Media Center

Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Protect Californians and Pollinators from Dangerous Neurotoxins

October 11, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

With the support of Governor Newsom and persistence from the state legislature, California has passed AB 363, which bans over the counter sales of lawn and garden neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides by 2025, limiting their use to trained professionals. The bill…

Groups File Lawsuit to Require California to Regulate Pesticide-Treated Seeds 

February 21, 2023 Press ReleaseCalifornia

Legal challenge calls on state Department of Pesticide Regulation to close loophole on unregulated sale, use of pesticides on seeds.

Padilla, Chu Join Union Workers in Los Angeles to Push for Federal Heat Stress Protections

August 30, 2022 Press ReleaseLos Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA — As temperatures soar to triple digits in areas of Southern California, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) were in Los Angeles today along with union representatives and workers to advocate for federal…

California Bans PFAS in Paper-Based Food Packaging

October 5, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law today banning the use of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in paper-based food packaging and to require disclosure of toxic substances in cookware.

California Leaders Approve Bill to Ban PFAS in Paper-Based Food Packaging

September 7, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers have approved legislation to ban the use of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in paper-based food packaging and to require disclosure of toxic substances in cookware, sending the bill to Governor Gavin Newsom for his…

Advocates Demand Regulation of Toxic Neonic-Treated Seeds

September 23, 2020 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO - A group of health and environmental organizations filed a legal petition today, calling upon the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to regulate the planting of crop seeds coated with neurotoxic neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics) and close a loophole that…

Taco Bell Announces Plans for Beef Antibiotic Use Reductions

July 29, 2019 Press ReleaseCalifornia

Move Indicates Increasing Pressure for Fast Food Companies to Act

Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue Country’s Largest Agricultural Water District Over Illegal Plot to Raise Shasta Dam

May 14, 2019 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups filed a lawsuit against Westlands Water District for unlawfully aiding efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to raise Shasta Dam. The destructive project would flood critical parts of the…

New Legislation Approved Requiring Disclosure of Use of Antibiotics in Meat Products

October 24, 2017 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco will now require large chain grocers to provide information about the antibiotic use associated with each line of raw meat sold in their stores. The “Right to Know” ordinance, authored by Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, seeks…

Burger King to Clean Up Antibiotics Practices in Chicken Supply by 2018

June 22, 2017 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO – The parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons has committed to ending the use of all antibiotics important to human medicine in their chicken supply by the end of 2018, according to news reports today.

Cal/EPA Assessment Finds Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Poses Risks to California Children

January 11, 2016 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (January 11, 2016) – A long awaited health assessment from the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) finds that children are at risk from the dangerous agricultural pesticide chlorpyrifos. The chemical is a widely-used toxic pesticide that can interfere…

NRDC Report: Is California Doing Enough to Manage Drought?

December 14, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (December 14, 2015) – A report card released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) finds that the state is making mixed progress, and, in some cases, failing to invest in 21st century solutions that would promote…

Illegal Diversion of Water Threatens to End Chinook Salmon Survival in California

November 10, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (November 10, 2015) – Environmental groups filed a request yesterday to supplement their complaint against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and growers who flood irrigate rice in the Sacramento Valley for mismanaging water supplies that should have been…

California Poised to Set Strictest Antibiotics Standards for Livestock Use in the Nation

October 9, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO (October 9, 2015) – By the end of the weekend, California Governor Jerry Brown will announce his decision on legislation by Sen. Jerry Hill that sets the strictest limits in the U.S. on the misuse and overuse of antibiotics…

As Subway Moves to Reduce Antibiotics in Chicken, Groups Call for Details and Timelines

September 1, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (September 1, 2015) — Following calls to action from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), US PIRG, Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety, Keep Antibiotics Working, Food Animals Concern Trust, Consumers Union and FoodBabe.com, Subway appears…

Broad Array of Public Interest Groups Call on Subway, the World’s Largest Fast-Food Chain: Help Save Antibiotics!

June 23, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (June 23, 2015) — A letter signed by nearly 60 public interest, medical, public health, environmental and animal welfare organizations was delivered to Subway Founder and CEO Fred DeLuca and Senior VP Suzanne Greco today, asking the restaurant…

New Poll: Californians Are Highly Concerned about Meat from Animals Routinely Fed Antibiotics

June 1, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (June 1, 2015) – California residents are seriously concerned about the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in meat and poultry production and an overwhelming majority favor California leaders taking action to close gaps in federal oversight, according to…

NRDC Files Suit to Maximize Water Savings from California Water Grants

May 29, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

OAKLAND, CALIF. (May 29, 2015) – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed suit on Thursday against the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to ensure that $200 million of grant funding has maximum water-saving impact by making sure that…

Governor Brown’s Revised Budget Invests in a Cleaner, Healthier California

May 14, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO (May 14, 2014) – The revised State Budget proposed by Governor Brown this morning and sent to the State Legislature would make use of California’s improved fiscal picture and apply much-needed funds to protect our air, land, and water…

First-Ever Mandatory Water Reductions for Urban and Agriculture Across California

April 1, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (April 1, 2015) – In response to the ongoing drought and record low snow in California, Governor Jerry Brown today announced a statewide directive including mandatory water reductions, investment in new technologies, implementation of conservation pricing in water…