The USDA has extended the deadline for public comment on whether or not to amend the National Organic Program to include another 38 Non-Organic (allowed and prohibited) ingredients in the production of organic food. All these ingredients, which include animal intestines for sausage casings, fish oil, gelatin and food colorants from fruits and vegetables, would be conventionally produced with pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and genetically modified feed. If such ingredients can be used in the production of organic food then what's the point of organic food standards?

All comments must be received by August 27, 2007. Obviously, these changes would only reduce the quality of organic food production benefiting manufacturers at the expense of unsuspecting consumers.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), a membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America is heavily lobbying to allow those additional 38 substances in the production of organic food in the interest of manufacturers and with no regard for consumers.

I have been a member of the OTA for many years, but will not renew my membership. I refuse to provide support, financial or otherwise, to an organization that is betraying the principles it was founded upon (to be the leader in advocating and protecting organic standards so that consumers can have confidence in certified organic production) by trampoling on those same organic standards.

It's important that everyone who believes that current organic standards should not be amended to include 38 more non-organic additives takes action. Write to the USDA to let them know that you are AGAINST allowing additional substances in organic food production that do not meet current organic standards.

To submit comments via the Internet click here. Be sure to select Federal and Department of Agriculture for the last two fill-in boxes, respectively.

To write a letter and send it via snail mail, here is the contact information:

Comments may be submitted by mail to Robert Pooler, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/ TMP/NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250.

All comments on this interim final rule must include the following:

1. Docket number: AMS-TM-07-0062

2. Topic: National Organic Program (NOP) - Proposed Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Processing)

3. Section number referred to: AMS-TM-07-0062-1225

4. Clearly indicate if you are for or against the interim final rule or some portion of it and your reason for it.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to send auditors to China to investigate just how organic the "organic" farms are there in the wake of global and growing concerns about toxic Chinese products, from pet foods and toothpaste to toys and clothing. Currently, U.S. producers buy "organic" foods from China, basically, on the honor system.