Enforcement of federal laws governing organic food is abysmal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) oversight of organic food has been lax since the agency's organic program was launched in 2002, according to a recent Inspector General report. The findings, published earlier this month by the USDA's Office of Inspector General (OIG), confirmed what organic watchdogs had been saying for years--that the enforcement of federal laws governing organics is abysmal.

We all hear that the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), has the responsibility to assure consumers that organic products, meet uniform standards and that they are appropriately labeled, especially important for families on a budget (why shell out more for fake organics?) but the OIG found that NOP falls seriously short when it comes to making sure organic standards are met.

Key findings...

• The USDA failed to act swiftly against companies illegally selling conventional food under the organic label.
  
• The agency took as long as 32 months to resolve significant problems, which allowed the companies to continue selling mislabeled products.
  
• Agency officials also did not follow up on, nor know the status of, several formally filed complaints.
• Organic laws call for periodic residue testing but there is no testing program in place.
  

Not a huge shock actually, but most food and agriculture policy experts note that they're happy with the USDA's openness to act on the recommendations in the report. Hmmm. I'm happy when I see results, not just when I hear claims that change might occur; but we'll see.

*Source: Food Safety News