Red state welfare. This year, the farm bill is becoming a food bill, setting the rules for the American food system and helping to subsidize obesity. [News Source]

Going organic: Local grocers trying to meet increased demand. While many Americans are struggling to balance a healthy diet, a new trend is developing among local grocery shoppers – organic foods. [News Source]

Florida gators battle pesticides. A new study confirms previous suspicions that organochlorine pesticides in reconstructed wetlands in Florida affect the survival of gator eggs and demonstrates, for the first time, a pathway by which these historic chemicals might reach the eggs. [News Source]

B&L introduces eye vitamin for diabetics (Star-Gazette) Rochester eye-care company Bausch & Lomb today rolled out a new eye vitamin supplement specifically developed for diabetics. The OcuviteCQ DF was introduced at the American Optometric Association’s annual Congress in Boston. [News Source]

Vitamin D linked with physical performance of seniors (Dairy Herd) Dutch researchers have discovered a link between vitamin D deficiency and declining physical performance in people over the age of 65. The decline in physical abilities may not be the simple result of aging. [News Source]

Africa: ‘No Benefit’ From Higher Vitamin A Doses (AllAfrica.com) Giving mothers and children in developing countries twice the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended dose of vitamin A does not have a beneficial effect, according to a new study in the Gambia. [News Source]

Bausch & Lomb Introduces Ocuvite(R) DF Eye Vitamin Supplement for Diabetics (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) BOSTON----Bausch & Lomb today introduced its Ocuvite DF eye vitamin supplement, specifically developed for diabetics to help maintain eye health, at the American Optometric Association's 110th Annual Congress. [News Source]

Vitamin C ‘benefits diabetics’ (BBC News) Taking vitamin C or a blood pressure lowering drug could help some of the complications associated with diabetes. [News Source]

Eldorado Artesian Springs, Inc. Introduces a Line of Vitamin Enhanced All Organic Spring Water Beverages (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) Today Eldorado Artesian Springs, Inc. announced that it will begin soliciting orders for its newly created Vitamin Enhanced Organic Flavored Spring Water beverages. [News Source]

Council delays decision on vitamin-enriched water (Houston Chronicle) Amid much debate, City Council on Wednesday again delayed consideration of a plan to offer vitamin-enriched water in municipal vending machines. [News Source]