The Cornucopia Institute has filed a legal complaint with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), demanding that the agency enforce the organic regulations prohibiting toxic solvents from being used in the production of organic food. The Institute found that baby formula and other food manufacturers are using hexane -- extracted omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (DHA/ARA) -- derived from algae and soil fungus.
Through a Freedom of Information request at the FDA, Cornucopia also discovered that algal- and fungal-based DHA/ARA have been linked to serious side effects such as virulent diarrhea and vomiting in infants, many of whom required medical treatment and hospitalization.
“The federal organic regulations very clearly prohibit these oils in organic foods, so this is not a case of companies finding loopholes in the regulations. What we’re seeing is the latest in a long string of USDA actions that blatantly cater to industry interests at the expense of consumer safety,” said Mark Kastel, Codirector of Cornucopia. “USDA officials are simply allowing these companies to freely break the organic rules in their pursuit of profit,” he adds.
Organic products with the prohibited fatty acid supplements include Horizon Organic milk with DHA (Dean Foods) and organic infant formulas, including Similac Organic (Abbott Laboratories), Earth’s Best (Hain Celestial), and Bright Beginnings Organic (PBM Products).