The USDA has proposed changes to the standards that qualify food items as USDA Organic. The proposed changes would add 38 ingredients to the list of synthetic and non-organic substances that are allowed. The new ingredients include non-organic versions of intestines for sausage casings, hops for beer, fish-oil, gelatin, coloring agents, and produce coating agents. The USDA maintains that these exceptions are necessary as the ingredients in question are not commercially available in organic form.

The Organic Consumers Association has issued a reply objecting to a number of the proposed additions to the allowable list. If you don't want non-organic casings on your organic sausage or non-organic hops in your organic beer, you can sign a petition. The USDA is accepting public comments until May 22, 2007.

Source