Don’t let USDA organic labels be corrupted. Organic labels are worth fighting for.
It’s becoming more and more challenging to have the knowledge and resources that will allow us to have access to cleaner food and water. With our food being contaminated with tons of harsh chemicals and toxic additives, USDA certified organic labels are more and more worthy to fight for. Organic labels do still give customers a choice if they don’t want to eat foods laced with tons of toxic chemicals and GMOs.
In the last two years, the giant biotech and chemical companies have poured more than $70 million fighting against GMO labeling movement in both states of California and Washington.
So far, they have been successful to keep their poisons hidden in our food supply. No wonder why the organic industry has been growing about 10% every year consistently in the last 5 years with sales for 2012 estimated to reach $35 billion, while non-organic food has grown less than 1.5% per year for the same period.
Certified organic labels might not be perfect and could have their own flaws (like use of antibiotics in organic apples and pear in order to control fire blight), but at this point, buying “USDA Certified Organic” is one of best and most effective ways to avoid GMOs and other toxins in our food supply.
However, the recent actions by USDA could significantly change the organic standards and weaken the public trust in the wholesomeness of organic foods:
Food manufacturers that would label their products as organic have to follow tough standards and practices that won’t allow ingredients that could compromise the health of the public and the environment.
However, recently, FDA has proposed new sets of rules that would undermine the wholesomeness of organic food supply.
According to naturalsociety.com, here are the rules announced by FDA this month:
>> Allowing certain synthetic ingredients and chemicals that are currently used in production of non-organic foods.
>> Reduction in transparency of decision making about what we eat.
>> Limiting the public participation in how new policies and procedures affect our food supply
>> Not allowing the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and organic community to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on organic issues that affect everyone, not just corporate bottom lines
>> Changing organic food policies from what’s demanded by public to a set of rules controlled by FDA and USDA— giving critical decision making skills to organizations which have proven to be infiltrated by special interests
US organic farmers are challenged enough by the power and special interests of giant biotech companies:
Cross-contamination of GE crops over our native food supply is no longer a mystery since a third of US organic farmers are experiencing difficulty selling their grains (because GE genes of a nearby farm has been contaminating and ruining their native crops): http://seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/bio-rape-widespread-cross-contamination-of-GMO-crops-over-native-organic-food-supply.php
The key figures of USDA and FDA are individuals who have been working or lobbying for giant biotech Monsanto and DuPont. Keep in mind that the US secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack is the former pro-biotechnology governor of Iowa who was awarded as governor of the year by biotech companies. Tom Vilsack is Monsanto’s man who ignored countless letters of concerned scientists including Dr. Huber about the toxicity of Roundup.
In his letter Dr Huber writes “For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as an emergency”.
Also, under the Obama administration, Michael Taylor was appointed as senior adviser to the commissioner of FDA. Michael Taylor is Monsanto’s former VP, attorney and chief lobbyist who is now head of FDA. Taylor was the one in charge of FDA policy when the genetically modified foods and seeds were allowed into the US food supply before performing a single test on GMO safety.
It’s already ridiculous enough that our dinner plate is banned in 30 other countries, yet in US, we cannot even label GE foods:
Corporate oligarchy and especial interests of giant biotech and chemical companies are undermining our health and environment.
Recently, despite the public outcry, the Department of Agriculture rejected and failed to ban neonicotinoids linked to colony collapse of bees. Not to mention that the entire EU including Germany, France and Italy banned the use of neonicotinoids class of pesticides that have been killing millions of bees: http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/neonicotinoid-pesticides-bees-colony-collapse.php
The solution is to take our farms back and let our elected officials know that no longer are we going to accept giant Monsanto, DuPont and Dow shove Agent Orange down our throat.
Allowing synthetic chemicals and toxic additives into organic food supply is ridiculously absurd and we need to take a serious action against the new policies of FDA and USDA.
Please tell FDA and USDA to set a moratorium on the adoption of the new policies announced on their website (Federal Register), and allow time for open public discussion and input.
Contact your representative in US Congress and let your voices be heard. Ask for a moratorium on changes to USDA organic labels and click here to contact your elected representatives, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
Sources:
http://naturalsociety.com/campaign-launched-support-organic-food-label-dont-let-fda-win/
http://beyondpesticides.org/SaveOurOrganic/
http://beyondpesticides.org/Letter%20to%20producers.final.action%20alert.pdf
