Note from Hygeia — We invited Larry Jacobs (far right in photo), founder and president of Del Cabo and Jacobs Farm, to share his experiences in producing organic herbs and vegetables free of non-compliant pesticide residues. His history with illegal pesticides on organic foods spans decades. He has lost crops and markets in his company’s […]
FAQs re Biden-Harris Ag and EPA Transition Priorities
We are getting many questions about President-Elect Biden’s transition priorities. Hygeia has no seat at the pertinent tables, but is in touch with many people that do. What are the most important components of the transition that the Biden-Harris team are focused on now? Easy answer. Combating the pandemic. Bucking up public health science. Getting […]
Neonic Seed Treatments in the (Science) News
It appears that scientists, and farmers too, are taking a closer look at the ubiquitous use of neonicotinoid seed treatments in US corn, soybean and other crops. Neonics are powerful insecticides used to coat the outside of a wide variety of seeds including grain and oilseed crops. The brightly-dyed layer of pesticide is designed to […]
2020 Dietary Risk Index Paper in “Environmental Health”
“The dietary risk index system: a tool to track pesticide dietary risks” Co-authors: Charles Benbrook and Don Davis Published: October 14, 2020 in Environmental Health. Full Citation: Benbrook, Charles M., & Davis, Donald R.; “The dietary risk index system: a tool to track pesticide dietary risks;” Environmental Health, 2020, 19(1); DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00657-z. Access the full-text […]
The DRI — A New Tool for Tracking Pesticides in Food
By: Chuck Benbrook A milestone in my career occurred on October 14, 2020 with the publication of “The dietary risk index system: a tool to track pesticide dietary risks” in the peer reviewed journal Environmental Health. This paper was written with my friend and co-author Dr. Donald Davis. It is the culmination of work started in 1985, […]
Special Coverage: Organic Integrity
Why Promoting Organic Integrity Must Become a Top Priority for USDA
Hygeia Analytics has featured news and blogs on organic integrity the last two weeks, beginning with our August 27th coverage of the cover story “Produce Without Pesticides” in the October 2020 issue of Consumer Reports. On that same day Hygeia was proud to share an excellent guest blog by Larry Jacobs, founder and President of […]
So What About the Integrity of the U.S. Organic Grain Supply?
On March 6, 2017, Hygeia posted a guest blog by Lynn Clarkson, then President of Clarkson Grain, one of the largest suppliers of U.S. grown organic and non-GMO grain and soybeans in the domestic and global market. His blog was based on a letter Lynn had sent to several newly minted Trump Administration officials, in […]
Consumer Reports Takes on Reducing Pesticide Dietary Risks
The 10-page cover story in the October, 2020 issue of Consumer Reports provides clear guidance to consumers hoping to reduce their daily dose of pesticides via their diet. CR developed and applied a data-driven system to quantify the risk levels in a serving of 49 different foods. It then applied quantitative risk benchmarks in a […]
Consumer Reports Dietary Risk Analysis
The Story — “Stop Eating Pesticides,” Consumer Reports, October 2020 (pages 24-33), access methodology here Our Coverage- “Consumer Reports Calls for Decisive Action to Reduce Pesticide Risk” In The News piece, and Guest Blog by Larry Jacobs, President and Founder of DelCabo organic farming cooperative.