UK organic fraud

Current UK traceability systems have not prevented widespread fraud with purported organic food, says the Observer newspaper in August. "Farmers, retailers and food inspectors have disclosed a catalogue of malpractice, including producers falsely passing off food as organic and retailers failing to gain accreditation from independent inspectors." Organic food in the UK costs 30 to 100% more than non-organic, so the incentive for fraud is high. However, the UK Soil Association which accredits organic food says that the newspaper wrongly asserts that new European Community legislation is triggered by fraud. It said that both the UK Government and the European Commission seem satisfied that organic food and farming are well regulated.