Tag: organic
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German Farms Caught Up in Alleged Organic Egg Fraud
According to media sources, German officials have apparently launched an investigation into more than 160 farms accused of flouting the standards governing organic and free-range egg production. Lower Saxony and two other states have apparently announced an ongoing probe into poultry establishments, including 40 organic farms, that allegedly marketed their eggs as organic or free-range…
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USDA Proposes Amendments to Organic Crop and Processing Rules
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances to change annotations pertaining to the use of peracetic acid in organic crop production and the use of potassium hydroxide, silicon dioxide and betacarotene extract color in organic handling. Following the recommendation of the National Organic…
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Organic Industry Condemns USDA Report
Organic growers and food safety advocates, including the National Organic Coalition (NOC), have condemned recommendations contained in the final report of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21), a group appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address transgenic contamination of organic and non-genetically engineered (GE) crops. GE crops make…
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USDA Adopts Final Rule for Residue Testing of Organic Agricultural Products
The Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule clarifying that the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and its implementing regulations require “periodic residue testing of organically produced agricultural products by accredited certifying agents.” Effective January 1, 2013, the rule also “expands the amount of residue testing…
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AAP Report Assesses Organic Foods for Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published its first report on organic foods, concluding that it’s more important for children to eat a wide variety of healthy produce than to emphasize an organic diet. Joel Forman, et al., “Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantages,” Pediatrics, October 2012. According to AAP, research has…
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NOP Interim Rule Addresses Continued Use of Vitamins, Minerals in Organic Handling
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has issued an interim rule extending the use of nutrient vitamins and minerals in organic handling while the agency considers a proposal to renew their exemption (use) on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) for another five years. According to a September…
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NOP Final Rule Permits Synthetic Methionine Use in Organic Poultry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has issued a final rule permitting the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry production. Effective October 1, 2012, the final rule reduces the maximum levels of methionine per ton of feed as follows: (i) 2 pounds for laying and broiler chickens, and (ii) 3 pounds…
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Center for Food Safety Criticizes USDA BioAg Committee’s Coexistence Stance
The Center for Food Safety has issued a paper critical of the draft report prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21), which was scheduled to meet August 27-28, 2012, to discuss the draft. According to the advocacy organization, USDA “has increasingly strayed from its role as…