New Age Food: Self Regulating GMOs

By Theodora Filis

In the US, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Association (EPA). Now, more than ever, environmentalists are complaining that policies and regulations are insufficient and poorly organized. Many worry corporate influence over policy has led to a dangerous level of "self-regulation" by biotech companies like Monsanto, Syngenta, and Scotts.

Mandatory labeling of GMOs and biotech companies allowed to self-regulate are causing heated debates. Debates have caused a significant increase in the amount of valuable information regarding GMOs, but have not helped to stop the planting of the “gene flow” of GMO seeds worldwide.

Gene flow, the process by which a gene will move through wind-blown pollen and work its way into non-modified varieties, has already been well-established for GMO corn, GMO alfalfa, and other modified crops.

Already on the verge of regulatory collapse, the USDA “surprised” everyone last week with a press release titled: "USDA Responds to Regulation Requests Regarding Kentucky Bluegrass," the USDA announced their decision to deregulate a "Roundup Ready" strain of Kentucky bluegrass. GMO Kentucky Bluegrass seed was engineered to withstand glyphosate, Monsanto's widely used herbicide, known as Roundup. Allowing, Scotts Miracle-Gro, the maker of this novel grass seed, to plant and sell without restrictions.

Even more surprising than the press release was a letter to Scotts Miracle-Gro, by USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsak, as an addendum to the agency's response to Scott's GMO bluegrass petition. In Vilsack's letter, dated July 1, he acknowledges concerns that GMO bluegrass will contaminate non-GMO bluegrass, and acknowledges that the Roundup Ready gene will move through wind-blown pollen and work its way into non-GMO varieties.

“The USDA recognizes that if this GE variety were to be commercially released, producers wishing to grow non-GE Kentucky bluegrass will likely have concerns related to gene flow between the GE variety and non-GE Kentucky bluegrass. Exporters of Kentucky bluegrass seed, growers of non-GE Kentucky bluegrass seed, and those involved in the use of non-GE Kentucky bluegrass in pastures will likely have concerns about the loss of their ability to meet contractual obligations,” said Vilsack

GMO Kentucky bluegrass has already shown up in organic cow pastures and beef. Organic farmers, due to gene flow, now face the risk of their animals eating from fields of GMO crops – jeopardizing their organic status.

The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requires that the USDA conduct an environmental impact study for all the crops it deregulates. But to deregulate a crop, the agency has to regulate it first.

So, how did the USDA get away with deregulating GMO bluegrass, without having to regulate it first?

I think USDA used, what is referred to as a “quick kick” in American football. GMO Crops that must be regulated fall under "regulatory status" – "plant pest" status and "noxious weed" status. The USDA conveniently placed GMO bluegrass into neither of those categories but instead placed bluegrass under the broad variety of “novel crops” that do not need to be regulated before deregulating.

Huh? Confused? Good, then it worked. Touchdown for the biotech industry!

Organic Trade Association: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing?

By Theodora Filis

In the US and Canada, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) claims their mission is to promote consumer ethics, protect and promote the benefit of the organic trade environment, and promote the economy of the public and farmers as a whole. OTA is a member of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM).

“Organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It includes a system of production, processing, distribution, and handling to maintain the organic integrity that starts on the farm. Governed by government standards, organic requires that products bearing the organic label are made without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering or other excluded practices, sewage sludge, or irradiation.

Sixty percent of OTA members are micro and small business trade members. The OTA originally went under the name Organic Foods Production Association of North America or OFPANA which was established in1985. Consumers have relied on the OTA for protecting and promoting organic advocacy and standards, instilling confidence in the production of certified organic produce.

The following documentary by Organic Spies tells how the OTA purports to represent organic food companies and farmers, big and small but is dominated by the organic and so-called "natural" boutique brands of a few big multinational food companies -- whose real stake is in genetically modified foods, industrial agriculture, and factory farms.

Providing your family with quality foods that do not contain artificial colors, artificial hormones, artificial preservatives, or GMOs should not be a guessing game or a game of Truth or Dare. So, how can you be sure the food you're buying is in fact organic? In order to be labeled organic, foods must fall into one of the following categories:

100% Organic: All ingredients, with the exception of salt and water, must be produced organically. The agency certifying the product must be clearly stated on the label. The USDA organic seal may also be included on the label.

Organic: This label applies to products with at least 95% organic content. The balance of the ingredients must be all-natural ingredients not commercially available organically and must be listed on the USDA's National List of non-organically produced products not available in organic form. The agency certifying the product must be clearly stated on the label. The USDA organic seal may also be included on the label.

Made with organic ingredients: This label applies to products with at least 70% organic content. The balance of the ingredients can be made up of all-natural ingredients or items listed on the USDA's National List of non-organically produced products not available in organic form. The label may state "Made from Organic" and list up to three of the organic ingredients. No other organic claims can be made on the package other than the designation of specific organic ingredients in the ingredient statement. The agency certifying the product must be clearly stated on the label. The USDA organic seal may not be included on the label.

Cosmetics: not regulated by any government agency, which means there are no specific federal standards for such products. However, personal-care products are allowed (but not required) to display the US Department of Agriculture’s Organic seal if at least 95 percent of their ingredients were organically produced. Some health and beauty products might reflect the basic ideas of an organic lifestyle. For example, they might contain no artificial ingredients or additives. But the only way to know if a health or beauty item is truly certified organic is to look for the USDA Organic seal.

An international Food Label battle, involving more than 100 countries that comprise the Codex Alimentarius Commission, ended on July 5, 2011, in Geneva when the US "surprisingly" withdrew its objection to listing GMO ingredients on food labels. However, If you think US food packaging is about to provide consumers with full disclosure of genetically modified ingredients… think again. The US ended the stalemate with conditions...

The new Codex agreement allows any country to use food labeling that advises consumers a product contains genetically modified ingredients -- this disclosure is not the law -- it is completely voluntary, and at the discretion of the country.

Since the US is the largest producer of Genetically Modified foods in the world, it remains more than likely consumers in the US will remain in the dark about exactly what they are eating.