Faking an “O”.
Right now, the biotech and food companies are telling us that, if we want to make sure we aren’t eating GMOs, we should simply buy organic foods.
However, a recent report released by the Cornicopia Institute (CI), a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit policy research organization, suggests that the group that oversees food that meet the high standards to be called “organic” has been taken over by special interests.
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is a Federal Advisory Committee comprised of members of the organic community. They are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The NOSB has been around since 1990 when Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act. The NOSB is supposed to make sure that organic food is safe for human consumption and does not harm the environment, and to make sure that the rules are followed. So who supposedly sits on this board?
Four farmers/growers
Three environmentalists/resource conservationists
Three consumer/public interest advocates
Two handlers/processors
One retailer
One scientist (toxicology, ecology, or biochemistry)
One USDA accredited certifying agent
This sounds pretty standard as far as committees go but once again Agribusiness has managed to infiltrate the organic industry and is changing the rules to suit their needs, which of course is their bottom line.
Back in May 2012 the (CI) , released a document called Organic Watergate. The document asserts that the majority of the NOSB consists of employees from multi-nationals corporations, not those who meet the standards to be called organic.
The alarm was sounded when the board pushed to allow carrageenan, as an ingredient in certain organic foods. It is already banned around the world because it is believed to be a carcinogen. Carrageenan is a gum that comes from red seaweed plants. Its used to thicken and improve the texture of foods, such as ice cream, yogurt, and soy products to name a few. Dr. Joanne Tobacman, a physician-scientist at the University of Iowa, reviewed 45 experiments on the effects of rats and carrageenan. Studies showed that carrageenan caused serious intestinal problems in the rats. Tobacman believes there is strong evidence that links carrageenan and colon cancer, but the FDA disagrees so carageenan remains on the market.
Fast forward to July 2012; The Office of the Inspector General (OIG), at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), found only one instance of wrongdoing: a woman by the name of Wendy Fulwider, who got a seat on the board, was full-time employee of the CROPP Cooperative, a $750 million business enterprise. Fulwider told the NOSB at their May meeting that her farm was about to transition to organic but wasn’t at the time of her appointment. These appointments are only for actual organic farmers — not for those who are merely thinking about going organic. Her appointment is a clear violation of the rules. Meanwhile those organic farmers who were turned down to sit on the NOSB are putting together a lawsuit to oust the illegally appointed imposters .
As for a full on investigation that CI requested, forget it. The USDA doesn’t think its worth their time. They didn’t even look the through the Organic Watergate report. They just did a little snooping around so they could claim to have investigated the allegations made by CI. Cornucopia issued a statement that they will call for a judicial review to resolve the illegal composition of the NOSB. Meanwhile Cornucopia put together a guide that you can review to avoid buying carageenan http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/
*The good news is that every packaged food has a customer service telephone number on it. It is very important to call that number and find out for yourself the percentage of GMO’s in whatever you eating. A good example is Soy Lethichin which they put into Organic Ice Cream. Is Soy Lethichin a GMO product? Our bet is that it is considering all Soybeans in the United States are GMO. It is the percentage that is quite important. If less than 1% is Soy or GMO….well, it can be argued forever. However, if the Ice Cream is 15% or more GMO then you are talking a conscious decision to determine if the label should say 85% Organic….otherwise shouldn’t it say
100% Organic, if that is what it is. Or 99% Organic if that is the composit for example.
I just left a meeting where I heard a speaker, the owner and head farmer of Alegia Farms in Laguna Beach- they grow veges, herbs by way of vertical hydroponics, I heard of this study he touched on a little, about how the label “organics” was just a sham designed to increase the price of the product and in fact, “organic” was proven to be no better than regular. I was impressed by the “hydroponic” approiach he has taken with his farm, in fact the only one in Lagina Beach (that doesnt grow weed), anyway his website is http://www.alegriafresh.com in case anyone is interested in checking out this info. Inge, do you know anything about hydroponics? and what do you think about labeling for this approach?
Just found this article. Feel safer now? I post this because recently 4 people told me they trust our government to keep them safe. I tried real hard to keep from laughing, but it didn’t always work.
http://emmaspeaks.hubpages.com/hub/The-Revolving-Door-Between-Monsanto-the-FDA-and-the-EPA-Your-Safety-in-Peril
Merijoe – Yep, this is what they said about vitamins, creams, cleansers and just about everything they sell at Mother’s Kitchen and other Health Stores like Bristol Farms and Whole Foods. What has happened due to labeling is increase the available products, get lots of competition in the mix and made for alot better selections for consumers to choose from….hardly a nightmare on Elm Street scenario.