The U.S. National Organic Standards Board, an expert panel that advise the USDA Secretary on organic matters, recently narrowly approved Martek Biosciences Corporation’s petition to allow the use their genetically modified soil fungus and algae as nutritional supplements in organic food. Martek’s formulated oils are processed with synthetic petrochemical solvents, and supplements derived from these oils, commonly labeled as DHA and ARA, are added to supposedly “organic” milk, infant formula, and other foods.
After a formal legal complaint, the USDA announced in 2010 that it had “inappropriately” allowed Martek oils to be included in organic foods. But enforcement of their removal was delayed for 18 months in an apparent effort to permit corporate lobbyists to petition for review and legal inclusion in organic food.
According to the Conucopia Institute:
“Although Martek told the board that they would discontinue the use of the controversial neurotoxic solvent n-hexane for DHA/ARA processing, they did not disclose what other synthetic solvents would be substituted. Federal organic standards prohibit the use of all synthetic/petrochemical solvents”.