38 Non-Organic Ingredients Found In ‘USDA-Organic’ Foods

The Department of Agriculture has proposed to include 38 ingredients that are not grown organically to the list of “USDA organic”-labeled foods. This move is in response to the recommendations submitted by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), based on petitions made by industry.

These ingredients include celery powder, various food colors (from fruits, vegetables and herbs), sausage casings, chia, dillweed oil, fish oil, fish gelatin, fructo-oligosaccharides, frozen galangal, hops, inulin enriched with oligofructose, konjac flour, frozen lemongrass, orange shellac, chipotle chile, rice starch, sweet potato starch, Turkish bay leaves, wakame seaweed and whey protein concentrate.

The USDA says that these substances are already being used in organic food production, due to a misinterpretation of current National List regulations. Until recently, organic producers and handlers may have thought that any non-organic agricultural substance could be used in organic products if this was determined unavailable in organic form by an accredited certifying agent.

Here is the list of ingredients, where they come from, what foods they can be found in, who petitioned for their inclusion on the list and why.

Source: The Daily Green, 18 July 2007

My thoughts: The organic food quality will be compromised with the inclusion of non-organic substances. Why can’t the USDA be depended upon to uphold and maintain high quality standards?

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