Eariler this year the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) passed a recommendation for “Solving the Problem of Mislabeled Organic Personal Care Products.” The recommendation urges the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to make sure that any use of the word “organic” on a personal care product is backed up by third-party certification to USDA organic standards.
Why the fuss?
Thus far, products for your body, i.e. cosmetics, shampoo, lotion, and so on, have not been regulated in any sort of a substantial way. A body care item can claim to be organic, with no viable proof to back it up. Unless a product is labeled with the USDA Organic seal, you can’t, as a consumer, be sure if the product is really organic. The Organic Consumer Association is one organization working on the issue, and is helping to spread the word to consumers about real vs. fake organics.
Their website has a list of current “fakers” or products with no organic seal to back them up, even though some of their products may be labeled organic. The list of fakers includes…
Amazon Organics, Avalon Organics, Desert Essence Organics, Earth’s Best Organic, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Head Organics, JASON Pure Natural and Organic, Nature’s Gate Organics, Organics by Noah’s Naturals
How to get involved:
- Only buy organic body care products that can back up their claims.
- There are plenty of companies who make natural, chemical-free, and organic body care products who are not labeled by the USDA, if you’re going to use a product not labeled, look into the company background before you buy and find out about their policies, regulations, and ethics.
- Sign on for the current OCA ACTION ALERT: Tell the USDA to Stop Organic Body Care Fraud!
- Learn which body care products are actually true organics.
- Make body care products yourself so you know what’s in them.
[image via stock.xchng]
Post from: Blisstree