This article from Australia explains how misleading organic labelling can be. When buying organic especially from supermarkets it is important to look for the organic labelling found at the end of the article.
Article
LABELLING on organic products in Australia is confusing, potentially misleading and urgently needs reform, consumer advocacy group Choice says.
It is calling for a single, unified system of certification to replace the current method, whereby several different bodies regulate producers, and some brands make completely unsubstantiated claims to be organic.
Research by The Sun-Herald reveals how buying "organic" can cost customers more than twice as much. The organics industry is one of the fastest growing in the Australian food and grocery sector, increasing by 30 per cent in the past year.
It is now worth about $400 million a year in the retail sector, the Government's Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation says.
There are eight organic certification bodies, which are overseen by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
But some own-brand organic products bought by The Sun-Herald in Coles and Woolworths last week had none of the official logos. Woolworths' organic tinned tomatoes had no official certification, and the small print on Coles organic carrots stated "product in conversion to national standard" with no other explanation.
Five different products bought in Coles used five different organic logos.
The Sun-Herald also looked at the cost of organic goods compared with conventional products.
Organic carrots from Coles cost $3.48 for one kilogram compared with $1.68 for the conventionally produced equivalent.
In Woolworths, organic carrots were $3.98 compared with 94 cents for the mainstream equivalent.
Organic tinned tomatoes in Woolworths cost $1.15, compared with 58 cents for a "normal" tin.
And 500 grams of regular minced beef from Coles cost $5.55 compared with $7.33 for its organic rival.
Andrew Monk, spokesman for Biological Farmers of Australia, one of the largest official certification bodies, said: "Coles and Woolworths are both working very hard to simplify the system of organic certification.
"We do have concerns about organic labelling and we have to make sure we are not just bandying about the word organic willy-nilly."
On the subject of price, Dr Monk said: "Some organic products such as carrots are always going to be a little bit more expensive because they cost more to produce without pesticides and chemicals, but there is no reason why other things should cost more."
Coles and Woolworths did not respond to requests for comment. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it might look at the cost of organic brands in its inquiry into the price of groceries.
Labelling to look for
National Association for Sustainable Agriculture (NASAA)
P.O. Box 768
Stirling SA 5152
Phone: (08) 8370 8455
website
Australian Certified Organic
P.O. Box 530
Chermside QLD 4032
Phone: (07) 3350 5716
website
Organic Growers of Australia (OGA)
P.O. Box 6171
South Lismore NSW 2480
Phone: (02) 6622 0100
website
Organic Food Chain (OFC)
P.O. Box 2390
Toowoomba QLD 4350
Phone: (07) 4637 2600
website
Safe Food Queensland
P.O. Box 440
Spring Hill QLD 4004
Phone: 1800 300 815
website
Tasmanian Organic-Dynamic Producers (TOP)
P.O. Box 13
Campbell Town TAS 7210
Phone: (03) 6381 2004
website
Bio-dynamic Research Institute (BDRI)
Main Road
Powelltown VIC 3797
Phone: (03) 5966 7333
website
