Tea Farmer In India Leads Charge For Organic, report by NPR

“Tenzing transitioned to organic farming after an incident with pesticides on his own farm convinced him he needed to change. He would feel nauseous and have headaches after spraying insect-killing chemicals, and wondered why he felt sick. Then, as the fish died in the water where he’d washed his clothes, and rabbits at his farm died, Tenzing became worried he was selling people “poison” for tea. Now his small tea estate is free of synthetic chemicals.” – NPR, the Salt

Studies Report on Minimum Wage Hikes, Then and Now

On January 1, minimum wages increased across the country, with 18 states having introduced new pay-by-the-hour for employees. As those changes continue, one report by the Eater.com describes how restaurant owners are making both major and minor “adjustments in order to stay afloat in a dynamic environment with higher labor costs. Whether it be switching from full-service to a counter-service model, or letting go of any additional employees, restaurants are making changes.

Chart is sourced from the Washington Post, article “The effects of 137 minimum wage hikes, in one Chart”

Last June, Washington Post reported on a ‘very credible’ study which displayed the data from wage-increases on Seattle’s unemployment rate, and proved less than promising results for low-income workers. With hikes in minimum wages, some employers had to cut payroll and hours for their employees. More recently, WP published a new reports which demonstrated that the “decline in jobs paying less than the new minimum wage is offset by an increase in those paying more.” Rather, the limitations of increased minimum wage previously outlined in the Seattle study have now been laid to rest and the fluctuations in the job market are not statistically significant. 

Recent Report Determines Bacteria-related Food Recalls on the Rise

For full report from Stericycle, click on image.

“For five years the Stericycle Recall Index has been tracking product recalls in the United States. With numbers for the fourth quarter of 2017 in, the food and beverage category shows the largest increase in recalls since 2012.” – Food and Safety News

Stericycle suggested that the main drivers include technological improvements in food testing, factory farming and growing automation in food production. Additionally, growing consumer awareness has also led to an increased number of recalls. 

“What has changed is the public is paying more attention to the recall process and how effectively brands manage product recalls and notifications,” Stericycle Vice President Mike Good said on Tuesday in a news release marking the fifth anniversary of the recall index.

Corporate power, not public interest, at Root of Science Committee Hearing

Environmental Health News published a commentary before Tuesday’s committee hearing titled, “In Defense of Scientific Integrity: Examining the IARC Monograph Programme and Glyphosate Review.”  Sadly, what should be a constructive review of science and advocacy for public interest, was actually a devious plan set by Monsanto roughly three years ago when scientists found that its weed killer had carcinogenic potential. 

In letters to International Agency for Cancer Research’s leadership, Smith (the leader of the committee hearing) has repeated false narratives and inaccurate news stories planted by Monsanto and chemical industry allies, and cited the “serious nature of these concerns related to expenditures of taxpayer dollars.”