Latest news with #Perdue
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Major food producer hit with lawsuit after contaminating local water supply: 'Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer ... continues'
A major farm has been slapped with a lawsuit for its discharge of forever chemicals in its wastewater, according to WUSA9. Perdue Farms is under investigation in Maryland for contaminating the water supplies of neighbors via its wastewater processing. Groundwater and a stream bordering the farm are allegedly affected. A class-action lawsuit against Perdue on the matter is expected to take years. In the meantime, lawyers representing the residents have sent a letter to Perdue demanding action within 90 days pending the investigation, or else they will go to a federal judge to force the limitation of sludge fertilizer use. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide grouping of chemicals that have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because of their persistence in ecosystems and bodies. They're typically used in anti-stick coating like Teflon, water-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, food packaging, and potentially in this case, sewage. Exposure to these toxic chemicals has shown links to infertility and cancer. Perdue's case is far from an isolated incident. One Alabama woman suffered multiple heart issues related to exposure to PFAS in her water. An abandoned property in South Carolina remained an ongoing source of forever chemical contamination to nearby communities. Broadly, legislation is possible. Canada has been taking legal steps to protect consumers against forever chemicals. German insurance providers are dialing back coverage of companies being subject to PFAS-related lawsuits. Conversely, the EPA recently rolled back water regulations that would protect Americans from some PFAS. Perdue said it is providing bottled water and filtration systems to 356 affected homes and is nearly finished testing the wells of 920 homes. Residents say this is still not enough, so long as its waste management hasn't changed. "Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer and other health problems from PFAS-contaminated groundwater continues," said attorney Phil Federico, per WUSA9. "We've got to get them clean water now and stop this. This risk that they're being exposed to." How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
TikToker claims this hack on meat will slash your grocery bill: ‘I don't have to pay for my chicken anymore'
A frugal money-saver has gone viral online for sharing her hack to get free chicken – and it works nearly every time, she claims. 'I don't pay for my chicken anymore,' TikTok user @amandahugnkiss says in the viral clip posted earlier this week. 'And I'm gonna tell you how you can get yours for free, too.' The TikToker, who shares money-saving hacks on her account, weighs all the meat she buys from the grocery store – and will seek a refund from its producer if it doesn't match what the label claims it weighs. 'I would say maybe one out of 10 packages actually meet the weight that's on the label,' she said in the clip, which amassed nearly 200,000 views as of Thursday. She then shared a photo of Perdue chicken she recently bought that has a label saying it should contain 3.97 pounds of chicken – but only actually came out to 2.6 pounds. 'I called Perdue. I reported all the information on this label and within a day or two, or three or four days, I'll get a check in the mail for the price that I paid for this meat,' she explained. She noted that she usually has to provide photos and a receipt in order to get a refund. The TikToker noted that while others may call her cheap, she believes companies should be held responsible for making sure their labels are accurate. 'I believe that if a package says 3.97 pounds, there should be 3.97 pounds of meat,' she says, later noting, 'That is without the packaging. Companies are not supposed to include that in their measurements.' She then encouraged viewers to weigh their meat, noting they'd 'be surprised you're getting ripped off as well.' The federal Office of Weights and Measurements, which she mentions in the video, 'works to ensure that consumers get what they pay for and sellers get fair payment for the goods and services they sell by promoting a uniform and technically sound system of weights and measurements,' according to the agency's website. People on TikTok lauded the hack – and urged others to do the same in order to hold big food companies accountable. 'I don't find you're being cheap. Let's hold these companies accountable for unfair pricing. If I'm buying 5 pounds of meat I expect to have 5 lbs,' one commentator wrote. Another chimed in: 'it's smart, and if everyone did it maybe they'd stop cheating us.' 'They call you cheap but they have no problem with a billion dollar corporation PHUCKING the little guy,' another added.
15-05-2025
- Business
New US ambassador, former senator and business executive David Perdue, arrives in China
BEIJING -- The new U.S. ambassador to China, former senator and business executive David Perdue, arrived in Beijing on Thursday, just days after China and the U.S. agreed to a temporary break in their damaging tariff war. Perdue said on X that it is an honor to represent President Donald Trump as ambassador. 'I am ready to get to work here and make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,' he wrote. Perdue, 75, had a long career as an executive in firms from clothing to retail. He was based in Hong Kong as head of the Asia operations for Sara Lee Corp. and later was president of the Reebok athletic brand and chairman and CEO of Dollar General stores. A Republican, he was a senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021 and ran for governor of the state as a Trump-backed candidate in 2022 but lost in the Republican primary. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China was ready to 'provide convenience' for Perdue to perform his duties. 'We have always viewed and handled China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We hope the US side will work with China in the same direction,' Lin said at a daily news briefing. The U.S. reached a weekend deal with China to reduce sky-high tariffs on each other's goods, an agreement U.S. President Donald Trump has referred to as a victory. The U.S. agreed to cut the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%. The lower tariff rates came into effect on Wednesday. Worldwide, markets have responded to the agreement with gusto, rebounding to the levels before Trump's tariffs, but many business owners remain wary. Along with tariffs and China's massive trade surplus with the U.S., the two have tangled over security in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety. The U.S. has also been a harsh critic of China's crackdown on human rights in ethnic areas such as Tibet and Xinjiang and in Hong Kong, and is a strong supporter of Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that China says is its own territory and threatens to invade. With the 90-day tariff suspension being a notable exception, relations have hit lows not seen in decades. A reminder of that was Perdue's predecessor Nicholas Burns' order this year banning American government personnel in China, as well as family members and contractors with security clearances, from any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens, a throwback to the Cold War. Perdue was confirmed by the Senate on April 29. While in the Senate, he served on the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Banking, Budget, and Agriculture committees. He also chaired the Subcommittees on Sea Power and State Department Oversight and 'traveled extensively to strengthen U.S. partnerships across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe,' according to his official biography. He was born in Warner Robins, Georgia, and grew up on his family's farm. He and his wife have two sons and three grandsons.
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
New U.S. ambassador, former senator and business executive David Perdue, arrives in China
BEIJING — The new U.S. ambassador to China, former senator and business executive David Perdue, arrived in Beijing on Thursday, just days after China and the U.S. agreed to a temporary break in their damaging tariff war. Perdue said on X that it is an honor to represent President Trump as ambassador. 'I am ready to get to work here and make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,' he wrote. Perdue, 75, had a long career as an executive in firms from clothing to retail. He was based in Hong Kong as head of the Asia operations for Sara Lee Corp. and later was president of the Reebok athletic brand and chairman and CEO of Dollar General stores. A Republican, he was a senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021 and ran for governor of the state as a Trump-backed candidate in 2022 but lost in the Republican primary. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China was ready to 'provide convenience' for Perdue to perform his duties. 'We have always viewed and handled China-U.S. relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We hope the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction,' Lin said at a daily news briefing. The U.S. reached a weekend deal with China to reduce sky-high tariffs on each other's goods, an agreement Trump has referred to as a victory. The U.S. agreed to cut the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%. The lower tariff rates came into effect on Wednesday. Worldwide, markets have responded to the agreement with gusto, rebounding to the levels before Trump's tariffs, but many business owners remain wary. Along with tariffs and China's massive trade surplus with the U.S., the two have tangled over security in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety. The U.S. has also been a harsh critic of China's crackdown on human rights in ethnic areas such as Tibet and Xinjiang and in Hong Kong, and is a strong supporter of Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that China says is its own territory and threatens to invade. With the 90-day tariff suspension being a notable exception, relations have hit lows not seen in decades. A reminder of that was Perdue's predecessor Nicholas Burns' order this year banning American government personnel in China, as well as family members and contractors with security clearances, from any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens, a throwback to the Cold War. Perdue was confirmed by the Senate on April 29. While in the Senate, he served on the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Banking, Budget, and Agriculture committees. He also chaired the Subcommittees on Sea Power and State Department Oversight and 'traveled extensively to strengthen U.S. partnerships across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe,' according to his official biography. He was born in Warner Robins, Ga., and grew up on his family's farm. He and his wife have two sons and three grandsons.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
New U.S. Ambassador To China David Perdue Takes Up Beijing Post
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) swears in David Perdue (C) as U.S. Ambassador to China as ... More U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on May 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Perdue, a former Republican Senator and past critic of China, was confirmed by a vote of 67 to 29 amid a tense trade war between the two countries. (Photo by) Newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue took up his post in Beijing today amid tariff and other disputes between the U.S. and China that have strained business and other ties between the two sides. 'I arrived in Beijing today," the American representative said in a post on X. "It is an honor to represent President Trump as the U.S. Ambassador to China. I am ready to get to work here and make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous." Perdue, 75, was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Ambassador to China on April 29. He was previously a U.S. Senator from Georgia in 2015-2021. Earlier in his career, well-traveled Perdue spent over four decades as an American business executive, living in France, Singapore, and the U.S. as well as Hong Kong where he led Asia operations for Sara Lee Corporation, according to his embassy biography. Later, he was president of the Reebok athletic brand and chairman and CEO of Dollar General stores. The Georgia native grew up on his family's farm. He holds a bachelor of industrial engineering and a master of science in operations research from Georgia Tech. Perdue and his wife met in the first grade and have been married for more than 50 years, the biography said. Xinhua News Agency said in a report yesterday China is willing to 'provide facilitation' to Perdue in performing his duties. "China's position on the China-U.S. relations is consistent," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said in response to question about Perdue's arrival, according to the Chinese news agency. Perdue's predecessor Nick Burns is currently a professor at the Harvard University and a vice chairman of the Cohen Group, a Washington-based consultancy. American Business Group Lauds U.S.-China Trade Agreement; Stocks Soar Thousands Line Up In D.C. For Chinese Cultural Tour Despite Tensions Former Chinese Shopping Mall Billionaire Detained
