USDA allows foods labeled Organic to contain FF intestines, PCBs and Mercury

[Guest guest]

USDA allows foods labelled Organic to contain FF intestines,

PCBs and Mer

http://organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

 

Go to link above to send letter..

 

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5750.cfm

 

 

 

ALERT - USDA

Announcement: Foods Carrying the USDA '95% Organic' Seal Are Now

Allowed to Contain Factory Farmed Intestines, PCBs, and Mercury

 

 

CONTACT: Ronnie Cummins 218-226-4164 June 22, 2007

 

 

 

Despite receiving more than ten thousand comments from consumers and

family farmers opposing various aspects of a late May 2007 proposal,

the USDA has approved a rule that will allow 38 new non-organic

ingredients to be allowed in products bearing the "USDA Organic" seal.

But the agency says this may just be interim approval, and has

offered to extend the public comment period another 60 days (the

original public comment period was only 7 days). Take action and send

a letter to the USDA here.

 

 

 

The Organic Consumers Association filed a petition during the USDA's

short seven-day comment period on the issue outlining various problems

with some of the proposed ingredients (read full petition here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5225.cfm).

The USDA is required to post all such incoming comments online, and

99% of the comments currently posted there show the public opposes the

passage of this proposal.

 

 

 

The USDA's passage of this proposal has resulted in the following:

 

 

 

-Anheuser Busch will be allowed to sell its "Organic Wild Hops Beer"

without using any organic hops at all.

 

 

 

-Sausages, brats, and breakfast links labeled as "USDA Organic" are now

allowed to contain intestines from factory farmed animals raised on

chemically grown feed, synthetic hormones, and antibiotics.

 

 

 

-Products labeled as "USDA Organic" and containing fish oil may contain

toxins such as PCBs and mercury (note: non-organic fish oil products

have this same risk, but despite the USDA ruling, it is against the

National Organic Standards to allow such toxins in organic foods).

 

 

 

"It's disheartening to see how profit motivated businesses like Kraft,

Wal-Mart and Anheuser-Busch have more sway over the U.S. Department of

Agriculture than family farmers, independent organic producers, and

consumers," said Ronnie Cummins, OCA's National Director.

 

 

 

OCA's Environmental Scientist, Craig Minowa, noted that foods labeled

as 100% organic will still be 100% organic. "This rule applies to

products that are 95% organic or less," said Minowa of the USDA's

decision, adding that "The ruling is yet another reason for

organic-minded shoppers to carefully read ingredient labels, look for

'100% Organic' labels, and buy from local family farmers via your area

co-op, farmers market or CSA."

 

 

 

Take action and send a letter to the USDA here.

 

 

 

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION ·

6771 SOUTH SILVER HILL DRIVE·

FINLAND, MN 55603 USA

Telephone: 218-226-4164 · Fax: 218-353-7652·

email: adam;

http://www.organicconsumers.org

<http://www.organicconsumers.org/>