What’s your definition of the word organic? If you’re like me, I would guess you think organic has something to do with food that is grown without the use of pesticides and that is not treated with chemicals of any kind at any point during the process of growing, harvesting, storing, transport or sale.
Well, almost. Accoding to the definition of organic that is used by the American government and posted at the Organic Trade Association, organic has more to do with sustainability and pollution than it does with what’s actually done to the food.
And the definition might become even more lax if some major food manufacturers have anything to say about it. Chemicals like xanthan gum, an artificial thickener, ammonium bicarbonate, a synthetic leavening agent, and ethylene, a chemical that accelerates the ripening of fruit, would be allowed on foods sporting the organic label if a new rule change is enacted.
And, in fact, it’s the OTA that’s behind the proposed change. This organization represtents Dole, Kraft, and other large food manufacturers that want to be able to call foods organic without actually having to make them organic. The rider to the agriculture bill that the OTA is pushing would allow the use of 38 chemicals on “organic” foods and in some instances would allow new chemicals to be added to the list without oversight or even without telling consumers they are being added to the list. You can read more about the issue here.
This could mean the end of organics as we know it. You’d never know if what you were eating was truly chemical-free because the manufacturers wouldn’t have to label their foods as being produced with chemicals.
Of course it all goes back to knowing where your food comes from, asking questions and buying as close to local as you can, and not buying anything that claims to be organic that’s produced by a major name manufacturer that’s not known for its organics. Shop smart and watch this space for updates.