Weakened organic food standards hurting consumers on clarkhoward.com

Are you really getting your money's worth when you pay extra for organic food?

The Washington Post reports that food producers have been able to convince the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lessen its organic labeling standards. The result is that there are currently 245 products labeled as organic that contain non-organic ingredients.

Organics are a $23 billion business -- the fastest growing segment of the food market. Customers may pay up to twice as much for that organic label.

However, the newspaper estimates that 90% of organic baby formula is not truly organic. Other products singled out because they contain non-organic ingredients include organic cheese, beer and duck. In fact, Consumers Union reports that some supposedly organic foods contain mercury and PCBs.

When buying organic, make sure it is labeled "100% organic." Just seeing the word "organic" by itself is not enough. You should also look for an ingredient list, the name and address of the handler and the name and seal of the organic certifier.

The other hype term out in the marketplace is "natural." There is almost no definition about what this means when it comes to most foods. It is simply a marketing term used in this $13 billion food industry, according to the Nutrition Business Journal.

What others are saying

Carbon Monoxide Beef
Folks, I've been in the food business for over 10 years and your adding carbon monoxide to preserve your beef might sound scary but it is NOT a concern - despite the comment by the previous poster. The air around food is regularly changed to do a number of commendable things, the best of which is to preserve it without adding CHEMICALS. Which do you prefer... red coloring added to your meat - or changing the air around it with one found in our atmosphere to keep it looking fresh? The meat IS good long after the color changes.
Ever eat potato chips? That's example numero uno of a product around which the air is changed.
Be careful of people who tell you to be afraid of things... based on no fact or understanding.
By Jeanne @ 08/04/09 09:41:58 AMreport abuse
FDA = corporate shill
Want to be truly scared, google: carbon monoxide beef
By drew @ 08/04/09 07:37:51 AMreport abuse
Organic Foods
Go see the movie, "Food, Inc." and then tell me what you think about organic foods or foods produced by the small farmer. It's a shame they've lowered the standards.

Thanks for the good info, Clark.
By Laura @ 08/03/09 10:51:03 PMreport abuse
Organic Myth
The FDA has sold the consumer up the river with the myth of organic foods.
By edrebber @ 08/03/09 02:02:03 PMreport abuse
Global warming and Organic foods??
The case for man-made global warming is a fraud. There is no conclusive evidence to prove this. Then to take it to another level, claiming organic food will help in stopping man-made global warming is ridiculous...sorry Socialist Sam.
By John Coleman @ 08/03/09 01:48:57 PMreport abuse
Organics
Thanks for keeping us informed about healthy choices, Clark
By sandy @ 08/03/09 11:07:58 AMreport abuse
Organic Food and Global Warming
Don't forget that Organic Food stops global warning (the biggest threat to our world other than racism and abortion).

Organic Food MUST be promoted heavily to help abolish the dastardly destruction that global warming is bearing down upon us all. All nations and classes MUST unite in promoting organic foods to battle this inevitable and heartless man-killer called global warming.
By Socialist Sam @ 08/02/09 11:19:32 PMreport abuse
Blame for "anti-organic"
z - are you a wingnut? Neither Clark nor the Washington Post even mentioned the ANY administration - Bush, Obama, Clinton, Reagan --- you need to be a more critical and observant reader.
By Kilduff @ 07/31/09 08:00:03 PMreport abuse
"$13 billion food industry" is also
the one that enables multi millions of
people food;so they won't starve to death.God bless them.
By eastsider @ 07/31/09 07:55:11 PMreport abuse
Obama = Anti-Organic?
Did I read the article correctly? Obama's administration is the one who is weakening the organic standard?
By z @ 07/31/09 07:01:59 PMreport abuse

Carbon Monoxide Beef

Folks, I've been in the food business for over 10 years and your adding carbon monoxide to preserve your beef might sound scary but it is NOT a concern - despite the comment by the previous poster. The air around food is regularly changed to do a number of commendable things, the best of which is to preserve it without adding CHEMICALS. Which do you prefer... red coloring added to your meat - or changing the air around it with one found in our atmosphere to keep it looking fresh? The meat IS good long after the color changes.
Ever eat potato chips? That's example numero uno of a product around which the air is changed.
Be careful of people who tell you to be afraid of things... based on no fact or understanding.

By Jeanne @ 08/04/09 09:41:58 AMreport abuse

FDA = corporate shill

Want to be truly scared, google: carbon monoxide beef

By drew @ 08/04/09 07:37:51 AMreport abuse

Organic Foods

Go see the movie, "Food, Inc." and then tell me what you think about organic foods or foods produced by the small farmer. It's a shame they've lowered the standards.

Thanks for the good info, Clark.

By Laura @ 08/03/09 10:51:03 PMreport abuse

Organic Myth

The FDA has sold the consumer up the river with the myth of organic foods.

By edrebber @ 08/03/09 02:02:03 PMreport abuse

Global warming and Organic foods??

The case for man-made global warming is a fraud. There is no conclusive evidence to prove this. Then to take it to another level, claiming organic food will help in stopping man-made global warming is ridiculous...sorry Socialist Sam.

By John Coleman @ 08/03/09 01:48:57 PMreport abuse

Organics

Thanks for keeping us informed about healthy choices, Clark

By sandy @ 08/03/09 11:07:58 AMreport abuse

Organic Food and Global Warming

Don't forget that Organic Food stops global warning (the biggest threat to our world other than racism and abortion).

Organic Food MUST be promoted heavily to help abolish the dastardly destruction that global warming is bearing down upon us all. All nations and classes MUST unite in promoting organic foods to battle this inevitable and heartless man-killer called global warming.

By Socialist Sam @ 08/02/09 11:19:32 PMreport abuse

Blame for "anti-organic"

z - are you a wingnut? Neither Clark nor the Washington Post even mentioned the ANY administration - Bush, Obama, Clinton, Reagan --- you need to be a more critical and observant reader.

By Kilduff @ 07/31/09 08:00:03 PMreport abuse

"$13 billion food industry" is also
the one that enables multi millions of
people food;so they won't starve to death.God bless them.

By eastsider @ 07/31/09 07:55:11 PMreport abuse

Obama = Anti-Organic?

Did I read the article correctly? Obama's administration is the one who is weakening the organic standard?

By z @ 07/31/09 07:01:59 PMreport abuse

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Jul 31, 2009 -- Weakened organic food standards hurting consumers

What others are saying