BREAKING NEWS & ALERT:
USDA REPORT INDICATES THAT ORGANIC LABELING FRAUD IS INCREASING
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (NOP) announced this week that 15 of the 30 accredited organic certifiers they recently inspected failed the USDA audit and will have 12 months to make corrections or lose their accreditation with the NOP. Although the USDA euphemistically calls their enforcement actions "renewal pending subsequent audit," it is clear that there are numerous violations of organic standards taking place in the U.S. and across the world. A number of the violations noted in the several hundred page audit related to Chinese imports certified by the French-based organic certifier Ecocert and other certifiers.

Strangely enough, Quality Assurance International (QAI), the largest organic certifier in the world, is not cited by the USDA, even though the OCA has recently reviewed documents that indicate that QAI is indeed under investigation by the NOP. QAI has recently been in the news for sourcing ginger, contaminated with a dangerous and banned pesticide, Aldicarb, from its Chinese certification sub-contractors and then labeling it as "USDA Organic." QAI is also under public fire, along with other certifiers, for certifying factory farm feedlot dairies supplying milk to Horizon and Aurora Organic Dairy, who in turn supply Wal-Mart, Costco, Safeway, and other organic private label organic milk.

Learn more and take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13943.cfm

ALERT OF THE WEEK:
SENATOR SAYS STOP BRAINWASHING CHILDREN TO EAT JUNK FOOD
A new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report has revealed that food and beverage corporations spent $1.6 billion dollars in food advertising in 2006. As parents and public health officials understand, the nation's alarming surge in childhood obesity and diabetes are directly related to increased consumption of junk food. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has urged industry and government regulators to redirect the massive funds spent every year in junk food advertising toward education and programs focused on healthy eating.
Take Action: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25289

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"Globalized industrialized food is not cheap: it is too costly for the Earth, for the farmers, for our health. The Earth can no longer carry the burden of groundwater mining, pesticide pollution, disappearance of species and destabilization of the climate. Farmers can no longer carry the burden of debt, which is inevitable in industrial farming with its high costs of production. It is incapable of producing safe, culturally appropriate, tasty, quality food. And it is incapable of producing enough food for all because it is wasteful of land, water and energy. Industrial agriculture uses ten times more energy than it produces. It is thus ten times less efficient."

Dr. Vandana Shiva, scientist, world-renowned author, and grassroots leader in India. Member of the Policy Advisory Board of the Organic Consumers Association.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
ANTHRAX ATTACKS MAY BE 'INSIDE JOB'
National TV commentator, Keith Olbermann, says anthrax attacks in 2001 were likely an "inside job" by the Bush/Cheney Administration. Watch this MSNBC video and read the related Associated Press article here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13881.cfm

Take action here: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=11116791&type=ML

SIGN-UP FOR OCA'S ACTION ALERTS
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PLUNDER OF THE WEEK:
SIX TIMES MORE FISH FED TO LIVESTOCK THAN TO HUMANS
According to the UBS Fisheries Centre in Vancouver, B.C., despite rampant over-fishing and depletion of world fish populations, globally, we are now feeding 14 million tons of edible wild-caught fish to factory farm animals, like pigs and chickens, each year. That amounts to over six times the amount of fish the entire U.S. population eats annually. Wild fish fed to animals on a massive scale include perfectly edible anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and herring, which are ground into a cheap fishmeal and sold for animal feed. In other words a protein source is being fed to animals on corporate farms with a 90% energy loss. Given the global food crisis and the over-harvesting of many of the ocean's commercial fish varieties, careful analysis of resource use by the global industrial food complex is becoming a life or death imperative.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13294.cfm

SUSTAINABILITY TIPS OF THE WEEK:
MICRO-GENERATION AND MICRO-FARMING
As energy and food prices continue to rise, global experts predict that micro-generation and micro-farming will boom over the next few years. New trends in urban farming, like vertical gardening and backyard chickens, can help feed households in an economical and earth friendly way. New technologies in micro-generation, powering your home with a wind turbine or solar paneling, for example, are making off-the-grid living more financially feasible than ever. In fact, priorities in Silicon Valley are already shifting from developing better microchips towards focusing on thin-film solar cells. Meanwhile, programs like 'Solar City' are offering 20% savings in solar paneling installations for neighborhoods who buy in bulk.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13636.cfm

TOP ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
POSTED FROM NEWSLETTERS & WEBSITES WE LIKE
Let OCA sift through the media smog and bring you the top new and analysis of the day. The OCA website has 20 or more news articles posted each day, covering issues including health, justice, food and farming, politics, and the environment. With over thirty thousand visitors per day, OrganicConsumers.org is a valuable resource for consumers, activists, and journalists. Please Bookmark OrganicConsumers.org as your daily source of news, analysis and inspiration. 

1. Interview with OCA Director Ronnie Cummins: We Need a New Green Deal
   (Lavida Locavore):
   http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13858.cfm
2. Solar Power Breakthrough Stores Energy for Later Use
   (Environmental News Service):
   http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13895.cfm
3. Urge Congress to Immediately Halt Any Further Advancement of NAIS
   (R-CALF):
   http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13752.cfm
4. Monsanto & ADM Set Up New Front Group to Deflect Ethanol Criticism & to Promote GMOs
   (Farmpolicy.com):
   http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13773.cfm
5. Twelve Natural Tips for Safe Travel
   (Natural News):
   http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13836.cfm
   

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK:
WHAT ARE THE SAFEST SUNSCREENS?

• Whoops! We mistakenly posted some incorrect information on which sunscreens were safe. Watch your next Organic Bytes Newsletter for an updated list and more information.

Source: Environmental Working Group:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13493.cfm

QUICK TIDBITS OF THE WEEK:

WEBSITE HELPS CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND ECO-LABELS
There are literally hundreds of different types of eco-labels on consumer products ranging from organic, to sustainably-made, to "Green". But what does it all mean? Ecolabeling.org provides an online searchable database of over 300 eco-labels. Don't get scammed into paying extra for a product that may not be as earth-friendly as the label suggests. Find out what the label means here: http://www.ecolabeling.org

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WEB VIDEO NEWSFLASH:
ILLEGAL PESTICIDE TOXIN FOUND IN 'ORGANIC' GINGER
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13803.cfm

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ORGANIC CONSUMERS IN YOUR STATE
Through the Organic Consumers Fund's Grassroots Netroots Alliance project,
voters are pressing the politicians to support strict organic standards,
mandatory labels for genetically engineered food, and the conversion of U.S.
farmland to organic. Find out who's answering the call in your state by
clicking here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13672.cfm

On the same page, you'll find a listing of state campaigns for health, justice and sustainability in all 50 states.

Join state discussion groups in our forum: http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showforum=52

Post events in your state on our community calendar: http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?act=calendar