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Beware! USDA Organic Baby Foods Contain GMO DHA and ARA

I am one of those consumers that assumes USDA certification means more than just growing foods without pesticides and herbicides. I assume that it includes ethical treatment of animals and zero genetically-modified organism (GMO) ingredients.  I know these assumptions are just that, and the latest news from the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) confirms it.

There are frankenfoods in organic baby food!

The OCA explains:

In 2009, a front page Washington Post article,“Integrity of Federal ‘Organic’ Label Questioned.”explained how Martek Biosciences’ synthetic DHA and ARA ended up in organic infant formula. In 2006, National Organic Program staff told Martek that its synthetic DHA and ARA couldn’t be used in organic because they were synthetic and not on the National List. But, Martek’s lawyer, J. Friedman, was able to get their decision reversed by NOP director Barbara Robinson, with just a call and an email. He told the Washington Post, “I called Robinson up, I wrote an e-mail. It was a simple matter.”…

The National Organic Program attempted to remedy this situation by requiring Martek to formally ask permission to use its DHA and AHA in organic. The petition came before National Organic Standards board, and surprisingly, the NOSB voted to continue to allow Life’sDHA and Life’sARA in organic.

The NOP and NOSB ignored evidence that Martek’s products should never have even been considered for use in organic in the first place. According to patents uncovered by the Cornucopia Institute, all of Martek’s DHA and ARA products are produced through genetic engineering, processed with volatile synthetic solvents and microencapsulated, three things that are expressly banned from USDA Organic.

You can protect your baby by making your own baby food or looking for food that does not contain DHA and ARA.  DHA and ARA are important omega fatty acids found in breast milk, so long term breastfeeding insures your child gets them.  The Cornucopia Institute explains how the chemical version cannot replace mother’s milk:

What is troublesome, however, is that some infant for- mulas contain DHA- and ARA-containing oils that are novel foods—extracted from laboratory-grown fermented algae and fungus and processed utilizing a toxic chemical, hexane. These algal and fungal oils provide DHA and ARA in forms that are structurally different from those naturally found in human milk…

These oils are produced by Martek Biosciences Corpora- tion and appear to be added to infant formula primarily as a marketing tool designed to convince parents that formula is now “as close as ever to breast milk.” Substantiating this the- sis is a Martek investment promotion from 1996, which reads as follows: “Even if [the DHA/ARA blend] has no benefit, we think it would be widely incorporated into formulas, as a market- ing tool and to allow companies to promote their formula as ‘closest to human milk [emphasis added].”1

 

Image:  Attribution Some rights reserved by ocean yamaha

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Comments

  1. Michael Austin says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    This is a well-researched and equitably-written piece. Thanks. That this is being done is horrible, and the sociopaths who’re perpetuating it should be prosecuted and their reputations racked through feedlot manure. But in a culture and country that promotes an Illness-Profit system, the situation’s predictable.

    Reply
  2. Agatha Achindu says

    December 13, 2011 at 3:44 am

    We did a story about this last year, Every company seems to be jumping on the DHA/ARA bandwagon. Baby food and formula manufacturers have embraced these additives, saying their products will make our babies smarter and healthier. Imagine—a baby food that will deliver better brain development…
    It is all about money for the food giants even at the expense of our kids health.. This drives me crazy to no end and I am hoping that parents are getting more educated about our food supply chain and there for be less trusting…Tell all our parents to become a compulsive label reader..
    http://yummyspoonfuls.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/better-ways-to-get-dhaara/

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Beware! USDA Baby Foods Contain GMO DHA and ARA | New Green Awareness says:
    December 8, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    […] Post By Google News Click Here For The Entire Article December 8th, 2011 | Category: Green […]

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  2. Organic Baby Foods Contain GMO DHA and ARA : says:
    December 9, 2011 at 9:03 am

    […] Read Full Article Join the Intel News Feed: […]

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  3. GMO baby food will rear sick children | Healing Talks says:
    December 16, 2011 at 8:35 am

    […] Lance, J, 11/08/11, Beware! USDA Organic Baby Foods Contain GMO DHA and ARA […]

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  4. GMO baby food making children sick | Healing Talks says:
    December 17, 2011 at 8:26 am

    […] Lance, J, 11/08/11, Beware! USDA Organic Baby Foods Contain GMO DHA and ARA […]

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  5. Rethinking Beauty: Spray Tans May Cause Cancer says:
    June 26, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    […] is not the same DHA added to baby food and formula.  The effects have not been tested on humans, as Natural Health Blog explains: Incredibly, no […]

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  6. Take Action: Keep Synthetic Nutrients out of Organic Food says:
    December 7, 2012 at 6:59 am

    […] first alerted you about synthetic nutrients in organic infant formula last year.  Unfortunately, the problem has not gone away and may spread to other organic […]

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Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

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