Concerns Over Organics from China

"U.S. Department of Agriculture auditors are scheduled to make their first -- and long-awaited -- trip to China this month to check on organic food operations there.

U.S. organic farmers and processors have been asking for closer USDA surveillance over Chinese organics, especially in the wake of recent problems with some products: antifreeze in toothpaste, lead in children's toys and banned antibiotics in fish. Imported Chinese wheat gluten also was the source of toxic melamine blamed in the deaths of thousands of pets.

Several USDA-certified organic products are imported from China, but soybean imports are of particular concern to Iowans."