By Sharyl Attkisson | October 13, 2024
The following is from Children’s Health Defense.
As the organic food industry grows, concerns about fraudulent labeling have also increased. Mark Kastel, an organic industry watchdog, explains that while the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act was intended to protect consumers, it has been undermined by large agribusiness interests and bureaucratic mismanagement. Kastel notes that while Congress passed a solid law to protect farmers and consumers, “once it was handed over to the bureaucrats in Washington, things went wrong.”
A significant issue lies with imported organic products, which face much less oversight compared to local products. Turkey, a major exporter of organic hazelnuts, is notorious for fraudulent certifications, often bypassing proper inspections under a system known as “group certification.” According to Kastel, this system “was conceived for small landholders but is now being exploited by large agribusinesses to avoid proper inspection.”
To help consumers avoid fake organic labels and ensure they are purchasing truly organic products, Kastel offers several tips:
- Buy from farmers markets or Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, where products tend to be more reliable and local.
- Look for 100% grass-fed and finished meat, as “grass-fed” labeling alone can be misleading.
- Use trusted resources like Local Harvest and Eat Wild to find authentic organic farms.
- Research certifier names to ensure they are trustworthy.
Kastel also cautions against trendy but questionable products like fake meats, which are marketed as healthy alternatives but are often highly processed and not necessarily better for consumers.
“We’re turning consumers into lab rats with these fake meat products, where the priority is profit, not health.”
— Mark Kastel, Executive Director, OrganicEye
Kastel’s organization, OrganicEye, continues to expose fraudulent practices in the organic industry and helps consumers make more informed decisions.
