I am incredibly sorry for repeating something that was in another relatively recent diary, BUT we've got only one more day to tell the USDA that we want organic to mean ORGANIC, and far to few people saw the original diary by Moneysmith.
The short version of this diary: Food manufacturers have several great ideas on how to "improve" (weaken) organic standards. We've got 24 hours left in which we can say NO to watered down organic standards.
I don't usually ask but: rec this baby up, please!
Update: I just left my comment:
I strongly oppose the watering down of organic standards as proposed by ams-tm-07-0062. I oppose the use of non-organic hops in organic beer, the use of non-organic animal intestines in organic sausages, the use of food colorings made with synthetic, GMO, chemical or allergenic ingredients in organics, and all other measures loosening and weakening organic standards to allow non-organic or synthetic or GMO ingredients.
Commenting Instructions:
Commenting was mucho confusing. On purpose, I assume, so they won't have to hear our comments. Here are the steps:
1. Go here: http://www.regulations.gov/...
2. Click the yellow icon next to "Add Comments"
3. Follow the prompts to leave your name, city, zip code, and comment.
4. Click next step
5. Verify your comment and click submit.
Here's what Moneysmith had to say (and there's still time to jump over to the original diary and leave recs and mojo as a thank you):
So there I was minding my own business, when I ran across this headline at the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) website: "Another Sneak Attack on Organic Standards. USDA to Allow More Conventional Ingredients in Organics." Normally, there’s a 60- to 90-day window for public comments on amendments like this. In this case, though, we, the people, have been given seven days, five and half of which are already history.
Obviously, the bad news is the USDA is about to dilute the meaning of "organic" on food labels even further. I hate to be "negative," so let’s just say if there is any good news, it’s not for consumers. Food manufacturers, however, are likely to be thrilled. The rule change will allow them to substitute conventional, non-organic ingredients when organic versions are "not available" (food industry speak for: "more expensive"), but you and I will never know because food labels will still say "USDA organic."
If you’d like to read the entire proposal, it’s posted at the Federal Register. Here’s a quick summary:
Essentially, the proposed rule (AMS-TM-07-0062) would amend the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances by adding 38 new ingredients to the list. If a beer maker couldn’t find organic hops, for example, the non-organic version could be used instead, yet the beer would still be considered "organic." You’ll probably be as surprised as I was to learn that Anheuser-Busch finds this part of the amendment – known as the "Budweiser exemption" -- very appealing.
Another major shift allows sausage labeled "organic" to be encased in intestines derived from factory-farmed animals, a move that pretty much cancels out the whole point of buying organic sausage. Other items on the list include fish oil, whey protein, various vegetables juices and my personal favorite – "orange shellac, unbleached, a mixture of resins derived from secretions of the Lac insect," that’s used to coat organic fruits and vegetables. Well, why not? What’s a hearty organic vegetable stew without those tantalizing non-organic insect secretions?
Food suppliers have known about the upcoming changes for months. No doubt they have made their viewpoints known to the USDA. Now it’s our turn. As of today, we have one and a half days (the deadline is Tuesday, May 22) to register comments with the USDA. You can sign the petition at the OCA website (link in first paragraph) and/or contact Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, or Valerie Frances, NOSB Executive Director, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/TM/NOP, Room 4008 So., Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 7203252.
Later in the day, I’ll check to see if an extension on the comment period has been granted and post an update. To be on the safe side, don't hold your breath.
UPDATE: I just called the USDA and there will be no extension. If you want to comment directly to them, go to their website: and click on "today's news," about mid-way down on the left-hand side of the page. From there, look for the date "May 11, 2007" and click on the link at the bottom for instructions on posting a public comment.
Now that you've got the Moneysmith version, here's an email I received which basically gives the same info plus more, and adds that the USDA only gave the public 7 days during which they could comment. What the F@#$%@#$? The email also gives some nice action steps.
This effort to water down organic standards is legit, even though I have not heard of the group that sent it out (below) and the link to the federal register is a commercial site and not the original federal register. Search "Docket No. AMS-TM-07-0062." http://www.regulations.gov/...
The 7 day comment period ends on Tuesday, May 22.
Steven
USDA Wants More Non-Organic Ingredients in "Organic" Foods
The USDA serves its food industry masters very well. The drug companies have embarked on a global campaign to degrade food quality. It's name is Codex Alimentarius. Like the drug companies, the Agribiz realizes that the worse the quality of your food supply, the more money they make and the thinner your margin between optimal health and illness. Their partners in this tragedy are the drug companies who know full well that the worse your food, the better customer you will be for drugs, chemotherapy and other highly profitable ways of managing illness which is, after all, their business.
Codex is a drug initiative (recently endorsed by the Indian drug makers association, for example) and the FDA, which increasingly acts as if it were a marketing arm for Big Pharma, declared decades ago (October 11, 1995, to be exact) that it will give preference to Codex standards over American ones. Codex has degraded Organic standards and the USDA is following right along. You can read the changes for yourself in the National Organic Products list at http://thefederalregister.com/... .
Is This What You Mean By "Organic"?
Although the Agribiz (including beer) companies (which so often violate organic regulations) have been given months to lobby for the changes in these proposed regulations. By contrast, the general public has been given 7 days. These changes will, like Codex, degrade your food and eliminate your right to know what is in that food. (The US, by the way, consistently points out in Codex meetings that Consumers' Right to Know issues have no place within the Codex context although one of Codex' three mandates is to protect the health of consumers.)
Among the Big Agribiz friendly changes:
- Conventional hops (sprayed with pesticides, treated with herbicides and even, perhaps, genetically modified will be allowed in "organic" beer. Anheuser-Busch is reported to be lobbying hard for this one, by the way.
- Conventionally raised animals (treated with antibiotics, growth hormones, fed genetically modified feed, concrete, newspapers, chicken parts and bones, slaughter house waste, etc., and subject to mad cow disease (as organic herds are not) will provide their intestines for "organic" sausage casings.
- Fish oil (a wonderful dietary supplement) which has never been characterized or standardized would be permitted, allowing sub-standard oils from farm raised, chemical laced, cancer-ridden fish or poorly processed, mercury rich oils from ocean-dwelling fish would be added without further purity requirements. All fish oils are definitely not created equal. The proposed standards makes them that way, however.
- Food colorings which may have synthetic, genetically modified, chemical or allergenic components will be permitted.
- Ingredients like organic Lemon grass, Rice Starch, Beet Juice & Whey Protein Concentrate are available in sufficient quantities to allow stipulation that only organic grades be permitted. The new regulations allow non-organic ingredients to be used without label notification despite the availability of these organic ingredients.
Action Steps To Protect Organic Standards -- and Your Health
- Step 1. Send your public comment letter to the USDA by clicking here http://www.democracyinaction.org/... to the USDA. Please do not delay. The Public Comment Period ends May 22.
- Step 2. Notify your entire circle of influence that the UADA has once again threatened their health and their health freedom and ask them to use the link provided to send their comments. Send a brief introduction in your own words and forward this email to our contacts.
- Step 3. Ask your contacts to notify THEIR contacts of the urgency of this request.
- Step 4. If you or your contacts are not already on the mailing list for future Health Alerts, Please sign up on our home page, www.HealthFreedomUSA.org and urge your contacts to do so, too.
- Step 5. The Natural Solutions Foundation believes so strongly in the importance of clean, bio-available and health products that we have a store devoted to exactly that: Organic supplements and personal care products. Please visit www.organics4U.org (www.organics4U.org ) and support your health and your health freedom at the same time. Remember, your purchases support your health and the portion of your purchase that supports the Natural Solutions Foundation is tax exempt. When you make a purchase you receive an email documenting the amount of your purchase which is a donation. Next year at tax time, that amount may be deducted as a donation!
Thanks for your activism! This is a long-haul battle and we need to keep fighting it whenever the attack comes!
Yours in health and freedom,
Rima E. Laibow, MD
Medical Director
Natural Solutions Foundation
www.HealthFreedomUSA.org