So Now What Exactly Does Certified Organic Mean? Is it Really Organic?

[Guest guest]

So Now What Exactly Does "Certified

Organic" Mean? Is it Really Organic?

by www.SixWise.com

As though deciphering the myriad of food labels out there wasn't

hard enough already, now lawmakers have added one more piece to the

puzzle, this time regarding organic food.

It all started with a federal court ruling earlier in 2005, in which

a federal court ruled to severely limit the use of synthetic substances

in organic food. At face value, it seems this would be fine to organic

manufacturers because, after all, doesn't "organic" imply no synthetics?

Congress has added a last-minute rider to a USDA spending bill

that allows 38 synthetic ingredients in organic foods.

As it turns out, no. The court ruling prohibited 38 ingredients in

all, among them ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C used as an additive;

pectin, a jam thickener; and hydrogen peroxide. It also banned dairy

herds in the process of becoming organic from being fed feed that was

partially non-organic.

According to some members of the organic community, including the

Organic Valley farm coop in Wisconsin, the move was so severe that it

would have threatened the industry's growth.

Organic Valley, for one, used hydrogen peroxide to sterilize their

cartons. Under the new ruling, they would have been forced to change

their organic label.

"When we took a look at what the [court] ruling did to organic milk,

we were aghast," said Theresa Marquez of Organic Valley. "It would have

a huge impact both financially and from a marketing point of view,"

Marquez said.

Congress has since intervened, adding a rider to a 2006 U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) spending bill that allows organic food

makers to resume using the 38 synthetic ingredients.

Organic Trade Association Sought Synthetics Allowance

Ironically, it was the Organic Trade Association (OTA), which

represents North American businesses that grow and market organic

foods, which sought the intervention.

"Without those two key provisions, the face of the organic industry

and the marketplace for organic products would have changed

dramatically," said DiMatteo, executive director of OTA.

They maintained that businesses, farmers and consumers alike all

supported the provisions. However, the Organic Consumer's Association

(OCA) has a different story to tell.

They say the new legislation was prompted by giant food corporations

new to the organic market and eager to earn their share of the growing

industry. In fact, Congress received a reported 320,000 letters and

phone calls from organic consumers who protested the rider being passed.

"The process was profoundly undemocratic," said Ronnie Cummins,

director of OCA. "The end result is a serious setback for the

multibillion-dollar alternative food and farming system that the

organic community has painstakingly built up over the past 35 years ...

Industry's stealth attack has unnecessarily damaged the standards that

helped organic foods become the fastest growing sector in the food

industry."

Others echo these sentiments, including Eden Foods CEO

Potter, who says the move is a bad one for both organic businesses and

consumers.

What Does Organic Mean, Then?

While the organic industry is divided over the use of synthetics,

one thing's for sure: the market is here to stay. Close to 40 percent

of Americans buy organic foods, and sales are expected to reach $30

billion by 2007.

The organic market has grown so much, in fact, that the OCA reports

"10 cents of every grocery store dollar spent by American consumers

today goes for organic, made with organic, and natural products." So

what does the "organic" label really mean?

All organic agricultural farms and products must meet the following

guidelines (verified by a USDA-approved independent agency):

Abstain from the application of prohibited materials

(including synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage sludge) for 3

years prior to certification and then continually throughout their

organic license.

Prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms and

irradiation.

Employ positive soil building, conservation, manure

management and crop rotation practices.

Provide outdoor access and pasture for livestock.

Refrain from antibiotic and hormone use in animals.

Sustain animals on 100% organic feed.

Avoid contamination during the processing of organic products.

Keep records of all operations.

The OCA maintains that they will seek to reverse the rider in the

future, but until then, keep in mind that while

38 synthetics are now allowed in organic foods, conventionally grown

foods are allowed thousands. The Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) maintains a list of over 3,000 chemicals that are added to the

processed food supply.

But some say you may want to keep an eye on organic standards in

years to come, so what starts as 38 doesn't balloon without a limit.

"We're concerned that the amendment could allow a whole host of

processing aids and synthetic substances to be added without any

review," says Joe Mendelson of the Center for Food Safety.

Indeed, it seems some members of the organic community are bracing

themselves for a fight. Says the OCA:

"If the USDA and the dominant companies in the OTA continue to

ignore consumer and organic community expectations, especially the

expectations of small and medium-sized farmers, retailers, and

companies, we will set up our own label, certification, and

accreditation system and point out to consumers that "USDA Organic"

means "grade B organic," and that consumers looking for "grade A" will

have to look for our new label."

Recommended Reading

Food

Nutrition Labels: Six "Catches" You Need to Know

Is

Pasteurization More of a Health Risk or a Safety Benefit?

Sources

Organic Consumers Association: US Lawmakers OK Some

Synthetics for Organic Food

Organic Farmers Divided Over Synthetics

Food Consumer: Updated OCA talking points on

safeguarding Organic Standards

Boise Weekly November 30, 2005