Antibiotics in Fruit?

Did you know that the National Organic Standards allow an antibiotic to be sprayed on apples and pears to control fire blight? Yep, secret's out. But before we get in an uproar, consider the grower's plight in tandem with our consumer view.

On one hand, "organic" is billed as no antibiotics, pesticides, etc etc, and consumers have a right to know what's in and on their food; on the other hand, these fruits are particularly vulnerable to pests and blight, and growers say alternative management methods are very labor intensive (and labor intensive = $$) and don't always work. Banning use of the antibiotic before good alternative methods are developed could result in shortages of organic apples and higher prices.

The National Organic Standards Board allowed use of oxytetracycline to treat fire blight when the organic standards were passed in 2000, knowing it would need to be phased out eventually. Now 13 years later, the NOSB has informed growers that they have until October 2014 to cease the applications, but because of continued concern that there are still no truly effective (and cost-effective) alternative methods, the NOSB is considering pushing back the ban's activation date to 2016. This has consumer advocacy groups Consumers Union and the Organic Consumers Association organizing petitions urging the NOSB to hold to its original 2014 date, saying 14 years should have been plenty of time to phase out the use and develop better alternative methods.

After considering the fuller picture, what do you think? Ban now to reduce the chance of developing antibiotic resistance? Allow a longer transition so growers can continue working on more effective alternative blight control methods? Are consumers prepared to pay higher prices for organic apples so that the farmers can be paid fairly for their harder work?

Tell us in the comments, or on our Facebook post on this topic.

Update April 15: The National Organic Standards Board has rejected deadline extension to 2016. The deadline for discontining the use of oxytetracycline on apple and pear crops will remain October 21, 2014.