Dr. Oz recently ran a feature about the dangers of food dye, especially for children, on his popular TV show. This is a topic that has received a lot of attention over the years as the prevalence of children diagnosed with ADHD and ADD has spiked dramatically. While the main focus has been on eliminating sugar from the diets of these children, there is solid evidence that consumption of artificial food colors contributes to attention and behavioral problems, too.

Earlier this year, dozens of food, farming, and environmental justice groups announced they will put Monsanto on trial for “crimes against nature and humanity” on October 16, 2016 (World Food Day), in The Hague, Netherlands. As noted by Andre Leu, president of the International Foundation for Organic Agriculture (IFOAM): “Monsanto is able to ignore the human and environmental damage caused by its products, and maintain its devastating activities through a strategy of systemic concealment…”

Late last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AquAdvantage salmon–the first edible genetically engineered animal to earn such an approval…. But instead of U.S. retailers taking favorably to the historic news, more than 60 supermarket chains are refusing to sell it in their stores–Costco now included.

The knotweed, or smartweed, or buckwheat family — the Polygonaceae — is an interesting family that is probably represented by one or more species right outside your door, no matter where you live. Most knotweeds have terminal (at the upper end) clusters of conspicuous droopy or upright pink or white flowers that are so tightly closed they look like knots. Wild buckwheat and cultivated buckwheat (which is also known as kasha) have flowers like this.

Pro-football star and Superbowl champion, Tom Brady, has been making waves recently, speaking up in favor of organic food and an holistic approach to health. But what’s getting all the attention is his blasting of what he terms “poison” products, including such big names as Kellogg and Coca-Cola. As noted by the Organic Consumers Association, “Brady may have just done more good for kids, and more damage to Big Food, than we could accomplish in months.”

Austria and Italy have joined the growing ranks of EU countries opting out of GM crops. After the announcement last week, the list now includes France, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, and Latvia. From the website www.sustainablepulse.com we read: Austrian Health Minister Sabine Oberhauser and a number of Italian Ministries have confirmed that both countries are officially requesting an opt-out from growing the eight varieties of GM maize permitted or set to be permitted at the EU level, thus there will now be a full ban on GM crops in both countries under new EU regulations.

Anyone Can Grow Food! The late Jerry Brunetti discussed Victory Gardens during World War I and II in his last book, The Farm as Ecosystem. The gardens were advertised as a way for patriots to make a difference on the home-front. At that time, the majority of the produce grown in the US was grown right in people’s backyards, and I firmly believe we need to revert to growing our own food .

The New York Times reported on Sunday that recently released emails show how food companies, such as Monsanto and organic Stonyfield Farm, have enlisted academics to fight for them in the GMO food war that is currently raging. With the Senate due to vote this fall on a bill that would prevent states from labeling GMO products, the public relations value of an “impartial” opinion is significant.

This June, www.ecowatch.com reported that a coalition including Community Alliance for Global Justice, fishermen, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 21 and concerned Costco customers rallied in front of the Costco next door to store headquarters and presented more than 300,000 petition signatures demanding that Costco Wholesale publicly commit to not sell genetically modified (GMO) salmon.