What? Artificial ingredients in organic foods? Posted by ayusra at 05/05/06 04:17 PM

Does bad implementation always follow a bad law? Not necessarily, not if we act to stop it as consumers.

Last November, a congressional conference committee pulled a fast one on the rising number of Americans who buy organic foods. An amendment that weakens the organic label at it's heart and was adopted in a late-night backroom deal. It was added after congressional negotiators from both sides had adjourned.

Just shortly after that committee-railroad-job, the amendment was inserted into the agricultural appropriations bill and passed. The legislative maneuver ran counter to a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that upheld the original organic law. It also ignored the wishes of over 300,000 consumers who had written to oppose the weakening of the organic law.

Now comes the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a proposal to amend its organic regulations to reflect the legislative changes made in Congress. USDA’s proposal, for example, would continue to allow synthetic substances – including over 500 food contact substances -- to be used in organic processed foods without public review and approval. It would also continue to allow organic dairy farms to use conventionally raised replacement animals, some of which may have received antibiotics, animal byproducts and hormones.

Insane? You bet!

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