Organic Food

I want to start this off by saying that I am supportive of organic farming. It is important to reduce our use of harmful chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides, which end up causing worse problems than they solve. I would prefer these chemicals were not used as frequently or at all. Luckily, we have a market based solely on organic food. Should be perfect for me, right?

So I decided to attend a lecture at MSU entitled "Who owns organic?" presented by Phil Howard. I have often wondered who owns the companies which products are sold in places like the East Lansing Food Co-op. I learned that originally, food cooperatives were privately or employee owned and operated on their own terms. As they gained popularity, market demands shifted and many organic producers sold their companies to larger corporations. The organic food movement is continuing to be purchased and thus controlled by major corporations. Walmart, commonly thought of as one of the least socially conscious companies, started selling organic products. Other large grocery stores followed suit. At the same time, companies such as Hershey's and General Mills purchased small scale organic food farms, took these labels and started mass producing products which are organic based on the FDA requirements. Often, the ownership is hidden (did you know Kashi is owned by Kellogg?) so consumers are unaware of where these products are actually coming from. The corporations doing this are able to make a lot of money by selling products to people who are led to believe what they are buying is "more natural" and "pesticide free." I didn't know this, but apparently pesticides are completely ok according to the FDA requirements for organic food.

The term "organic" is losing its meaning as it gains momentum as a movement. Because the people profiting off of organic products are major corporations, they have more power over regulations. They have more money, which makes it much easier to be influential in our government. It is in these companies' interest to keep regulations to a minimum and manipulate consumers' interpretations of what organic means. Thus, labels and advertising are used to promote an image of a small farm and more natural products. The word natural is meaningless as far as labeling. "All natural" could be put on anything, from organic tomatoes to a box of Kraft Mac N' Cheese. Kraft won't do the second because the corporations benefit more by continuing to foster the misinterpretation consumers have. The label of organic doesn't mean much. The regulations are not strict or strictly enforced. Organic is much more effective as a marketing scheme than as a term to inform consumers about their food's production.

So anyone reading this who is about to give up on eating since it is all so corrupt, take this positive note. The major corporations are feeling and responding to demands to offer more organic products. The percentage of products being sold as organic has tripled since 1998. Maybe this is going in a good direction. And some familiar organic companies are still independently or cooperatively owned, such as Eden, Amy's Kitchen, Clif Bar, and Newman's Own Organics. These companies have stood their ground and refuse to sell to a major corporation (though they are faced with countless offers). Hopefully their protest will not be in vain.