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Organic labeling fraud is booming

While organic market growth is at a double-digit pace, not all that’s labeled organic is so. Fraud and food safety issues abound.

John Vogel, Editor, American Agriculturist

May 30, 2017

2 Min Read
REALLY ORGANIC? A rising flood of fraudulent organic labels and certifications also raise food safety issues.jupiterimages/istock/thinkstock

Grocery wholesalers and retailers, even some fast-food marketers, are pushing organic products and ingredients. That’s why the organic sector is growing at a double-digit pace.

But stop the bandwagon! Not all of those products meet USDA organic standards. Roughly 40% of all organic food sold in America tests positive for prohibited pesticides, according to two USDA studies.

And, as previously reported, Mischa Popoff, a former USDA organic inspector, has long railed that certified U.S. organic marketers are too often “given a pass” on meeting strict organic standards. He also contends that much of that 40% could be coming from overseas.

Roughly 80% of all organic food sold in America is now imported from countries like China, Turkey, Mexico and Brazil. He submits there may be a causal relationship — bribery and fraudulent claims — extending far beyond organic foods.

A recent Brazilian incident reported by Food & Water Watch lends credence to that claim. F&WW called on USDA to revoke the equivalency food safety determination for Brazilian meat exports to the U.S.

“This latest revelation of corruption — bribery, using chemicals to cover up rotten meat, sending salmonella-contaminated meat to Europe and falsifying health certificates — comes after past problems with the country’s equivalent inspections system,” noted Wenonah Hauter, F&WW executive director. She, too, contends that falsified documents and inspection bribery are rampant.

Fraudulent organic certification is nothing new, but is on the rise. A recent online report by USDA’s National Organic Program offered a long list of fraudulent organic certificates. Imports on that list come from all over the world. Brazil, China, India, Malaysia and South Africa are some of the most common countries of origin.

The United States has its own share of import businesses on that list with addresses, for example, in New York, Maryland and North Carolina. Even U.S.-based certifiers commonly claim on that fraudulent organic certificate list that “We’re not responsible for production.”

Organic is big and booming
The organic industry — farm operations and/or businesses — is growing at a 13% annual rate, according to USDA data. At latest count, there were 24,650 certified U.S. organic operations and 37,032 around the world.

Organic certification is an “opt-in” voluntary standard managed through a public-private partnership. USDA accredits and oversees approximately 80 businesses and state agencies that directly certify organic farms and businesses.

The complete list of certified organic farms and business is available through the Organic Integrity Database of certified operations maintained by USDA-accredited certifying agents. Launched in 2015, the database discourages fraud by providing more accurate and timely information about operations certified to use the USDA organic seal. That database also supports supply chain connections between buyers and sellers of organic goods. Anyone suspecting a violation of the regulations can report a complaint to the NOP Compliance and Enforcement Division.

If there’s a bottom line here, it’s this: Consumers, purchase organic products from farmers and local businesses you trust.

About the Author

John Vogel

Editor, American Agriculturist

For more than 38 years, John Vogel has been a Farm Progress editor writing for farmers from the Dakota prairies to the Eastern shores. Since 1985, he's been the editor of American Agriculturist – successor of three other Northeast magazines.

Raised on a grain and beef farm, he double-majored in Animal Science and Ag Journalism at Iowa State. His passion for helping farmers and farm management skills led to his family farm's first 209-bushel corn yield average in 1989.

John's personal and professional missions are an integral part of American Agriculturist's mission: To anticipate and explore tomorrow's farming needs and encourage positive change to keep family, profit and pride in farming.

John co-founded Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to helping young farmers start farming. It was responsible for creating three innovative state-supported low-interest loan programs and two "Farms for the Future" conferences.

His publications have received countless awards, including the 2000 Folio "Gold Award" for editorial excellence, the 2001 and 2008 National Association of Ag Journalists' Mackiewicz Award, several American Agricultural Editors' "Oscars" plus many ag media awards from the New York State Agricultural Society.

Vogel is a three-time winner of the Northeast Farm Communicators' Farm Communicator of the Year award. He's a National 4-H Foundation Distinguished Alumni and an honorary member of Alpha Zeta, and board member of Christian Farmers Outreach.

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