Wisconsin Ag Connection - DATCP Says Wal-Mart Mislabled Organice Foods

Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

DATCP Says Wal-Mart Mislabled Organice Foods
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/10/2007

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says they found numerous instances of conventional food products improperly labeled as organic by a major retail chain after a three-month long investigation.

According to the agency, Wal-Mart stores throughout the state had misled consumers by misidentifying conventional food items as organic, and has informed the Arkansas-based company that "use of the term 'Wal-Mart Organics' in combination with reference to a specific non-organic product may be considered to be a misrepresentation and therefore a violation" of Wisconsin state statutes.

The Cornucopia Institute, a governmental and corporate organic industry watchdog, had filed complaints with Wisconsin regulators and the USDA after finding numerous incidents of fraudulent organic labeling in Wal-Mart stores in five states from Texas to Minnesota.

Although Wisconsin regulators opted to send only a formal warning concerning the retail giant's organic marketing practices, they said that they had reached an agreement with the company under which steps would be taken to prevent future organic food misrepresentations. Wisconsin officials also said they would be continuing their surveillance of the company's stores.

While Wisconsin regulators have completed their investigation, the USDA has yet to formally weigh in on the matter, despite being notified of the food fraud problem last November.