New Guidelines For Labeling Organic Foods 1

The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) released universal organic production and labeling standards for the first time on December 20, 2000. These rules replace a confusing array of individual state and private certification labels for fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy products and processed foods.

Foods meeting USDA requirements for organic labeling will be allowed to have the USDA Organic seal (see above logo).

Organic farmers and processors will have 18 months to comply with the new standards with the USDA seal expected to appear on labels in 2002. It is currently estimated that only half of the 12000 or so organic farms in the U.S. are certified.

Brief History

Attempts to develop standards for organic standards have been happening since the late 1980's.

Although sales of organic foods currently make up only 1 to 2 percent of total food sales it is currently one of the fastest growing and profitable areas of the grocery business. U.S. retail sales of organic products are estimated to be nearly 8 billion dollars, out of total sales of 450 billion dollars, for the year 2000.

Who Wins?

Initial reaction to USDA standards appears to be positive from consumer advocates, producers of organic foods and the grocery industry. With consumer demand for organic foods growing producers and sellers are motivated to have regulations that improve consumer confidence that the products they are eating are in fact really organic. In the end the food business is driven by market economics.

New Guidelines- "What's Organic?"

Foods labeled "organic" or "100% organic" may not be grown using any of the following:

Chemical fertilizers, herbicides or synthetic pesticides Ionizing radiation Sewage sludge (used for fertilizer) Genetically modified ingredients

Animals used for meat cannot be given hormones nor antibiotics and must be fed organic feed or allowed access to pasture.

What Organic Labels Do Not Guarantee!

Having an organic label does not mean these products will be completely free of traces of genetically developed ingredients or pesticides that find their way into certain crops accidentally. It only means that products are cultivated using organic farming methods.

An example has already occurred in which a both Taco Bell and several grocery chains had to recall tacos and other products containing traces of a genetically engineered corn that has not been approved for human consumption.

The problem is that plants reproduce by pollination, a process in which tiny particles of pollen can be carried many miles by insects, animals, or the wind. Thus, a field of genetically engineered corn to be used only for animal feed may fertilize a field growing only organic corn that is many miles away.

Is Organic Really Better?

Organically grown products are not necessarily better or safer than regular products. It must be remembered that farming productivity (the amount of produce that can be grown per acre of land) has increased enormously over this century. Food is currently safer than any time in history.

Nonorganic methods such as irradiation have proved extremely safe and valuable in neutralizing bacteria. Pasteurization of milk and juices has proved invaluable in virtually eliminating life threatening bacterial illnesses from these products.

Legitimate concerns have been expressed regarding the use of human sewage to fertilize fields. Much of the concern involves possible presence of human bacteria and viruses in such sludge. Although the highest level of treatment processing should inactivate pathogens such sludge is more expensive.

On the other hand, as knowledge and technology improve, the consumer is justified in wanting more choice in what they eat and consume. It is quite reasonable to request produce grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizer. Many who have tried commercially available organic foods strongly believe they simply taste better.

It must be realized that foods grown and produced with meticulous care will cost more. A major reason the food industry has been so supportive of guidelines that will help consumers is because consumers have shown a willingness to show their support of organic foods with their wallets. Hopefully as the bar is raised for overall food quality and organic produce becomes more common prices will decrease.