Until recently I’d spent lunchtime for about the last six months at the ol’ faithful—a cheap and nasty curry shack perched down a shady lane around the corner from work. But after developing some sizeable love handles and a bloodstream composed almost entirely of ghee, I finally saw the light—a dietary overhaul was well overdue. All my lunchtimes would be spent at a far less shady Hare Krishna café; organic food would become my new culinary desire. Farewell to thee, butter chicken and ghee. Good day, lentils and tofu.
It seems I’m not the only one a little concerned about what’s being thrown down my gullet. Consumers worldwide are becoming increasingly discerning about the types of food they purchase, seeking products that are ethical, healthy and friendly to the environment. The global organic industry is booming. According to the Organic Federation of Australia, growth in Australian organic production is around 15–25 per cent per year. Consumption of organic products has also been growing steadily—at a rate of 25–40 per cent each year nationally and 20 per cent globally.
However, with this organic trend has come a slight problem. Producers, manufacturers and farmers are tempted to cash in on the organic boom but without a binding organic ‘standard’ it’s very easy for them to make dishonest claims about their products.
The organic industry in Australia is currently self-regulated. Several groups including the Organic Federation of Australia, the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture and the Biological Farmers of Australia certify manufacturers and farmers based on organic guidelines supplied by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Though these marks of certification are fairly reliable, the AQIS standard is not clearly defined, making it open to variation. This means there are several certification groups each with their own take on what defines ‘organic’. Did I say confusion?
The major problem is that there is no legislation preventing manufacturers and farmers from calling their foods ‘organic’ when they simply aren’t. This is unfair for manufacturers who are doing the right thing, as well as for consumers who are getting misled and ripped off. In August 2007, the Federal Court found that supplier G.O. Drew had fraudulently substituted and sold over 400,000 non-organically produced eggs as organic eggs. G.O Drew had printed an official organic certification on its eggs. Had it simply printed the word ‘organic’, the judge recognised he would have been hard pressed to pass a guilty verdict, as there was is binding definition on what is ‘organic’. Fittingly, G.O Drew was ordered to contribute $270,000 towards a new industry standard.
Standards Australia believes that a new, unifying standard would protect the term ‘organic’ and clear up any confusion in the current system. It argues that one standard would boost consumer confidence in organic products. However, not all industry groups are convinced this move will rule out shonky products. The Biological Farmers of Australia argues that any new standard must be supported by strict regulation. It has criticised the Standards Australia proposal because the new standard would be voluntary, and therefore not enforced by a certifying group. This means manufacturers and farmers could still buck the system, opening the road for more ‘not-quite-organic’ products—more bad eggs to confuse and short change the discerning consumer.
Without question, I feel a lot better physically for getting off the curry horse and onto the health pony. But I’d feel even better if I was absolutely certain that the organic morsels entering my digestive tract were the real deal. Australia needs to protect the term organic and clarify a legal industry standard. But it also needs ensure that the new standard is regulated, certified and that all parties properly adhere to it. And once this happens, I may never be able to justify inhaling another shady curry again.
How do I know this?
Evans, K 2007 ‘Work starts on the Australian domestic organic standard’,
Organic Limited,
http://organic.com.au/news/2007.05.07/
Kinner, S2006, ‘An organic standard for Australia at the crossroads’,
Biological Farmers Association,
www.bfa.com.au/_files/Organic%20Standard%20Discussion%20Paper%20July%202006.pdf
Harte, L 2007 ‘Plans to introduce organic food standards’,
PM, 8 May,
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1917783.htm
Lawrence, E 2006, ‘Organic food rort’,
Courier Mail, 24 September ,
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20465250-953,00.html
National Association for Sustainable Agriculture
http://www.nasaa.com.au/welcome1.html
Organic Federation of Australia
http://www.ofa.org.au/
Sexton, R 2007,‘Eggs show cracks in 'organic' labelling’,
The Age, 26August,
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/eggs-show-cracks-in-organic-labelling/2007/08/25/1187462590555.html
Standards Australia 2006, ‘Work starts on new standard’,
Media release,
www.standards.org.au/downloads/
070507_Work_begins_on_Organic_Standard.pdf
