Usda

The Agriculture Department Hired More Than 50 Political Appointees. They All Say They're White.

As of September, none of Trump’s appointees at the agency identified as racial or ethnic minorities, according to official personnel data.

That Organic Chicken On Your Plate: Did It Really Get To Walk Around Outside?

At the last minute, the Obama administration elevated standards for organic meat. Trump's USDA has managed to delay them for eight months so far, and the outlook isn't bright.

Trump's Pick For Science Chief At USDA Had No Science Experience — But That's Not Why He Withdrew

The Agriculture Department chief scientist nominee, Sam Clovis, has withdrawn his bid for the job due to the Russian election investigation. He also had no scientific qualifications.

America's Biggest Egg Company Is Rethinking Its Cage-Free Plans Now

Consumers simply aren't as willing to pay the premium for more humanely-raised products as companies had expected.

There's More Evidence That The "Organic" Label Is Meaningless

Food that's labeled "organic" and imported from abroad may not actually meet the standards for organic food in the US, according to the USDA inspector general.

You'll Have Questions About Pigs When You Watch "Okja," And Here Are The Answers

I'm out here calling scientists and reading government reports so you won't have to! (Some spoilers for Okja.)

The Whole Grain Terror In School Lunches Is About To End

Trump's agriculture secretary wants to "make school meals great again."

The USDA Won’t Say Why It Hid Animal Welfare Records From The Public

BuzzFeed News asked the USDA for records about its decision to remove a database on animal welfare from the web. The department responded on Friday, with 1,771 pages that are completely blacked out.

President Trump Wants To Skewer Food Programs. Here's What That Means For Everyday Americans

Billions in proposed cuts to the Department of Agriculture would slash or eliminate several key food and nutrition services, and potentially jeopardize food safety.

A Federal Agency Has Started To Return Censored Animal Safety Records Online

Facing a public backlash and a lawsuit, the agriculture department is starting to put reports on animal use and inspections back onto the web.

It Just Got Much Harder To Know What's Going On In US Animal Research Labs

An entire database on animal research — including documents on the numbers of animals used in each lab, inspection reports, and enforcement actions — has suddenly been taken down from public view.

The USDA Says That Trump Didn't Send Its Order Restricting Scientists

According to the Agriculture Department, career staffers, not the new Trump administration, scared its scientists with a memo forbidding release of “any public-facing documents” this week.

USDA Lifts Clampdown On Its Science Division

On Tuesday evening a top USDA official told scientists the order "is hereby rescinded."

USDA Scientists Have Been Put On Lockdown Under Trump

You Can't Go To The Grocery Store Until You Pass This Nutrition Facts Quiz

*Eats entire package. Finds out it was actually three servings*

Cincinnati Zoo's Fence Between Visitors And Harambe Didn't Meet Standards

The zoo has since replaced its fencing.

Orange Growers Can Now Use Antibiotics On Their Trees

The Florida orange crop has been devastated by a tree disease, and now growers are turning to antibiotics commonly used by humans.

America Gives Big Cheese A $20 Million Bailout

It may seem hard to believe — impossible even — but America has too much cheese right now. Like, 1.25 billion pounds too much.

Santa Cruz Biotech Loses License, Fined Record $3.5 Million

On Friday the U.S. Department of Agriculture revoked the research license of Santa Cruz Biotechnology in a settlement over alleged Animal Welfare Act violations on the firm's goat farm.

Pittsburgh Zoo Ordered To Stop Using Dogs To Stress Out Elephants

The zoo was using two cattle-herding dogs to keep an eye on the African elephants while in open areas with handlers. Federal inspectors, however, determined that the dogs were causing "behavioral stress" to the herd.

Teens Are Sharing Gross Pictures Of Their School Lunches With The Hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama

The meals are meant to comply with the USDA's new guidelines for school lunches championed by the first lady.

Shocking Amounts Of Sugar People Eat Around The World

What country eats the most sugar? Hint: it’s not who you think.

Meat That Tests Positive For E. Coli Is Cooked And Sold In Human And Pet Food

And this might not be such a bad thing.

Facts All French Fry Fanatics Should Know

There's more than just potatoes...

USDA Plans Outreach Campaign, Rule Change Aimed At Rural LGBT Americans

The USDA, working with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, is launching a campaign to address the needs and concerns of LGBT communities in rural areas. "This is part of the American dream and we are making sure that the LGBT community is covered in that American dream," a USDA senior official says of his office's work.

Vermont Maple Syrup Production Is Having Its Best Year Ever

The 1.32 million gallons of maple syrup produced by the state this year is the largest since 1942.