Source: cornucopia.org
The Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry research and watchdog organization, announced it has formally requested the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate corruption at its National Organic Program resulting in the use of illegal synthetics in organic food.
The controversy surrounds products developed by Martek Biosciences Corporation.
Martek’s formulated oils are processed with synthetic petrochemical solvents in a blend containing a myriad of other synthetic chemicals. Supplements derived from these oils, commonly marketed as DHA and ARA, are being added to milk, infant formula and other organic foods by such companies as Dean Foods (Horizon), Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Nurture, Inc. (Happy Baby).
Martek’s DHA (“Life’sDHA”) has not been approved for use in organic foods. Moreover, these additives have been linked to serious gastrointestinal symptoms in infants, according to reports submitted to the FDA’s Medwatch program.
Organic consumers concerned with the integrity of the organic foods they buy are encouraged to avoid the foods below:
For children and adults
Wegmans’s Organic Yogurt (Fruit on the Bottom Super Yogurt)
Horizon Organic Milk
Nogurt (by Rich and Wholesome Foods LLC)
Stremicks Heritage Foods Organic Milk
Good Cacao chocolate bars
Baby Food (select products contain Martek’s DHA)
Happy Bellies
Tasty Baby Organic Infant Cereal
Organic Infant Formula
Bright Beginnings Organic
Earth’s Best Organic
Parent’s Choice Organic
Similac Organic
Vermont Organics
Please note that Baby’s Only Organic formula, does not contain Martek’s DHA and ARA but uses water-extracted egg yolk as a source of DHA/ARA.
Source: cornucopia.org
Further readings:
http://www.cornucopia.org/2012/01/largest-corporate-dairy-biotech-firm-and-usda-accused-of-conspiring-to-corrupt-rulemaking-and-pollute-organics/
http://www.cornucopia.org/dha-safety-concerns/