Janna Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I came across this article this morning. I find it disturbing, so I thought I'd share. I know there is a large number of health-conscious, organic eating people here who might be interested in this. How this Barbara Robinson of the USDA in charge of the organics program still has her job is beyond me. I've already known and practiced staying away from organics that are from certain major companies - Horizon, for one, has been and still is a joke; a total waste of money there. It just doesn't make sense in my mind to trust major companies (like Dean or Kraft) that have an organic line. I know that the best thing is to buy local, even if it's not organic, but it's hard to find for a lot of people, and in this current economy, it's way too expensive. For me anyway. I don't know. I guess it all comes down to one of the quotes in the article: "Consumers, they expect organic food to be growing in a greenhouse on Pluto. Hello? We live in a polluted world. It isn't pure. We are doing the best we can." (emphasis mine) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 :ack2: Living in a big Midwest-farm state we try to buy locally produced. While I'd love to buy all organic (and have it be organic) it just isn't going to happen. My budget can't take it and the market is so saturated with companies looking at the $$ to be made now. The baby formula is pretty upsetting to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asta Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I remember standing in a Wal-Mart produce section a couple of years ago (why I was in Wal-Mart, I do not know; I normally boycott them) and saw a big "Organic" sign by the spinach. I picked up the package, and sure enough, it was "organic spinach". From China. Whaaaa??? I pay close attention to labels now whenever I see "organic". I am fortunate to be currently living in an area with a farmer's market, but this will change when I move. Yeah, "organic" is a bit of a sham any more (unfortunately). a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Thank you, Janna, for posting the link. I posted concerning Dean Foods in another thread here recently. If you don't already have these two websites bookmarked, perhaps you might like to read information at them: http://www.organicconsumers.org/index.htm http://www.cornucopia.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 ... How this Barbara Robinson of the USDA in charge of the organics program still has her job is beyond me. ... Really! I find it incomprehensible that unilateral "decisions" can be made that companies can use synthetic ingredients and still retain the organic seal, if they can't find an organic substitute. Really? WTH?? Not being able to find a suitable substitute still doesn't make something organic!! Some things - wild caught fish, baking soda, salt - are just simply not certifiable. That's fine. What is NOT fine is the "gee they must have a good reason" argument while allowing certification standards to be ignored, but the seal to be used. (good grief I am so sick of standards being lowered for sheer laziness!!! What is WRONG with people?!?!?!) A friend of mine who is also a member of our food co-op does a lot of research into company ties and country of origin for the foods that are offered by UNFI. She has hounded the companies to the point of absurdity sometimes - not on her part, on theirs. Woodstock finally, after months of a "marketing specialist" making patently false claims ("all produce entering the US is inspected", "all of OUR produce is certified by QAI annually" {not according to published QAI records}) in response to her inquiries, sent her a scan of some document that was half blacked out... apparently the provenance of their green beans is a matter of national security. I am of the school that buying everything as close to its natural state as possible is the most desirable. So I would rather bake my own bread and snacks than have to read the labels of packaged ones. Produce, meat and dairy are purchased from the growers where possible (which is nearly 100% doable). Pantry items are purchased with scrutiny of the companies (thanks to my persnickety friend) and weighted toward companies who are proactive in their enviromental and social impact, and transparent in their practices. And then there are the "I just don't care that much" items - ketchup is not a staple of our diet, for instance. I buy organic, but it's "conglomerate organic". If we went through more than six bottles of ketchup a year, I might care more, even enough to make my own. I can't say I'm too concerned about capers, either, since I'm the only one who eats them and rarely at that. I guess I could put in my own juniper bushes but they have that unfotunate cat pee smell to them... In short, I take the direct opposite approach from Ms. Robinson: there is always room for me to improve the quality of our food and the stringency with which I oversee our purchases. Thanks for sharing the article, Janna! And the links, Orthodox! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Just about 3 weeks ago my eyes were finally opened to the horrors in our food and I've been trying SO HARD to figure out what I can buy and now even the organic stuff is bad???!!!! dismay...despair....disgust.... :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Thanks for the eye opening links! I feel better about not shelling out $7.50 a gallon for Horizon milk now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 You mentioned already some of the things you can do to try to buy wholesome foods. I know it can be difficult/expensive. I try to buy organic at least those things that are the biggest offenders in terms of unhealthy additives: strawberries, milk, bread, things like that. Also, I think you have to be pro-active in reading labels. If there are not just a few, simple ingredients (which you can pronounce and which you recognize as real food) on the label, you might be better off without it. Whole foods, raw foods, are always better. Even if you can't buy them organic, you're still buying a real food without a bunch of additives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I haven't trusted the FDA as far as I could throw them for the past couple of decades..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Organic from smaller companies who care about quality control is fine. Organic from huge companies who supply to big box retailers just so they can jump on the bandwagon of "organics" and make a killing from it is not good. Do a little research. Check out brands. Horizons for milk products is a big, giant no-no. Organic fruit and vegetables at Wal-mart or other huge chains are always suspect. These chains buy in huge quantities. Organic produce usually is not grown in such huge quantities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Does anyone have suggestions for organic brands that are reliable then? I'm pretty sure I have two half-gallons of Horizons Organic Milk in the fridge... what about Organic Valley? As for the infant formula, Nature's One makes organic infant formula, Baby's Only, that does not contain the ingredient referred to in the article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 (edited) Does anyone have suggestions for organic brands that are reliable then? I'm pretty sure I have two half-gallons of Horizons Organic Milk in the fridge... what about Organic Valley? As for the infant formula, Nature's One makes organic infant formula, Baby's Only, that does not contain the ingredient referred to in the article. Organic Valley is good, and Stonyfield is pretty good (just discovered they are now owned by Hood though!). I once had a link to a constellation that showed most of the organic companies and their links to big conglomerates. I'll see if I can dig it up. ETA: http://www.organicconsumers.org/Organic/orgChart.pdf http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html Edited July 3, 2009 by melissel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 UGH! The crops around here are sprayed, so buying local is really not any better but at least it is cheaper. I do buy non-peelable (is that a word?) fruits and veggies that will not be cooked from the organic section of our local store. I don't buy horizon milk due to price, but the central market brand may not be much better *sigh*. Of course it is in a plastic container too, but the milk in glass containers if VERY expensive here. How do you get your kids to eat Stonyfarms yogurt? Horizon is the only kind I can get them to eat other than yoplait and we try to avoid that. What a depressing article. We try to do our best to feed our kids well and the standards that we think are in place are not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 (edited) I found that article unnerving as well since we try to buy as much organic as possible. I also have been disturbed to find usda organic green beans from China!:001_huh: I find it hard to believe that I can be guaranteed that products from China are truly organic when I have read articles about Chinese businesses pouring toxic chemicals right into the ground next to farm fields.:confused: Not to say that it cannot happen here, but it seems to me that China has had a bad track record. Also in general, I am alarmed about the amount of produce that we import. I think it is a security issue if America cannot even grow its own food:scared: So we try to buy american food when possible. Edited July 5, 2009 by priscilla spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Here's one website that has hundreds of listings all across North America for all categories of products: http://www.greenpeople.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekarl2 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 This is where the free market needs to take over. AS USUAL, the government can't run a two-car funeral without someone wanting to lobby for bigger hearses and a longer driving route! UGH! A SMART someone out there needs to come up with an true, honest organic accreditation company/non-profit. If more than one pops up (and it would) they would fight to be the most stringent and most honest, to be the "true certifier" of organics that people turn to. Companies would pay to earn that label (like the BBB) and it would be adveritised everywhere that "real organics" carry the ________ seal of approval. That would be cool! I can GUARANTEE you that companies large and small are paying the USDA for that "organic" label now and have to pay more (through lobbyists and payoffs) to get what they want, good or bad. When articles come out like this about a gov't institution, people get pissed, but where can they turn? Nowhere right now except for small orgs like greenpeople.org. Organics is a huge market, I let if this gov't shenangin keeps up, we'll start hearing about a different, real seal of approval. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 The best organic is what you grow yourself. From the very beginning of labeling 'organic' there was always trouble (this is going back maybe 25 years). Farmers that grow what most people would consider organic could not label it that because of regulations/red tape. So it became the label of big business organic. I often see at farmer's markets the term "chemical free" this means that they are really organic but technically they don't qualify for the labeling. It is so sad that getting healthy food free of toxins, contamination, and HFCS is almost impossible at the average supermarket. I'm glad in away that people are buying organic even if the organic they are buying isn't perfect. I think big and small companies are realizing that there is a market. I was looking at farmer's markets statistics in our area and they have double and tripled in the last 10 to 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elw_miller Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 How do you get your kids to eat Stonyfarms yogurt? Horizon is the only kind I can get them to eat other than yoplait and we try to avoid that. It's pretty easy to make your own--it is not tart at all (unless you leave it to set a looooong time). I got my recipe from The Complete Tightwad Gazette. I let mine set overnight, from about 9PM until about 7AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 For things such as health and beauty aids, you also have to understand that there's not even any hard and fast guidelines as to what can be called "organic". Some companies, such as Bert's Bees, Kiss My Face, etc. have taken a pledge not to put some dangerous chemicals, such as sodium laurel sulfates, into their products. But for others, you must read EVERY label. For instance, recently, I bought a Nature's Gate conditioner and the ingredients for it were fine. Next visit to the store, my husband needed some liquid soap and the store was out of all the brands I normally buy, so I grabbed a jar of Nature's Gate, thinking it would be okay. Nope. Sodium Laurel Sulfate is one of the primary ingredients in it..... You must constantly read and ask questions regarding organics. I expect buying will get trickier before it gets better, as manufacturers try to fool us into buying their products.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 How do you get your kids to eat Stonyfarms yogurt? I don't bother trying ! My children don't care for yoghurt. I don't care for cottage cheese. Same difference. We can eat very well without either one of those foods ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I often post these links for people interested in "safer" cosmetics and personal products: http://www.safecosmetics.org/ http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com For things such as health and beauty aids, you also have to understand that there's not even any hard and fast guidelines as to what can be called "organic". Some companies, such as Bert's Bees, Kiss My Face, etc. have taken a pledge not to put some dangerous chemicals, such as sodium laurel sulfates, into their products. But for others, you must read EVERY label. For instance, recently, I bought a Nature's Gate conditioner and the ingredients for it were fine. Next visit to the store, my husband needed some liquid soap and the store was out of all the brands I normally buy, so I grabbed a jar of Nature's Gate, thinking it would be okay. Nope. Sodium Laurel Sulfate is one of the primary ingredients in it..... You must constantly read and ask questions regarding organics. I expect buying will get trickier before it gets better, as manufacturers try to fool us into buying their products.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Buying from a local farmers market is the best situation for us. I've gotten to know the growers and their practices. And the food is local and tastes fresh and delicious. Some growers are "certified" organic, some who can't deal with the expense and paper-work are "chemical-free". And even a few who use some chemical fertilizers who go by "no spray". The idea that agri-business is undermining organic standards (along with the USDA) is depressing. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I haven't read the article yet, but NPR had a really interesting guy on yesterday talking about organics and the market growth. He was talking about the importance of locally produced and purchased (which I totally agree with over organic) because it's better than a huge lot of cattle, standing in feces eating organic grain and being marketed as "organic". I thought he made a lot of sense. For me - I like local and sustainable when possible. Now - off to read the article and hit the track. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedfamily Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) Organic from smaller companies who care about quality control is fine. Organic from huge companies who supply to big box retailers just so they can jump on the bandwagon of "organics" and make a killing from it is not good. Do a little research. Check out brands. Horizons for milk products is a big, giant no-no. Organic fruit and vegetables at Wal-mart or other huge chains are always suspect. These chains buy in huge quantities. Organic produce usually is not grown in such huge quantities. Spot on. I investigate the companies I buy from, and stay away from the big names who are just trying to bend rules for profits. I've started buying my meat from a Mennonite family who uses no synthetic pesticides, hormones, anitbiotics and grass feeds their cattle. It's not certified organic, but I LOVE IT! Edited July 5, 2009 by Blessedfamily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 The original link to this story has expired. Does anyone know a new link where we can read this story? I have looked and come up short. Our move to organics several years ago was based on a desire to eliminate MSG from our diet. I get severe headaches from MSG, so we have put a lot of effort into finding food sources that do not contain right-handed glutamic acid molecules. (Somehow, the FDA is fine with labeling right-handed glutamic acid as "natural" even though amino acids found in nature are very, very nearly all left-handed. There is quite a bit of evidence that right-handed amino acids and sugars are toxic.) We quickly learned that "organic" and "MSG-free" are hardly synonymous. In fact, we found that some sources of "organic" food added MSG where non-organics did not. Today, we look for vendors who use organic produce, but who also do not use MSG-containing ingredients. MomsintheGarden continues to increase the variety and quantity of food grown in our garden yearly. I've started to participate more in the garden and we intend to increase our garden size each year for the foreseeable future. Our efforts have allowed me to nearly eliminate my headaches, but it is no small or simple task to avoid the toxins found in our food supply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janna Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 The original link to this story has expired. Does anyone know a new link where we can read this story? I have looked and come up short. Here's a new link. I'm surprised the original link only lasted for 2 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 It's pretty easy to make your own--it is not tart at all (unless you leave it to set a looooong time). I got my recipe from The Complete Tightwad Gazette. I let mine set overnight, from about 9PM until about 7AM. I might have to look into that! There are some things I don't want to see before I eat, because I hear they are messy to make lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I might have to look into that! There are some things I don't want to see before I eat, because I hear they are messy to make lol. Yogurt's not messy or weird. You heat milk to 180, then let it cool to about 110 (F), add some yogurt as a starter, and keep it warm on a heating pad for several hours. You can jar it up before incubating or after, whichever is your preference. I often post these links for people interested in "safer" cosmetics and personal products: http://www.safecosmetics.org/ http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com I like those, too, but I have to caution that you have to read the whole product evaluation on cosmetics database and make your own judgments as to the ingredients. Their ideas of safety seem to be skewed toward the cosmetics industry standards. The "score" does not always jibe with my view of the ingredient. For instance, things like lavender essential oil used to have a fairly high (meaning of concern) score, but it was apparently due to lack of laboratory testing, not because of inherent risk. Anything that has "fragrance" has an inflated risk, simply because they don't know what it is. Looking randomly at Avalon Organics A&D diaper ointment, it contains ingredients that cause cancer, harm reproductive and other organs, and carry violations/warnings, but not any that are allergens... but it carries an overall score of 2. :confused: Looking at the ingredients, I can identify possible allergens (calendula, chamomile) that have a risk of 1/0 and no identified concerns, and Vitamin D carries a risk of 3. Olive oil can apparently cause irritation to the skin, eyes or lungs? It's olive oil! Most of us eat that, I can't imagine it would be of concern to smear on a baby's bottom. More troubling is that castor oil carries a higher risk than hydrogenated castor oil, according to the breakdown. Are we to take that to mean hydrogenation is a good thing? (In fact, that may be the only ingredient in the bum ointment that would prevent me from ingesting it... other than the part where it's bum ointment and not food.) Conversely, the hydrofluorocarbon propellant in Suave spray deoderant is a 2? Seriously? That's less concerning than Vitamin D?? It's enough to drive you mad. (Oh, and Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox, so I'm not even sure how much I trust them anymore... I do keep randomly eyeballing their ingredients lists to see if there are changes, but my major BB purchase, lip balm, I have started making myself - no worries, I use protective gear to keep the olive oil from damaging me in the process... NOT!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Spot on. I investigate the companies I buy from, and stay away from the big names who are just trying to bend rules for profits. I've started buying my meat from a Mennonite family who uses no synthetic pesticides, hormones, anitbiotics and grass feeds their cattle. It's not certified organic, but I LOVE IT! I agree. The Amish family we buy milk from does have organic certification, but some of their cows aren't organic. In reality that means they all graze in the same pastures, lead the same lives, but the hay some of the cows munch while they're in the barn isn't certified. Ditto the chickens. I have to remember to speak with her about her brother's beef, too. Thanks for the reminder, Yvette! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 We switched away from "feed lot cattle" a few years ago, and buy only grass-fed beef. It is not technically organic, as some point out here, but it aligns more with my beliefs and preferences. (I am not going to say that grass-fed "is better for you", because this near-vegan doesn't believe that any type of meat "is better for you" ! :) ) I haven't read the article yet, but NPR had a really interesting guy on yesterday talking about organics and the market growth. He was talking about the importance of locally produced and purchased (which I totally agree with over organic) because it's better than a huge lot of cattle, standing in feces eating organic grain and being marketed as "organic". I thought he made a lot of sense. For me - I like local and sustainable when possible. Now - off to read the article and hit the track. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (In fact, that may be the only ingredient in the bum ointment that would prevent me from ingesting it... other than the part where it's bum ointment and not food.)Umm...you go first! :ack2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (Oh, and Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox, so I'm not even sure how much I trust them anymore... I do keep randomly eyeballing their ingredients lists to see if there are changes, but my major BB purchase, lip balm, I have started making myself - no worries, I use protective gear to keep the olive oil from damaging me in the process... NOT!) Nooooooooo!!!!! Really? Noooo. I can't believe it. Darn it! Now I have to find another lip balm brand. That explains why I've been seeing it anywhere and everywhere lately, and why it's suddenly been popping up in our grocery store and drugstore sale circulars though. I was wondering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 We switched away from "feed lot cattle" a few years ago, and buy only grass-fed beef. It is not technically organic, as some point out here, but it aligns more with my beliefs and preferences. (I am not going to say that grass-fed "is better for you", because this near-vegan doesn't believe that any type of meat "is better for you" ! :) ) Grass-fed beef actually is way better for you because the omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acid ratio is much better. Grain-fed beef lacks most of the essential omega 3s. And this is undermining our national health. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asta Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (Oh, and Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox, so I'm not even sure how much I trust them anymore... I do keep randomly eyeballing their ingredients lists to see if there are changes, but my major BB purchase, lip balm, I have started making myself - no worries, I use protective gear to keep the olive oil from damaging me in the process... NOT!) I was about to post this. They now have petrolatum in their products, also. They didn't use to. a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I was about to post this. They now have petrolatum in their products, also. They didn't use to. a Oh no, really? I just switched to their lip balm because it did not have petrolatum in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Grass-fed beef actually is way better for you because the omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acid ratio is much better. Grain-fed beef lacks most of the essential omega 3s. And this is undermining our national health. Bill Yes. Also, meat from a sick animal (which is what a feed lot cow is) is not as good for you as meat from a healthy, vital animal. 'Nuf said. I was about to post this. They now have petrolatum in their products, also. They didn't use to. a D@mn it! I knew something bad would be coming after the sale. Somewhere in my cynical subconscious, I was expecting bleach, though, not petrolatum. :ack2: :glare: I don't get out to stores much, but I thought I was noticing an upsurge in the yellow packaging... on the other hand, I shop at natural foods stores that have always carried Burt's Bees, so... I'm glad I started making my own - same comfrey, calendula, rosemary, oil (I like olive and a little coconut), un-messed-with beeswax, peppermint essential oil (or others, for the kids), and I don't have to worry about reading the packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Umm...you go first! :ack2: Well, I wouldn't say I would *dine* on it but, honestly, there's not much there that's inedible. Not terribly tasty, but no reason to call poison control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Yes. Also, meat from a sick animal (which is what a feed lot cow is) is not as good for you as meat from a healthy, vital animal. 'Nuf said. Yeah. That too :001_smile: Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedfamily Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 ........ I like those, too, but I have to caution that you have to read the whole product evaluation on cosmetics database and make your own judgments as to the ingredients. Their ideas of safety seem to be skewed toward the cosmetics industry standards. The "score" does not always jibe with my view of the ingredient. .... Oh, and Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox... Me too. I don't always agree with EWG database's ratings, but I find the information valuable. No wonder Burt's Bees is now everywhere, including a big section at Walmart. They only had one product that I used anyway, but I'll keep my eyes open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Here's a new link. I'm surprised the original link only lasted for 2 days.Thanks, Janna! Here is the link to the original article in the Washington Post. This link comes from the bottom of your new link. In a rare move, Barbara Robinson, who administers the organics program and is a deputy USDA administrator, overruled the staff decision after a telephone call and an e-mail exchange with William J. Friedman, a lawyer who represents the formula makers "I called [Robinson] up," said Friedman. "I wrote an e-mail. It was a simple matter." The back-and-forth, he said, was nothing more than part of the routine process that sets policy in Washington. Herein lies the problem. It is a "simple matter" for a lobbyist for large associations of corporations that pay money to our congressmen to circumvent the will of the people and do things as their employers wish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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