Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
An insightful piece by former GAP client John Munsell was posted on Food Safety News, spotlighting significant shortcomings in the USDA’s deregulated meat inspection program, and its unfortunate capacity to suppress whistleblower concerns and compromise the integrity of our food supply. A noted whistleblower himself, Munsell ran a USDA-inspected meat plant for 34 years, and […]
One year ago this Saturday, USDA public health veterinarian and whistleblower Dr. Dean Wyatt was vindicated for slaughterhouse humane handling complaints he had brought up repeatedly since 2007, but were ignored by his superiors. That was the day that the Humane Society of the United States released undercover footage of horrific animal abuses (including excessive […]
Unionization in the food sector means giving workers a voice that will ensure the integrity of what ends up on our dinner plates. But our country has never seen a union for the fast-food industry. We may soon witness history, after employees of 10 Minneapolis Jimmy John’s sandwich shops vote on the issue Friday. Fast-food […]
The role of a whistleblower already brings with it many intense challenges: possible job loss, drop in income, broken relationships, etc. But what if these brave souls were also seen as criminals in the eyes of many? To have a voice at all is a potential risk – let alone speaking out against the system […]
A recent survey conducted by market research organization Mintel shows that 64 percent of American consumers (who responded to the survey) believe that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is “okay in moderation,” 35 percent say they “avoid HFCS as an ingredient,” and 46 percent cite “not enough info to know whether it’s harmful or not.” […]
Saying that American food safety would improve if federal employees serving the food system had strong whistleblower protections – allowing them to reveal agency violations – seems like common sense if you ask me. Thanks to GAP coalition partner Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a new survey of USDA and FDA employees confirms this belief. […]
Survey Results From FDA, USDA Workers Eye-Opening (Washington, D.C.) –According to a new survey, scientists from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) overwhelmingly believe that if they, their coworkers, and food industry employees enjoyed solid whistleblower protections, food consumed in America would be safer to eat. Earlier today, GAP […]
The first genetically modified animal could be on American plates within two to three years, according to a UK Telegraph article. FDA scientists have dubbed AquaAdvantage salmon, claimed by its developer –AquaBounty Technologies – capable of growing at twice the normal rate, as safe to eat and no threat to the environment. A coalition of […]
The Vermont Attorney General announced today that arrest warrants have been issued for former Bushway Packing, Inc. owner Frank Peretta and former Bushway worker Christopher Gaudette on charges of animal cruelty in the Bushway case. The case attracted national attention last fall, when the Humane Society of the United States released shocking video footage of […]
On March 25, 2010, Senator Jon Tester introduced the Meat Safety and Accountability Act or Traceback Act. The bill can largely be attributed to years of advocacy by former GAP client and whistleblower, John Munsell, who has steadfastly demanded that mega-slaughterhouses be held accountable for distributing tainted products to downstream grinders, retailers, and processors. The […]