The Omnivore’s Dilemma Part 8 of 10: USDA and Organic Rules
November 27, 2009 by dr. lam
Since 1990, the definition of organic has been manhandled by the USDA, more specifically by the many lobbyists. In 1997 the USDA released a watered down set of standards that defined organic food that allowed genetically modified crops, irradiation, and sewage sludge with the idea that the government wanted to impose a lighter regulation on the industry. However, the “organic movement”, or little organic, pitted against the “organic empire”, or big organic, still wanted to exemplify better values than these loose regulations called for. However, little organic is well, little. The question in 1997 was would a factory farm be considered organic? How about grazing on pasture? How about food additives and synthetic chemicals? Guess what, big organic won on all 3 counts. This was a reversal of the stricter 1990 guidelines and a victory that paved the way for things like Cascadian Farms’ “organic tv dinner”. What an oxymoron!
The USDA received a backlash about cows who do not roam on pasture so they mandated a very vague idea of “access to pasture”. How often did this access have to occur? Many of the critics have argued that “access to pasture” is so vague that it really is both meaningless and unenforceable. The example of the chickens at Petaluma mentioned in yesterday’s blog is a great one to understand that this 2 week short hiatus to pasture is really never even used by the chickens so “free range” in that case is a real farce.
Pollan goes on to examine big organic and finds that many of the farming practices are decidedly better than pure industrial. However, no large industrial organic can by its very nature produce the same high quality food as say Polyface farms of Joel Salatin that relies on polyculture, bioregionalism, and sustainability. All of this is simply fascinating. This exposé on organic and the organic industry is not meant to condemn organic food. It just means as consumers we need to be a little bit more educated than subscribing blindly to romanticized notions of our food. I encourage everyone to read Michael Pollan’s book because these short blogs simply cannot embrace the in-depth and comprehensive nature of his wonderful book. It is simply an articulate, brilliant, and literate treatise.
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17 Responses to “The Omnivore’s Dilemma Part 8 of 10: USDA and Organic Rules”
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Thanks, Dr. Lam for blogging all this information. Glad that you have opened our eyes to what we think may be healthful is not as it claims so much. Helpful to know anyway. Thanks! Hope you are enjoying black Friday!
Look forward to the new blog topic! I probably won’t be able to sleep this weekend in anticipation…lol ARRR!
cool. thanks!
Well? Aren’t you going to give me a hint, Dr. Lam!?…lol
yes, of course, the next blogs are on self development and improvement. lol. i can’t figure out your gravatar?
It’s a fireplace, stockings hung up, Christmas tree, presents, snow falling outside…lol In preparation for Christmas, the next holiday.
Dr. Lam!!!! ERRR!!! You know, sometimes you really get to me! Errrr…lol
haha. to be honest, i can’t remember myself since i have my blogs scheduled into next month. sorry. i’ll be surprised too!
Okay, that puts you in a little bit better standing …lol
Like my new gravatar, Dr. Lam?…lol
it is the same one on my end?
Oh, well I changed it, so it will probably take a few days to show.
Dr. Lam, I’m having blog withdrawals…lol I wish you’d start weekend blogging!
haha. sorry. i need some kind of break!
lol Well, of course you need a break, but aren’t you a couple years ahead?…lol
just 3 months…
Just three months…lol But you do need a break!!
Hope you are having a great holiday weekend, Dr. Lam!!
GN!!
Just about six more hours to go!
lol