What's Organic? Action Alert: FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Nanotechnology

[Islander]

June 28, 2011
Alliance for Natural Health

When is organic not organic? When nanoparticles are involved. A new Action Alert.
Last year we reported on nanotechnology, the process of manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level. As we said then, it has no place in organic food. Like genetic modification, it is the antithesis of the organic concept. Canada has already amended its national organic rules to ban nanotechnology in food production as a “Prohibited Substance or Method.”
The FDA has just released its draft guidance for regulated industries describing what to consider when determining whether a product uses nanotechnology or nanomaterials. The comment period is open for 60 days.
The FDA seems to be trying to avoid any offense to Big Food. The agency emphasizes that it is not providing a regulatory definition of nanotechnology—merely guidance to get more clarification on the issue of what counts as nanotechnology and what doesn’t. And of course, the guidance makes no mention of organic foods.
The FDA needs to state explicitly that nanotechnology has no place in organic food production. There is nothing complicated about that. Please contact the FDA today and make your views known!

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We’d also love to hear your comments about this article—just add your thoughts below—but remember that the messages below are only seen by our ANH-USA readers and not the FDA, Congress etc.

[Reesacat]

Done! Thank you Islander-this is scary. Organic was my last defense on getting pure food but the standards are eroding right and left.

[mellowsong]

Done...they're out to get us. No, not saying that as a conspiracy theorist; it's simply due to greed.

[Aaltrude]

So far organic standards in New Zealand have not been compromised. All the organic certifying bodies in NZ are independent therefore you can be reasonably confident if you are buying an organic product certified in NZ.

[Reesacat]

I remember you telling me that last year Aaltrude and it has really helped-if I get a source on an organic product and it says New Zealand I buy it!