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USDA organic label called into question: Watchdog warns consumers to bypass federal certification amid fraud and corruption

By ljdevon // 2025-05-21

For decades, the USDA Organic label has been a trusted symbol for health-conscious consumers seeking food free from synthetic chemicals and industrial farming practices. But a damning new report from OrganicEye, a leading organic industry watchdog, reveals that federal oversight has become so compromised that shoppers can no longer rely on the government’s seal of approval. Instead, consumers must now scrutinize who certifies their food—not just whether it bears the USDA’s stamp. “Congress charged the USDA with harmonizing and enforcing a single standard that consumers and eaters could depend on,” said Mark A. Kastel, Executive Director of OrganicEye. “But the agency has willfully failed.” The watchdog’s newly released guide identifies 10 ethical certifiers still upholding organic integrity while exposing systemic failures within the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). From factory-farmed milk labeled as organic to hydroponic produce masquerading as soil-grown, the report paints a grim picture of an industry overrun by corporate greed and regulatory neglect. Key points:

• The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) has allowed industrial-scale farms, fraudulent imports, and hydroponic operations to exploit the organic label.
• Three major certifiers—CCOF, Oregon Tilth, and Florida Organic Growers—are accused of conflicts of interest, taking corporate payments, and rubber-stamping illegal practices.
• Despite documented legal complaints, the USDA dismissed allegations against two of the accused certifiers, claiming “no apparent violations.”
• OrganicEye’s guide empowers consumers to identify trustworthy certifiers, urging them to bypass USDA oversight and support ethical farmers.
• The watchdog warns that many certifiers have shifted from farmer-led integrity to corporate-aligned profiteering, eroding organic standards.

The betrayal of organic integrity

When Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act in 1990, the intent was clear: protect small farmers and consumers from fraud while ensuring organic food met rigorous, soil-based standards. But today, the USDA’s NOP has become a revolving door for agribusiness interests, allowing factory farms, hydroponic operations, and suspect imports to flood the market with “organic” products that defy the law’s original spirit. “Legitimate US family-scale organic farms are increasingly being squeezed out by these illegitimate industrialized practices,” Kastel said. Among the most egregious violations:

• Factory-farmed dairy and eggs: Massive concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) house thousands of animals in confinement yet still receive organic certification.
• Hydroponic fraud: Crops grown in water with synthetic nutrients—not soil—are falsely labeled organic, despite legal requirements for soil health.
• Imported scams: Fraudulent foreign imports, particularly grains and soy, have repeatedly been caught using banned pesticides while slipping past USDA inspections.

Certifiers gone rogue

OrganicEye’s investigation reveals that some of the largest certifiers have abandoned their watchdog role, instead becoming enablers of corporate agribusiness. The group filed legal complaints against CCOF, Oregon Tilth, and Florida Organic Growers (FOG), accusing them of:

• Accepting “payola” payments from major brands like Driscoll’s and Taylor Farms.
• Lobbying for weaker standards while certifying questionable operations.
• Ignoring federal prohibitions against conflicts of interest.

Shockingly, the USDA dismissed complaints against Oregon Tilth and FOG, claiming no wrongdoing—despite OrganicEye’s extensive evidence. The case against CCOF remains open after 18 months, raising concerns about bureaucratic delays protecting corporate interests. “Before the USDA took over, we had independent farmer-led certifiers we trusted,” said Alexis Baden-Mayer, political director of the Organic Consumers Association. “Now, we’re going ‘back to the future,’ relying on certifiers because the USDA won’t enforce the law.”

How consumers can fight back

OrganicEye’s guide urges shoppers to:

• Buy local—Small farms face less fraud risk.
• Check certifiers—Look beyond the USDA seal to see which agency verified the product.
• Demand accountability—Pressure brands to switch to ethical certifiers.

“We want businesses to stand with the family farm community,” Kastel said. “Customer loyalty is a powerful incentive.” If consumers don’t act, the organic label—once a beacon of transparency—may become just another marketing ploy for industrial agriculture. Sources include: YourNews.com OrganicEye.org Enoch, Brighteon.ai

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