'Organic Eye' petitions for Regulatory Oversite
Regarding the toxic coating 'Apeel'
Once you start down the rabbit hole of discovery more holes will be unearthed for you to discover. I have found more information about ‘Apeel’, the toxic coating being put on our produce. Plus, some great information about the coatings that are already on our produce and have been for years. I have been teaching healthy, whole foods cooking classes since 1997 and have always informed people to buy organic apples to avoid the coating that is put on all apples that are for sale in stores.
Being a teacher, my main purpose it to educate people about the food they are eating. Food is powerful medicine, and we need to eat as close to nature as possible. If you are able, talk to and buy produce from local farmers. Talk to them, they will be honest about how they grow their food. And if you can, grow your own garden. And if you have a garden and are abundantly blessed, look for that person who does not have a garden to share your abundance with so they will have the best quality food available also.
Quote:
“Agribusiness watchdog OrganicEye this week petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish formal regulatory oversight for the public and private organizations that determine what products can be labeled organic.
The request comes after a recent social media controversy surrounding a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded synthetic fungicide and fruit coating — Apeel — sparked public debate about potentially dangerous synthetic products and herbicides that make it into the food system under the “organic” label.
“The conflicts of interest in this process are mind-boggling,” said Mark Kastel, executive director of Wisconsin-based OrganicEye. “It’s time for the USDA to change direction to comply with the intent of Congress and save the value of the organic label for ethical farmers and their loyal customers.””
Quote:
“La Farge, Wis. — The nation’s most experienced industry watchdog, OrganicEye, announced that they have sent a formal request to the USDA asking for rulemaking that will create a new layer of accountability in the approval of synthetic and non-organic materials being allowed for use in organic food production.
Under subsequent Republican and Democratic administrations, the independent panel created by Congress, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), has been increasingly dominated by members of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the industry’s most prominent lobby group.
“What has seriously undermined the credibility of organic food safety is that, after the NOSB gets done with their reviews, all too often kowtowing to food industry interests in approving generic substances, the responsibility for reviewing branded and formulated products (food ingredients and agricultural inputs) is handed off to an industry-led and funded nonprofit, the Organic Materials Review Institute, or OMRI,” said Mark Kastel, Executive Director of Wisconsin-based OrganicEye.
OrganicEye’s interest in scrutinizing the review process of synthetic/nonorganic materials was renewed by a brewing controversy over natural and synthetic compounds approved for coating certified organic fruits and vegetables to preserve appearance and freshness.
In recent weeks, websites and social media channels have been buzzing with concern about a product called “Apeel.” While the material safety data sheet (MSDS) circulating online has since been found to be for a sanitation product by the same name marketed in the UK, not the fungicide/food coating approved for use in organics by OMRI, the brouhaha that ensued did serve to highlight the fact that most organic fruits and vegetables in the marketplace are produced by industrial-scale companies that are generally also involved in conventional agriculture, and whose products are shipped great distances around the country, if not the globe.”
Source:
https://organiceye.org/corporate-foxes-guarding-the-organic-chicken-coop/
I want to make it clear that I have shared the link to the FDA papers from 2019, on the approval of ‘Apeel’ coating going on our produce. I did share one link that was about the UK sanitation product, however when I realized it was not for the ‘Apeel’ food coating, I deleted the information and the link. The information I have shared in the last six blogs and this one I am writing now, is about the vegetable coating not the UK sanitation product. This is a quote from the FDA papers: “ A mixture of monoacylglycerides derived from grape seed is intended to be a component of a surface-finishing agent, such as that described in GRN 648, creating an edible physical barrier against moisture loss and oxidation to protect the freshness and extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. This substance is intended to be used at levels of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).”
These papers is where I got the list of what is in ‘Apeel’: arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, palladium, ethyl acetate, heptane and there is more. Read the papers for yourself.
FDA papers on ‘Apeel’: https://www.fda.gov/media/135999/download
Our produce has been covered with different types of coatings for years. I have always taught to purchase organic produce, emphasizing apples to avoid the coatings that are put on them. This is the most comprehensive information about all the different coatings on our produce from Organic Eye.
The following are quotes from the paper:
“The FDA has created groups of specific related foods for the purpose of establishing acceptable tolerances and/or to set limitations for the use of direct human food ingredients. Waxes and coatings fall under the category of surface-finishing agents. These are “…substances used to increase palatability, preserve gloss, and inhibit discoloration of foods, including glazes, polishes, waxes, and protective coatings.” 4”
“Almost all apples, for example, shipped from large packing houses will be treated with some kind of coating to maintain the quality and extend shelf-life. And as our supply chains continue to reach around the world, most fruit and vegetables are being treated with some kind of postharvest coating or edible film to extend their shelf-life by days, weeks, or even months. All to the benefit of the food wholesaler and retailer, of course, since extended shelf-life is rarely equated to superior nutrient quality. In most cases, the consumer will not be able to tell if any coating has been applied just by looking at a vegetable or piece of fruit because coatings, in general, are less than 0.3 mm thick. It would be necessary to look for the branded seal or label required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on packages of produce or the cartons in which bulk produce is shipped. 5”
“Organipeel is registered with the EPA as a fungicide with a very short – and not very informative – ingredient list. The product is described to the EPA as “Provides reduction of spoilage and decay caused by non-public health microorganisms on the surface of unprocessed fruits and vegetables” with this accompanying ingredient list: ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Citric Acid - 0.66 % BY WT OTHER INGREDIENTS: 99.34 % BY WT. TOTAL: 100% Note that 99.34% of the ingredients used in Organipeel are not identified.”
The paper by Organic Eye then lists all the coatings that are being put on our produce. Please read this information to educate yourself. It goes on to say this about ORGANIC PRODUCE:
“Buying organic ensures that produce will be coated with simple waxes such as carnauba wax or beeswax or a coating of unbleached shellac. Some of the newer and more sophisticated coatings are made from a wide range of ingredients that include allergens or may conflict with Kosher or vegan lifestyle choices.”
Link to the Organic Eye Paper: https://organiceye.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/White-Paper-Edible-Waxes-and-Coatings-for-Produce-JUN2023-V12.pdf
This may seem overwhelming to you. Do the best you can. Realize that the human body is amazing and it can heal itself. We humans do a lot of damage to our bodies and they keep working. No one can be perfect. We all need to eat. We cannot all get the ‘perfect’ food. Buy organic whenever possible, buy from local farmers whenever possible and always be grateful for your food. I do not want people to be afraid of food. Fear is the worst thing for our health. When you worry you are praying for stress in your life. Instead focus on thoughts that will create a better outcome.
Here are some positive things to say to yourself about food:
I am making the best and healthiest choices in food for my body.
I am creating health and wellness with the food I am eating.
I am sending energy to the people who will create our food being organic and healthy for us to consume.
I was the special guest on the Mom’s Across America Zoom call, Monday, June 19th. I talked about Summer Fire Energy foods to nurture our heart and brain plus I talked about ‘Apeel’.
Link to watch: https://rumble.com/v2vcz8x-moms-connectneighborhood-food-network-call-june-19-2023.html
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The best way to live a healthy, energetic, life is to cook healthy! The best way to learn about cooking healthy, whole, organic foods is to attend a cooking class.
Upcoming July Cooking Classes:
Outdoor Grilling July Class - Wed. July 12 - 6 to 8:30 PM (ET) - in person or virtual - $60.00 (in person) $50.00 (virtual) - Class will be a fun celebration of my birthday! These are the most popular classes of the year.
Cooking outside while learning the health benefits of whole food in a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy fun, interactive cooking, discussion of health topics and you get to eat the food that is created in class.
Learn tips and the best cooking techniques for cooking vegan, whole foods on the grill. Menu: Grilled Marinated Portobello 'Steak 'Mushrooms with Salisbury Sauce, served over Pressed Grilled Millet and Grilled onions, plus Grilled Carrot Fries with Special Spicy Sauce and a surprise recipe cooked over an open fire.
Vegan Aquafaba Ice Cream - Wed. July 19 - 6:30 to 7:30 PM (ET) - Virtual - $25.00
Two flavors: Smokey Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate and Blueberry (any fruit can be substituted). This is the best vegan ice cream with no fat and no calories all made with bean water. The only sweetener used is brown rice syrup in this ice cream.
Brown Rice Green Olive Fresh Dill Salad - Wed. July 26 - 6:30 to 7:30 PM (ET) - Virtual - $25.00
Whole grain brown rice pasta makes an excellent salad for either a lunch or dinner. Fresh dill from the garden is the perfect herb for summer, high in vitamin A and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Get in the Kitchen and Cook Healthy!
