Center for Food Safety

What Center for Food Safety does

Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit public interest organization founded in 1997 that pursues its mission through legal advocacy, regulatory engagement, and coalition-building rather than commercial products. Its work targets harmful food production technologies, pesticide regulation, GMO labeling transparency, pollinator protection, and water pollution from agricultural and food processing operations. The organization serves three primary constituencies: consumers and environmental advocates seeking safer food and transparency; farmers and agricultural workers affected by pesticide drift, contaminated water, and inadequate labeling; and natural/organic food retailers (e.g., Natural Grocers) seeking clearer GMO disclosure standards.

CFS has no proprietary technology platform, software products, or AI/ML capabilities; its primary outputs are lawsuits, amicus briefs, regulatory comments, and public education campaigns. Notable recent actions include overturning three USDA loopholes in the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Act (co-litigated with Natural Grocers), securing EPA regulation of pesticide-treated seeds in California effective January 2027, filing a federal Clean Water Act suit against BioOregon Protein for chlorine discharge violations, and filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Monsanto v. Durnell on pesticide manufacturer liability. The organization does not sell products or services; revenue is generated exclusively through donations, grants, and foundation support, though specific financial figures are not disclosed in the available data. Operating geographies are limited to the United States, with all identified activity occurring in federal and state-level (notably California, Iowa, Oregon) jurisdictions.

Name

Center for Food Safety

Website

https://centerforfoodsafety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Food Safety is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that uses litigation, regulatory advocacy, and coalition partnerships to advance food safety, pesticide regulation, GMO labeling transparency, and environmental protection on behalf of consumers, farmers, and natural food retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Recall Readiness, Crisis Management & Regulatory Liaison (AFALADAG)

Keywords

• Food safety advocacy
• GMO labeling policy
• Pesticide regulation
• Environmental litigation
• Organic agriculture promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Center for Food Safety is a nonprofit public interest organization that advances food safety, organic and sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection through legal advocacy, strategic litigation, regulatory engagement, and public education. The organization files lawsuits, submits amicus briefs, challenges federal rules (e.g., USDA GMO labeling, EPA pesticide regulations), and builds coalitions with partner advocacy groups and retailers to drive systemic change in the U.S. food system.

Product overview

Center for Food Safety is a nonprofit public interest organization focused on legal advocacy, policy work, and public education to protect human health and the environment. The organization engages in litigation, regulatory advocacy, and public campaigns rather than offering technology products or software services. CFS does not operate a product platform but instead advances its mission through legal actions, policy recommendations, and coalition-building with other advocacy groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Interest Litigation Services Legal advocacy and litigation services for consumers, environmental advocates, and partner organizations challenging pesticide manufacturers, federal agencies, and food companies over food safety, GMO labeling, and environmental protection issues.
• Regulatory Advocacy and Policy Engagement Submission of amicus briefs, regulatory comments, and policy recommendations to federal agencies such as USDA, EPA, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to shape food safety, pesticide, and environmental regulations.
• GMO Labeling Transparency Campaign Advocacy initiative aimed at overturning loopholes in the USDA Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Act to require clear, on-package GMO disclosure for consumers and natural/organic food retailers.
• Pesticide Regulation Advocacy Efforts to secure stronger EPA oversight of pesticide use, including reporting on pesticide-treated seeds planted in California (effective January 2027), and to protect farmers and agricultural workers from pesticide drift and exposure.
• Pollinator and Endangered Species Protection Advocacy Litigation and advocacy campaigns to protect endangered pollinators such as the Iowa skipper butterfly, including lawsuits against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding habitat loss and pesticide impacts.
• Clean Water Act Enforcement Advocacy Co-litigation with partner organizations (e.g., Northwest Environmental Defense Center) against food processors such as BioOregon Protein for alleged Clean Water Act permit violations involving chlorine discharges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Overturned three major USDA loopholes in Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Act rules requiring clear on-package GMO labeling
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Northwest Environmental Defense CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026CFS partnered with Northwest Environmental Defense Center to file a federal lawsuit against BioOregon Protein (subsidiary of Pacific Seafood) for alleged Clean Water Act violations, alleging chlorine discharge levels approximately 4,000% above permitted thresholds.
• Natural GrocerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 January 2026CFS and Natural Grocers co-litigated a successful federal appeals court challenge against USDA's Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Act rules, overturning three major loopholes related to GMO labeling terminology, QR-code-only disclosures, and highly processed food exemptions.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Earthjustice: Public-interest environmental law organization that litigates cases on pollution, food systems, and wildlife protection. Closely comparable to CFS in its litigation-led advocacy model and federal court engagement.
• Defenders of Wildlife: Wildlife and habitat advocacy organization with active litigation program, including on endangered species. Comparable to CFS's Iowa skipper butterfly lawsuit and species-protection work.
• Food & Water Watch: National nonprofit that advocates on food safety, factory farming, and water protection using grassroots campaigns and litigation. Directly comparable to CFS in mission, advocacy style, and reliance on donor funding.
• Environmental Working Group: Nonprofit that researches and advocates on pesticide residues, GMO labeling, and food safety transparency. Highly comparable to CFS in scientific advocacy on pesticide and labeling issues.
• Pesticide Action Network: International network focused on pesticide regulation, alternatives to hazardous pesticides, and community health. Directly comparable in pesticide and agricultural policy advocacy.
• Friends of the Earth: Environmental advocacy organization working on food systems, GMOs, and corporate accountability. Comparable in policy advocacy and consumer-facing campaigns on food and agricultural issues.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council: Large, established environmental advocacy group with litigation, policy, and science programs spanning food, water, climate, and energy. Broader portfolio than CFS but overlapping on food safety and pesticide litigation.
• Greenpeace USA: Large environmental advocacy organization with campaigns on food, agriculture, oceans, and corporate accountability. Comparable in advocacy style though significantly larger in resources and scope.
• Sierra Club: Mass-membership environmental organization with broad advocacy scope. Overlaps with CFS on pesticide and environmental protection issues but operates across a much wider agenda.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Science-based advocacy organization that works on food, agriculture, and environmental safety. Shares CFS's science-driven advocacy posture but with broader issue coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFSTrueFood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Food Safety