USDA Organic now allowed to contain deadly ingredients

[ladycat]

ALERT - USDA Announcement: Foods Carrying the USDA '95% Organic' Seal Are Now Allowed to Contain Factory Farmed Intestines, PCBs, and Mercury.

Despite receiving more than ten thousand comments from consumers and family farmers opposing various aspects of a late May 2007 proposal, the USDA has approved a rule that will allow 38 new non-organic ingredients to be in products bearing the "USDA Organic" seal. But the agency says this may just be interim approval, and has offered to extend the public comment period another 60 days (the original public comment period was only 7 days). Take action and send a letter to the USDA here.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/arti...ticle_5750.cfm

The petition is here:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia...aign_KEY=11401

[Ravenlost]

This makes me sick.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

This makes me sick.

You and me both.

[BobK]

....organic as well as 'inorganic' produce all contain mercury, aluminum, and any number of chemical compounds, including PCB's, that cannot be kept out of the plant and/or animal.....I know I can measure mercury in pretty much everything.........you are not going to get away from these chemicals....!

[Beltane]

Originally Posted by BobK

....organic as well as 'inorganic' produce all contain mercury, aluminum, and any number of chemical compounds, including PCB's, that cannot be kept out of the plant and/or animal.....I know I can measure mercury in pretty much everything.........you are not going to get away from these chemicals....!

It is more to the point that the legislation allows companies to 'choose' a different substance if the organic counterpart is not available or is so 'expensive' that it creates a hardship for the company.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by BobK

....organic as well as 'inorganic' produce all contain mercury, aluminum, and any number of chemical compounds, including PCB's, that cannot be kept out of the plant and/or animal.....I know I can measure mercury in pretty much everything.........you are not going to get away from these chemicals....!

Please Bob, don't confuse people with FACTS....

[Cindy in PA]

That's why true organic growers didn't want the government involved. Organic mass produced items in the store are not the "organic" of old. It was just a way for the big agri companies to get a bigger piece of the pie. You are all right, grow your own or by from locals you can trust.

[Rocky Fields]

Hey.

Looks like all the Chinese food will be labeled organic now.

RF

[pixelphotograph]

Whats the point of it saying organic if its allowed to have all the bad stuff in it. LOL
doesnt that kind of defeat the purpose of the ORGANIC sticker on it LOL
the bad thing is it only confuses the non educated consumer even more now.
These people that dont know better go to the grocery store like my mother for instance and will buy organic becasue she thinks its supposed to be better when in fact now it may not be because the are allowing chemicals and other thnigs to be added.
Amazing.
one more reason teh government shouldnt be involved in things.

[bergere]

Just sick... but coming from the USDA what do people expect?
That they would be honest and look after our best interests?

I will only buy from people that I know follow the Oregon Tilth. Folks I have met that follow that...will not follow the joke of the USDA recommendations or lack rules.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by pixelphotograph

Whats the point of it saying organic if its allowed to have all the bad stuff in it. LOL
doesnt that kind of defeat the purpose of the ORGANIC sticker on it LOL .

Yes. I'm trying to find time to research the various other organic labels (like QAI) to see which labels can be trusted.

In order to be declared organic on the label, they have to have the USDA organic seal on them, but if you look at the package, you will often find other seals as well.

Originally Posted by pixelphotograph

the bad thing is it only confuses the non educated consumer even more now.
These people that dont know better go to the grocery store like my mother for instance and will buy organic becasue she thinks its supposed to be better when in fact now it may not be because the are allowing chemicals and other thnigs to be added.
Amazing.
one more reason teh government shouldnt be involved in things.

I research, research, research, to decide which brands are safe (or at least less evil).

An example is the waffles I had last night. The brand is Lifestream. The manufacturer is Nature's Path.

The seal on the box is USDA Organic, but also on the label it says "Third party certified organic by Quality Assurance International (QAI).

I trust this brand (as far as I can trust any brand right now), because the bulk of the ingredients are grown on Canadian organic farms. They didn't come from a 3rd world country.

[FalconDance]

Why is anyone surprised that the USDA is in the backpocket of Big Ag? If the regulations are relaxed, then Monsanto and the rest of Big Business interests can jump onto the organic bandwagon and topple the cart of health before anyone realizes it. All because of unyielding greed.

You want healthy, you almost have to grow it yourself these days.

~Falcon

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by FalconDance

Why is anyone surprised that the USDA is in the backpocket of Big Ag?

Who is surprised? That's been true ever since the USDA decided to regulate organic.

Everytime the USDA or FDA gets involved in anything, it goes downhill from there.

[hunter gatherer]

I saw this coming years ago when big corporations ( Coca Cola, Phillip Morrison, Kraft etc...) started craving a piece of the organic pie. What has happened is that there is now an explosion of organic convenience foods. People have been duped into thinking " Well, as long as it's organic, it's just got to be good for you!"

I too, am angered over the changes in organic standards, but really think that much of the organic food that is currently in the mainstream market is over processed garbage to begin with. Crackers, chips, boxed macaroni, cookies, and cereal does not a healthy diet make even if they are "organic"

The industry is be driven by what the people want, which is processed convenience food with a long shelf life , something that I do think would be pretty hard to make using 100% completely organic ingredients.

The best thing to do at this juncture is take raw, organic flour ( USA produced), farm eggs and local milk if available ( go with Organic Valley if you have to. They are still the good guys in the organic dairy industry) and whip up some homemade waffles instead of frozen. That's the best way to be sure that you are getting the real deal.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by hunter gatherer

The best thing to do at this juncture is take raw, organic flour ( USA produced), farm eggs and local milk if available ( go with Organic Valley if you have to. They are still the good guys in the organic dairy industry) and whip up some homemade waffles instead of frozen. That's the best way to be sure that you are getting the real deal.

Will be great if/when the kitchen ever gets fixed. It's nearly unusable for now.

And ain't gonna touch Organic Valley milk. It's centrifuged and homogenized. I'll stick with the real thing.

[hunter gatherer]

Originally Posted by ladycat

Will be great if/when the kitchen ever gets fixed. It's nearly unusable for now.

And ain't gonna touch Organic Valley milk. It's centrifuged and homogenized. I'll stick with the real thing.

I agree about the milk. I get raw milk straight from the farm as I prefer to avoid pasteurized and homogenized. But as far as big organic dairies go I would choose OV over Horizon any day. Organic Valley still maintains high standards and integrity.

Hope your kitchen gets fixed soon!