5@5: McDonald’s food becoming real | Feds to weaken mercury rules

McDonald’s removes artificial ingredients from burgers

McDonald’s might be better for you than it used to be: The company has removed artificial preservatives, flavors and colors from its Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with cheese, and Happy Meal burger. These and other changes are designed to attract customers who aren’t interested in eating chemical-laden food. Read more at The Wall Street Journal …

Trump administration prepares to weaken mercury emissions rules

The acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency will soon send to the White House a proposal that provides legal justification for the Trump administration to weaken the regulation that covers mercury. Mercury is a toxic chemical that coal-burning power plants emit; it’s known to damage fetuses’ and children’s nervous systems. Read more at The New York Times …

California governor signs bill banning sale of animal-tested cosmetics

Cosmetic manufacturers who test their products on animals will not be allowed to sell them in California beginning Jan. 1, 2020, after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on Friday. Read more at The Hill …

Federal court rules in favor of North Carolina’s farmworker unions

A federal court has overturned a North Carolina law that prohibited farmworkers from organizing. The 2017 law prohibited the Farm Labor Organizing Committee from automatically deducting union dues from paychecks, even if the employees and the employer agreed. Read more at Modern Farmer …

For a fast-growing cannabis edibles market, trust is key

A notable—and occasionally dangerous—problem with marijuana edibles is controlling the potency of the THC in the product. TraceTrust, a California-based company, is working to solve that problem with its certified label, A True Dose. The program is scheduled to launch in January and will be available in any state where marijuana is legal. Read more at TheSpoon.tech …