Afraid the herbs in your hand lotion carry mutant DNA, were sprayed with pesticides, or watered with sewage runoff? Just look for a little green organic seal of approval from the USDA to wash away those worries.
Three years ago, the government started stamping its organic label on approved natural cosmetics. But this spring the government changed its mind—until the Organic Consumers' Association and the makers of Dr. Bronner's soaps sued the FDA for backpedaling. Last week the USDA cried uncle, and the little green label is back.
The late, eccentric Dr. Bronner would likely be tickled. After all, the packaging on his all-in-one soap once called to "help build 4 billion Hannibal wind-power plants, charging 96 billion battery-banks, powering every car-factory-farm-home-monorail & pump."
Vitamins and pet food can also carry the USDA seal, and next come standards for fish. But the USDA's National Organic Program, accustomed only to handling food, is perplexed about how to handle shampoos and soaps, which most of us don't swallow unless we've been abusing a potty mouth.
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