The deadline for public commentary on proposed changes to U.S.D.A. organic standards is Tuesday, May 22.
If you're concerned about maintaining current standards for organic foods, you have until next Tuesday to voice your opinions on proposed new exemptions to allow additional non-organic ingredients in organic-labeled foods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program is considering adding 38 new substances to its National List of non-organic or synthetic ingredients that can be used in food products carrying the "U.S.D.A. Organic" label. Consumers have until May 22 to register their comments with the U.S.D.A.; the comment period, normally 30 to 60 days, is only seven days long for the current proposed changes.
Among the new ingredients that would be allowed, organic or not, in organic-labeled foods are animal intestines for sausage casings, hops for making beer, gelatin, fish oil, beet juice, lemongrass, coating agents for produce, rice starch, whey protein, and a variety of food colorings, flavorings and other additives.
The U.S.D.A. says the new exemptions are needed to enable food manufacturers to make their organic products when certain organic ingredients can't be obtained. It says the new exemptions clarify its stance on organic standards in accordance with a January 2005 ruling by the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Until recently, producers, handlers and certifying agents may have misinterpreted National List regulations ... to mean that any non-organic agricultural product which was determined by an accredited certifying agent to be not commercially available in organic form could be used in organic products, without being individually listed pursuant to the National List procedures," the U.S.D.A. states in its proposal. The new changes would allow "the use of a non-organically produced agricultural product only when the product has been listed (in the exemptions), and when an accredited certifying agent has determined that the organic form of the agricultural product is not commercially available."
However, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is urging people to voice their opposition to some of the changes, which it says would weaken organic standards. The OCA says it is most concerned about the proposed exemptions for hops (which the OCA calls the "Budweiser exemption"), sausage casings, fish oil, beet juice, lemongrass, rice starch and whey protein.
Consumers who want to submit their opinions on the proposed changes can find an online form with editable comments at the OCA's Website. More details about the additional exemptions under consideration can be found on the Federal Register's publication on "National Organic Program (NOP)--Proposed Amendments to the
National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Processing)."
