All the News That’s Fit to Eat: House Passes ‘DARK Act’, a Fast Food Worker Victory, & Farmers Tap Recycled Water

July 24, 2015

Busy week? We’ve rounded up the food news you might have missed:

U.S. House Passes Anti-GMO Labeling Law (Reuters)

After a heated debate on the House floor Thursday morning, the measure was approved 275-150. The bill, which would block the existing GMO labeling labeling law in Vermont and prevent others like it, has not yet been introduced in the Senate. Opponents of the bill said they see it stalling there, but supporters said they are finding growing support.

New York Fast-Food Workers Win Their Fight for $15 (The Nation)

New York will raise restaurant workers’ minimum wage to $15 an hour by the end of 2018 in New York City and 2021 statewide. The new law applies to fast food outlets belonging to “chains that have 30 or more locations nationally.”

Watch John Oliver’s Sobering Look at U.S. Food Waste (Rolling Stone)

Comedian John Oliver blasts America’s massive food waste problem in a seventeen minute segment on his show, Last Week Tonight.

Syngenta Spars With Suitor Monsanto Over Takeover (Reuters)

Monsanto’s wooing of Syngenta doesn’t seem to be going too well. In the latest update, Syngenta’s CEO says he “sees no need for the deal.”

Report: Food Recalls Have Nearly Doubled Since 2002 (Food Safety News)

The report says the increase in recalls is due to a combination of regulatory changes and an increasingly globalized food system, which allows for both more pathogens in the system, and more oversight.

Campbell Soup Looks to Hummus and Cold-Pressed Juices to Stay Relevant (Washington Post)

Campbell Soup Co. is looking to freshen up their image. This week they announced plans to remove all artificial flavors and ingredients from their products by 2018. They’re also planning to focus on their new Campbell Fresh division, which includes items such as carrots, hummus, and refrigerated salsas.

USDA Providing $85M In Grants & Loans To Support Rural Broadband (Consumerist)

New funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will increase internet access for rural Americans in seven states.

Drought-Stricken California Farmers Look To Tap Urban Wastewater (NPR)

A new plan called the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program would build a 6-mile, $100 million pipeline to carry wastewater to a canal that goes to farms in California’s Central Valley.

USDA Secretary Not Ready to Declare Bird Flu Outbreak Over (The New York Times)

The USDA is worried about more bird flu outbreaks in the fall when temperatures cool down and birds migrate south. The flu has killed millions of hens this spring and caused an egg shortage, prompting companies to search for new high-tech egg substitutes.

Krista Holobar is the former social media editor at Civil Eats. She has been interested in sustainable food since becoming a vegetarian in 2010. In her spare time, she is most often found at the farmers' market or in the kitchen. Read more >