Illegals - Organic Labeling Questioned

[Guest guest]

In case anyone wonders about illegals . . .the interesting stuff is at the end.

Apologies if this is posted already - I am a bit behind (although I did a quick

search, and found no references to it . . .)

Kim

Washington Post

July 3, 2009

Purity of Federal 'Organic' Label Is Questioned

Three years ago, U.S. Department of Agriculture employees determined that

synthetic additives in organic baby formula violated federal standards and

should be banned from a product carrying the federal organic label. Today the

same additives, purported to boost brainpower and vision, can be found in 90

percent of organic baby formula.

The government's turnaround, from prohibition to permission, came after a USDA

program manager was lobbied by the formula makers and overruled her staff. That

decision and others by a handful of USDA employees, along with an advisory

board's approval of a growing list of non-organic ingredients, have helped

numerous companies win a coveted green-and-white " USDA Organic " seal on an array

of products.

Grated organic cheese, for example, contains wood starch to prevent clumping.

Organic beer can be made from non-organic hops. Organic mock duck contains a

synthetic ingredient that gives it an authentic, stringy texture.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/02/AR2009070203365.\

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