Organic Bytes Newsletter
Organic News Tidbits With an Edge!

Organic Bytes newsletter is published two or three times a month. The link below will take you to the latest edition.

Issue #128 2/12/08 - PDF Version

• Health Alert: Tell the EPA to Ban the Toxic Pesticide Endosulfan
• Children Fed Non-Organic Food Have Pesticides in the Urine
• New Studies Tie Agro-Fuels to Global Warming
• Food Labeling Alert: Put the "Natural" Back in Meats Labeled As "Naturally Raised"
• How to Show Your Love Without Breaking the Bank
• Eco-Friendly Flowers Are Budding Across U.S. This Valentines
• FDA Continues Criminalization of Natural Sweetener
• Mysterious Brain Disease Surfaces at Hormel Slaughterhouse
• Quick Tidbits: Web Video of the Week  & Newsletter of the Week

Issue #127 1/31/08 - PDF Version

• The Dark Side of Ethanol and Biodiesel Subsidies
• Agro-Fuel Facts
• What Is the Future of Bio-Fuels?
• Break the Chains of Toxic Pesticides and Child Slavery on Valentine's Day
• Unlabeled Allergens in Food Threaten Children's Health
• Who in the World Loves Fast Food the Most?
• Major Network Told Not to Air Program Highlighting Vaccine Problems
• Web Video of the Week: Sweet Misery - a Poisoned World

Issue #126 1/17/08 - PDF Version

• Alert: Put the Natural Back in Meats Labeled As "Naturally Raised"
• Alert Update: Consumers May Lose Right to Know if Non-Organic Milk
  Is Free of Monsanto's Controversial rBGH
• Web Program of the Week: Organic GE Food?
• The Top Agricultural Breakthroughs of 2007
• What Happens Within the First Hour of Drinking a Cola?
• Despite Consumer Opposition FDA Approves Food from Clones
• Mother of Four Becomes Leading Expert on Additives & Allergies
• Ten Food-Based Steps to Take to Protect Your Family's Health
• This Week's Hot Topics in OCA's Web Forum

Issue #125 1/04/08 - PDF Version

• USDA Organic' Personal Care Sales Explode
• Caribou Joins Starbucks in Phasing out rBGH
• OCA's Donation Drive Goes Into Overtime
• Splenda Goes to Court
• Solar Power Gets Affordable
• Web Videos of the Week:
  OCA National Director Speaks out on 'Farms Not Arms'
  Vanishing of the Bees
  The Story of Stuff
• This Week's Hot Topics on OCA's Web Forum:

Issue #124 12/13/2007 - PDF Version

Special Year-End Issue
Flashback: Success Stories of 2007:

• January: Dozens of "Certified Organic" Candidates Sworn Into Office
• February: Field Trials of Experimental Biotech Grass Halted           
• March: Monsanto's Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Banned
• April: USDA Bans Cloned Foods from Organics
• May: Consumers Successfully Pressure Congress on Country of Origin Labels
• June: Factory Farm Has Organic Certification Yanked
• July: Congress Preserves Local Food and Crop Safety Laws           
• August: Beer Giant Goes Organic
• September: OCA Declares Victory in Its "Frankenbucks" Campaign
• October: Class Action Lawsuit in 27 States Launched Against Factory Farms
• November: rBGH Being Driven off the Market: "rBGH-Free" Labeling Protected
• December: Massive NAIS Threat to Family Farmers Held Off

Issue #123 11/30/2007 - PDF Version

• Alert: USDA Proposes Rule Undermining Organics & Small Farms
• Quote of the Week
• Donation Drive
• Alert Update: GE Sugar in Thousands of Non-Organic Products in 2008
• Grassroots Pressure Forces PA to Back Off on "rBGH-Free" Dairy Labels
• Study: Healthy Cafeterias Save Schools Money
• Get Kids Vaccinated or Go to Jail?
• To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
• OCA Poll Results: Is It Okay to Eat Meat?
• OCA Holiday Movie Recommendations: King Corn & What Would Jesus Buy?
• Web Video of the Week: The Friendly Face of Iran

Issue #122 11/15/2007 - PDF Version

• Alert: Milk from Clones to Hit U.S. Market Soon
• Congressman Slammed for Calling Organic Consumers "Dumb"
• Interactive Map of US Factory Farms
• Have a Green Thanksgiving - Buy Local, Organic, and Fair Trade
• Synthetic Multivitamin Sales Go Through the Roof in 2007, but Do We Really Need Them?
• Most Flu Vaccines Contain Mercury
• Quick Related Quote and Facts
• This Week's Hot Topics in OCA's Web Forum
• State Alerts:
  Maine
  Washington DC
  California
• Find out What's Happening in Your State

Issue #121 11/1/2007

• Alert: Senate Prepares to Rubber Stamp "Business as Usual" Farm Bill
• Related Dumb Quote of the Week
• Lord of the Flies: "Organic" Dairy Feedlot Draws Heat Over Bumper Crop of Insects
• Sunlight Cuts Risk of Many Cancers, Especially Breast Cancer
• Carniverous or Not?
• France Bans Frankencrops
• Monsanto Tries Once Again to Force-Feed Consumers rBGH
• A Brief History of Monsanto and the US Government
• Web Video of the Week: Fascism - It Could Happen Here
• Find out What's Happening in Your State
• Answer the "OCA Challenge" From the Backbone Campaign

Issue #120 10/18/2007 - PDF Version

• Organic Consumers Sue Aurora Dairy in 27 States for Violating Organic Standards
• EPA Approves Pesticide Known to Cause Cancer & Miscarriage
• Who Advised the Approval of New Carcinogenic Pesticide?
• USDA Approves Chip Implants That Cause Cancer Tumor
• Who Approved Tumor-Causing Chips?
• Sustainability Alert: Pro-Organic Draft Farm Bill Under Attack
• Rule Requiring Pasteurization of Raw Almonds Goes Into Effect
• GE Corn Toxin Affecting Aquatic Ecosystems
• EU Blocks New GE Crops -- US Approves New GE Crops
• New Study Says Some Meat Eating Is Okay for Environment
• Your Diet Impacts Environment More Than Your Car

Issue #119 10/4/2007 - PDF Version

• Aurora Threatens Organic Consumers Association with Lawsuit
• Junk Food Company Kellogg Cleans Up its Act
• Inner City Youth Working Towards Sustainability
• Web Videos of the Week: Turning from Oil to Organics
• Breaking the Chains, Fighting Global Warming, & Ending the War
• Getting Involved with Creative Actions
• Today's Opportunities to Plant Peace
• Air Fresheners Found to Contain Toxic Chemical

Issue #118 9/20/2007 - PDF Version

• Preconditions for an Organic Future: No War, No Warming
• FDA Cracks Down on Natural Herbal Sweetener, Stevia
• Related Quote of the Week
• Get Interactive with OCA
• OCA's Potential "Organic" Factory Farm Class Action Lawsuit Builds Momentum
• Find Out What's in Your Tap Water and Move Beyond Toxic Plastic Bottles
• OCA Review: Top Tap Water Safety Testing Options

Issue #117 9/12/2007 - PDF Version

• Action Alert: Put an End to Organic Dairy Fraud--Once & For All
• important Internet News
• Alert: Genetically Engineered Sugar to Hit Stores in 2008
• Hypocrisy Quote of the Week: 180 Degree Turn in Three Months
• Grassroots Victory: Starbucks Boots Monsanto's Bovine Growth Hormone from its Cafes
• Do You Have Chemical Sensitivities? Your Story is Needed in OCA's Web Forum
• Industrial Agriculture is Driving Livestock Breeds to Extinction
• Planting Peace: Organic Farmers & Consumers Call for Farms not Arms
• Web Video of the Week: How the Food Industry Brainwashes Americans

Issue #116 8/23/2007 - PDF Version

• Alert: USDA Says Almonds Labeled as Raw' or 'Organic' Must Be Pasteurized
• Monsanto"s Bovine Growth Hormone Being Driven Off the Market
• New York Times Exposes USDA Sabotaging Organics
• One of World's Biggest Charities Protests US Subsidies
• Study: Food Giants Brainwashing Kids
• Readers Talk Back:
  Clarification on Corporate Buyouts
  Eating Ethanol Production Waste? Cows aren't Garbage Disposals
• A Growing Soldiers' Rebellion that Could Stop the War

Issue #115 8/10/2007 - PDF Version

• Anheuser-Busch Pledges to Use Only Organic Hops in Its Organic Beer
• Environmental Toxins Killing 13 Million Children Per Year
• Don't Just Buy Local - Buy in Season
• Slow Food Around the World
• Coca-Cola And Cargill to Market Natural Sweetener
• Corn-Based Ethanol Adds to Global Food Crisis?
• Your Older Car May Be a Flex-Fuel Car Already
• More Info on Corporate Buyouts of Organic Companies

Issue #114 7/26/2007 - PDF Version

• Grassroots Victory: Country of Origin Labeling and NAIS
• Alert: Congress Votes On Farm Bill Today!
• More Proof That Organics Have Higher Nutritional Value
• Who Owns Your Favorite Organic Brands?
• Study Says PVC Packaging Violates Consumer Safety Laws In 19 States
• Organic Bytes Readers Talk Back: Organic Landscaping and Organic Lawns
• Scotts Miracle-grow Company Sues Small Organic Fertilizer Business
• Finding a Sunscreen That is Safe and Effective
• Chemical Companies Sued by Thousands of Sterile Farmworkers
• Listen to Barbara Kingsolver on "The Ethics of Eating"
• Your Online Organic Community is Here

Issue #113 7/12/2007 - PDF Version

• Grassroots Victory:
  Congress Backs Off on Suppressing Local Rights to Regulate Food Safety
• Studies of the Week:
  Organic Farming Can Feed the World
  Scientists Reveal That Pesticides are Reducing Crop Yields by One-Third
• America's Chemically Dependent & Toxic Lawns
• The Best Looking Organic Lawn on the Block
• Web Videos of the Week
  Organic Lawns
  Harry Potter Takes On Waldemart
• Your Online Organic Community is Waiting for You
• Dialing for Organic Dollars

Issue #112 6/27/2007 - PDF Version

• Alert: USDA Ignores Public Rejection of Proposal to Allow 38 Non-Organic Ingredients and Toxic Fish Oil In Foods Labeled As "USDA Organic"
• Dialing for Organic Dollars
• Corn-based Ethanol Adds to Global Food Crisis
• Quote of the Week
• Feed the Hungry at the Gas Pump
• Alert: The 2007 Farm Bill: Sustainable Agriculture or Corporate Welfare
• NAIS Alert: Keep 'Big Brother' Out of Farm Bill
• Soil Is One Secret Solution to Global Warming
• Your Online Organic Community Has Arrived

Issue #111 6/14/2007 - PDF Version

• Horizon Announces Further Losses As OCA Boycott Continues
• Targets of OCA's Ongoing "Organic" Factory Farm Dairy Boycott
• Success! Factory Farm Dairy Supplying Horizon Loses Organic Certification
• Congress Considering Nearly $200 Million Funding for Organics
• OCA Launches New Web Forum: Your Online Organic Community Has Arrived
• USDA's Newest Sneak Attack on Organic Standards
• Recent History of USDA Organic Lawbreaking
• Your Help Is Still Needed

Issue #110 5/31/2007 - PDF Version

• ALERT: Monsanto & Big Food Attack Local Rights to Regulate Food and Crops
• Venezuela Moves to Ban Frankencrops
• ALERT UPDATE: OCA's Boycott of Horizon Continues as Company's Stock Plummets
• Planet's Population is Now More Urban than Rural
• Cancer-causing Benzene in Soda Drinks
• Watch Michael Moore's Interview and Take Action for Health Care for All
• Green Consumers Can't Find Green Goods
• Canadians Make it Official: Tea is Good for You

Issue #109 5/17/2007 - PDF Version

• ALERT: ANOTHER SNEAK ATTACK ON ORGANIC STANDARDS
• STOP CONGRESS FROM CUTTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS
• CATASTROPHIC BEE COLONY COLLAPSE IS NOT AFFECTING ORGANIC HIVES
• MORE WAYS TO PREPARE FOR PEAK OIL
• WHEN THE ENTIRE PLANET SHOPS AT WAL-MART
• 100% PURE FRUIT JUICE IS NO LONGER LINKED TO OBESITY
• AVOIDING FRUIT JUICE SCAMS
• ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK
• SOAP, DRUGS, AND ROCK & ROLL
• TOOLS FOR CHANGING THE WORLD
• ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION ON MTV

Issue #108 5/4/2007 - PDF Version

• TELL CONGRESS WE WANT COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELS ON OUR FOOD
• PET FOOD CONTAMINATION MOVES INTO USA MEAT SUPPLY
• MORE REASONS TO BUY LOCAL
• COMEDY CENTRAL PARODIES THE RBGH CONTROVERSY
• FIVE TOP METHODS TO REDUCE YOUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT WHEN SHOPPING
• ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK:
  IS THE FDA GOING TO START REGULATING VEGGIE JUICE AND HOLY WATER?
  WHY HAVEN'T I RECEIVED YOUR ORGANIC BYTES EMAILS?
• ALERT: IT'S TIME TO PHASE OUT THE POISONOUS PLASTIC PVC

Issue #107 4/20/2007 - PDF Version

• FDA SEEKS TO REMOVE LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATED FOODS
  
• FDA SAYS ALMONDS LABELED AS 'RAW' CAN ACTUALLY BE PASTEURIZED
  
• NEW PROPOSED USDA ORGANIC REGULATIONS COULD DRIVE
  THOUSANDS OF SMALL ORGANIC FARMERS OUT OF BUSINESS
• FDA FORCED TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON FOOD FROM CLONES
• FDA RELEASES 'GUIDANCE' DOCUMENT REGARDING POLICING OF NATURAL HEALTH
• CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY FINDS MOST U.S. CITIZENS
  HEAVILY DISSATISFIED WITH FDA
• TIP OF THE WEEK: ASK FOR ORGANIC PET FOOD

Issue #106 4/6/2007 - PDF Version

• MONSANTO WANTS TO MAKE RBGH LABELING ILLEGAL
• USDA TO BAN CLONED FOODS FROM ORGANICS
• SHOPPER'S GUIDE - BUY ORGANIC & AVOID THE "DIRTY DOZEN" FRUITS & VEGETABLES
• MAD COW SAFETY TESTS LIKELY TO INCREASE THANKS TO USDA LOSING LAWSUIT
• OCA TALKS ABOUT CLONED FOOD ON THE DAILY SHOW
• JUNK FOOD INDUSTRY APPLAUDES ITSELF FOR YEARS OF "ETHICAL" ADVERTISING TO CHILDREN
• APRIL 14th IS NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
• U.S. FAMILY FARMERS CAN'T COMPETE WITH BIG PROCESSORS & IMPORTED ORGANICS
• ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK

Issue #105 3/22/2007 - PDF Version

• USDA & LEADING ORGANIC DAIRIES CONSPIRING TO DEGRADE ORGANIC DAIRY STANDARDS BY NOT REQUIRING PASTURE FEEDING
• USDA TO APPROVE RICE ENGINEERED WITH HUMAN GENES
• PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: ANTIBACTERIAL HAND CLEANSERS
• FEDERAL COURT BANS MONSANTO'S GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA
• STEP IT UP! NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
• SAN FRANCISCO MAY BE FIRST IN NATION TO REGULATE GROCERY BAGS
• WITH SPRING'S ARRIVAL COMES ORGANIC GARDEN PLANNING:
  300 ORGANIC GARDEN TIPS
• MIND-BENDING SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF THE WEEK
• ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK

Issue #104 3/8/2007 - PDF Version

• TOXIC CHEMICAL BPA LEACHING INTO CANNED FOODS
• HOW TO AVOID BPA
• JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SAYS SYNTHETIC SUPPLEMENTS ARE DANGEROUS
• SOME OF THE 100 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE YORSELF FOR PEAK OIL
• BEES MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARING ACROSS THE U.S.
• PLANTING PEACE: STOP THE WAR: PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FRIDAY, MARCH 9th
• FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE ESSAY AND ART CONTEST
• HAVE YOU SUFFERED A NEGATIVE REACTION FROM SPLENDA? REPORT IT HERE!

Issue #103 2/22/2007 - PDF Version

• DEMAND A NEW "TRUTH-IN-LABELING" STANDARD FOR VITAMINS/SUPPLEMENTS
• HOW "NATURAL" OR "ORGANIC" ARE YOUR VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS?
• FDA STILL ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON APPROVAL OF CLONED FOODS
• PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: CHILDREN'S PLASTIC LUNCH BOXES
• ENDING BOTTLED WATER ADDICTION WILL SAVE MONEY & ENVIRONMENT
• PLANTING PEACE
• MONSANTO FINED FOR FALSE ADVERTISING
• WILD MEDICINAL PLANTS TO BE PROTECTED UNDER NEW GLOBAL STANDARD
• SENATE POISED TO CUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM FUNDING
• AMLA: MEDICINAL FOOD & SOURCE OF HIGH QULAITY VITAMIN C

Issue #102 2/8/2007 - PDF Version

• TAKE A STAND FOR LOVE & JUSTICE ON VALENTINES DAY
• FAIR TRADE AND ORGANIC CHOCOLATES AND FLOWERS
• PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: KRAFT "REAL" CHEESE
• FEDERAL COURT HALTS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED GRASS FIELD TRIALS
• HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK: A CUP A DAY WILL KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY
• QUOTE OF THE WEEK: DR. ROYAL LEE: CRUSADER FOR ORGANIC, NATURALLY OCCURRING FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS
• MOST POPULAR "FRUIT" PRODUCTS BEAR NO FRUIT
• AFFORDABLE BACKYARD WIND POWER NOW AVAILABLE
• ORGANIC & SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCREASES YIELDS BY 79% OR MORE
• WEB VIDEO OF THE WEEK: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR MEAT?
• BOOK OF THE WEEK: WHAT'S IN YOUR MILK?

Issue #101 1/25/2007 - PDF Version

PLANTING PEACE:
WHY ORGANIC CONSUMERS MUST SPEAK OUT AGAINST WAR & GLOBAL WARMING

WAL-MART "ORGANICS"

HUMAN GUINEA PIGS EAT APE DIET

VITAMIN MYTH EXPOSED

THE MEAT YOU EAT IS CRANKING UP THE HEAT

WHEN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY FALLS INTO THE WRONG HANDS

WHAT'S IN YOUR MILK?

WEB VIDEOS OF THE WEEK (FOR MOUTHS ONLY):

• "MOUTHS OF THE WORLD DEMAND REAL ORGANIC FOOD" &
• "MERCURY VAPORS FROM YOUR DENTAL FILLINGS"

LOVELY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

• GIVE FAIR TRADE AND ORGANIC CHOCOLATE AND FLOWERS THIS VALENTINES DAY
• ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (VALENTINES CARDS FOR THE ECO-MINDED)
• PLANTING PEACE ALERT

Issue #100 1/11/2007 - PDF Version

OCA LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN: NUTRI-CON
THE TRUTH ABOUT VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS

RECOMMENDED READING FOR THE WEEK: VITAMIN MYTH EXPOSED

HELP SET ORGANIC STANDARDS AND WIN A MOUNTAIN BIKE

PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: CAPRI-SUN "NATURAL" BEVERAGES

FRANKEN-WINES TO HIT U.S. THIS YEAR

WEIRD SCIENCE: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CANNIBAL COWS

TIP OF THE WEEK: HOW TO FEED YOURSELF

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: MONITORING WASHINGTON'S 'REVOLVING DOOR'

QUICK FACT OF THE WEEK: NATIONAL DEBT

ORGANIC BYTES 2006:

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