Alternet offers an article by former Texas Ag Secretary Jim (Hard Tomatoes, Hard Times) Hightower that lambastes Bush appointee Barbara Robinson for failing to regulate organic food production during her reign as head of USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). As Hightower notes, an exemption that allows up to 5% of the ingredients labeled organic to come from sources that are not certified organic has expanded instead of shrunk during her tenure.

The original idea behind the exemption list was to allow small amounts of essential ingredients such as spices and minerals to be included in organic food products until organic sources could be found. But, as Hightower notes, the 77 ingredients on the original list were not only never phased out, but the number has now grown to 245 items.

An article in the Seattle Times in 2007 noted that the hops in Anheuser-Busch’s Wild Hops Lager, labeled as the “perfect organic experience,” were actually grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides under this loophole.

Hightower also alleges that Robinson failed to set standards and regulate organic food according to both the letter and spirit of the law. He cites the case where Dean foods and Horizon dairy products continue to be marketed as organic even though the animals never spend any time on pasture, as organic regulations intended and mandated.

Robinson remains Acting Director of NOP to this day. As the New York Times pointed out recently, half of Obama’s top slots are still filled by Bush appointees. Hightower says that it is past time for Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to find a suitable replacement for Barbara Robinson. How about Joel Salatin of Polyface Inc? Or maybe Michael Pollan of Omnivore’s Dilemma fame? Or maybe Eric (Fast Food Nation) Schlosser?