Author Topic: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports  (Read 1351 times)

rcjordan

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Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« on: November 05, 2017, 05:00:01 PM »
I am shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!  Who would have thought companies would lie for a measly $4 miillion?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-labels-said-organic-but-these-massive-imports-of-corn-and-soybeans-werent/2017/05/12/6d165984-2b76-11e7-a616-d7c8a68c1a66_story.html

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weaknesses in the way that the United States ensures that what is sold as “USDA Organic” is really organic

No sh##, Sherlock. You can PAY for all the organics you want, but you probably aren't actually buying many.

ergophobe

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Re: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2017, 07:37:21 PM »
Such a thorny topic. Even assuming it is organic, with the rise of "industrial organic" it isn't always clear that it's actually better for the planet - some "organic" pesticides are permitted in large quantities and there are sometimes non-persistent, non-organic compounds that work better in small quantities.

At the end of the day, if you don't know the farmer, you don't know what you're getting. But since the farmers I know are not nearby, I will pay more for "local" and organic if I can find it. If I can't...

Related: I found this really interesting and surprising. Tiny Holland is the second largest food exporter in the world by value and has some of lowest pesticide use? Who knew? (Millions of people, of course, but not me)
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/09/holland-agriculture-sustainable-farming/

rcjordan

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Re: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2017, 08:21:16 PM »
>pesticides are permitted in large quantities

Yeah, most people equate organic with pesticide-free. That's far from the case. 

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2016/12/01/myth-busting-on-pesticides-despite-demonization-organic-farmers-widely-use-them/

The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=9874504b6f1025eb0e6b67cadf9d3b40&rgn=div6&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7&idno=7#se7.3.205_1601

Mackin USA

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Re: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2017, 11:11:32 AM »
Keto Comment

Ya should not eat corn or soy; therefore, no problem
Mr. Mackin

ergophobe

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Re: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2017, 04:29:04 PM »
Ya should not eat corn or soy; therefore, no problem

I don't think "organic" beef, chicken, broccoli or kale are exempt from this question. Or fish. Is that "wild caught" salmon really wild caught and how would you know? And is wild caught better?

ergophobe

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Re: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2017, 05:59:17 PM »
not completely unrelated
https://qz.com/1116757/the-globalization-of-corn-means-most-people-have-never-eaten-a-real-tortilla/

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Gruma’s 2016 annual investors’ report notes that the company may have inadvertently bought GMO corn that hasn’t been approved for human consumption and that this corn may have found its way into its products.

[edit: quote added]
« Last Edit: November 06, 2017, 06:08:56 PM by ergophobe »

rcjordan

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Re: Washington Post Uncovers Fraud In Organic Grain Imports
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2022, 10:54:34 PM »
>No sh##, Sherlock. You can PAY for all the organics you want, but you probably aren't actually buying many.

-OR- Your margin is my opportunity.

NYT Recognizes "That Organic Cotton T-Shirt May Not Be as Organic as You Think" | naked capitalism
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/nyt-recognizes-that-organic-cotton-t-shirt-may-not-be-as-organic-as-you-think.html