Care2 member? Log in
|
|
 |
Oppose the Weakening of Organic Labeling Laws
Target: U.S. Senate & House Appropriations, Agriculture SubcommitteesSponsored by: Consumers Union
A recent court decision ruled that only natural ingredients should be allowed in foods labeled as "organic." This ruling reinforces our current organic labeling law by keeping chemically-derived synthetic substances from being used in foods labeled as “organic.”
But industry groups are lobbying Congress to change the law so that artificial ingredients can be included in foods labeled “organic”! Specifically, food producers such as the Organic Trade Association, Kraft Foods and others seek to amend the Organic Foods Production Act (passed in 1990) so that synthetic substances can be used in food products labeled as "organic." They claim that consumers do not care about their use in "organic" food and are trying to slip this change into the law without any public input.
U.S. consumers clearly do care! The nonpartisan watchdog group Consumers Union recently conducted a nationwide survey of 1,200 adults and found that 85% of respondents said they do not expect food labeled as "organic" to contain artificial ingredients.
Send a letter telling Congress that you don’t want to buy “organic” food made with artificial ingredients!
But industry groups are lobbying Congress to change the law so that artificial ingredients can be included in foods labeled “organic”! Specifically, food producers such as the Organic Trade Association, Kraft Foods and others seek to amend the Organic Foods Production Act (passed in 1990) so that synthetic substances can be used in food products labeled as "organic." They claim that consumers do not care about their use in "organic" food and are trying to slip this change into the law without any public input.
U.S. consumers clearly do care! The nonpartisan watchdog group Consumers Union recently conducted a nationwide survey of 1,200 adults and found that 85% of respondents said they do not expect food labeled as "organic" to contain artificial ingredients.
Send a letter telling Congress that you don’t want to buy “organic” food made with artificial ingredients!
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Oppose the Weakening of Organic Labeling Laws” petition!
# 150:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
Tom Cat Hedges, Maryland
"Organic" is meant to mean "no additives" or unnatural chemicals. Let's keep it that way.
"Organic" is meant to mean "no additives" or unnatural chemicals. Let's keep it that way.
# 149:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
MERRYL ROSENTHAL, New York
It's no secret that we are what we eat, and we've got a population with heart conditions, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity to prove it. People, healthy or sick, rely on organic foods as a pure, unadulterated source of nutrition. It's difficult enough to eat healthily, and the very idea that a food can still be considered organic if it contains artifial ingredients is both preposterous and harmful. The whole point of eating organic foods is to AVOID artifical ingredients. Moreover, we don't have studies on many artificial ingredients to prove that they are not harmful to human beings. Don't ruin a source of food that can be used to strenghthen one's health.
It's no secret that we are what we eat, and we've got a population with heart conditions, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity to prove it. People, healthy or sick, rely on organic foods as a pure, unadulterated source of nutrition. It's difficult enough to eat healthily, and the very idea that a food can still be considered organic if it contains artifial ingredients is both preposterous and harmful. The whole point of eating organic foods is to AVOID artifical ingredients. Moreover, we don't have studies on many artificial ingredients to prove that they are not harmful to human beings. Don't ruin a source of food that can be used to strenghthen one's health.
# 148:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
Barabra Zaha, Illinois
# 147:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
Dana Stripling, Texas
# 146:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
Linda Schneider, Texas
# 145:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
Sheila Dubin, Pennsylvania
# 144:
7:44 am PDT, Sep 29,
Sandra Swayze, Kentucky
# 143:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Christine Fye, New York
we have to have more labeling and more transparency -- organic food labeling laws should be strengthened not weakened.
we have to have more labeling and more transparency -- organic food labeling laws should be strengthened not weakened.
# 142:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Michelle Csonka, New York
# 141:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Name not displayed, New York
If I am paying for organic food, that's exactly what I want; no preservatives or other fillers that do not fall under the definition of organic! People at Kraft and other food manufacturing companies who want to claim a food is organic need to spend the money on producing it!
If I am paying for organic food, that's exactly what I want; no preservatives or other fillers that do not fall under the definition of organic! People at Kraft and other food manufacturing companies who want to claim a food is organic need to spend the money on producing it!
# 140:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jay Blotcher, New York
# 139:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Name not displayed, Utah
# 138:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Bruce Leier, Minnesota
We are rapidly becoming a Nation of truth-deniers. You can help stop the trend, if you dare!
We are rapidly becoming a Nation of truth-deniers. You can help stop the trend, if you dare!
# 137:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Name not displayed, New York
When I buy organic, I expect that food to be free of chemicals and artificial ingredients.
When I buy organic, I expect that food to be free of chemicals and artificial ingredients.
# 136:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Nancy Gronlund, Illinois
Honesty re our foods' purity must be kept intact. Please do allow these lies to be sold.
Honesty re our foods' purity must be kept intact. Please do allow these lies to be sold.
# 135:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Christina Mitton, Virginia
I have a dietary condition. Organically Grown foods do not cause many digestive issues with me. However with certain chemicals I get really ill. How will I know?!
I have a dietary condition. Organically Grown foods do not cause many digestive issues with me. However with certain chemicals I get really ill. How will I know?!
# 134:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Rosalie Seaman, Maryland
Please allow "organic" to mean what we expect it to mean!
Please allow "organic" to mean what we expect it to mean!
# 133:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jennifer Sparti, Georgia
I don't care that it might save companies money to use synthetic products for flavoring or thatthey can get more crops for less cost using hormones. I do not wnat to put these things into my body. That is my right, as it is yours. I only purchase organic and all natural foods for this reason. Allowing companies to deceptively market their goods as organic when they are not is unethical. I will be following this decision very closely. I ask that you follow your heart and mind on this decision and do not allow financial influence to play a role in the people's right to chose what they feed their families.
I don't care that it might save companies money to use synthetic products for flavoring or thatthey can get more crops for less cost using hormones. I do not wnat to put these things into my body. That is my right, as it is yours. I only purchase organic and all natural foods for this reason. Allowing companies to deceptively market their goods as organic when they are not is unethical. I will be following this decision very closely. I ask that you follow your heart and mind on this decision and do not allow financial influence to play a role in the people's right to chose what they feed their families.
# 132:
7:43 am PDT, Sep 29,
Janet Morrissey, Maryland
# 131:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Tracey Mahoney, Wyoming
# 130:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
DC Katten, New Jersey
# 129:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
DAVE SPIELER, New Jersey
I believe it is to save people from Bacteria foods or food poisoning and I believe I am opposing weakening of Organic Labeling Laws invades people's civil rights.
I believe it is to save people from Bacteria foods or food poisoning and I believe I am opposing weakening of Organic Labeling Laws invades people's civil rights.
# 128:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Priscilla Adams, South Carolina
Having the organic label means something right now, and saves some time in the shopping process, as I don't have to check for ingredients I'm worried about. Keep it that way.
Having the organic label means something right now, and saves some time in the shopping process, as I don't have to check for ingredients I'm worried about. Keep it that way.
# 127:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Carmyn Stanko, Vermont
# 126:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Helen Wentz, California
# 125:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Steve Linnerooth, Minnesota
# 124:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Name not displayed, Illinois
The current definition of 'organic' should stay. Rewriting definitions and false advertising are not in the best interest of the public.
The current definition of 'organic' should stay. Rewriting definitions and false advertising are not in the best interest of the public.
# 123:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Selda Odabasi, New York
# 122:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Merrill Flam, California
# 121:
7:42 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jacqueline Bowman, Virginia
Why is it that Washington always supports "not quite the truth"? There are laws in place concerning truth in advertising - why would we want less? Check out the dictionary - organic does not mean chemically altered!!
Why is it that Washington always supports "not quite the truth"? There are laws in place concerning truth in advertising - why would we want less? Check out the dictionary - organic does not mean chemically altered!!
# 120:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Michelle Crimi, New Jersey
We should have a choice of what we put in our bodies.
We should have a choice of what we put in our bodies.
# 119:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Dia Redman, Minnesota
# 118:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Shawn Young, South Carolina
I buy organic products, and I do so because I do not want artificial ingredients!!!!!!!!!! Nor do I want foods produced with chemicals and pesticides, also artificially made compounds!!!!! How can you possibly consider allowing this legislation?
I buy organic products, and I do so because I do not want artificial ingredients!!!!!!!!!! Nor do I want foods produced with chemicals and pesticides, also artificially made compounds!!!!! How can you possibly consider allowing this legislation?
# 117:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Tracy Marotta, New York
# 116:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Dawn Dawson, Kentucky
# 115:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Kelly Lubeck, New York
Protect our people's health by allowing us to make conscious decisions about the food we ingest... do not allow big business to determine how protected we are and the information we have access to.
Protect our people's health by allowing us to make conscious decisions about the food we ingest... do not allow big business to determine how protected we are and the information we have access to.
# 114:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jan Robbins, New Jersey
# 113:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jeannette Soriano, California
# 112:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Paul White, California
# 111:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Phyllis Rose, Texas
I pay for the food, I demand to know EXACTLY what is in it!! I DO NOT want ANYTHING synthetic, radiated, modified or tampered with in my food. Stop allowing the giant food corporations to poison us and our children for their profit
I pay for the food, I demand to know EXACTLY what is in it!! I DO NOT want ANYTHING synthetic, radiated, modified or tampered with in my food. Stop allowing the giant food corporations to poison us and our children for their profit
# 110:
7:41 am PDT, Sep 29,
Sandi Tomlin-sutker, North Carolina
If consumers DON'T CARE what's in their organic food, then why do they pay the higher price?? To add artificial ingredients to Organic or Natural is so completely cynical and illogical....and should continue to be Illegal!
If consumers DON'T CARE what's in their organic food, then why do they pay the higher price?? To add artificial ingredients to Organic or Natural is so completely cynical and illogical....and should continue to be Illegal!
# 109:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Starr Hurst, New York
# 108:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Brenda Pegram, California
Those of us that buy organic do so to protect ourselves and our families from unwanted and UNHEALTHY food additives! If we are willing to pay more for the health and well-being of our loved ones, we want to know we are getting what we are paying for!
Those of us that buy organic do so to protect ourselves and our families from unwanted and UNHEALTHY food additives! If we are willing to pay more for the health and well-being of our loved ones, we want to know we are getting what we are paying for!
# 107:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
CLAUDIA SAUCEDA, Georgia
# 106:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Lisa Knighton, Georgia
It's important that we know exactly what is being added to the foods we buy. Our health depends of being able to make informed choices about the items we buy.
It's important that we know exactly what is being added to the foods we buy. Our health depends of being able to make informed choices about the items we buy.
# 105:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Tim Mattson, New Jersey
# 104:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jan Shrode, Texas
# 103:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Buffy Reilly, New Jersey
# 102:
7:40 am PDT, Sep 29,
Name not displayed, California
# 101:
7:39 am PDT, Sep 29,
Sarah Coulter, New Jersey
There are no laws against foods like Kraft. (Though there should be.) The consumer has the right to buy whatever they want, but they should also have the right to know what they buy. Weakening the standards to allow artificial chemicals to be snuck in under a trusted label is not supportive of consumer information.
There are no laws against foods like Kraft. (Though there should be.) The consumer has the right to buy whatever they want, but they should also have the right to know what they buy. Weakening the standards to allow artificial chemicals to be snuck in under a trusted label is not supportive of consumer information.