Americans believe USDA’s organic label on food means no antibiotics and no synthetic pesticides were used in producing the food, says Consumer Reports in objecting to exemptions to those general rules. “Consumer Reports has long opposed the proliferation of exemptions and says that their renewed listing does not represent what consumers expect from the organic label,” says Food Safety News in a story about the meeting of the National Organic Standards Board.
Organic food and beverages account for 4 pct of U.S. grocery sales, says Politico. “For years there has existed a simmering conflict among those who believe organic food production is best handled by small growers and the expanding universe of companies that want to produce organic food on a larger scale to satisfy growing consumer demand.”