Integrity of organic foods

February 4, 2009
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The organic food industry is in an uproar over concerns that organic fertilizer may have been spiked with synthetic versions.

Last month, FBI and federal agriculture officials searched a California organic fertilizer factory, but wouldnâ??t disclose their motive. The factory is the same location where environmental officials discovered aqueous ammonia, a synthetic fertilizer, in 2005 and 2007.

Organics boosters fear consumers will abandon the foods if the industry canâ??t police its integrity. One senator said oversight of organic fertilizer is â??kind of like the wild West.â??

How much confidence do you have in organic labels?
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  • randomFebruary 4, 2009 1:38 PM
    this is very concerning. I figured that organic food would have some standards. When I eat organic food, or drink organic drinks, I would like to rest assure that it is as pure as a child's intention. But that would be a little farfetched to believe in such a myth. We need to police the integerity of the food or it will lose creditability. I hope the worst doesn't happen at all.
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  • dougFebruary 4, 2009 3:38 PM
    how else would he be competitive. cheat to win. its about time you organic types were revealed.
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  • DustinFebruary 4, 2009 3:41 PM
    I'm a huge aficionado of organic food and I agree with random... this is very concerning. In fact, I'm a little pissed because this kind of situation even happened in the first place. SOMEONE is not doing their job. This is what goes on today, people not doing what they are suppoose to be doing. Pretty aggravating. Again, if this continues to be an uproar, yes I can see eventually the organic food industry suffering in terms of customers becoming distrustful of the so called loyalty of organic quality.
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  • randomFebruary 5, 2009 8:50 AM
    doug -

    How would you like it if the auto shop that you goto cheats, even though they are giving you car/truck/van (whatever you hve) oil but spike it with a little bit of oil that is for boats?

    Or sell you Tires that are regulated for a car when you clearly have a truck (even though they have the same part number)?

    Or buy software for your computer, only to learn some of the great functions is spiked with code for the other operating system (Mac/Windows/Linux)?

    Or even this... If you cannot physically diguest the synthetic chemicals that the Organic Food absorbs and contains in the food/drink?

    I expect that when someone makes a statement or claim about a product, that they are not mixing something that would void the statement/claim made. Granted, I expect some fudging when sales people are trying to sell you a product, but not where it could harm you, your body, others or atleast peave you off at the least.
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  • JoyceFebruary 5, 2009 2:28 PM
    The FDA should assign an inspector to every food business in America. Oh, wait. That would cost a fortune.
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  • StefanieMarch 3, 2009 2:20 PM
    Pretty upsetting, as I fainted when in Biology in college Biology II 2here they were dissecting a cat ! I thought it was the grossness of the dead cat, but it was the formeldahyde used to preserve it. I'm allergic to all sorts of chemicals, including ammonia and certain petroleum products, so I thought Organic was the way to go ! Can't trust the priests, the food, the fake cops with the fake lights, we are on a tight rope !!
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  • StefanieMarch 3, 2009 2:22 PM
    Sorry about the typos, I was temporarily flako over the Organic situation. Thanks, guys.
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