Organic/Genetically modified

I got into a discussion with a friend the other and was left wondering if genetically altered food products can still be labeled "organic"?

My friend said there was a big news story about someone dying from eating genetically altered food (she didn't remember if it was a fruit, vegetable or what) which caused some kind of reaction in their body. The product had been genetically altered to be pest resistant so as not to need spraying with insecticide so it could be labeled "organic". I didn't think genetically altered foods could be labeled 'organic' but I don't know. Did anyone else hear this news story and shed some light on it?

At this time USDA does not allow GMO to be used with an organic label. However they do admit that as with standard crops there is going to be some GMO contamination. With GMO already being used on a large scale this is inevitable. Also a big problem with organic labeling is the enforcement issue. Not enough inspectors to go around. Unlike the very past there is a great set of regulation that define what is considered organic with very specific definitions. A decent link this can be found at http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/te ... 31.2.342.3 .This address some of the common organaphobe complaints,examples being the feed history for livestock or mining practices for fertilizer minerals.

Heres the usda organic page http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s ... GRICULTURE

Thanks John. The site was very helpful and informative.

After googling all over the net trying to find the news story my friend was talking about I went back to her for more info. She said it had been a corn product that had been spliced with a botulism cell to resist insects. (I thought, "Gee, that just sounds stupid and irresponsible. With as little as we know about long term effects, would someone really do that and be able to get it out on the market?" Botulism cells?)

She was adamant that the product had been labeled "organic". I said I was confused how that could be since the web site John so graciously supplied indicated that GM foods can't be labeled "organic".

"Well it was! And it just goes to show that all this organic stuff is pretty much a racket!", she went on to say.

Now I'm really befuddled and concerned because I do believe in the benefits of organic foods over anything sprayed with a ton of insecticides. I pressed her further, "Where did you hear this? Was it on the radio or did you read it? On TV? What station? CBS, NBC, CNN?"

"Ummm.." she answers, "Oh yeah, it was an episode of CSI. CSI Miami."

And she votes too.

I think your friend deserves some kind of award, Carla.

Scary huh?