Organic food

[Erin]

^ Very interesting information... I should really read more into this. Does sound like a great investment, overall, that of organic living.

 

[tinuvielberen]

George Monbiot for Guardian UK from years and years ago.

Food Fascism

On March 16 1998, the US Department of Agriculture will close its consultations on a new national standard for organic farming. Its proposals have horrified small farmers, consumer groups and animal welfare campaigners. If adopted and implemented [this has happened] as protesters predict, they will outlaw genuine organic production all over the world. The USDA would allow fruit and vegetables to be labelled as "organic" in the United States which have been genetically engineered, irradiated, treated with additives and raised on contaminated sewer sludge. Under the new proposals, "organic" livestock can be housed in batteries, fed with the offal of other animals and injected with biotics. "Organic" produce, in the brave new world of American oligopoly, will be virtually indistinguishable from conventionally-toxic food...

Through the magic of Google, I found the USDA's standards for the National Organic Program. From it, I excerpt the following:

§ 205.105 Allowed and prohibited substances, methods, and ingredients in organic production and handling.

To be sold or labeled as "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))," the product must be produced and handled without the use of:

(a) ....

(f) Ionizing radiation, as described in Food and Drug Administration regulation, 21 CFR 179.26; and

(g) Sewage sludge

§ 205.2 Terms defined:

Excluded methods. A variety of methods used to genetically modify organisms or influence their growth and development by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes and are not considered compatible with organic production.

§ 205.237 Livestock feed:

(b) The producer of an organic operation must not:
(1) Use animal drugs, including hormones, to promote growth;

...

(5) Feed mammalian or poultry slaughter by-products to mammals or poultry...

Feel free to peruse the regulations yourself at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards/FullRegTextOnly.html

I'm not saying the regulations are perfect; nothing created by a bureaucracy possibly can be; but I think the pronouncement that the U.S. has "banned organic food" is a bit of an exaggeration...

 

[adorefaith]

tinuviel....
thankyou for your post..
something told me regulations like this would be in place...as they should be
again, not saying these could not and perhaps will not be loosened at some point (though i hope not..!), but the entire concept of organic produce & sewage sludge in the same sentence is absolute absurdity...

 

[*Happiness*]

"I'm a level 5 vegan I won't eat anything that cast a shadow." hahaha I love that joke but yea I don't eat meat anymore.

What's a level 5 vegan?

 

[sea of stitches]

Ooo, I'd believe our government would do lots of things really. I try to only eat organic, although if it's grown organically i'll take it. i'm even slightly skeptical of that. I am pretty stern about vegetables in particular...I'd rather just go without than to eat stuff that is most likely heavily sprayed. I am vegan so no need for free range, which i still have trouble trusting. I do try for fair trade when available though.

I recommend farmers markets, then workers co-ops and then members co-ops as places to purchase food. But mostly, I recommend people growing their own!