Organic Shmanic

There’s a video about Whole Foods making the rounds on Facebook. It’s an investigative news clip delving into some of their 365-brand organic items that are products of China. Despite the stamps of various approvals and certifications, the foods in question are more than likely not organic.

Now, I’ve hammered John Mackey and Whole Foods in the past for the founder’s stance on healthcare reform and unions – he’s against both. And as much as I think this faux organic move deserves attention, the root issue goes much deeper than Whole Foods. The problem, as I see it, is the inevitable mass production and distribution of goods.

What’s happening here with organic edibles has happened with biofuels: when demand increases, so too must supply. And the profit-mongers are all too ready to cut a deal, even if that means destroying virgin forests in favor of palm oil plantations or sugarcane farms. That’s what’s happening in Indonesia, Africa, and elsewhere around the globe.

In the food world, Mackey isn’t alone in scamming his customers by selling, in his words, “a bunch of junk.” Last fall, the head of a supplier in the UK got sent to jail for false organic claims. Watchdog group Cornucopia filed a complaint against Target last year, too, shining a light on some non-organic products being sold under an organic banner.

The group’s Senior Farm Policy Analyst, Mark A. Kastel, said of the trend, “Major food processors have recognized the meteoric rise of the organic industry, and profit potential, and want to create what is in essence ‘organic light,’ taking advantage of the market cachet but not being willing to do the heavy lifting required to earn the valuable USDA organic seal.”

If consumers can’t trust brand leaders like Whole Foods and Target, then we may as well pack it in. If you do, at least pack in your own re-usable bags.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.