Large dairy stripped of organic certification

dreama · 06-14-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

FRESNO, Calif. - Sales of organic milk are soaring, but watchdogs say some of the dairy products shoppers are consuming may not be as earth-friendly as the labels purport.

A large dairy in Tulare County recently became the first in California to have its organic certification suspended because it violated organic standards — a move consumer advocates claimed as a victory.

“People should be able to buy organic milk with confidence,” said Mark Kastel, co-director of the Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based consumer watchdog group. “Our hope is that this is the first salvo in a crackdown against these industrial farms that are masquerading as being organic.”

The Case Vander Eyk Jr. Dairy, a 10,000-cow operation in the San Joaquin Valley, can no longer produce or sell milk labeled as organic in the United States unless it is recertified, said Joan Shaffer, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.

Officials at Vander Eyk, whose dairy cows produce both organic and conventional milk, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Horizon Organic — a brand of Texas-based Dean Foods Co. that sells about 45 percent of the nation’s organic milk — stopped buying milk from Vander Eyk in December because it wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the organic milk, spokeswoman Molly Keveney said.

On May 16, investigators working with a company that certifies organic dairies for the USDA found that Vander Eyk did not meet federal organic requirements. For dairies, that means proving that the herd eats organic feed, has not been dosed with hormones and has access to pasture, among other requirements.

The rest of the article can be found here: Large dairy stripped of organic certification - Food Inc. - MSNBC.com

So organic milk is not always to be trusted. It's best to give up cows milk altogether and drink soya milk instead.

Reba · 06-14-2007, 10:34 AM

At least the agency is doing its job by checking on them, and taking away their certificates.

Dark-Half · 06-15-2007, 06:20 PM

Organic stuff isn't always better. There's more parasites in it, but then again cows could really make milk without the steroids. There should be a healthy medium somewhere.

PuyoPiyo · 06-16-2007, 01:09 AM

Yupp I always drink soy milk over the regular milk. I like soy milk much better than the regular milk because soy milk is more sweet!

gnulinuxman · 06-16-2007, 01:34 AM

I've considered soy milk but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. I've heard lots of good things about it, so I may try it soon.

sequoias · 06-16-2007, 02:34 AM

I had the feeling that organic milk wasn't worth the money. I just buy regular milk instead. I think soy milk is ridiclously expensive. why pay 1.49 for a quart while u can get a gallon for 2.50 or so. organic soy milk is even more expensive. I rather drink rice milk instead cuz I don't like the taste of plain soy milk.

06-15-2007, 06:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dark-Half Amor fati Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Idaho. Posts: 852	Organic stuff isn't always better. There's more parasites in it, but then again cows could really make milk without the steroids. There should be a healthy medium somewhere. __________________ The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.

06-16-2007, 01:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
PuyoPiyo slotting Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fourth Plain Village WA Posts: 4,825	Yupp I always drink soy milk over the regular milk. I like soy milk much better than the regular milk because soy milk is more sweet! __________________ Hey everyone, I know some of you guys tried to pm me or leaving a message on my profile. I am very sorry that I haven't been around here lately because I went up to Puyallup State Fair working with my parents, and then I decided to go to Yakima Fair with my parents to work more, somehow when I came back and discovered that my computer had collasped. So I won't be using the computer as often as I was used to. Thanks everyone

06-16-2007, 01:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
gnulinuxman Hearing girly-man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,740	I've considered soy milk but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. I've heard lots of good things about it, so I may try it soon. __________________ --Danny

06-16-2007, 02:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
sequoias Railfan 4 life! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The Evergreen State Posts: 11,802	I had the feeling that organic milk wasn't worth the money. I just buy regular milk instead. I think soy milk is ridiclously expensive. why pay 1.49 for a quart while u can get a gallon for 2.50 or so. organic soy milk is even more expensive. I rather drink rice milk instead cuz I don't like the taste of plain soy milk. __________________

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06-14-2007, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Reba Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 16,408	At least the agency is doing its job by checking on them, and taking away their certificates.