Learn More
The comprehensive "Consumers Union Guide to Environmental Labels" can help you figure out whether a particular label is useful--or even legit.

To learn about efforts to strengthen and safeguard organic standards, visit the Organic Consumers Association's Web site.

Find out which fruits and veggies are most important to buy organic (based on the amount of pesticide residues in their conventional counterparts) by consulting the Environmental Working Group's "Pesticides in Produce" report card.

Take Action
An industry-supported bill under consideration in Congress, the National Uniformity for Food Act, would override tough state labeling laws, like California's warnings about mercury in fish, arsenic in bottled water, and other potential toxic substances in food. According to the Congressional Budget Office, as many as 200 state laws or rules could be eliminated by this bill, which passed the House in March and is now before the Senate as S. 3128. Ask your senator to protect food safety by opposing it. You can also send a customizable e-mail message at notinmyfood.org.

From the Sierra Archives

• "Have Your Fish and Eat It, Too"
  Preserving the ocean's bounty by eating wisely. (January/February 2004)
• "Organic Food Fight"
  Politicians are playing chicken with the new rules. (July/August 2003)

• "Better Bacon"
  Sustainable pork producers challenge the meat factories. (March/April 2003)

• "Shop and Save"
  From two-by-fours to fish fillets, "environmentally friendly" labels are popping up everywhere. Here's what some of the green claims really mean. (November/December 2002)

• "Over-Caffeinated World"
  How the global coffee glut threatens tropical forests. (July/August 2002)

• "Nothing to Beef About"
  "Organic" isn't just for baby carrots. (March/April 2002)

Back to the "Truth in Labeling" article.