USA: OCA and brands file complaint with USDA

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA), along with certified organic personal care brands Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Intelligent Nutrients, and Organic Essence, have filed a complaint with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), requesting an investigation into the widespread and blatantly deceptive labeling practices of leading "organic" personal care brands, in violation of USDA NOP regulations. The complaint can be viewed here. The complaint argues that products such as liquid soaps, body washes, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizing lotions, lip balms, make-up and other cosmetic products produced by twelve different corporations have been advertised, labeled and marketed as "organic" or "organics" when, in fact, the products are not "organic" as understood by reasonable consumers, PR Newswire reports.
 

On November 5, 2009, the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) formally recommended that the National Organic Program regulated personal care to ensure that any use of the word "organic" on a personal care product was backed up by third-party certification to USDA organic standards. Immediately following the recommendation, the OCA launched a consumer boycott of the major "organic" cheater brands, and produced a list of USDA certified organic brands that were true to their claims and safe for organic consumers.  

PR Newswire