Australia – Real Organic Certification or “As Close As Organically Practicable”

Before you continue, allow me save you some time. If you are comfortable consuming fluoridated water, then the following thoughts would be of little or no interest to you. Perhaps I can interest you in another topic at a later time. Thanks for your time.

Still here? Recently, our water supply “upgraded” to treated water. Previously, our natural and untreated water flowed from the mountain streams into an upstream dam and was then pumped into our reticulated water system. There were pros and cons to that arrangement, but we had control of our water management.

After repeated correspondence with the water service provider, they eventually admitted routine addition of fluoride to our treated water… however; they assure us it’s for our own good. I’m not about to get into the fluoride debate – the issue is how fluoridated water impacts “organic” certification and the confidence we can have in that certification.

I’m aware that there are different standards in different countries as regards organic certification. Some countries are stringent adherents and others would appear to merely label “organic” for market/price advantage.

Australia prides itself upon its organic certified products and gains advantage in international markets for its relatively healthy produce. It seems disingenuous that we certify our products as “organic” when nearly 90-percent of Australia consumes and uses fluoridated water.

Another issue is branding integrity as it relates to fluoridated products; for example, Heineken Beer. Heineken sells at a premium, in part justified by the implication we are purchasing an imported beer from Europe, where fluorides are banned in the majority of countries.

According to the brewer here, the Australian Heineken is brewed under license to Heineken from treated Sydney water. Sydney water is fluoridated. To purchase real Heineken from Europe one has to first find a supplier with stock and purchase in 650ml bottles.

Therefore, before we look condescendingly at other countries’ somewhat questionable claims to “organic” certification, we would be well served to consider our own standards. It would seem that our products are, “As Close As Organically Practicable.”

What do you think?