Michelle Obama, take spent hens off the menu!

Since 2007, kids have been served 13.6 million pounds of chicken in school lunches that's so low-quality it would otherwise have become compost or dog food. This is chicken KFC refuses to serve.

Known as "spent hen" meat, the poultry industry has been using their influence to peddle this meat to the national school lunch program.  

I think it's time we appealed to our country's most powerful advocate for child nutrition. As first lady Michelle Obama frequently points out: Our kids need, and deserve, better.

Petition Text Dear First Lady Michelle Obama, I know you would agree that kids deserve safe, healthy food. Since 2007, kids have been served 13.6 million pounds of chicken in school lunches that's so low-quality it would otherwise have become compost or dog food. This is chicken KFC refuses to serve. Please use your influence as a champion on child health issues to take this chicken, known as spent hen chicken, off the menu, and tell the USDA that they should adopt science-based safety standards for all high-risk food served in schools. Our children deserve better. Sincerely,

First Name Last Name Address City State StateALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY Zip Code Phone Number Email Address

Support Chemical Safety

On March 11, the House Homeland Security Committee formally introduced the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008 (H.R. 5577) with 19 co-sponsors.

We want 16 more co-sponsors by the end of this month. 

Please sign this letter to your representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor the U.S. PIRG-backed bill, to protect American communities from toxic chemicals.

Text of the letter: 

Dear Representative,

A deliberate or accidental release of toxic chemicals could kill or seriously injure thousands of Americans. The best way to deal with this threat is to replace toxic chemicals with safer technologies, especially because many safer alternatives already exist.

I urge you to co-sponsor comprehensive chemical security legislation that promotes the replacement of toxic chemicals with safer technologies—H.R. 5577, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008. 

H.R. 5577 will:
- Require high-risk chemical facilities to use safer chemicals or methods that "reduce the consequences of a terrorist attack" as long as they do not shift risks and are technically feasible and cost effective.

- Eliminate the current law's exemption of approximately 3,000 drinking water and wastewater facilities.

- Involve plant employees in the development of vulnerability assessments and security plans and provide protection for whistleblowers.

-  Protect state authority to establish stronger security standards.

Safe Food, Healthy Kids

Petition Text Dear USDA Secretary Vilsack, More than 23,000 kids got sick from food served in schools between 1998 and 2007. We should make sure that our kids are getting safe, healthy food in school by: · Requiring meat inspections before the meat is ground. · Adopting science-based safety standards for all school lunch meat. · Notifying schools directly about recalls, and creating a national database to help school officials avoid food companies with a history of safety problems.

First Name Last Name Address City State StateALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY Zip Code Phone Number Email Address