The magazine “60 million consumers” pinpoints products which, although having received an “organic” label, are not free of pollutants and are not always produced in an ethical manner.
Can we trust labels with our eyes closed when we want to eat products from organic farming, produced ethically and locally?
No, if we are to believe 60 million consumers. In a special issue, the association’s magazine deplores the fact that certain labels have gradually turned into “weighty marketing arguments”, to the detriment of consumers’ wallets. According to figures revealed on Tuesday by Agence Bio, 5% of French food purchases are organic products.
In the sights of the association: the French label AB (for “Organic Agriculture”), which guarantees consumers neither necessarily healthy nor ethically produced. “At a time when food scandals are linked, the logo is the Holy Grail. However, it is far from flawless”, explains Christelle Pangrazzi, assistant editor of the magazine 60 million consumers. “By opting for organic, the consumer should have the guarantee of buying responsibly from a nutritional, ecological or ethical point of view”.
From contaminated products to external pollutants
However, the survey conducted by 60 million consumers on 130 products from organic farming in 14 food categories shows that the AB label has many flaws.
If organic fruits, and in particular apples and bananas, do well with no pesticide residues discovered, this is not the case with organic milk. Sold on average 30% more expensive than milk from conventional agriculture, the nine references tested by 60 million consumers showed the low presence of dioxins, which are molecules resulting from industrial discharges and in particular from incinerators.
They also contained polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, which are chemicals that accumulate in soils and waterways and linger there for years.. Both are endocrine disruptors classified as carcinogenic to humans. According to the magazine, “this difference can be explained by the fact that cows in the organic sector spend more time in the meadow and are more in contact with contaminated water and soil”.
The six organic egg references tested also contain traces of dioxins and PCBs. Even if the thresholds set by the regulations are never exceeded, organic eggs have contamination rates with external pollutants higher than those of conventional agriculture.
Products that are too fatty, too sweet and unethical
In its survey, 60 million consumers also point to the illusion produced by the famous AB label: by consuming organic fruit juices, crisps or biscuits, we may mistakenly think that these are better for our health than those from of conventional agriculture. This is false, recalls the magazine, which explains that “regular consumption of these products can lead to the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes or even hepatic steatosis, ‘fatty liver disease'”. As for organic deli meats, they also contain sodium nitrites, preservatives classified as carcinogenic.
The magazine still lists many excesses of organic, including the exploitation of immigrant workers in the fields, the use of palm oil, intensive exploitation or the significant carbon impact of organic fruits out of season and imported.
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