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ORGANIC
Org a nic Consum er s A sso ci at ion
BY TES F o o d & C o n su m e r N e w s W e e k ly
w w w.org a n icconsum e r s.org

The Coming Clean Campaign for Organic Integrity Ask Stores to Adopt Organic Body
Contrary to popular belief, the US government doesn’t regulate cosmetics and body care Care and Cosmetics Integrity Policies
products for safety, long-term health impacts or environmental damage. Many synthetic The Coming Clean Campaign is encouraging retailers
chemicals and petroleum-based ingredients found in non-organic certified brands are to take action to address widespread organic labeling
harmful to people and the environment. fraud in their health and beauty care aisles.
Consumers can avoid toxic ingredients by using USDA certified Organic Body Care and Cos- Many brands make organic claims on products whose
metics. The trouble is, while the USDA allows cosmetics and body care products meeting main cleansing and moisturizing ingredients are com-
National Organic Program (NOP) food & agricultural standards to be certified organic, it posed in significant part of petrochemicals.
doesn’t police the rampant labeling fraud in the industry, where many brands make organic In June 2010, Whole Foods Market took a bold and
claims on their front label, but in fact are neither organic nor certified. meaningful step on behalf of organic integrity when
That’s why, as this Story of Stuff Project video, The Story of Cosmetics, points out: “On cos- it adopted a new requirement for its suppliers that will
metics labels, words like ‘herbal,’ ‘natural,’ even ‘organic’, have no legal definition. That force major organic cheater brands to drop their bogus
means that anybody can put anything in a bottle and call it ‘natural.’ And they do!” organic claims.
Whole Foods Market’s policy on the
Panic! This Product Is Not Organic! organic labeling of personal care prod-
Tired of companies and retailers selling body care products as Organic when ucts states: “We believe that the ‘organic’
they are not really Organic? Take matters into your own hands: Download claim used on personal care products
OCA’s Panic! This Product Is Not Organic! stickers at www.is.gd/ef2Hp. (This should have a very similar meaning to
PDF is set up to print 30 stickers on a sheet of Avery 48160 address labels.) the ‘organic’ claim used on food products,
Our three primary targets of the month are: which is currently regulated by the USDA’s
▶ Avalon Organics National Organic Program (NOP). Our
▶ Nature’s Gate Organics shoppers do not expect the definition of
▶ Giovanni’s Organic Top 10 Reasons to ‘organic’ to change substantially between
Don’t bother to sticker these bogus organic body care products in Whole Use Organic Body the food and the non-food aisles of our
Foods Markets. Whole Foods, in response to OCA’s Coming Clean Campaign, stores.”
Care and Cosmetics
has agreed to ban and remove all mislabeled “organic” body care products Whole Foods’ new policy mandates that
from their stores by June of 2011. For a list of stores with Organic Body Care & Non-Organic Body “Organic” or “Made with Organic Ingredi-
Cosmetics Integrity Policies: www.is.gd/ef2OQ Care and Cosmetics… ents “ claims must be certified under the
10. Fuel Oil Addiction USDA NOP, just like food. A more limited
Tell USDA to Stop Organic Fraud! 9. Spawn Super Weeds “Contains Organic Ingredients” claim for
A growing number of products such as liquid soaps, body washes, facial cleans- 8. Unleash Biocides personal care may be certified under the
ers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizing lotions, lip balms, and make-up 7. Contaminate Water NSF ANSI 305 standard. Organic claims
are advertised, labeled and marketed as “organic” or “organics” when, in fact, 6. Make Us Fat that are not certified, including “Organ-
these products are not organic as generally understood by health and envi- 5. Speed Up Puberty ics” in branding, will not be allowed.
ronmentally-concerned consumers. 4. Increase Infertility Brands were required to meet an August 1,
The widespread and blatantly deceptive labeling practices of leading “organic” 3. Cause Birth Defects 2010 deadline to explain how they would
personal care brands violate the federal organic law. 2. Give Us Cancer change their labeling or formulations to
In 2009, the USDA National Organic Standards Board passed a recommenda- 1. Aren’t Regulated comply with the new standard. They have
tion for “Solving the Problem of Mislabeled Organic Personal Care Products.” until June 2011 to be in full compliance.
The recommendation urges the USDA’s NOP to make sure that any use of the Brands that did not submit a plan to come
word “organic” on a personal care product is backed up by third-party certification to USDA clean are expected to be dropped from store shelves.
organic standards. Retailers selling non-certified “organic” cosmetics face
Currently, as the recommendation describes, “at a given retailer, one may find personal care a choice. They can follow Whole Foods’ lead and require
products such as shampoos and lotions labeled as ‘organic’ with no clear standards or regu- truthful labels, or they can continue to enable organic
latory underpinning for the organic claim—and unless the product is specifically labeled as fraud. Consumers will look unfavorably on retailers
‘USDA Organic,’ the word ‘organic’ may be used with impunity. Manufacturers of personal that duck responsibility and continue to profit from the
care products that contain organic ingredients are hindered by a thicket of competing pri- organic cheater brands that rip off their customers.
vate standards and confusion regarding the applicability of the NOP to their products. Trans- What will your store do?
actions lack the regulatory clarity that applies under the NOP to food products that contain Ask retailers to adopt Organic Body Care and Cosmet-
organic ingredients.” ics Integrity Policies: www.is.gd/ef2ZP
Please send a letter urging the USDA NOP to enforce the current agricultural standards in per- Find out which local stores have Organic Body Care and
sonal care, like they do when conventional foods are mislabeled as organic. www.is.gd/ef2ZP Cosmetics Integrity Policies: www.is.gd/ef2OQ

An Urgent Fundraising Appeal from the Organic Consumers Association

Thanks to everyone who has already made a donation to the OCA this year! We are very grateful to have more supporters than ever! Unfortunately, the
average donation that people are able to give is a lot smaller than in past years. The Great Recession has hurt nearly everyone and we’re all struggling with
less these days. This is definitely true for the OCA. We’ve implemented temporary layoffs and pay cuts and will now be forced to operate with a smaller
staff until the financial situation improves. Please donate as much as you can today. No donation is too small. We have Millions Against Monsanto bumper
stickers for all! Put “Monsanto Bumper Sticker” in the comments field to receive yours. Everyone who gives $100 or more will receive a Millions Against
Monsanto t-shirt. Please put “Monsanto t-shirt” and your size in the comments field. Thank you for your support! organicconsumers.org/donations.cfm
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