Organic Foods-The Pop Campaign

The POP Campaign, along with the best health experts in the world, is challenging many basic assumptions and demand­ing to be included at every stage of policy development—on every committee, at every hearing, and on every working group across the country. We are pitting traditional uses and practices against special interests. There will be victories, but we will be rigorously challenged.

We can’t just walk into a grocery store anymore and simply buy food—we find ourselves being forced to legislate our basic rights all the way down the aisle as we choose what to put into our mouths. There is no shortage of the garden variety of disagreements, misunderstandings, self-interest, anxieties, confusion, complexity and deep seeded opinions. When asked, “what is organic?”, we quickly think simple, pure, healthful, whole, and close to nature food—grown with no synthetic fertilizers, drugs, hormones, additives, radiation or pasteurization. This makes sense—a standard supported by our experiences and our dream of what we want for our children. Even Thomas Jefferson stated, “the laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of our minds.” Why can’t modern laws and institutions represent our trend toward a more sustainable existence?

A complex of U.S. laws and policy—Organic food laws are defined under Title 21 of the United States Code (USC). Federal agencies develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the implementation and management of laws, detailed in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), enacted under Title 21 of the 1990 Farm Bill, establishes uniform national standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as “organic.” It authorized a new USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to set national standards for the production, handling, and pro­cessing of organically grown agricultural products, including overseeing the mandatory certification of organic production. The Act established the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which advises the Secretary of Agriculture in setting the standards upon which the NOP is based. Producers who meet standards set by the NOP may label their products as “USDA Certified Organic.” Are you dizzy yet?

“Organic” as a qualifier, must specify: ecological produc­tion; biodiversity enhancement, biological cycles and soil activity; responsible labeling; materials used; and the balance of natural systems. It addresses: the absence of residues and pesticides; minimal pollution from water, food handlers, and processors; and how to grow organic agriculture to optimize health. Produce can be called organic and still contain 10% other ingredients. The definition needs refinement and must have sticking power at all levels—in spite of the ambition for big bucks via Big Farm Industry.

The “Better Living through Chemistry” post-war, old school attitude still drives these definitions and a “one size fits all” approach to “science-based” food standards. As in any chess game, the first opening move is calculated to gain a maxi­mum advantage; we plan to take these opening moves and realize significant victories:

1. A Call to Action: This is such a Paul Revere statement but it is appropriate—“The inevitable is coming! The inevitable is coming!” There are many sub-policy discussions, FDA hearings, and sunset clauses in the Organic Food Act; we need to prepare well.

2. Take Charge of our own Standards: A National People’s / Experts Health Summit is in order where information would be consolidated and distilled into reports for presentations.

3. A Healthy Tax: Consider a healthy tax on all food, espe­cially vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts and seeds that are not 100% organic, the proceeds of which will go to commu­nity school lunches and healthy local educational funds.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovern­mental body with over 170 members, within the Joint Food Standards Program established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the purpose of “protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.” The Commission also promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and nongovernmental organizations. There are general, commodity, regional committees and task forces involved.

Codex is the code of rules over nutrients, supplements, food, herbs, nuts and fruit. Codex standards have been dictated, written, argued and pressured by global corpora­tions and larger governments that seek greater compliance, uniformity, and control. NAFTA, CAFTA, the UN, WHO and the WTO have adapted codex standards; every major piece of legislation in the U.S. that may bump up against the scope of any of these bodies and or treaties has a Codex provision in­cluded to ensure “harmony.” The FDA is one of the enforcers of Codex and has failed to protect our needs“…from danger­ous drugs, genetically modified foods, dangerous pesticides and other chemicals in the food supply. Meanwhile they waste public funds attacking safe, healthy foods and dietary supplements,” as one Congressman states.

No institutional arrogance or strength can match our numbers and pooled talent. Requests for consumer input are being published and the POP Campaign will submit posi­tions. Our lobbyist, Beth Clay, once was a national repre­sentative to Codex committees and understands the inner workings and navigation of the system—this is a huge plus for the POP Campaign.

We cannot do this alone—we need ideas, resources, sup­port, and participation from you and your contacts—celeb­rities, songwriters, producers, poets and other influential individuals. We are also seeking health experts, talented technicians, researchers and volunteers. We most importantly need monetary support. Look at our shoestring victories and imagine how much we can accomplish with a little more help! Please donate at www.POPcampaign.org. For more informa­tion, call (415) 999-9414 or email [email protected] .

Vol 30 Issue 2 Page 16