Today's News

13 September 2012

 “I’m a single mother… I don’t buy organic because I have more money than sense, but because I believe in protecting our environment for the welfare of animals… I’m happy to pay a few pence more for a potato that hasn’t potentially poisoned a family of barn owls.”
Nicola Clark – The Daily Mail – 12 September 2023

“I’m not rich or smug, I just want to eat safe, tasty food!”
In a letter to The Daily Mail, Nicola Clark writes how incensed she was by Marco Pierre White’s onslaught on the ‘smug organic mob’, and gives her reasons for choosing organic: “My main reason is environmental impact, not yuppie points. Everyone has the right to decent food… but it doesn’t need to cost the earth.”
The Daily Mail (13 September 2012)

The new class of Grow Your Own
Grow your Own Magazine looks at ‘brilliant initiatives that embrace the younger grow-your-own generation.” The article features Soil Association School Farmers’ Markets which “encourage children to learn about food production and provide an opportunity for small-scale producers to sell directly to the public”, as well as The Food for Life Partnership*, which has encouraged over 4,300 schools to commit to transforming their school meals. This is achieved, amongst other things, through schools growing their own fruit and veg, and the annual FFLP Roast Dinner Day (14 November).
Grow Your Own Magazine (October 2012, p.22)
Find out more about school farmers’ markets.
Find out more about the Food for Life Partnership.
 

Organic Food Awards
Stroud Brewery is toasting success after winning a Soil Association Organic Food Award for its organic Maris Otter Vintage Ale and Big Cat Organic Stout. The Organic Food Awards 2012 recognise and celebrate the highest quality organic food and drink and are among the most prestigious and highly respected in the UK food sector.
Western Daily Press (13 Sept, p.20)
Watch a short film on Stroud Brewery, the first in the new video series of Soil Association Organic Heroes.
Riverford has been announced a multiple winner at this year’s Organic Food Awards, with their Homity Pie picking up joint winner in the pies, pizzas and pasties category; beef pasty, and crème fraiche highly commended. Riverford founder Guy Watson said “It’s fantastic to see how far organic products have progressed in quality and innovation.”
Totnes Times (12 Sept, p.3)
High Weald Dairy scoops best cheese award for their Sussex Slipcote soft sheep milk cheese.
West Sussex Gazette (12 Sept, p.9)
Read more about the Organic Food Award winners.

Do Organic Foods Promote Better Health?
Bill Chameides argues that the Stanford Paper findings did not justify the headlines that: "There isn't much difference between organic and conventional foods, if you're an adult and making a decision based solely on your health."
Huffington Post (9 Sept)
 

Organic September
With the Soil Association spearheading Organic September, the Falkirk Herald features the best of organic wines.
(12 Sept)
Falkirk Herald (12 Sept)
To celebrate Organic September, Natural Lifestyle Magazine encourages readers to explore why organic is naturally different for you and the environment.
Natural Lifestyle Magazine (1 September, p.10)
Health and Beauty
Green Parent magazine features a number of Soil Association licensees including Viridian Nutrition and Saffron Organic health and beauty range. Fiona Quinn is founder of Saffron. “The Soil Association has strict controls on what is not allowed in skincare products, so you won’t find any nasty chemicals,” she says.
Green Parent Magazine (2 October, p.86)
Find out how you can get involved with Organic September.
 

How makeup can enhance female wellness
Your Wellness Magazine looks at the increasing popularity of organic makeup, and why it’s important to look for organic symbols from an accredited certification body like the Soil Association.
Your Wellness Magazine (1 Sept, pp.63-64)
Find out about Soil Association Health and Beauty standards.
 

Healthy school meals take gold
Primary school children in Romford and other parts of Havering have been awarded a gold standard Food for Life Catering Mark for their fresh and healthy school meals.
Barking and Dagenham Post (12 Sept, p.5)
Find out more about the Food for Life Catering Mark.
 

Government rejects call for tighter GM controls
The Government response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) Report on Sustainable Food today rejected all of the Committee’s recommendations for tighter regulation and scrutiny of GM food and crops. The Government wants to, “leave the normal operation of the market to determine whether or not an approved GM product gains acceptance,” but without necessary protection from the problems GM crops cause, food and farming businesses producing non-GM products face technical and financial complications and potential loss of their businesses altogether.
Farming UK (12 Sept)
Read the Soil Association’s comment.

Funeral protest against GM trial
A mock funeral procession to mark “the death of Ireland’s good food sector” was held in Dublin today by people opposed to the Teagasc field study on genetically-modified (GM) potatoes.
Irish Times (12 Sept)
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0912/breaking42.html

Large-scale chemical farming worries Myanmar’s organic vegetable farmers
While demand for organic vegetables has been increasing in Myanmar, farmers are worried about the possible impact of foreign and private investors who are or will be engaging in large-scale vegetable farming using chemical and synthetic fertilizers, as these might contaminate nearby organic vegetable farms.
AsianFarmer (13 Sept)
 

Farming Today
The new Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, tells Farming Today that DEFRA's role is to listen to people's ideas on making their lives easier and then 'get out of their hair'.
He spoke to Charlotte Smith at the launch of the Coalition's new Rural Contract which promises better broadband, improved access to services, and a reduction in red tape.
The Shadow Environment Minister, Mary Creagh, tells the programme she thinks the Contract is 'a lot of smoke and mirrors'.
BBC Radio4, Listen Again (12 Sept)
 

And finally… McDonald’s to Post Calories amid Healthier Food Test
McDonald’s Corp. (MCD), the world’s biggest restaurant chain, will begin posting calorie information on menu boards at its U.S. stores next week as it works to stem criticism that its food causes obesity.
Bloomberg (12 Sept)
www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-12/mcdonald-s-to-post-calories-amid-healthier-food-test.html

*The Food for Life Partnership (www.foodforlife.org.uk) is a network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture. Together we are revolutionising schools meals, reconnecting young people with farms and inspiring families to cook and grow food.

The project is led by the Soil Association, bringing together the practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.