Is Organic Food in Supermarkets Really Organic?
The term organic is increasingly popular in the food industry, and many consumers are willing to pay extra for products that claim to be organic. However, as new regulations and standards are introduced, the question remains: is organic food in supermarkets really organic?
The Problem of Greenwashing
One of the major issues in the food industry is the phenomenon known as greenwashing. Greenwashing refers to the practice of using environmental descriptions, labels, and advertising campaigns to make a product appear more environmentally friendly than it actually is. This is often done to boost sales and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers, without making any significant changes to the actual production or labeling of the product.
The Need for Regulation
For a long time, there were no strict government regulations governing who could claim their products were organic. This led to a lack of uniformity and sometimes misleading information on product labels. In the past, consumers had no reliable way of knowing whether a product was truly organic or not.
However, in recent years, there has been a growing demand for transparent and trustworthy organic products. To address this, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced new standards for organic labeling and production. These standards aim to regulate who can label their products as organic and ensure that these labels are accurate and reliable.
USDA's Strengthening Organic Enforcement Final Rule
On January 18, 2023, the USDA released a final rule titled Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE), which is intended to enhance the oversight and enforcement of organic products. This rule lays out the new standards and requirements that manufacturers and farms must meet to use the organic label. The rule is a result of the 2018 Farm Bill, industry requests, and the recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
“Protecting and growing the organic sector and the trusted USDA organic seal is a key part of the USDA Food Systems Transformation initiative” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt.
This update to the USDA organic regulations is the biggest change to the organic regulations since the original act in 1990, providing significant oversight and enforcement authority to reinforce the trust of consumers, farmers, and those transitioning to organic production.”
The USDA's action signifies a significant shift in the way organic products are regulated, and it is hoped that it will encourage manufacturers and producers to be more truthful in their labeling and advertising practices.
Conclusion
While the introduction of these new regulations is a positive step towards ensuring that organic food in supermarkets is truly organic, it is important to remain vigilant. Only time will tell how much impact the new regulations will have on reducing greenwashing and improving transparency in the organic food industry.