental health counselors. The bills would also triple the funding for the next two years.
Voters are concerned about how their food is produced and are actively using their votes to make changes. The most recent election cycle brought about another animal welfare voter initiative in California, Proposition 12, which establishes minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens and bans the sale of products from operations that don’t meet the requirements.
As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to look back and reflect. Last year was eventful on all fronts. In food safety, we saw repeated outbreaks of potentially deadly E.coli on US romaine lettuce and the largest ever Listeria outbreak.
The Board of Animal Health released a newsbyte on December 17th regarding the spread and impact of Asian longhorned ticks in the United States, an invasive species from Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
After much debate, diplomats from nearly 200 countries reached a deal on Saturday, December 15th in Katowice, Poland, to keep the Paris climate agreement alive by adopting a new set of rules.
California residents received hopeful news during the Thanksgiving week: officials declared the Woolsey Fire in southern California and the Camp Fire in northern California 100% contained.