Organic Consumers Association Calling for Boycott of "Organic" Milk

[texastoast]

From an email I received this morning.

ORGANIC BYTES READERS VOTE TO LAUNCH BOYCOTT AGAINST HORIZON AND AURORA

In the last two issues of Organic Bytes we invited our readers to vote on the direction of OCA's Safeguard Organic Standards Campaign by taking part in an online poll. The poll asked, "Should the Organic Consumers Association call for a boycott of organic brands that are lobbying to weaken organic laws and taking advantage of loopholes in the organic standards (example: producing so-called "organic" dairy products on factory farms, where the animals are imported from conventional dairy farms, and then kept in intensive confinement, with no access to pasture)?" We'd like to thank everyone who took part in that poll. The results indicate a resounding 96% of participants believe the OCA should launch a boycott. In response, and in alliance with the Cornucopia Institute, the OCA sent out a national press release last week calling on consumers to boycott these brands. Two of the largest organic dairy companies in the nation, Horizon Organic (a subsidiary of Dean Foods) and supplier to Wal-Mart and many health food stores; and Aurora Organic, a supplier of private brand name organic milk to Costco, Safeway, Giant, Wild Oats and others, are purchasing the majority of their milk from feedlot dairies where the cows have little or no access to pasture. The National Standards Board is currently accepting public comments regarding factory farm dairy.
Take action here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/nosb2.htm

[XemaSab]

1. Milk should be bought locally, where possible

Save working landscapes!!!

[CountAllVotes]

2. signed and a kick!

They sell organic milk here locally. The stuff that Costco sells tastes awful! There is another type that is from Wisconsin and I liked it for quite a long time but I had to return some on two occasions as it was foul and putrid (spoiled?).

The milk that is from the place I live has no hormones, etc. and the taste is good.

I signed the petition and am giving it a kick!

:dem: :kick:

[catabryna]

3. I signed!

I just recently moved from TX to CA and, while I haven't purchased Horizon here, I used to purchase Horizon regularly before the move. I was disappointed to read this news as I was trying to make a more healthy choice for my kiddo. Looks like I should do a little bit of research on the "Clover" brand since that is what we've switched to and see if I can find a local supplier.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Clover's local.

(Clover Stornetta, that is.)I don't know how good their organic practices are. I believe their milk comes from Northern California farms only.

[Shakespeare]

16. That's true. And while not certified organic....

....they do NOT use hormones and antibiotics with their dairy cows. It's the only brand we buy (we're in Sonoma county).

[rhymeinreason]

39. Clover does have an organic brand..

Which is also labelled "Free Farmed" which means that all the cows are on farms that treat them humanely, and that those conditions are independently verified by the American Humane Society.

Salon did an article on Horizon and the lack of truth in labelling organic products:
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/04/13/milk/index.html

(I hope I did the link correctly, it's my first one.)

[ellenfl]

4. kicking for later eom

[Coexist]

5. Is Organic Valley okay? They didn't metion them.

That is what I buy.

[texastoast]

7. Apparently so

They appear to be a sponsor of the OCA.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/sponsors/organicvalley/

[Coexist]

9. Oh good - thank you.

[OzarkDem]

38. I've been buying theirs lately

Our local supermarket couldn't get Horizon for a while, said there was a shortage. :shrug:

I've signed it, thanks for the alert!

[leftchick]

8. I do too

and Stoneyfield Farms brand as well. I think they are both okay.

[Bushfire]

12. Organic Valley is a farmer co-op out of western Wisconsin

and their stuff is sold nationally.

http://organicvalley.coop/

[derby378]

27. I buy Organic Valley every chance I get

It's great stuff!

[oregonjen]

35. I pay 3.99/half gallon and now pay 4.99/gallon of Organic Valley

How much do you pay? It's so expensive to buy Organic Valley, but it's the only organic milk my children like to drink. Albertson's finally got the gallon size 2 weeks ago. I've been paying 3.99/half gallon for at least a year and that ends up being $16.00 a week we spend just on milk! Now with the gallon size, the price will go down to $10.00 a week. : )

[file83]

64. You should cut back on the amount of milk your family consumes.

It'll be cheaper that way - substitute with more water!

[suziedemocrat]

36. That's who I buy too. That milk tastes terrific!! n/t

[conflictgirl]

43. I write about the industry, and Organic Valley is great

Organic Valley is one of the few really big dairy companies with a decent national distribution that's *not* trying to subvert the organic standards. In fact, they're committed enough to being purely organic that they had several farmers quit when the company went to ultra-pasteurization. I don't have any vested interest in Organic Valley, but I have spoken with them numerous times and am very familiar with the way they run their company, and I can recommend them wholeheartedly. :thumbsup:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

49. Yes. Organic Valley is a co-op of local farmers. nt

[Critters2]

60. Organic Valley is great!

It's a co-op of family farms in Northeastern Iowa, Southeastern Wisconsin, Northwest Illinois, and Southeast Minnesota. Organic Valley has very good humane standards.

I just discovered a cat food that uses meats from Organic Valley...Pet Promise. I've ordered some.

[Soloflecks]

65. Organic Valley

Stood up to Walmart and said they wouldn't lower their standards to meet Walmart's vendor pricing!!! Some grocery store here was carrying it but I haven't been able to find it lately. I'm at least going to e-mail or write and tell them how much I appreciate their stand.

[helderheid]

10. Done - Write Costco and Wild Oats and let them know we won't buy their

brand milk. They are both good companies and should respond.

Costco:

https://www.costco.com/CustomerService/EmailUs.aspx?secure=1

Web address:
http://www.costco.com

Costco's corporate mailing address is:
PO Box 34331
Seattle, WA 98124

Costco's corporate offices are located at:
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027

Costco.com Member Service:
800-955-2292

General Member Service:
800-774-2678

Wild Oats:

http://www.wildoats.com/u/contact/

[helderheid]

11. what I emailed Costco and Wild Oats:

I have recently become aware of the following:

The watchdog group Cornucopia Institute published a long-awaited report on organic dairy practices in the USA on March 22, and the facts are rather sobering. The good news is that most organic dairies in the U.S. are following strict organic standards, including giving animals regular access to pasture. The bad news is that several major players in the organic dairy sector are blatantly violating organic standards, with a wink and a nod from the USDA and the industry-controlled Organic Trade Association.

Two of the largest organic dairy companies in the nation, Horizon Organic (a subsidiary of Dean Foods), a supplier to Wal-Mart and many health food stores; and Aurora Organic, a supplier of private brand name organic milk to Costco, Safeway, Giant, Wild Oats and others, who together control 65% of the market, are purchasing the majority of their milk from feedlot dairies where the cows have little or no access to pasture.

In addition, a routine practice on these giant dairy feedlots, many with thousands of cows, is to continuously import calves from conventional farms, where animals have been weaned on blood, fed slaughterhouse waste and genetically engineered grains, and injected or dosed with antibiotics. Certifiers endorsing these factory farm organic products include QAI and the Colorado state department of agriculture. Send a message to the National Organic Program of the USDA and Congress to stop the labeling of factory farm milk as "organic."

These corporate farms and their wealthy investors are jeopardizing the livelihoods of organic family-scale dairy farmers throughout the United States, along with the more modest-sized companies and cooperatives that market their milk.

I will no longer purchase Costco/Wild Oats brand "organic" milk until your supplier adhears to true Organic standards.

Thank you.

[newspeak]

59. little off topic

but did Kraft Foods buy out Wild Oats? Anyone know? Also, on Horizon Milk, I had an interesting talk with a woman who was previously employed to observe organic reg. and she told me Horizon did not meet the true organic test.

[texastoast]

13. Kick

:kick:

[helderheid]

14. I'll 2nd that

:kick:

[RebelOne]

15. I signed even though I only drink soy milk. n/t

[file83]

63. Me too. Only baby cows should drink cow milk.

[faithnotgreed]

17. im definitely kicking this

a couple years ago i started hearing of this (predictable) mess
i had gotten a container of organic orange juice from horizon - thinking they were the good guys
and just after read about this situation so i stopped

i rarely consume dairy (soy milk works just fine though i rarely drink that) but when i do have an occasional yogurt i get stoneyfield farms

now i check online first about a company
at least its a start to get some truth

[texastoast]

18. I was so mad when Dean bought out Horizon

I knew this crap would happen. Horizon had the most wonderful milk.

[helderheid]

19. Shame this has happened - I sure hope Costco and Wild Oats change their

supplier.

[faithnotgreed]

20. so thats what happened? sounds like cnn

and i agree
i loved horizon and now "they" are on the dark side

[helderheid]

21. we need one more rec here

[helderheid]

22. 1...more...rec

[texastoast]

23. Thank you

I'm emailing HEB to tell them I won't buy Horizon anymore. So sad. I stayed on them until they carried Horizon, fought with them when they discontinued it to get it back on the shelf, and now this.

Corporatizing!! :grr:

[helderheid]

24. HEB?

[texastoast]

25. Big grocery chain in Texas

And rumor has it that the founder's initials remain as the store's moniker now. And the founder's Christian name was rumored to be Harry Edward.

And his last name which he has passed on to his descendants is Butt.

:rofl:

He must have been a tough S.O.B. to have survived that in Texas. Sort of like a Boy Named Sue.

:rofl:

I gotta get a tissue. What mean parents.

[helderheid]

26. Seriously? Harry Butt??

[texastoast]

28. I wouldn't laugh at him to his face

Even if I could. :scared: I think he has passed on to the great produce section in the sky. Poor fellow.

[helderheid]

32. no kidding. HEY EVERYONE - ONE MORE REC PLEASE???

[AspenRose]

57. I thought it was Howard Edward

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/fbu85.html

[texastoast]

58. Thank goodness. It WAS a rumor

I was got! I worked for a company really involved with them. My boss told me it was Harry, so I had it on pretty good rumor. LOL! I better check next time. Thanks for clearing it up. I like HOWARD's parents much better now.

[texastoast]

29. One more kick for the late ones

and then I'm done. Gotta get milk from somewhere.

:kick:

[Montagnard]

30. Now I am going to need to find another Dairy

any suggestions?

[texastoast]

31. It depends on where you live

I do believe that buying locally is best if you can do it.

[helderheid]

33. YEA 5 VOTES!!!

[texastoast]

52. Thanks!

:yourock:

[Imalittleteapot]

34. Signed.

[DemInDistress]

37. check out the Meatrix.. starring "Moopheous"

http://www.themeatrix.com/

BBL...

[Us vs Them]

40. Stopped buying Horizon months ago

And got my family to stop as well. Not only are they lobbying for organic standards to be lowered, but they mean the BARE MINIMUM organic requirements as it is.

Organic Valley is where it's at. A Co-operative of family farms!

[LeftyMom]

41. The difference between organic and conventional milk is the feed

No matter how happy and shiny the advertising is, you're stealing the mother's milk from a calf who was snatched from it's mother within minutes or hours of it's birth and sent off to die so that you could drink it's sustenance.

So really, if you care about cows or your own health, get off the teat.

[dusty64]

42. I have, can't

drink it since I heard it described as "veal in a glass" YUCK! I'm a vegetarian 24 years but my partner isn't and I've been forcing organic milk cause of the lack of hormones and antibiotics and the premise that the animals are treated better. I'm glad I buy Organic Valley but have purchased Horizon in the past, if I didn't read DU I probably would never know about that company lobbying to weaken standards, bastards. I definitely learn a lot around here.

[shockra]

47. There are more health concerns besides manmade elements.

Anyone afraid of mercury toxicity from their dental fillings and/or from eating seafood will have a much harder time keeping it at bay if they use milk products.

"Milk increases the bioavailability and retention of mercury by as much as double(43,131,31) and mercury is often stored in breast milk and the fetus at much higher levels than that in the mother's tissues (43,31). Mercury is transferred mainly by binding to casein(131,92)."

http://www.flcv.com/tmlbn.html

Sorry I couldn't find an easier article, LOL. But it's known amongst people who are detoxing from dental amalgams.

http://mercurytalk.com/wiki/index.php/Living:Tips_for_living_while_amalgam_fillings_are_still_installed

[many a good man]

45. Is Mother's Milk better for your health? John D. thought so.

My Grandma, who turned 100 last fall, grew up in a Slovenian immigrant neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland close to John D.Rockefeller's mansion. She tells me it was widely known among the poor young ladies in the area that Mr. Rockefeller paid a tidy sum of money for fresh Mother's milk. He required at least one glass every day. She hinted that he usually got everything he wanted.

[texastoast]

51. That's not exactly how it went

at my sister's dairy. The birthing cows were celebrated. New calves stayed with their mothers until they grazed. Young heifers stayed and were welcomed, adding to the herd. The boys were sold off when they weaned.

I understand that mass dairying is very different and cruel compared to local and co-op dairies, and we must always fight for high organic standards. I gotta have cheese.

[nicknameless]

44. K&R

[peacebuzzard]

46. Horizon has been misleading consumers w/ their ad claims.

signed and voted. I have seriously cut out dairy from my diet due to factory farming. It is just plain wrong.

[Hekate]

48. What about Trader Joe's? It's all labeled hormone-free

Ever since they moved a branch close to my home I've been buying all my eggs and dairy products from them. Compared to Von's their prices are very good; likewise everything tastes a lot fresher at TJ's. I'm a member of Costco, but have to be careful about the sheer size of their packaging when it comes to things like milk (just my hubs and me at home now), so I have not tried their fresh dairy products.

I go back and forth on buying organic, and usually only do so if the price is right -- however, I very much want that niche to be there, and I want the labeling to be honest.

Will try to connect to your link and sign the petition.

Hekate

[texastoast]

53. I don't know

Check this out, but it might be old.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/tjs.cfm

[reprehensor]

50. Thanks for posing this. n/t

[helderheid]

54. WOOT! I got a personal response from Wild Oats!

Thank you for taking the time to email Wild Oats and for your feedback. I will forward your comments on to the staff here at the home office as well as our OCEO group. We appreciate you taking your time to voice your concern.
Thanks again!

Matt Martinez
Customer Service Coordinator
1-800-494-9453

[Bigmack]

55. Question....

I'm not swimming upstream in this thread or anything, but I'd like to know how cows in "factory" settings could possibly be organic. If you keep animals in such close quarters, the only way to keep them "healthy" is to dose them with antibiotics and hormones to counteract the filthy conditions they live in and the stress they endure.

How is it possible for a factory farmer to have all the "advantages" of jamming cattle together to save space/money, and still not have to use drugs?

[texastoast]

56. Here's an article about how it went down

Pretty good article and timeline.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/jimriddle092605.cfm

[Jane Austin]

61. Central Market Organic Milk (HEB)?

Anybody know where theirs comes from?

[file83]

62. Only BABY COWS should be drinking milk from cows.

[northofdenali]

66. We are so lucky to have 5 working dairies in the state.

Matanuska Dairy has been around a long time, and I don't know about the quality of it's milk but I'm told it is good.

Our dairy is Northern Lights - THE best milk and vanilla (only) ice cream in the Northland!!

Signed. :)