On the day before he left office, President Obama approved the Organic Animal Welfare Standards, also known as the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule (OLPP).

With the goal of improving how livestock are raised, OLPP, among many other things, would have outlawed porches and established minimum indoor space for birds.

If President Obama were that committed to the organic movement, he would not have waited until the very end of his presidency to sign this piece of legislation, thereby making it that much harder for the next administration — the Trump administration — to overturn it. Yet, that is precisely what has happened. Read more »

(Our bodies contain approximately 100 trillion bacteria.)

Over the last few years, it has been a widely viewed belief among the medical community that the health of the bacteria in our bodies has a direct relationship to our overall health.

While the exact nature of the bacteria in our bodies still remains a big mystery, research is showing that certain bacteria can prevent and treat many common diseases. Read more »

For most of us in the organic food industry, our journey into the world of healthy living began sometime in our 20s, 30s or 40s.

But for a handful of very aware and socially responsible kids, their start came at a much younger age.

At 11 years old, Toronto’s Rachel Parent first learned about the risks of GMOs and soon launched the very influential Kids Right to Know. Her TV debate about GMO-Golden Rice with Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary garnered more than 2 million views, and she was named to Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 Change Makers by the National Post, among many other things.

At the age of 9, years old, Tennessee’s Birke Baehr began studying sustainable and organic farming practices. Two years later, his TEDx talk called “What’s Wrong with Our Food System” garnered more than 2 million views and acclaim from across the globe.

While Texas-based Nina Warda has not achieved that level of success just yet, she is one to definitely keep an eye on, as this teenager has tremendous determination, drive and discipline. Read more »

When you are in the checkout line at the supermarket and looking for a nutritious snack to satiate your hunger, take caution when selecting an energy bar.

The energy or snack bar market is big business — a $9 billion industry — and many people are easily fooled by the slick marketing that food companies employ to get you to purchase their products.

The absolute first thing to look for is a certified organic snack bar — one that has the green and white USDA organic seal on it. Read more »

(From l. to r., the founders of Foodstirs — Galit Laibow, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Greg Fleishman)

Within the last 12 months, organic baking start-up Foodstirs has quickly and firmly established itself as one of the hottest brands in the industry today.

While it is undeniable that having a Hollywood celebrity as a co-founder has helped attract tremendous media attention and opened many doors, Foodstirs is leading the marketplace because it has delivered a top-notch product line to a category that was ripe for innovation. With proven entrepreneur Galit Laibow as CEO, long-time industry veteran and brand-building guru Greg Fleishman as COO, and marketing standout Sarah Michelle Gellar as Chief Creative Officer, the company’s intentions were clear from the very beginning.

“Foodstirs is about the power of baking, and we wanted to help create an experience that allows families to connect with each other in an easy and convenient way. Our product is empowering them to do this,” said Greg Fleishman. Read more »

The next time some expert tells you that the most important thing to do for your health is to consume large amounts of fruits and vegetables, regardless of whether they are organic or not, you may want to educate this person about the latest scientific research and government data.

As I wrote about the other day, a study out of Harvard found that women undergoing infertility treatment in the U.S. — and who were also consuming fruits and vegetables with high amounts of pesticide residue — were associated with a lower chance of pregnancy and a higher risk of pregnancy loss.

Men are equally as impacted by the harmful effects of pesticides. Read more »

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a 15-member board which makes recommendations to the USDA about rules and regulations, just wrapped up its bi-annual meeting in Jacksonville, Florida.

What became very clear during this meeting, and as confirmed by comments made by NOSB members, is that maintaining the integrity of organic is just not a top priority for the USDA.

And for those of us who care deeply about organic, this is incredibly worrisome. Read more »