When can producers call food with non-organic ingredients 'organic'? Today's New York Times tackles the question in this story: Nonorganic Exceptions Ruffle Enthusiasts of Organic Food.
The article reports that the Department of Agriculture is "poised to approve a list of nonorganic ingredients that can be used in food stamped with its green-and-white organic seal."
"The organic advisory board to the Agriculture Department recommended that 38 nonorganic ingredients be added to a list of approved ingredients," reports The Times. "Rules on organic labeling dictate that 95 percent of a product must be organic to obtain the department’s label; the remaining 5 percent can be nonorganic if it comes from an approved list."
We were surprised to see that John Foraker, chief executive of Annie’s Homegrown, told Agriculture Department that it is okay for Annie's to use non-organic annatto, a coloring agent, in their "organic" macaroni and cheese.
Adding these ingredients to the government's list can be seen as weakening the integrity of the organic label.
Bloggers are starting to sound off: Flash in the Pan says "It just seems wrong that organic is the same processed crap as non-organic ... Maybe organic will have to go out the window and making things from scratch will be the only reasonable option for those interested in what they're really eating, and not what a label claims."
Read the article and let us know what you say. Is organic going out the window? Do these exceptions ruffle your feathers?
From Our Archive
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Some Organic Produce is Better than Others
Organic v.s. Local?
Anytime a logo/stamp is used to mean an ideal it bugs me. The ideal will have to be put into words, and words can be twisted and abused. The original intent is quickly subverted to the will of the corporations that benefit the most from tapping into that marketing niche.
This is why buying local is a better option. That is, until the definition of local is broadened to mean region, and then nation. "Packaged locally!", "Distributed locally!", "Community grown/raised/made!" will soon be stamped on plastic wrappers in supermarket shelves. Maybe they will have a little "Locally grown" emblem too...
You know, I think I will just grow/raise/make my own.
view samaritan's profile
Although this report is disturbing, I'm already pretty wary of corporate organic labeling and try to buy unprocessed, locally grown (and truly organic) food, anyway.
view chiffonade's profile
Other options are sprouting up:
http://www.naturallygrown.org/
view samaritan's profile
Chris,
I posted on another very good blog (megnut) to set the record straight on this issue. If you or any of the other readers are interested, here is the information:
http://www.megnut.com/2007/06/more-on-the-organic-nonorganic-rules
Thanks, John Foraker, CEO, Annie's, Inc.
view John Foraker's profile