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No way USDA - keep organic organic! - United States Department of Agriculture - Editorial

Better Nutrition, April, 1998 by James J. Gormely

A fable: Once upon a time, organic farming -- as part of the Organic Movement -- captured the excitement of All Americans. It was a time when the public's awareness of the value of "buying organic" had never been greater. It was a time when independent health-food stores all across this land were offering more and more products which carried the label "Certified Organic," a seal of purity that consumers and retailers helped to develop by believing in it. A seal which was also a statement in support of the Earth, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, croplands, and economic opportunity for organic farmers and workers worldwide. It was also a time when organic standards were being endangered by the very agency which could protect them.

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The time is now. And the fable is not a fable. Organic standards are now at the crossroads of incredible opportunity and unparalleled threats. On December 16, 1997, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released proposed rules for certification of organic products.

And these proposed regulations aren't pretty. The most controversial issues (also called "The Big Three") which would be acceptable under the proposed standards, are:

1) Allowing genetically engineered organisms in organic systems; 2) Permitting untreated human waste (called "biosolids") from sewage treatment plants to be used as "organic" fertilizer; and 3) Approving food irradiation for organic production.

Other serious problems are: 4) the USDA is ignoring the clearly mandated authority of the National Organic Standards Board under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990; 5) the lowest organic certification fees are now being "set so high that small farmers, certifiers and processors, the historic pioneers of the Organic Movement, will not be able to participate in the National Organic Program"; 6) loopholes have now been introduced into the language of the regulations, replacing historically accepted wording with such terms as "active" and "non-active" synthetics and ingredients, confusion over which may allow synthetic materials into organic production that have never been allowed before; and 7) the livestock section is weak, giving too much latitude in the amount of non-organic livestock feed, animal living conditions, use of antiobiotics and other animal drugs.

If these are jokes, our industry isn't smiling. "There is great concern within our industry that adoption of the proposed rules will significantly lower the standards already established in I I states and 33 private certifying organizations," said Michael Q. Ford, the executive director of the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA).

Groups such as Citizens for Health, the Organic Trade Association (OTA), and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are passionately opposed to "the Big Three," in particular, although they cite other major flaws in the proposed standards (such as those mentioned above).

Where can you call to find out more? Call the NNFA (714-622-6272), Citizens for Health (800-357-2211), Mothers for Natural Law (515-472-2809), and Mothers & Others for A Livable Planet (888-ECO-INFO). And make sure to read Lisa Turner's "Organic Is A Way Of Life" feature (p. 50) to find out how you can contact the USDA to tell them: rewrite the proposed organic standards! In good health.

James Gormley has served as a managing editor for two of the most respected medical journals in the U.S., and as a social sciences/medical editor in book publishing. His nutrition articles cover important issues, keeping readers informed of the latest breakthroughs in nutritional approaches to optimal health and ongoing research into vitamins, botanicals, minerals, and other supplements.

No way USDA - keep organic organic! - United States Department of Agriculture - Editorial

Better Nutrition, April, 1998 by James J. Gormely

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