#218 5 A p r i l 10
ORGANIC
Org a nic Consum er s A sso ci at ion
BY TES
w w w.org a n icconsum e r s.org
Organic Integrity in the Health and Beauty Aisle
Whole Foods Takes a Stand Against Faux Organic Claims on Body Care
Whole Foods Market is making its suppliers aware of its “Position on ‘Organic’ Per-
sonal Care Products.” In the statement, WFM promises “to continue to closely exam-
ine all organic label claims to ensure that they are not misleading, and we will strongly
encourage our suppliers who are making organic claims to pursue NOP certification.
WFM explains:
“Products making an “Organic” product claim (e.g. Organic Shampoo,” “Organic
Body Wash.”) should be certified to the USDA NOP standard. “Products making
“Made with Organic _” claims should be certified to the USDA NOP standard, which
is the best possible certification for “Made with” label claims.
“Products making “Contains Organic _” claims should be certified to the NSF
Organic Personal Care standard.
“Any ‘Organic’ claim on the front of the label should be substantiated by certifica-
tion to one of the above standards, including the use of the word ‘organic’ in the
brand name. Products not certified to one of these standards may only use the word
“organic” in the ingredients listing. We are currently working with our suppliers to
transition their label claims to the above standards. Because these changes will
be pervasive and complicated, we have not yet determined a timeline, but
expect to do so in the near future.” www.is.gd/bhVtc
Jason, Kiss My Face Drop False Organic Claims
While stores and online retailers are still selling products under the old labels,
two targets of the OCA’s Coming Clean campaign for organic integrity in per-
sonal care have chosen to drop their use of the word “organic” in the tag lines of
products that aren’t certified to USDA standards. JASON, which carried the tag line “Pure,
Natural & Organic,” will now be advertised as “Everyday Natural Care.” Kiss My Face
has dropped its “Obsessively Organic” product line.
So are JASON and Kiss My Face allies in the cause to stop false organic claims? Not quite.
The news about JASON came in a press release by its parent company Hain Celestial. The
release announced Hain’s “strong support” for the National Organic Standards Board
recommendation of November 5, 2009, “Solving the Problem of Mislabeled Organic Per-
sonal Care Products.” However, the same release stated that there would be no change in
the marketing or formulations of Avalon Organics products, also owned by Hain.
OCA learned about the changes at Kiss My Face at the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit
in New York City last week. After a marketing presentation by Kiss My Face co-owner/
founder Bob MacLeod who described how he and his partner market their organic val-
ues through their products, OCA Political Director Alexis Baden-Mayer stood up to ask,
“You lead an “obsessively organic” lifestyle, but your Obsessively Organic product line
isn’t certified and doesn’t meet USDA organic standards. How do you justify this to con-
sumers?” MacLeod at first said there was no “Obsessively Organic” product line at Kiss
My Face and then corrected himself to admit that it was stopped two years ago, but
might still be available from some retailers.
Unfortunately, a quick look at the Kiss My Face Web store reveals that the company is
still putting organic marketing claims above certification and integrity. The sponsored
link to the Web store announces, “Official Online Store. Full Line of Organic Personal
Care Products!” A search for “organic” on the site turns up “organic” lipsticks, moistur-
izers, and hair care products that contain certified organic ingredients, but are not certi-
fied to USDA standards because they don’t have enough organic ingredients and contain
non-organic and synthetic ingredients that are prohibited in organic.
Tell Hain Celestial and Kiss My Face to Come Clean
Hain Celestial and Kiss My Face, two companies that have been defrauding consumers
by offering “organic” health and beauty products that don’t meet USDA standards, are
beginning to clean up their act. Let’s give them a little encouragement:
Thank HC for dropping JASON’s “Pure, Natural & Organic” tag line, then ask them to give
their Avalon Organics brand a makeover with new formulations that could actually be
certified organic: www.is.gd/bhVE4
Thank Kiss My Face for losing their “Obsessively Organic” product line, and suggest that
they reformulate the products that they advertise as organic so that they can be certified
to USDA standards: www.is.gd/bhVFC
Written and edited by Alexis Baden-Mayer & Ronnie Cummins · Please post, distribute, & subscribe: organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm
We are Making Positive Change · Our Work Depends on You! Please Donate: www.organicconsumers.org/donations.cfm
F o o d & C o n su m e r N e w s W e e k ly
FDA Warns Bodycare Companies
On March 8, 2010, the FDA issued a Q&A about organic cos-
metics. It warns companies that make organic claims to fol-
low the USDA organic regulations.
“Cosmetic products labeled with organic claims must com-
ply with both USDA regulations for the organic claim and FDA
regulations for labeling and safety requirements for cosmet-
ics.” www.is.gd/bhVJi
Ask Alice Waters to Oppose Toxic Sludge!
Legendary organic chef Alice Waters is an outspoken oppo-
nent of using genetically engineered foods. OCA has asked
her to take the same strong stand opposing the use of toxic
sewage sludge to grow food. The City of San Francisco in the
Bay Area where she lives has been deceptively giving away
toxic sludge to gardeners and farmers, calling this hazard-
ous material “organic biosolids compost.” We want Alice, as
the founder of the famous Chez Panisse Restaurant, to add
her powerful voice to the fight to stop using gardens and
farms as dumps for toxic sewage sludge.
It is especially important because the Executive Direc-
tor of Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Foundation is Fran-
cesca Vietor, who is also the Vice President of the San
Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the agency that
has been giving away tons of toxic sludge and deceiving
recipients.
The Chez Panisse Foundation promotes Edible Schoolyard’s
organic gardens. Obviously its Executive Director, who was
appointed to the PUC in 2008 by the Mayor of San Fran-
cisco, is conflicted on this issue. She is working for both Alice
Waters’ Foundation and for the Public Utilities Commission
and the Mayor. Mayor Newsom calls the sewage sludge “very
healthy and safe.” Neither Alice Waters nor her foundation
have ever made a public statement flatly opposing the grow-
ing of any food in toxic sewage sludge.
Join us in asking Alice Waters to publicly oppose growing
food in toxic sewage sludge. Take Action: www.is.gd/bhVQG
Obama Recess-Appoints Siddiqui
Here’s some bad news. Obama has recess-appointed Islam
Siddiqui (the biotech/pesticide lobbyist he nominated for
chief agricultural negotiator). His confirmation was on hold
in the Senate all this time, so he hasn’t been in the govern-
ment making trouble. But now he will be. www.is.gd/bhVSb
Quote of the Week
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is
based on the fact that human history is a history not only of
cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will
determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our
capacity to do something. If we remember those times and
places (and there are so many) where people have behaved
magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the
possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a differ-
ent direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we
don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future
is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we
think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad
around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” -Howard Zinn