Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Read Next
Streets of Puerto Rico
Pro and Con: Statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
curly kale. Kale or borecole (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group) a loose leafed, edible plant derived from the cabbage. vegetable
Nutritional Powerhouses: 8 Foods That Pack a Nutritional Punch
People wearing surgical masks (also called face mask or medical masks or safety masks) walk through the city center of Milan, Italy on Feb. 23, 2020. Coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic
How Do Face Masks Control the Spread of Disease?
Discover
Fish. Lionfish. Lion-fish. Turkey fish. Fire-fish. Red lionfish. Pterois volitans. Venomous fin spines. Coral reefs. Underwater. Ocean. Red lionfish swims by seaweed.
10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Fish
Nativity Scene, Adoration of the Magi, Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Montenegro
Why Is Christmas in December?
Four year old boy with grandfather and father lighting Hanukkah menorah. Photo taken on: December 21st, 2009
Which Is Correct: Hanukkah or Chanukah?
Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics
10 Best Hockey Players of All Time
Scottish fold cat. A genetic mutation caused (in the original cat-1961) the ears to bend forward and down.
Shorthair Cat Breeds
Colorful winter sunset
What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?
Srinivasa Ramanujan, Indian mathematician and autodidact.
6 Interesting Facts about Srinivasa Ramanujan

Center for Science in the Public Interest

American nonprofit organization
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: CSPI
Written by
Lawrence M. Salinger
Contributor to SAGE Publications's Encyclopedia of White-Collar and Corporate Crime (2005) whose work for that encyclopedia formed the basis of his contributions to Britannica. 
Lawrence M. Salinger
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
Quick Facts
Date:
1971 - present
Headquarters:
Washington, D.C.

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), U.S. nonprofit organization, founded in 1971, that aims to study, advocate for, and influence legislation on environmental, health, and other science- and technology-related issues to protect consumers. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) conducts research on a variety of topics, including food safety, scientific integrity, genetically modified foods, and alcohol. The organization reveals information about the content of products that manufacturers may not otherwise make available to consumers and helps them make more informed decisions relevant to their health and well-being.

The CSPI works to expose deceptive advertising in product labeling, such as when products are labeled as “all natural” when in reality they may contain artificial flavours or other artificial substances. The CSPI has also led efforts to influence the U.S. Congress to place stricter limits on contaminated foods (e.g., meats contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria). Since 1981 the CSPI has led a campaign to inform the public about the risks of drinking alcohol and to promote its initiative for responsible marketing by alcohol producers. The CSPI has advocated for strict limits on how alcohol can be marketed to the general public as well as to youths.

The CSPI has raised awareness about the overuse of antibiotic medicines. The overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, which makes treatment of illnesses such as tuberculosis more difficult. CSPI has also advocated for the reduction of antibiotics in livestock production. Many livestock feeds come laced with antibiotics to try to reduce illnesses in the herd. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock production can result in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria and may allow for the introduction of these bacteria into humans.

The CSPI is engaged in raising awareness of the benefits and risks of agricultural biotechnology. The group notes that while genetically engineered (GE) foods have been shown to be scientifically safe to consume, there is need for more governmental oversight to make sure GE crops are used in a sustainable and judicious fashion in the United States and worldwide.

Funding for the work of CSPI primarily comes from subscriptions to its publication, the Nutrition Action Healthletter, which documents the organization’s research and advocacy work, and from contributions. About 15 percent of its budget comes from grants given by foundations, such as the Robert Wood Johnson and Rockefeller foundations.

Lawrence M. Salinger