Improving chemical residue testing is essential to prevent fraud in organic food

Organic food is considered healthy, natural and environmentally friendly all over the world. But is it really completely free of toxic chemicals? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The presence of chemical residues in organic food is becoming a worrying problem, and this also includes the possibility of fraud. For this reason, recent recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in the United States could be a very important step in dealing with this problem.

The current system and its shortcomings

Currently, USDA-approved organic certification bodies test at least 5 percent of organic farms and businesses for chemical residues each year. The most widely used method for this testing is QuEChERS, which is generally considered simple, inexpensive, effective and safe. But the reality is the opposite.

The method has failed to effectively detect all chemical residues. In 2011, the USDA itself admitted that “the QuEChERS method cannot reliably detect all registered chemicals.” In addition, the method does not include glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, which has the greatest impact on the organic supply chain.

NOSB Recommendations: New Rules, Better Training

The NOSB made a major breakthrough in addressing this critical issue at its recent meeting. The board recommended that the USDA’s NOP (National Organic Program) Handbook update training materials for organic certifying agencies.

Amy Broch, a sixth-generation Nebraska farmer and current NOSB member, said:

“We desperately need to improve our testing system. The NOP documents are ten years old and are now due for an update. QuEChERS does not include toxic chemicals like glyphosate and dicamba, which are commonly found in common agricultural products.”

Kayla Smith, another NOSB member and policy advisor at Pennsylvania Certified Organic, said:

“We want to instill critical thinking in the training of certifiers. Different tests need to be selected for each crop, region, and season. QuEChERS is a general-purpose solution that is often inadequate.”

Federal Action: Organic Imports Verific6ation Act of 2025

The problem is not limited to the NOP, but U.S. Senators Pat Ricketts (Republican) and Tina Smith (Democratic) have jointly introduced a bill called the Organic Imports Verification Act of 2025.

Under the bill:

Specific testing protocols will be developed for high-risk organic feedstock.

A system of regular testing for chemical residues will be established.

NOP and USDA will be urged to adopt more authoritative and modern methods.

Challenges: Lack of resources and staff

While the need for these reforms is sorely felt, there is a severe lack of financial resources as well as manpower to implement them. According to a Politico report, 15,000 USDA employees are no longer part of the organization, which could be a major obstacle to implementing the new rules.

Positive expectations: The future is bright

Despite all these obstacles, Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, is optimistic. According to him:"When comparing the pros and cons of conventional and organic food, it is clear that the conventional system is harmful to society, while organic food is beneficial to human health, the environment and the economy. When politicians understand this better, they will definitely support the organic system."

Conclusion: Restoring transparency and trust

To restore public confidence in organic food, it is necessary to make the chemical residue testing system effective, modern and transparent. If inadequate methods such as QuEChERS continue, not only will consumer confidence be shaken but the doors to fraud will also be open. With the joint efforts of NOSB, USDA, and Congress, it can be hoped that a strong, modern and transparent organic testing system will soon be established, which will prove beneficial to consumers, farmers and the entire organic industry.