Tag: organic
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OTA Seeks to Revise Natural Flavoring and Lignin Sulfonate Standards
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has reportedly submitted two petitions to the National Organic Program (NOP) requesting changes to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for organic processing and handling. Citing recent innovations, OTA has asked NOP to strengthen the rules governing natural flavors in certified products to require the use of organic…
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Center for Food Safety Questions “Organic” Ocean-Based Fish Farms
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has issued a report challenging the proposed organic aquaculture production regulations under consideration by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Titled Like Water and Oil: Ocean-Based Fish Farming and Organic Don’t Mix, the report argues that USDA should reject proposed standards that would allegedly dilute the value of organic certification…
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Consumer Reports Tests “Natural” Foods for GE Corn and Soy
The Consumer Reports (CR) Food Safety and Sustainability Center has reportedly tested more than 80 processed foods for genetically engineered (GE) corn or soy, concluding that products labeled “natural” contained GE ingredients in levels comparable to those of their conventional counterparts. After analyzing breakfast cereals, bars, corn chips and tortillas, baking mixes and flour, meat…
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NOP Adds Biodegradable Biobased Mulch Film to National List
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has issued a final rule amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), which governs the use of synthetic and nonsynthetic substances in organic crop production and processing. Effective October 30, 2014, the final rule adds biodegradable biobased mulch film to the National List…
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Parties Reach Settlement in Yerba Mate ECJ Labeling Putative Class Action
A California federal court has approved a settlement in a case accusing Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products Inc. of misleading its customers by listing “organic evaporated cane juice” (ECJ) as an ingredient of its yerba mate products. Cowan v. Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Prods. Inc., No. 14-1248 (U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Cal., order entered September 16, 2014).…
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NOSB to Consider BPA Ban for Organic Food Packaging
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program has announced a public meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on October 28-30, 2014, in Louisville, Kentucky. The meeting will include recommendations from the board’s six subcommittees on a wide range of topics, including “substances petitioned to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances…
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Putative Class Action Filed Against Organic Milling for Allegedly False “100% Natural” Claims
A plaintiff has accused cereal company Organic Milling of mislabeling its Nutritious Living Hi-Lo brand cereals as “100% natural” despite allegedly containing synthetic and heavily processed ingredients and being produced with genetically modified (GM) crops. Mirto v. Organic Milling, No. BC553780 (Super. Ct. Cal., Los Angeles Cty., filed Aug. 5, 2014). The complaint alleges first…
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Putative Class Actions Accuse Whole Foods and Breyers of “All Natural” Mislabeling
According to a putative class action removed to Arkansas federal court, Whole Foods mislabels several of its 365 Everyday Value brand products as “organic” or “all natural” despite containing synthetic ingredients. Stafford v. Whole Foods Market Cal., No. 14-420 (E.D. Ark., removed July 22, 2014). Originally filed in Arkansas state court in June, the complaint accuses…