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Organic News Launch of New Similac Organic Formula Milk for Infants 16.10.06 Abbott, a leading brand of infant formula have just announced the release of their first organic infant formula called Similac. This is the first launch of a certified USDA organic infant formula from a leading brand. The amount of mums that want to use organic products to give their children the best start possible is increasing. But until now, there has been no organic formula available from any major brands. This new organic product is called Similac Organic, and it has been produced to answer the demand from health-conscious mums who want to feed their children organic food etc. Their has been research carried out that indicates a link between pregnancy and a greater attention to health and nutrition. A recent survey conducted by the Hartman Group, the leading expert consultant agency, and this survey shows that more than half of the mums aged 25 to 45 are using or, are open to using organic products. Having children seems to be a big reason why some people start buying organic products. Many of the Mum's say that they want to be more proactive in providing better nutrition and a healthier lifestyle for their children. This launch of the first organic formula milk to be produced by a national brand is paving the way for more to follow. Which can only be a good thing! The demand for organic food and products is rising dramatically, and families are increasingly choosing some organic options as part of their, and their families healthy lifestyle. In the US consumer research shows that the sale of organic food is rising at a rate of 15% to 25% annually. Also two-thirds of US consumers have bought organic products, and more than a quarter purchase organic products on a daily or weekly basis. this new Similac Organic is created using a blend of wholesome organic milk plus other ingredients with the trusted national benefits of Similac Advance, including DHA and ARA for brain and eye development. Similac Organic is now available at food, drug and discount stores nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $14.99 for the 12.9 oz powder, $27.99 for the 25.7 oz powder, and $29.99 for the 30.8 oz powder. For more information on Similac Organic, please visit http://www.SimilacOrganic.com or check out http://www.e-MediaRoom.com/Similac   Supermarkets - Organic Friend or Foe? 5.10.06 Last year consumers bought £1.6bn worth of organic food - 30% more then last year. Due to this organic food boom, supermarkets are putting pressure on organic food watchdogs to lower their standards, so that they can exploit the growing industry. There have been disputes in the Soil Association regarding the growing fears that organic farming is falling victim to commercial pressures to abandon key principles. A pioneer of the organic movement, Lawrence Woodward, has said that many producers are taking advantage of the grey areas in the organic regulations, and this is leading to the public being conned. Mr. Woodward, who is now chief executive of an organic food research foundation, said, "here are lots of loopholes in the regulations and in practice these are being heavily exploited. Organics is increasingly becoming industrialised and the consumer will one day wake up and see this stuff is not what they think it is." The issues of lowering standards had caused a split in the Soil Association, especially over the licensing of salmon farming as organic. Speaking for the first time since his resignation from the Soil Association, Peter Kindersley, who runs an 800-hectare (2,000-acre) organic farm in Berkshire, has said, "It was a complete betrayal of everything organics has stood for on every level. Salmon farming breaches all the basic principles drawn up by the founders of the organic movement; animal welfare, biodiversity, recycling of pollution and the avoidance of agripesticides." Mr. Woodward, who was responsible for drawing up the original guidelines that set the parameters for the organic movement, has said that the certification of salmon farming as organic, was a "monumental symbol" of the way the principles of organic production were being dumbed down. Claims of the relaxing of key principles in the organic movement come amid pressure from Sir Terry Leahy, the Tesco chief executive, for the British organic movement to become more "professional". Sir Terry said this week the failure of British producers to keep up with demand for organic food meant he had to source 70% of his organic range from abroad. The UK approach restricted production, he said. Mr Woodward said Sir Terry's remarks were akin to those made by Justin King, the chief executive of Sainsbury's. Yesterday the Soil Association confirmed that there was intensive lobbying from supermarkets to drop standards. However, Patrick Holden, the director of the Association has denied that it was succumbing. "If anything we are getting more rigorous," he said. He went on to defend the move to certify salmon farming, saying it was in the public interest for his organisation to improve the industry, given that half the fish consumed in the world was farmed. In Britain 10 regulatory bodies certify organic farmers and producers, but the minimum standards are drawn up by EU regulations and controlled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Mr Woodward said examples of "lowering standards" were the large numbers of "derogations", or get-out clauses, allowing farmers to be awarded organic licenses even though they do not meet the correct standards. These include the use of conventional feed for poultry, the continued practice of slicing the beaks off chickens to prevent them mutilating each other, and the sale of organic chicken from flocks of 2,000 and more, even though the association recommendation is 500. Richard Jacobs, the director of Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd, said: "What was a niche market is now becoming mainstream and that requires that it is run in a commercial and professional manner. I don't think that's the industrialisation of organics or dumbing down. It is the realisation of a fast-growing market." A spokesman for Sainsbury's denied that it was pressing for a lowering of standards. A Tesco spokesman said: "It is nonsense to suggest we are putting pressure on anyone to reduce standards." Thank you to the Guardian for this article.   Organic News Pages - Archives Organic News Page 1: Organic Bread Ethical Air Freight of Organic Food Organic News Page 2: Soil Association Organic Market Report Organic Food Sales Soar Organic News Page 3: The Soil Association Organic Food Festival Organic Awards - Winners Announced Organic Milk and Cheese Sales Rise   Organic News Page 4: Is it on the Label? M&S Turning Green   Organic News Page 5: Opinion Split over Organic Food Organic Farmers etc Reply to Doubt Cast by Minister   Organic News Page 6: Ethical Spending (eg. Organic Food) is at an all Time High!! And has beaten Beer & Cigarette Sales!!   Organic News Page 7: Devon - Voted The No. 1 Organic County! Soil Association at the National Fruit Show   Organic News Page 8: Launch of New Similac Organic Formula Milk for Infants Supermarkets - Organic Friend or Foe?   Organic News Page 9: The Importance of Locally Produced Food So What's in a Name? - soorganic.co.uk tries to fight leading brand for name... Organic Food Growing Market   Organic News Page 10: Have an Organic Valentines Day Organic Food Catching On Raising Awareness of Organic Food Organic News Page 11: Mothers and Babies - why you should eat organic Local Farmers Markets Boom & Organic Food Sales Grows by £2.3 Million a Week!