Problems With USDA Organic Food Program

/Home/b. Organic Food Support & Community/Organic Food USDA Programs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There's a warning that government food labels may not always mean what they say. An audit performed by the U.S. Inspector General's office suggests “USDA organic" stickers may not always be a sign of the real thing.
Audit: USDA Organic Labels May Not Be Accurate
Local organic farmers fill out mounds of paperwork and spend thousands of dollars every year to get their crops certified "USDA organic," but they're now learning that label may not be worth all of the weeding.
Hank Delvin Jr. said he spends countless hours and about $3,500 every year getting his crops certified "USDA organic."
“It’s very labor intensive for me to grow organic,” said Delvin.
Delvin said it's apparent by the insect bites and weeds that his crop is chemical free. In fact, he said, he often has to care for each row of plants by hand, and those costs trickle down to customers who pay a premium for organic products.
“I feel like if I’m going to pay that much more for the organic products, I should be getting products that aren’t filled with pesticides and hormones and things like that,” said one shopper.
“I want it to be as wholesome as possible and without the chemicals,” said another organic food customer.
Before Delvin can get an "organic" sticker on his produce, an independent auditor must verify that no synthetic chemicals are used in his fields.
“When a customer buys an organic product from me, for instance, they should know that it is organic, it's organically grown, that everything into it is organic,” said Delvin.
While local farmers like Delvin have to spend serious time and money to earn the USDA sticker, the Channel 4 I-Team found the same thing may not be true for every product that bears the seal of approval, especially those coming from outside the United States.
The I-Team obtained an audit of the USDA Organic Food Program which found international products stamped "USDA organic" are specifically suspect. The audit performed by the inspector general cites poor oversight as the reason. It reveals many overseas farms are never checked to make sure their products are chemical free.
That means when shoppers see pastas, vinegars and sauces on store shelves from places like Italy, Spain and Bolivia that are labeled "USDA organic," they still can't be certain the products really are organic.
“Well, it’s kind of disheartening, because you do pay a lot more for organic products,” said an organic food customer.
“I think it’s not honest for the USDA to approve it without knowing 100 percent that it does meet the criteria,” said another customer.
Customers the I-Team spoke with said the inspector general's findings make them doubt all products labeled organic. That's a major problem for places like Delvin Farms.
“I have a lot of expenses obtaining my organic certification, and it's good if everyone is playing on the same level playing field,” said Delvin.
But he said shoppers shouldn't let the latest findings completely stop them from buying organic. According to local dietitians, there are some ways to look beyond the organic label. There's another label to look for: the one that says which country it's coming from.
“It may be coming from far away, so you may be better off buying a locally grown product,” said Nashville dietitian Tracy Noerper.
For now, knowing where and who foods are from may be the only real assurance for customers until the USDA increases its certification checks on all organic foods.
The USDA said in a statement that "the integrity of the organic label depends largely upon effective enforcement and oversight of the many accredited certifying agents responsible for reviewing organic operations."
A USDA representative said they are making major changes to the way they regulate the National Organic Program. The federal government is adding $3.1 million to the Organic Program's 2011 budget, and the USDA said they will use that money to better regulate farms both near and far away.
Local retailers are also reacting to organic regulation problems pointed out in the audit. Whole Foods Market is now requiring all personal care products and cosmetics that claim to be "organic" be certified by an additional third party.

© 2010, WSMV; Nashville, TN. (A Meredith Corporation Station)