To label milk "organic," the US Department of Agriculture mandates that cows graze fresh grass in fertilizer-free, open-air pastures.
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Your ‘organic’ milk may not actually be organic at all, according to new investigation
A Washington Post investigation suggests that many American dairy farms are not letting their cows graze in pastures, even if they sell certified-organic milk.
Goodbye, dairy.
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Consumers can pay twice as much for certified organic milk compared to non-organic milk. But according to a new investigation by The Washington Post's Peter Whoriskey, some organic dairy farms may not be adhering to USDA standards.
In 2016, the Post visited found about 90% of its cows were indoors not grazing on pastures over the span of his eight-day visit. Testing by
After visits to seven other farms
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Though dairy farms can make more money by selling organic milk, the process of organic certification is time-consuming and costly. Transitioning to a certified-organic farm takes three years, and the certification ranges.
To enforce organic regulations, the USDA lets farmers hire and pay their own inspectors to certify them as "organic," which saves the agency money. But the Post reports that even large farms like Aurora can go without being inspected as they should while also not following organic standards.
After contacting Aurora's inspectors, the Post found the inspectors performed the farm's annual audit well after grazing season, making it impossible to know whether the cows were actually grazing. This is a violation of USDA policy.
This also means that milk from these farms that are labeled "organic" might not actually be organic, even if consumers pay more for it.
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