I'm not particularly inclined to thank Whole Foods for doing what they're supposed to do
After not doing what they're supposed to do
If they do indeed do it.
And it would seem justice would be better served if there were some punishment for their previous duplicity.
But there I go trying to be all morally rational again ...
This report reminds me of the book titled "Toxic Sludge is good for you" published a decade ago. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=toxic%20sludge%20is%20good%20for%20you&sprefix=toxic+sludge+%2Caps%2C421
Good for Whole Foods, but so what? USDA Organic farms are not supposed to be using bio-solids anyway. The only difference between bio-sludge and the compost being used on "USDA Organic" farms in California is that sludge is tested while the compost is not.
The mega USDA Organic farms in California (eg Earthbound Farms) are dependent on the use of tons of off-farm compost, per acre and are still being certified as 'USDA Organic" by the CCOF (in collusion with NOP) despite the fact that compost they are importing is proven to be contaminated with pesticides that are specifically not allowed for use on USDA Organic certified farms. Contrary to common beliefs, there generally is no testing of any of the products being used on USDA Organic farms in California. Unlike the compost being used on USDA Organic farms, with sludge you have a better idea of what's not in it. The official USDA AMS NOP position regarding contaminating of soil, water, and air on USDA Certified farming operations, at least in California is "We do not test." Here's a link to the official NOSB definition of "organic" as per the USDA:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml
To learn more about toxic sewage sludge, aka 'biosolids', including compost made from toxic sewage sludge being used to grow food by unsuspecting consumers, visit http://sewagesludgeactionnetwork.com
This new Whole Foods policy is good news. We hope that this will set the trend for other markets to follow suit. Meanwhile Whole Foods should also consider not accepting dairy products, especially milk, from farmers that graze their cattle on pastures that have been spread with sludge. Cattle ingest soil, as well as forage, and on treated pastures, they would be ingesting sludge. Toxic sludge chemicals, such as dioxins and PCBs, are excreted through lactation, so they end up in milk.
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