US Government Finally Establishes New Federal Organic Standards

[Guest guest]

from:

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/24/organic_standards.htm

US Government Finally Establishes New Federal Organic

Standards

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced

the final adoption of the first standards that the US

government has ever imposed for the labeling and processing

of organic foods.

The new federal standards, which were ordered by Congress

back in 1990 and then took more than a decade to produce,

contain the following restrictions, for any food labeled

organic.

No use of irradiation

No use of genetically modified substances

No use of sewer-sludge fertilizer

No synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

No antibiotics in meat labeled organic

The department originally planned to allow the use of the

first three methods listed above when it introduced proposed

regulations in 1997, but after comments from almost 300,000

citizens protesting their inclusion, they withdrew that

proposal and started over.

US Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman called the new

regulations " the strongest and most comprehensive organic

standard in the world. "

DiMatteo, a spokeswoman for the organic foods

industry, welcomed the regulations. " The long wait for the

final rule was worthwhile, " said Ms. DiMatteo, executive

director of the Organic Trade Association. " USDA has

delivered a strict organic standard that is a great boost to

the organic industry. In no way is this final rule less than

what the industry wanted. "

The regulations come at a time of soaring popularity for

organic foods. Domestic sales have increased more than 20

percent annually each year since 1990, and reached $6

billion last year.

Sales are so good that large conventional-food companies

have been buying up smaller organic companies. Some examples

are:

General Mills owns Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen Tomatoes

Heinz owns Earth's Best Baby Food

J. M. Smucker sells Santa Cruz and Knudsen juices.

The regulations divide organic labeling into four labeling

categories:

100 Percent Organic - Products must contain only organic

ingredients

Organic - Products must be at least 95 percent organic by

weight

Made with Organic Ingredients - Processed products that

contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients

In addition, processed products with less than 70 percent

organic ingredients may list those ingredients on the

information panel as being organic but may not carry the

term " organic " anywhere on the front of the package.

A " USDA " organic seal may appear on products in the first

two categories (and in their advertisements), but not on the

others.

In a concession to the National Food Processors Association

(NFPA), a trade group made up mostly of conventional-food

processors, the USDA changed the organic seal from an

originally proposed shield, such as the one that goes on

meat, eggs and other products that are government-inspected,

to a circle.

The NFPA had also asked the agency to put a disclaimer on

organic labels, so that they would say such food was no

safer and no more nutritious than conventional food, but

this request was denied.

The New York Times reports that Tim Willard, the NFPA's vice

president for communications, said " The challenge for USDA

is to make sure consumers don't think the seal of approval

means that the food is safer or more nutritious. "

For more information about the new regulations, go to the

USDA's National Organic Program Website

New York Times, December 21, 2000

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: Here is another good example of

consumers and activists taking action and getting results,

despite the fact that there was significant opposition from

a lot of the non-organic industry. The original USDA

proposed regulations were much too lenient, but with nearly

300,000 responses submitted in response, they tightened up

the standards significantly.

Related Articles:

USDA Sets Rules For Organic Meat, Poultry

U.S. Proposes To Ban Genetically Engineered Foods In New

Organic Rules

Organic Cropland Doubled in 1990s

Organic Farming Has Dramatic Increase In Europe

EPA Muzzles Benefits of Organic Benefits

[Guest guest]

from:

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/24/organic_standards.htm

US Government Finally Establishes New Federal Organic

Standards

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced

the final adoption of the first standards that the US

government has ever imposed for the labeling and processing

of organic foods.

The new federal standards, which were ordered by Congress

back in 1990 and then took more than a decade to produce,

contain the following restrictions, for any food labeled

organic.

No use of irradiation

No use of genetically modified substances

No use of sewer-sludge fertilizer

No synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

No antibiotics in meat labeled organic

The department originally planned to allow the use of the

first three methods listed above when it introduced proposed

regulations in 1997, but after comments from almost 300,000

citizens protesting their inclusion, they withdrew that

proposal and started over.

US Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman called the new

regulations " the strongest and most comprehensive organic

standard in the world. "

DiMatteo, a spokeswoman for the organic foods

industry, welcomed the regulations. " The long wait for the

final rule was worthwhile, " said Ms. DiMatteo, executive

director of the Organic Trade Association. " USDA has

delivered a strict organic standard that is a great boost to

the organic industry. In no way is this final rule less than

what the industry wanted. "

The regulations come at a time of soaring popularity for

organic foods. Domestic sales have increased more than 20

percent annually each year since 1990, and reached $6

billion last year.

Sales are so good that large conventional-food companies

have been buying up smaller organic companies. Some examples

are:

General Mills owns Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen Tomatoes

Heinz owns Earth's Best Baby Food

J. M. Smucker sells Santa Cruz and Knudsen juices.

The regulations divide organic labeling into four labeling

categories:

100 Percent Organic - Products must contain only organic

ingredients

Organic - Products must be at least 95 percent organic by

weight

Made with Organic Ingredients - Processed products that

contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients

In addition, processed products with less than 70 percent

organic ingredients may list those ingredients on the

information panel as being organic but may not carry the

term " organic " anywhere on the front of the package.

A " USDA " organic seal may appear on products in the first

two categories (and in their advertisements), but not on the

others.

In a concession to the National Food Processors Association

(NFPA), a trade group made up mostly of conventional-food

processors, the USDA changed the organic seal from an

originally proposed shield, such as the one that goes on

meat, eggs and other products that are government-inspected,

to a circle.

The NFPA had also asked the agency to put a disclaimer on

organic labels, so that they would say such food was no

safer and no more nutritious than conventional food, but

this request was denied.

The New York Times reports that Tim Willard, the NFPA's vice

president for communications, said " The challenge for USDA

is to make sure consumers don't think the seal of approval

means that the food is safer or more nutritious. "

For more information about the new regulations, go to the

USDA's National Organic Program Website

New York Times, December 21, 2000

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: Here is another good example of

consumers and activists taking action and getting results,

despite the fact that there was significant opposition from

a lot of the non-organic industry. The original USDA

proposed regulations were much too lenient, but with nearly

300,000 responses submitted in response, they tightened up

the standards significantly.

Related Articles:

USDA Sets Rules For Organic Meat, Poultry

U.S. Proposes To Ban Genetically Engineered Foods In New

Organic Rules

Organic Cropland Doubled in 1990s

Organic Farming Has Dramatic Increase In Europe

EPA Muzzles Benefits of Organic Benefits

[Guest guest]

from:

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/24/organic_standards.htm

US Government Finally Establishes New Federal Organic

Standards

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced

the final adoption of the first standards that the US

government has ever imposed for the labeling and processing

of organic foods.

The new federal standards, which were ordered by Congress

back in 1990 and then took more than a decade to produce,

contain the following restrictions, for any food labeled

organic.

No use of irradiation

No use of genetically modified substances

No use of sewer-sludge fertilizer

No synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

No antibiotics in meat labeled organic

The department originally planned to allow the use of the

first three methods listed above when it introduced proposed

regulations in 1997, but after comments from almost 300,000

citizens protesting their inclusion, they withdrew that

proposal and started over.

US Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman called the new

regulations " the strongest and most comprehensive organic

standard in the world. "

DiMatteo, a spokeswoman for the organic foods

industry, welcomed the regulations. " The long wait for the

final rule was worthwhile, " said Ms. DiMatteo, executive

director of the Organic Trade Association. " USDA has

delivered a strict organic standard that is a great boost to

the organic industry. In no way is this final rule less than

what the industry wanted. "

The regulations come at a time of soaring popularity for

organic foods. Domestic sales have increased more than 20

percent annually each year since 1990, and reached $6

billion last year.

Sales are so good that large conventional-food companies

have been buying up smaller organic companies. Some examples

are:

General Mills owns Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen Tomatoes

Heinz owns Earth's Best Baby Food

J. M. Smucker sells Santa Cruz and Knudsen juices.

The regulations divide organic labeling into four labeling

categories:

100 Percent Organic - Products must contain only organic

ingredients

Organic - Products must be at least 95 percent organic by

weight

Made with Organic Ingredients - Processed products that

contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients

In addition, processed products with less than 70 percent

organic ingredients may list those ingredients on the

information panel as being organic but may not carry the

term " organic " anywhere on the front of the package.

A " USDA " organic seal may appear on products in the first

two categories (and in their advertisements), but not on the

others.

In a concession to the National Food Processors Association

(NFPA), a trade group made up mostly of conventional-food

processors, the USDA changed the organic seal from an

originally proposed shield, such as the one that goes on

meat, eggs and other products that are government-inspected,

to a circle.

The NFPA had also asked the agency to put a disclaimer on

organic labels, so that they would say such food was no

safer and no more nutritious than conventional food, but

this request was denied.

The New York Times reports that Tim Willard, the NFPA's vice

president for communications, said " The challenge for USDA

is to make sure consumers don't think the seal of approval

means that the food is safer or more nutritious. "

For more information about the new regulations, go to the

USDA's National Organic Program Website

New York Times, December 21, 2000

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: Here is another good example of

consumers and activists taking action and getting results,

despite the fact that there was significant opposition from

a lot of the non-organic industry. The original USDA

proposed regulations were much too lenient, but with nearly

300,000 responses submitted in response, they tightened up

the standards significantly.

Related Articles:

USDA Sets Rules For Organic Meat, Poultry

U.S. Proposes To Ban Genetically Engineered Foods In New

Organic Rules

Organic Cropland Doubled in 1990s

Organic Farming Has Dramatic Increase In Europe

EPA Muzzles Benefits of Organic Benefits

[Guest guest]

> http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/24/organic_standards.htm

>

> US Government Finally Establishes New Federal Organic

> Standards

>

> The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced

> the final adoption of the first standards that the US

> government has ever imposed for the labeling and processing

> of organic foods.

>

> The new federal standards, which were ordered by Congress

> back in 1990 and then took more than a decade to produce,

> contain the following restrictions, for any food labeled

> organic.

>

> No use of irradiation

>

> No use of genetically modified substances

>

> No use of sewer-sludge fertilizer

>

> No synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

>

> No antibiotics in meat labeled organic

>

> The department originally planned to allow the use of the

> first three methods listed above when it introduced proposed

> regulations in 1997, but after comments from almost 300,000

> citizens protesting their inclusion, they withdrew that

> proposal and started over.

>

> US Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman called the new

> regulations " the strongest and most comprehensive organic

> standard in the world. "

>

> DiMatteo, a spokeswoman for the organic foods

> industry, welcomed the regulations. " The long wait for the

> final rule was worthwhile, " said Ms. DiMatteo, executive

> director of the Organic Trade Association. " USDA has

> delivered a strict organic standard that is a great boost to

> the organic industry. In no way is this final rule less than

> what the industry wanted. "

>

> The regulations come at a time of soaring popularity for

> organic foods. Domestic sales have increased more than 20

> percent annually each year since 1990, and reached $6

> billion last year.

>

> Sales are so good that large conventional-food companies

> have been buying up smaller organic companies. Some examples

> are:

>

> General Mills owns Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen Tomatoes

>

> Heinz owns Earth's Best Baby Food

>

> J. M. Smucker sells Santa Cruz and Knudsen juices.

>

> The regulations divide organic labeling into four labeling

> categories:

>

> 100 Percent Organic - Products must contain only organic

> ingredients

>

> Organic - Products must be at least 95 percent organic by

> weight

>

> Made with Organic Ingredients - Processed products that

> contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients

>

> In addition, processed products with less than 70 percent

> organic ingredients may list those ingredients on the

> information panel as being organic but may not carry the

> term " organic " anywhere on the front of the package.

>

> A " USDA " organic seal may appear on products in the first

> two categories (and in their advertisements), but not on the

> others.

>

> In a concession to the National Food Processors Association

> (NFPA), a trade group made up mostly of conventional-food

> processors, the USDA changed the organic seal from an

> originally proposed shield, such as the one that goes on

> meat, eggs and other products that are government-inspected,

> to a circle.

>

> The NFPA had also asked the agency to put a disclaimer on

> organic labels, so that they would say such food was no

> safer and no more nutritious than conventional food, but

> this request was denied.

>

> The New York Times reports that Tim Willard, the NFPA's vice

> president for communications, said " The challenge for USDA

> is to make sure consumers don't think the seal of approval

> means that the food is safer or more nutritious. "

>

> For more information about the new regulations, go to the

> USDA's National Organic Program Website

>

> New York Times, December 21, 2000

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> -------------

> DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: Here is another good example of

> consumers and activists taking action and getting results,

> despite the fact that there was significant opposition from

> a lot of the non-organic industry. The original USDA

> proposed regulations were much too lenient, but with nearly

> 300,000 responses submitted in response, they tightened up

> the standards significantly.

>

> Related Articles:

>

> USDA Sets Rules For Organic Meat, Poultry

>

> U.S. Proposes To Ban Genetically Engineered Foods In New

> Organic Rules

>

> Organic Cropland Doubled in 1990s

>

> Organic Farming Has Dramatic Increase In Europe

>

> EPA Muzzles Benefits of Organic Benefits