Organic: A Journalist's Quest to Discover the Truth behind Food Labeling [Paperback]

Its a testament to Laufers skill as a writer and reporter that he can make an interesting and edifying book out of idle musings on the origins of some organic walnuts and black beans he bought at Trader Joes and a local health food store. The question of whether the walnuts from Kazakhstan or the beans grown in Bolivia came to Laufers table in Oregon without a boost from pesticides and chemical fertilizers becomes an examination of the $27 billion organic food business. His investigative zeal is spurred by the 'obsessive secrecy' of Trader Joes PR response to his inquiries about the identity of the Kazakh farmer whose spoiled walnuts got him thinking about the compromises that 'make every package of food certified organic suspect.'After tasting rancid walnuts from a Trader Joes bag that was labeled as an 'organic' product from Kazakhstan, this books author begins to question the organic labels legitimacy. He doubts Kazakhstans ability to guarantee organic products due to the authoritarian regime and culture of bribery and corruption there. . . .Organic: A journalists quest to discover the truth behind food labeling is a timely publication that deals with questions that consumers are increasingly asking. There is a growing awareness about the quality, value, and safety of the food supply, as may be witnessed in the debates over genetically modified organisms and accompanying labeling laws. . . .Written in a conversational and engaging tone, this bookis easily understood and may appeal to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as consumers with an eye towards conscientious eating. . . .the topic and the book may also appeal to an audience interested in learning what organics mean at the grassroots and/or international level. In my view, the success of Laufers book is that it invites readers to ask more questions about what their food claims to be. For the activist consumer, this book may even spark action towards demanding more transparency in the evelƒ˝