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Posted on 05/18/2008 7:40:45 AM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
(MIAMI) -- It used to be that you could only find organc food in specialty health food stores. But that has changed as the organic industry is proving to be big business. Now, China is getting in on the action exporting millions of dollars of organic food to the United States. But in the wake of lead in toys and tainted toothpaste, many consumers are wondering just how organic anything from China can be.
Pinecrest Mom Ivy Milian decided to eat only organic foods about 18 years ago and has seen its popularity go mainstream. She usually shops at Wild Oats or Whole Foods and unlike some consumers, she always looks at the labels.
"I find it disturbing when I look at the package assuming it's from the USA and it's made in China," said Milian.
In the wake of warnings about tainted toothpaste, poisoned pet food and toxic toys, all from China, this mom of three has her doubts about how truly "organic" produce grown in China can be.
"Just psychologically, I don't feel as confident in food that is from China than from organics grown in the U.S.," said Milian.
She's not alone. California-based grocery store chain Trader Joe's stopped offering some single-ingredient Chinese-grown food products like frozen organic spinach and garlic.
While Trader Joe's says it believes food from China is safe, it decided to take that unusual step due to concern from customers.
Meantime, the organic industry continues to boom with big chains like Publix dedicating whole stores like this Greenwise store in Palm Beach Gardens only selling organic and natural foods.
In fact, in 2005, about $136-million worth of organic products were shipped overseas from China.
In Southwest Miami-Dade, Stan Glaser has been growing organic fruits and vegetables on his land for years now. "All this stuff was grown without any herbicides even though some are allowable under organic code," said Glaser.
He runs a certified organic farm along with Tracy Fleming. They sell to local grocery stores, farmers markets and the public. And like many organic farms in the U.S., they also undergo strict inspections from certifiers with the USDA national organic program.
"If it's in America, we actually are open to inspections from our own customers. Customers can come in and walk on the farm they trust that," said Fleming.
That is one reason buying locally is important to many of Glaser Organic Farms' customers. Another reason is just the concept of supporting local American farms that grow organic.
"You're seeing family farms going by the wayside. Now we're buying from China. We shouldn't need to buy from China or anywhere outside the US," she added.
According to Julio Perez an independent organic inspector, "Organic is not a movement anymore, it is an industry." Perez certifies farms nationally and internationally.
He says consumers can be assured that farms in China have to undergo the same strict regulations as farms in the U.S. Otherwise, the United State Department of Agriculture certified organic seal would not be granted.
"They have to go through the same process in China, Russia and India. If you want to sell into the states, you have to be certified under NOP standards.
The best advice for consumers who are concerned about what they are eating or where it comes from is to read the labels, then decide whether to buy or not.
Being covered in toxic human feces and watered with urine does not make something “organic.”
“China” and “organic food” must not be used in the same sentence.
I stopped shopping at Trader Joes for precisely this reason.
I bought Chinese “organic” food there and it made me sick. And really pissed off.
Listen carefully to these deceitful weasel words from Trader Joes: “California-based grocery store chain Trader Joe’s stopped offering some single-ingredient Chinese-grown food products like frozen organic spinach and garlic. While Trader Joe’s says it believes food from China is safe, it decided to take that unusual step due to concern from customers.”
Translation to English: “We still sell Chinese made poisoned, toxic polluted food.”
They use night soil as fertilizer.
Just how much more organic can you get???
I just don’t trust that food from China is as safe as food from the US. Every year, I’m trying to grow more & more of my own vegetables, so I KNOW what they’ve been grown in. With food businesses trying to cut corners everywhere they can - whether by hiring illegals to harvest & process it - or by getting it from China - I just feel like it’s time to bring back the “Victory Garden” concept.
Don’t the tree hugging yuppies that demand organic food worry that importing food from China causes the production of bunches of CO2.
...But then people stopped being trendy, irrational, superficial retards and realized that ALL food is organic, fer crying out loud!</FANTASY>
Is the food from China TJ still sells appropriately labeled?
When there’s a choice, it’s only idiots who still eat food from China.
” She usually shops at Wild Oats or Whole Foods...”
....I wonder how bright the financial future is for outfits like this?....so called “organic” foods can cost 30% more...personally, we’re trying to figure out how to stretch our food budget as it is....not increasing it by buying organic.
Some is labeled. Some is not.
China has to do something with a billion turds a day so they work it into the soil, and everything is completely organic. They must be doing something extraordinary to feed those billion people, and still have excess to export.
If it isn’t from my garden or the farmers market, it is always suspect.
Besides, isn’t all food organic? There is no mislabeling unless it is labeled “organicaly grown”.
Sometimes.
Our 'betters' have been dragging their feet in their 'rush' to pass COOL (Country Of Origin Labeling) laws.
The one word of Chinese congress really understands is 'kowtow'
You mean food raised in human sh++ is not organic!!!! Buy Chinese, it will break before you get it home.
The large food businesses have, through legislation, made it economically very difficult for small organic food producers to get certified. The game plan is to squeeze out small producers like me and monopolize the market. If you want real organic food buy locally produced stuff at the farmers markets, and talk with the producers to understand how they raise their animals and vegetables. I produce organically grown garlic, asparagus and other summer produced vegetables.
Hate to kick someone when they are down but now is the time to stop buying products from China. It will really set they back if a conserted effort is made. Especially since the quakes.
You're right. When I read the above statement between the lines, I'm getting that a single-ingredient food product would be clearly labeled from China. Obviously, Trader Joe's customers were complaining about, and avoiding (translate: not buying) the clearly marked Chinese food products.
I don't know the laws on food labeling, but I am assuming by that statement that "mixed-ingredient" foods might have food labeling that is a little more muddled and not so easy to spot. This is what the consumer has to be concerned about - these companies (who worship at the feet of the god of profit) will do anything for more profits & I believe our government will wink-wink at them & help them to do that by having confusing laws as to how things must be labeled.
The same as they are doing with importing illegals in here - our government is in the pocket of big business. That's what it's all about & the consumer has got to be educated about that fact. Whether we're talking about pharmaceuticals, food - or any product - we have got to be aware of how these things are produced. I don't think we can rely on the labeling anymore.
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