The USDA has been allowing hydroponics in organic — a complete violation of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. This morning, Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition with the USDA to stop this from happening. We will be covering this development in much more detail in next week’s Organic Insider.
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While organic certification for restaurants is optional, state and federal consumer protection law requires honesty and transparency about what is and what isn’t organic on their menus.
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An excellent read about the industry today and how some farmers are fighting for the soul of organic food.
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Controversy remains about the legality of DHA algal oil, which is used Horizon’s organic milk. This is an ingredient that The Cornucopia Institute has been fighting against for many years.
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The Cornucopia Institute has just released a comprehensive report about how the allowance of hydroponics has diluted the organic seal. The organization also has come out with a hydroponics buyer’s guide, important for people who want to avoid organic hydroponic produce.
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The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has agreed to hear the Organic Trade Association’s case against the USDA over the agency’s failure to put into effect new organic livestock standards.
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Regenerative Organic Alliance, which oversees the Regenerative Organic Certification, has named Elizabeth Whitlow as its Executive Director.
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USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and his agency are pulling back rules that the organic industry wants. As a result, this could erode consumer confidence in the organic seal.
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A federal judge said he lacked jurisdiction in the case over a change to the USDA’s Sunset Rule, which now makes it harder to remove synthetic ingredients from organic.
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An excellent analysis by Stephanie Strom of the emerging organic add-on labels, such as Regenerative Organic Certification and The Real Organic Project, and how they will impact both consumers and the industry.
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While the OTA’s lawsuit against the USDA is still pending, the agency has officially pulled the plug on the organic animal welfare standards, demonstrating that it is completely beholden to corporate lobbyists.
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The USDA is proposing to change restrictions on 17 substances and is adding 16 new substances to the National List, which means that organic producers can use them in production and handling.
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Despite complaints from the industry, there is no momentum for U.S. organic fish standards – a very good thing.
Read Article With the NOSB refusing to forbid hydroponics in organic, it appears that litigation may be imminent.
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In its continued attempt to undermine the integrity of organic, the USDA has pushed back the implementation of the Organic Animal Welfare Standards to 2018, saying that its costs may outweigh its benefits.
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Proposed instructions on how to crack down on fraudulent organic grains from abroad may not be not strong enough to protect the integrity of organic.
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The USDA has told the National Organic Standards Board to make recommendations about ways to crack down on organic fraud. Meanwhile, the Cornucopia Institute has filed its own formal petition with ways to improve import scrutiny.
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As Congress prepares for the Farm Bill, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) told a subcommittee that “uncertainty and dysfunction have overtaken the National Organic Standards Board and the regulations associated with the National Organic Program.”
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The serious issue of fraudulent organic grains from abroad has gotten the attention of Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).
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In order to protect the integrity of the organic seal, Representative Chellie Pingree calls for clearer organic standards and greater enforcement.
Read Article The USDA has not approved its certified transitional program because of concerns over a lawsuit from The Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA), who thinks the department overstepped its authority.
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The Washington Post gives 5 key points as to why it is so challenging to enforce organic across the global supply chain.
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The USDA has just announced the renewal of 187 approved ingredients on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). This is just further proof that once a substance gets on this National List, it is very hard for it to be removed.
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Organic food companies often use a variety of third-party, animal-welfare certifications on their packaging. But what do they really mean? Stephanie Strom of The New York Times tells us.
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