WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, passed by Congress in July of 2016, directed USDA to establish the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, a national mandatory standard for disclosing foods that are or may be bioengineered. The Standard requires food manufacturers, importers and certain retailers to ensure bioengineered foods are appropriately disclosed.

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Winter storms and cold temperatures can be dangerous. Stay safe and healthy by planning ahead. Prepare your home and cars. Prepare for power outages and outdoor activity. Check on older adults.

Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us are not ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall.

Take These Steps for Your Home

Many people prefer to remain indoors during winter, but staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Do you have woods in your backyard? Penn State research estimates that nearly half a million Pennsylvanians own a small patch of woodland — something smaller than 10 acres in size. In fact, the vast majority of Pennsylvania landowners have fewer than 10 acres. These small patches add up to about a million acres, or about 10 percent, of the state's privately held woodlands.

The "Woods in Your Backyard" webinar series teaches land stewardship through eight live, one-hour, online evening lectures that can be viewed on your home computer. Sessions run from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday nights for eight weeks beginning Feb. 6. All lectures are recorded and can be viewed later if a live session is missed.

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WASHINGTON — It’s the start of the new school year, which means new teachers, a bunch of homework assignments and the never-ending dilemma of what to include to make a healthy and safe school lunch.

“As a mother, I understand the stress that comes with the start of a new school year, but preparing a safe lunch doesn’t have to be a challenge,” said Carmen Rottenberg, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA. “Simple steps like washing your hands and keeping food at the correct temperature can stop the spread of bacteria and keep your children safe from foodborne illness.”

Handwashing is the first and easiest step to avoid foodborne illnesses. A recent study by USDA found that 97 percent of the times participants should have washed their hands they did not do so correctly or at all. This poor hand hygiene caused participants to cross-contaminate other spice containers, refrigerator handles, even ready-to-eat foods and other areas of their kitchen with a harmless tracer bacteria.

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Kombucha is the “in” health drink lately, available from local producers, in stores, online and even many people make their own version of the fermented tea. Kombucha (pronounced kom-BOO-cha) can help restore the body’s natural microbiome and improve overall health, but it’s important to make informed choices about kombucha sources and consumption.

Kombucha, originating from China, is made by adding a scoby—a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast—and sugar to brewed tea. By allowing the mixture to sit for seven to 14 days, the sugar feeds the yeast and the liquid ferments. The result of fermentation is a naturally fizzy drink similar to a carbonated vinegar or wine.

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This is part of our series profiling Agency officers in various positions throughout the Agency. We talk with them about their daily challenges and rewards, as well as some exceptional moments. CIA.gov recently sat down with a current employee, a Science, Technology, and Weapons Analyst, to learn more about her journey to the CIA and her experiences here.

Tell us about your path to the CIA.

I sort of stumbled into the CIA by accident. As a freshman, I had attended a seminar for general engineering students that featured the Intelligence Community (IC). At the time, I thought it would be an incredible field to work in, but I had the impression that it was highly competitive, and only people who already knew people in the IC had a way in. Fast forward to my junior year of college, where I was attending a job expo for   more...