Comments on: USDA closes organic dairy loophole

By: USDA Tightens Organic Grazing Regulations | Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:16:21 +0000

[...] The process to amend the current NOP language began nearly five years ago with a recommendation from the National Organic Standards Board that suggested, “ruminants obtain a minimum 30 percent dry matter intake for at least 120 days.” Published first in 2008, the proposal elicited an astonishing 26,000 comments. The voices of family farmers and animals rights, environmental, and nutrition activists mixed with local government officials, consumer groups, trade organizations, and industry representatives. “USDA closes organic loophole,” cheered nutrition expert Marion Nestle. [...]

By: "Pature" – And This Time They Mean It « Food In America

"Pature" – And This Time They Mean It « Food In America — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:13:53 +0000

[...] More (with additional links) from Marion Nestle at Food Politics. [...]

By: Organic Advocates Applaud USDA’s New Regulations For Dairy Farms | Earth Eats - Indiana Public Media

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:58:54 +0000

[...] Marion Nestle’s blog post on the new regulations. AKPC_IDS += "3924,"; Share E-mail [...]

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:07:05 +0000

That’s an excellent start! Although I, too, get my milk from a local market where I can talk to the actual farmers. I think it will definitely take some time and trust-building, but I’m delighted that this indicates that our organic standards will continue to be meaningful.

Ditto Anthro’s comments on eggs and chickens, too. Again, I buy from the farmers’ market, but I do think it’s horrifying that many consumers who feel they are doing the right thing in getiing “cage-free” chickens and eggs are essentially paying more just to pay more. I can’t speak to nutrition, but I can say definitively that eggs from a pastured chicken are so much tastier than grocery store eggs!

By: Anthro

Anthro — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:28:52 +0000

I get my milk at the local co-op which carries a brand from a local family-owned dairy. They do organic and “regular” and the only difference is that the cows graze on separate pastures (except in winter–this is Wisconsin). I have been there and they use very little chemicals on the “regular” pasture and that milk is less than half the price of the organic, so that is what I buy.

I am, however, happy to see this new rule as I have long questioned the sanity of calling something “organic” that deprives animals of their natural habits. I would like to see something similar in the case of the “cage free” rule–which is pretty meaningless in terms of animal welfare.

By: imtooliberal.com

imtooliberal.com — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:35:44 +0000

even if the Cornocopia Institute is “virtually 100% satisfied” its going to take a very long time, as you can see from Jenna’s comment, to gain the consumers confidence in the word “organic”. the best option still remains: develop a relationship with your local farmers.

-imtooliberal.com

By: Jenna

Jenna — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:04:29 +0000

I would love if organic milk = grass fed, but it seems like this rule would be 30% of 120 days – or something like 10% grass fed.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:18:24 +0000

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