Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.

Food Integrity Campaign Blog

Earth Island Journal – New Whistleblower Protection Law “An Environmentally Significant Reform,” Say Activists

July 24, 2012

by Audrey Haynes Last month President Obama signed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act into law. The law revamps protections for federal employees who come forward and report misconduct, abuse of authority, or violation of law in their workplaces. These enhancements could be crucial in advancing environmental issues, but only if implemented properly. “Protecting federal employees […]

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WSOC-TV – USDA Considering Changing the Way Chicken is Inspected

July 16, 2012

by Scott Wickersham The USDA is considering changing the way the chicken you eat is inspected, but one group calls that a huge mistake. In a 9 investigation, Eyewitness News looked into USDA inspection reports from local poultry processing plants. Eyewitness News found reports of numerous issues. And now, some people worry that with the […]

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Los Angeles Times – USDA Plans to Let Chicken Plants Run Faster with Fewer Inspectors

June 6, 2012

by Kim Geiger WASHINGTON — As part of President Obama’s push to streamline regulations on businesses, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to let chicken slaughterhouses run production lines faster and with fewer federal inspectors, angering food safety advocates and poultry plant workers. Under the proposal, production lines would be allowed to move 25% faster, […]

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Food Safety News – Consumer Groups Criticize Poultry Inspection Proposal

June 1, 2012

by Helena Bottemiller Three more leading consumer groups weighed in this week on the debate over a controversial plan to revamp poultry inspection by shifting greater responsibility to companies. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, and Consumers Union each sharply criticized the proposal in their comments filed before the […]

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The Daily Times – Our View: In Poultry Processing Plants, Who Should Oversee Whom?

May 30, 2012

Federal agricultural officials believe they can give poultry industry officials more oversight responsibilities, free up government inspectors to focus on detecting food-borne pathogens and thereby increase consumer food safety, prevent 5,200 illnesses annually, save taxpayer money and lower production costs for the industry by allowing it to increase assembly line speeds. Consumer groups disagree. They […]

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KGO-TV (ABC7 News) – Inside Look at Another Type of Meat Glue

May 21, 2012

The I-Team has uncovered more on the growing controversy over meat glue. It’s a product that binds bits and pieces of meat together to look like whole steaks. Now, the ABC7 I-Team looks at how one Midwestern company is helping processors re-make vats of meat they call unsellable into steaks for restaurant tables. This is […]

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Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press – Efforts to Restrict Recordings of Animal Abuse Could Impede Newsgathering

May 1, 2012

by Kristen Rasmussen A recent spate of nationwide legislative measures designed to curb undercover recording at farms and other agricultural facilities may potentially restrict reporters’ ability to gather and publish important information about the food industry. Some of the measures would directly prohibit journalists from photographing or recording farm animals and other items and activities […]

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Kansas City Star – Plan to Modernize Poultry Plant Inspections Draws Concern

April 24, 2012

by Scott Canon Could fewer slaughterhouse inspectors make for a safer chicken cutlet? Federal officials see a way to modernize poultry plant inspections while reducing the number of government workers needed to look out for potential contamination. They say the changes would overhaul regulations that have been in place since the Eisenhower administration. They contend […]

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Cedar Rapids Gazette – Ag Gag Hurts Whistleblowers, Not Just Animals

February 29, 2012

The following op-ed was written by FIC Director Amanda Hitt. Editor’s Note: While the Iowa Senate amendment did remove the specific language restricting undercover video, the bill is clearly aimed at holding whistleblowers who use such means to convey the truth legally accountable (More on this here). Some things people just have to see to […]

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East Texas Review – Truckers Play a Key Food Safety Role

August 15, 2011

The following op-ed was written by FIC Director Amanda Hitt. Versions of this op-ed also appeared in the Xenia Daily Gazette (OH), Bristol Press (CT), New Britain Herald (CT), Herkimer Telegram (NY), Little Falls Times (NY), Union Daily Times (SC), and Wayne Independent (PA). Food safety is running afoul in Springdale — in more ways […]

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