Hit the Dirt; The FDA Redefines Organic

Good morning. This is Sally presently asked if I hit the dirt. If you produce buy or sell organic foods now's the time to make your voice heard. Why. Because the USDA has come up with a proposal for a national organic program. This is designed to create national standards for organic foods. The program is not acceptable. It would allow products to be labeled organic even if they came from genetically engineered seed. Even if they were radiated even if the crop was treated with sewage sludge and even if Inert Ingredients are not identified genetically engineered plants can devastate organic farming practices by for example producing difficult to detect side effects such as causing a plant to produce pollen and talks to beneficial insects and introducing Organic Pet pesticide into the plant that could cause the evolution of resistant insects thereby rendering the organic pesticide useless. An example of this is the new leaf potato containing a strain of BT talks it to the Colorado beetle. It is the only beauty that can be used by growers. What resource will they have when future generations of the

Colorado beetle become resistant. Remember a generation for insects is very short. The radiation exposes foods to gamma rays from a radioactive source. This kills bacteria such as the new strain of E. coli that causes outbreaks of food poisoning. It doesn't kill all bacteria. It doesn't kill viruses or fungal spores radioactive materials can be hazardous to workers and transportation and disposal of such material is a serious problem planetis in food production will keep contaminants out of food. The standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency for the production of sewage sludge are not strict enough to prevent heavy metals and other toxins in the sludge from harming soil and crops. On the labeling of many pesticides you'll find ingredients. Some of these undisclosed ingredients are untested and possibly talk sick. The EPA has several categories for in ranging from inert is generally regarded as safe to those of unknown toxicity potentially toxic or of toxicological concern.

The recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board was to allow regarded as safe in organic materials but the USDA is proposing proposing of unknown toxicity to be allowed. The new rules will prevent organic growers and food producers whose standards exceed those of the A.P. to label them as such. It will prevent labeling such as grown without hormones and produced without synthetic fertilizers. If you are concerned there is something you can do and do soon. The USDA Dia's deadline for public comment is May 1st. The proposed rule is posted at h t t p w w w dot I am a star. USDA dot gov slash a.p for comments to be sent electronically or comments mail fax or submitted via the Internet will be posted at this site. If you do not have a computer go to the library if you wish for more details send your comments by mail to Eileen S. storms deputy administrator

USDA. Am S T M N O P room 4 0 0 0 7 south. AG stop 0 2 7 5 P O Box 9 6 4 5 6 Washington DC 2 0 0 9 0 6 4 5 6 fax 2 2 0 2 6 9 0 4 6 3 2. And send your comments to your senators and congress people too for greater impact. The docket number of the rule is TMD 94 0 0 2. The lead article in the March issue of organic gardening addresses the subject in detail and has more addresses for your comment and more websites of interest. It is recommended reading help save the future of a gannet farming. Your comments count. This is Sally for hit the dirt.