By Hatty Willmoth, Newsweek:

“Eating ultra-processed plant-based alternatives to meat, such as vegetarian burgers, sausages and nuggets, is linked with a higher risk of depression, a study has found.

Health scientists at the U.K.’s University of Surrey analyzed the diets of more than 3,300 vegetarians—including fish eaters but not meat eaters—and samples of their blood. They found that vegetarians who ate ultra-processed plant-based meat alternatives were 42 percent more likely to have depression, compared with vegetarians who stuck to whole food proteins, such as chickpeas, eggs, beans, lentils and quinoa.

Ultra-processed food has been linked with a number of negative health outcomes, such as obesity, diabetes, inflammation, heart disease, skin conditions and cancer. As a category of food, it is the subject of some debate, but it is generally defined as foods that are industrially manufactured, using processing techniques and chemical ingredients that are usually unavailable to individuals cooking at home.

Some experts say ultra-processed food has negative health effects because most of it is junk food, with more salt, sugar and saturated fat than less processed food. However, the University of Surrey scientists found that vegetarians who ate more ultra-processed proteins did not eat significantly more salt, sugar or saturated fat than the other group.”

Learn more

TAKE ACTION: Tell the New FDA To Get Rid of These Five GMOs!

Read “The Federal Loophole That Allows Food Companies To Decide What’s Safe for You To Eat”

Kris Bordessa writes for Attainable Sustainable:

“I’m Kris Bordessa, a long-time gardener, certified Master Food Preserver, and award-winning book author. I thrive on trying new things (but admit I don’t always finish them). I love good food, but rarely cook fancy. My mud room is actually muddy, I do most of my flower arranging in the garden, and the windows I’m most likely to wash are those on my greenhouse. I am a hot mess with strong opinions about our food system, plastic waste, and GMOs. If you’re ready to have some fun and learn some new skills, pull up a chair. I’ll put on a pot of chili!
Vintage skills like food preservation, soap making, gardening, and even simple home cooking are seeing a resurgence as a new generation seeks the comfort of old-fashioned handmade living.

If you’re striving to add a bit of simplicity and self-reliance to your life, join me in embracing old-fashioned simple living for the modern era.”

For an abundant supply of insightful and beautifully presented information on garden, food preservation and DIY pantry, check out Attainable Sustainable

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola:

“STORY-AT-A-GLANCE

* A lawsuit alleges that ultra-processed foods (UPFs), engineered to be addictive like cigarettes, caused a teenager to develop serious health problems like fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes

* UPFs are defined as “industrially produced edible substances” that lack essential nutrients and are loaded with refined ingredients, added sugars and unhealthy fats like linoleic acid

* These foods disrupt metabolism, gut health and cellular function, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and chronic inflammation

* The lawsuit claims that Big Food took a page from Big Tobacco’s playbook, using similar tactics to engineer addiction and aggressively market UPFs to children

* Protect your health by avoiding ultra processed foods, learning to read food labels, cooking more often, making healthier food swaps and practicing mindful eating”

Read more about why this case raises important questions for all

Environmental Working Group reports:

“The fragrance market is booming as a result of smellmaxing – teens’ rapidly growing interest in designer scents. Teenage boys’ spending on fragrance rose 26 percent between early 2023 and early 2024. Interest among twenty somethings and men is also rising.

But there’s a downside. The ingredients in a cologne, aftershave and other scents are usually a mystery. Potentially harmful ingredients frequently find their way into the scent – or ‘juice,’ as it’s known in the industry. But too often, there’s no way for the shopper to know what they’re spraying on themselves.

Fragrance formulas are typically a closely held company secret. A mixture of up to 3,500 chemicals might lurk in the tiniest of bottles.

Exposure to these undisclosed substances can lead to a range of health problems. Some of the chemicals can disrupt the hormone system, or cause allergic reactions in kids and adults. Some are phthalates, which can harm the reproductive system. Another fragrance chemical, styrene, is linked to cancer.”

Read this to learn a healthier way to gift fragrance (or just smell great yourself)

Those of you who have been following us know that at the Organic Consumers Association, we’re dedicated to educating and taking action on many issues, from promoting organic regenerative agriculture to ensuring access to healthy food, and exposing the risks of GMOs, synthetic biology, chemical-laden products, factory farming, and Big Pharma’s greed.

But you may not be aware that we are three sister organizations – OCA, Regeneration International, and Vía Orgánica – that have strengthened our structure by sharing resources and staff. Each organization achieves its individual goals while remaining aligned with OCA’s overarching mission of promoting a healthier world. For years, this synergy has helped us stay at the forefront of critical issues, mobilizing people to take action and demand change.

And in these tumultuous times, it’s more crucial than ever to stay focused on our long-term goals. We can’t afford to lose sight of the devastating impact that industrial food systems have on our bodies and the planet. These systems are poisoning us, and it’s imperative we continue to fight for a healthier, more sustainable food future.

We’re grateful for all of you, our supporters, who have gotten us to this point. Whether you’ve donated, taken action, or shared our content, we’re here because of your commitment to a healthier world.

Our Three Sister orgs are facing a crucial moment, as we face uncertainty in key funding sources. So we are turning to you, to help us get through this time,  by asking you to please consider a donation today to help us continue our work for a healthier world now and into the future. 

Make a tax-deductible donation to Organic Consumers Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Make a tax-deductible donation to Regeneration International, our international sister organization

Make a lasting impact through monthly giving, stock donations, planned giving, and IRA charitable distributions

By Lucy Spicer, Sundance:

“Brittany Shyne’s Seeds starts with a funeral.

But even as the individuals onscreen shuffle out of the wake and into their cars, we’re reminded that life begins anew — from inside a car, we see an elderly woman slowly fishing candy out of her purse for her energetic grandchild.

Premiering in the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Documentary Competition, Shyne’s feature directorial debut recognizes that some films don’t benefit from a linear format. ‘I knew my film was always very cyclical,’ says Shyne at Seeds’ post-premiere Q&A on January 25 at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah. ‘I knew that this community was on the fringes, and all these people were at a certain point in age. And I think it just makes sense to go back in time with these participants.’ The community that Shyne — who also acted as the documentary’s cinematographer — chose to center for this project comprises Black generational farmers in the American South. In 1910, Black farmers owned 16 million acres in the U.S., but today that number is much smaller. The farmers Shyne followed are still determined to pass their legacy on to younger generations. ‘I just thought it was important to understand things wither away, but things grow again,’ explains Shyne.

Supported by Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program, Seeds invites us to observe three farms — two in Georgia and one in Mississippi — in a project that was nine years in the making.”

Read more about this powerful film

Douglas Main reports for The New Lede:

“Companies making fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouthrinses are improperly marketing their products as harmless and pleasant-tasting to very young children despite scientific research showing ingestion of the products could be dangerous to their health, according to allegations in a group of proposed class action lawsuits filed earlier this month.

There is a scientific consensus that fluoride primarily acts topically and reduces tooth decay when used properly in toothpaste, but ingestion of concentrated fluoride products can be dangerous across the board — especially for young children.

Many fluoride products lack easy-to-read warning labels and are flavored to taste like fruit or candy, and bear bright colors, cartoon characters, and illustrations of misleadingly large quantities of toothpastes on toothbrushes, according to the lawsuits, which bear many similar claims.”

Read how one product’s packaging looks like a toy and showcases cartoon characters, and learn more about the six lawsuits that have been filed

Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine:

“Gardening isn’t just about growing plants; it’s about growing connections! As we step into the new year, now is the perfect time to cultivate not only your garden but also the community around you. Think of gardening as an opportunity to bring people together—whether it’s swapping seeds with a neighbor, volunteering at a local farm, or simply tending to a community plot. These hands-on activities offer opportunities to bond over shared passions, exchange tips, and support one another. In a world where digital connections can often feel fleeting, gardening offers a tangible way to not only take care of yourself, but the people around you as well.

Ready to get started? Here are seven ways you’ll not only grow your garden but also grow a supportive network of like-minded gardeners, eager to connect, share, and learn together. Start small, dream big, and let your gardening efforts flourish in new and exciting ways. Let’s grow!”

Learn more

By Sui-Lee Wee, Declan Walsh & Farnaz Fassihi, The San Juan Daily Star:

“Some of the world’s most vulnerable populations are already feeling President Donald Trump’s sudden cutoff of billions of dollars in U.S. aid that helps fend off starvation, treats diseases and provides shelter for the displaced.

In a matter of days, Trump’s order to freeze nearly all U.S. foreign aid has intensified humanitarian crises and raised profound questions about the United States’ reliability and global standing.

Soon after announcing the cutoff, the Trump administration abruptly switched gears. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that ‘life saving humanitarian assistance’ could continue, offering a respite for what he called “core” efforts to provide food, medicine, shelter and other emergency needs.

But he stressed that the reprieve was ‘temporary in nature,’ with limited exceptions. Beyond that, hundreds of senior officials and workers who help distribute U.S. aid had already been fired or put on leave, and many aid efforts remain paralyzed around the world.

Most of the soup kitchens in Khartoum, the battle-torn capital of Sudan, have shut down. Until last month, the United States was the largest source of money for the volunteer-run kitchens that fed 816,000 people there.

‘For most people, it’s the only meal they get,’ said Hajooj Kuka, a spokesperson for the Emergency Response Rooms, describing Khartoum as a city ‘on the edge of starvation.’”

Read more about the devastating consequences of losing this humanitarian aid

South Seas University, in partnership with Regeneration International, present a 5-week On-Line via Zoom Certificate Course on Agroecological, Regenerative, and
Organic Agriculture from February 17 – March 18, 2025.

Join Dr. André Leu, International Director of Regeneration International, for a comprehensive 5-lesson certificate course on Agroecological, Regenerative, and Organic Agriculture (AROA). This course will delve into the principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, providing students with a holistic understanding of how to design and manage regenerative farming systems.

Through this course, students will explore key topics such as:

– Maximizing photosynthesis for optimal crop growth

– Managing soil health and nutrition for regenerative organic agriculture

– Using functional biodiversity to manage pests and diseases

– Implementing regenerative practices in real-world farming systems

By the end of this course, students will have gained a deep understanding of regenerative agriculture and will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to apply regenerative farming practices. Earn a certificate and join the global community of regenerative agriculture practitioners.

Learn more and register today

The same companies that make toxic pesticides and genetically-engineered Frankenfoods make chemical and biological weapons–and have colonial interests that involve them in U.S. war-making. These are also the companies peddling the pharmaceuticals that, by some estimates, are the leading cause of death in the U.S.

The secret military history of Bayer and Monsanto goes back to World War I when an invention that would win the Nobel Prize for its use in agriculture was tested on the battlefield, killing thousands with poison gas. During the Holocaust, Bayer ran medical research laboratories and massive factories out of the concentration camps where its Zyklon B was used in the gas chambers. Monsanto was instrumental in developing the bombs that needlessly murdered hundreds of thousands of people in Japan and remained a nuclear weapons contractor until its plants became superfund sites in the 1990s. Today, Bayer and Monsanto, which merged in 2018, are the monopoly Pentagon supplier of the white phosphorus weapons Israel is using in Gaza and Lebanon.

Alexis Baden-Mayer, political director of Organic Consumers Association, is giving a talk on this subject at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Washington, DC, on Friday, February 7 at 7:30 pm. You’re welcome to join in person if you’re in town. Otherwise, please watch online on OCA’s Rokfin or Rumble channels.

Study Reveals Growing Industrial Practice of Altering Milk’s Natural Fat Composition

As EPA Considers Cancer Links to Nitrates in Drinking Water, Industry Downplays the Risks

Bayer to Launch GM Non-Mustardy Mustard Greens

How This Chemical in Everyday Products Might Be Harming Your Health

Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

Meet the Woman Who Lives Without Money: ‘I Feel More Secure Than When I Was Earning’

Dark Chocolate May Lower Diabetes Risk, While Milk Chocolate Adds Pounds

Your Environment Affects How Well Your Medications Work − Identifying Exactly How Could Make Medicine Better

UNM Researchers Find Alarmingly High Levels of Microplastics in Human Brains – And Concentrations Are Growing Over Time

Farmers Gather in Albert Lea To Talk About Bringing Small Grains Back to Minnesota

Your Tea Bag Might Be Shedding Billions of Microplastics

Smartwatch Bands Can Contain ‘Major’ Levels of Toxic PFAS, Study Finds

Deb Haaland ‘Preparing’ To Run for New Mexico Governor

The Astonishing Scientists Who Starved To Protect Plants During the Second World War

Norway on Track To Be First To Go All-Electric

How to Protest Safely