Big Organic

Over the last decade, giant food corporations like Coca-Cola and General Mills have “gobbled up most of the nation’s organic food industry” (New York Times). Granted, consolidation allows for lower costs and therefore lower prices… but the “Big Organic” movement has caused a huge decline in “pure, locally produced ingredients from small family farms.”

Major corporations have begun to dominate the board that sets standards for organic foods. With this increase in Big Food has come an increase in the number of non-organic substances approved for organic foods, up almost 200 in the last 10 years, including substances like carrageenan, a seaweed extracted thickener with questionable health effects. As the article explains, organic enthusiasts have good reasons to be concerned about Big Food influence on organics.

(image: Mini Blue)