Chances are you’ve picked up an issue of Consumer Reports at some point, or navigated their website. The publication is typically viewed as a trusted source of product reviews of cars, appliances and electronics. What you may not realize is that Consumer Reports affiliated with Consumers Union – a nonprofit group that has decided to give modern agricultural practices a bad review.
One area of focus for Consumers Union is antibiotic use in animal agriculture. In addition to being part of the Keep Antibiotics Working coalition (along with HSUS, Food and Water Watch, the Environmental Working Group), CU has produced or collaborated on several reports on the issue. These reports tend to focus more on spreading misinformation and stirring up fear than facts, and one clear objective is to pressure restaurant and retail brands to adopt stricter antibiotic-use policies for their supply chains – regardless of potential impacts on animal health and welfare. The North American Meat Institute has done great work in debunking many of CU's claims.
CU has also taken on the GMO issue (does the fact that “NotInMyFood.org” directs to the “Food” section of CU’s website tell you where it stands?), urging site visitors to “demand your right to know about GMOs” and “don’t let Monsanto limit your choices.”
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