美國農業部（USDA）改變農產品的使用規則，允許貼上「USDA有機」的食品使用38種經核可的非有機農產品。21日批淮的名單包含19種食用色素、2種澱粉、啤酒花、人工腸衣、魚油、chipotle辣椒、動物膠、香芹粉、蒔蘿草油、冷凍香茅、乾發酵若芽、土耳其月桂葉、乳清蛋白濃縮物等。
有機產品扣掉水及鹽分的重量，至少95%以上的成份仍必須是有機成分。
這38種物質被認為是「不重要」的成分，不足以構成一份有機產品的5%以上。根據美國國家有機標準局(NOSB)訂定的法規，在有機產品處理之前考慮採用非有機的農產次要成分時，必須先經驗證機構確認此成分的有機形式是找不到的。
此過渡期的規定從2007年6月21日開始生效，但是NOSB提供60天的期限讓民眾發表意見。有機貿易協會代表有機食品的製造者，極力勸說改變法規，但是消費者卻極力抵抗。
有機消費者協會（OCA)表示，新規則讓安霍伊塞布希公司（Anheuser Busch)可以販售「有機野生啤酒」而不需要使用真正的有機啤酒花。OCA表示，火腿、香腸，及早餐往常貼著「USDA有機」商標的，現在可能是來自用化學飼料、合成荷爾蒙、抗生素餵養、工廠飼養動物的小腸。
OCA環境科學家米諾瓦（Craig Minowa)指出：「新規定允許有機食品只含95%的有機成分甚至更少，不過倒是能讓在乎有機食品的消費者，更小心謹慎地辨示有機商標，只買貼了100%有機商標產品，還有當地家庭式農場生產與當地市場及CSA合作販售的產品。」
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, has changed the rules governing organic foods to allow 38 non-organic, agricultural ingredients to be used in foods that bear the government's "USDA Organic" label. The list approved Thursday includes 19 food colorings, two starches, hops, sausage casings, fish oil, chipotle chili pepper, gelatin, celery powder, dillweed oil, frozen lemongrass, Wakame seaweed, Turkish bay leaves and whey protein concentrate.
At least 95 percent of the ingredients in organic products still must be organic ingredients, excluding water and salt, by weight.
The 38 substances are considered "minor" ingredients that cannot make up more than five percent of an organic product.
Before an organic handling operation can consider using a non-organic, agricultural minor ingredient, the organic form of the ingredient must be first sourced and confirmed unavailable by an accredited certifying agent, according to the rule established by the National Organic Standards Board, NOSB.
The interim final rule became effective as of June 21, 2007, but the NOSB is providing a 60-day period for additional public comment.
Representing manufacturers of organic products, the Organic Trade Association has pressed for the rule change, but consumers have been resistant.
The Organic Consumers Association, OCA, says the new rule means that Anheuser Busch will be allowed to sell its "Organic Wild Hops Beer" without using any organic hops at all.
Sausages, brats, and breakfast links labeled as "USDA Organic" are now allowed to contain intestines from factory farmed animals raised on chemically grown feed, synthetic hormones, and antibiotics, the OCA says.
"This rule applies to products that are 95% organic or less," said Craig Minowa, OCA's environmental scientist, "The ruling is yet another reason for organic-minded shoppers to carefully read ingredient labels, look for '100% Organic' labels, and buy from local family farmers via your area co-op, farmers market or CSA."
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