Agribusiness Update for Friday 11/8/13

The FDA has saturated fats in their sights. They have issued a Federal Register notice with its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils are no longer "generally recognized as safe." If this preliminary determination is finalized, then PHOs would become food additives subject to premarket approval by FDA. If they make that final determination it would end the use of saturated fats in foods.

Students and farmers could benefit from a new federal initiative supported by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Maria Cantwell. The Senators are leading a letter to members of the Farm Bill Conference Committee promoting a five-year pilot program that promotes the use of pulse crops—dry beans, dry peas, lentils and chickpeas—in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's nutrition program.  Northwest states are a prime producer of pulse crops. 

California, Oregon and Washington are among the top 10 states in the annual Energy Efficient Scorecard. Massachusetts tops the list. The Scorecard ranks states on their energy efficiency policy and program efforts, and provides recommendations for ways that states can improve their energy efficiency performance in a variety of policy areas.

That's today's Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.