Phibro-Tech Inc.’s chemical manufacturing and recycling facility near Santa Fe Springs has a long history of environmental violations from California regulators, including at least two dozen of the most severe infractions since 2014. There have been a fire at the facility and a hydrochloric acid spill that harmed two workers. The Department of Toxic Substances Control renewed the facility's permit last year. Many local residents want the state to deny the permit and shut it down permanently.
Jon Tester is a former U.S. senator from Montana. He is concerned about the European Union's new regulations on corporate sustainability due diligence, which could hurt American farmers. Tester supports the Protect USA Act, which has been introduced in both chambers of Congress.
Rossmann drugstores in Burgwedel, Lower Saxony, has recalled the Salted Caramel corn waffles from the house brand "EnerBiO". The maximum level of Aflatoxin B1 was exceeded. This is a mold toxin that can cause cancer if consumed regularly. The product should be kept out of the reach of children.
Navid Teimouri is at the School of Public Health, University of Queensland. His team studied 500 research studies of meat and health outcome and found a significant association between industry involvement and the study conclusion. Studies with industry ties were 16 times more likely to report favorable conclusions regarding meat consumption. Sheldon Krimsky mostly studied studies funded by the pharmaceutical industry.
In Russia, some citizens are pushing back against projects they believe threaten their water, land, and quality of life. The 2018 protest in Shiyes, a remote railway station in Russia’s Arkhangelsk region, became a symbol of the distribution of environmental burdens between Russia's regions.
Donald Prater has been promoted to acting deputy commissioner of the department's Human Foods Program, responsible for overseeing 80% of the U.S. food supply. He replaces Kyle Diamantas, who was tapped to lead the entire agency following the resignation of Marty Makary.
California is suing ExxonMobil over plastic pollution in the water. An appellate panel will have to decide whether maritime jurisdiction applies to the water pollution claims against the company. The state claims ExxonMobil misled the public about the recyclability of plastic products. ExxonMobil removed the lawsuit to federal court.
The EPA proposes repealing limits on four types of "forever chemicals" in drinking water, while delaying regulations on two others. The proposal has been criticized by environmental activists and the Make America Healthy Again movement. The American Water Works Association has expressed concern that the estimated cost to implement the Biden-era standards could be higher than the EPA’s calculations.
Mitch and Kara Meredith had saved for 12 years to buy a new house for their growing family. During construction, family members had written Bible verses on studs throughout the house. The house was built on top of an improperly plugged oil well in the 1940s. Last August, dark, oily fluid came up through the floors of the house and flooded their bathroom, bedroom and closet. The family moved four times in four months, paying mortgage and rent simultaneously.
In a world where everything seems to be fast, organic farming can sometimes appear inefficient. It is built around depth, healthy soil, balanced ecosystems, long-term productivity, and sustainability. In many cases, slower doesn't mean weaker, it means a stronger future.