Policing Organic Food Standards
In a recent press release, the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) is starting a pilot program that will insure that retail food companies do not fraudulently sell organic food. NCGA is partnering with Hanover Co-op Food Stores, PCC Natural Markets and Unified Grocers. Together these companies will make surprise inspections of food production facilities as well as do residue testing on samples of organic food.
The idea behind this program is to comfort consumers of organic products so that they will know they can depend on the organic label as true. It will also protect organic companies by balancing the playing field so that their higher quality products do not have to compete against lower quality products that pretend to be organic. The mere fact that this pilot program is underway is evidence that some fraudulent activities have already been occurring, so this is most likely a useful program.
Do you think we need an organic food police? Make your comments here in the green blog.
