Philadelphia - "Label Meat Organic”, a national public awareness campaign in support of organic meat labeling, was announced by a national consumer and industry coalition headed by Organic Valley, the United States pioneer of organic livestock and the largest organic farmers' cooperative in North America. The campaign kickoff was held in Philadelphia where the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association show is taking place.
The purpose of the “Label Meat Organic” campaign is to urge the USDA to lift their ban on labeling of organic meat before national organic standards have been finalized, a process that may take another year or more. Current USDA internal policy prevents labeling of meat and processed eggs as organic, while all other foods under FDA jurisdiction are allowed the organic label.
Supporters of the call to action include organic livestock producers, retailers, trade associations and consumer groups, including: the Humane Society of the US; Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet; the National Campaign Against the Misuse of Pesticides; The Organic Alliance; Petaluma Poultry; Whole Foods; Wild Oats; the Organic Trade Association, which most recently was a major organizer of the historic and highly successful grassroots effort to stimulate public comment on the proposed rule to implement the Organic Foods Production Act; and Bob Anderson, head of Walnut Acres and Chairman of the USDA's National Organic Standards Board.
Betsy Lydon, Program Director of Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet, said, “It is an outrage that the law forbids consumers access to organic meat and denies them labels that could help them make choices about their meat purchases. Consumers have a right to know how their meat is raised.”
Organic Trade Association Executive Director Katherine DiMatteo believes: “It is unfair of the USDA to withhold organic meat and egg products labeling when all other products can carry an organic label. The decision to withhold this label by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA has been arbitrary and capricious.”
“Label Meat Organic” calls on the USDA to immediately approve labeling for the organic livestock industry utilizing the present organic certification system. The organic meat labeling reflecting existing organic standards would provide an interim solution until the national standards for organic certification received final approval.
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