A new national poll released today indicates that many U.S. organic milk purchasers, especially women, would stop buying organic milk after learning that some organic dairy companies do not allow significant access to pasture for their dairy cows.  The data suggests that if the USDA does not require stringent regulations that organic cows be raised for a significant period of time outdoors and on pasture, there could be substantial erosion of the organic milk market.

Specifically, the poll found:

• Sixty-one percent (61%) of women organic milk purchasers say they would no longer purchase organic milk if they knew that many organic cows were confined to fenced-in feedlots and did not graze on pasture for most of their lives.
• A majority of all organic milk purchasers (51%) say they would no longer purchase organic milk if they knew that many organic cows were confined to fenced-in feedlots and did not graze on pasture for most of their lives.
• Forty-four percent (44%) of those who frequently purchase organic milk would no longer do so if they knew that many organic cows were confined to fenced-in feedlots and did not graze on pasture for most of their lives.

“This poll gives a clear indication of consumer sentiment towards organic milk - they want and expect organic dairy cows to be raised on pasture before organic milk ends up on the grocery store shelf” said Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director for the Center for Food Safety.

Additional polling data shows that if organic milk producers hope to grow the organic milk market by changing seldom purchasers into frequent purchasers, a strong pasture requirement should be put in place.  Fifty-eight percent (58%) of consumers that seldom purchase organic milk state they would not purchase organic milk if they knew that many organic cows were confined to fenced-in feedlots and did not graze on pasture for most of their lives.

Currently, the USDA’s National Organic Program is debating guidelines and amendments to its regulations requiring organic dairy cows access to pasture.  Under the existing USDA enforcement policy, producers of organic milk are not clearly required to raise their organic cows on pasture. The lack of a stringent enforcement standard has placed the organic dairy industry under scrutiny and led to complaints that industrial-style confined, dairy feedlots are selling milk under the organic label.

“The USDA and organic dairy companies must listen to their consumers and require organic milk to come only from cows raised a significant period time on pasture. Consumers will reject organic milk if they believe that organic is no different from factory farm milk,” Mendelson continued.

The national polling data released today was commissioned by the Center for Food Safety and conducted by American Viewpoint. The data are from a national survey of n=1011 U.S. adults conducted March 29 through April 3, 2006.  The margin of error for the entire sample is plus or minus 3% at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error for the organic milk consumers (n=188) is plus or minus 7.2% at the 95% confidence level.

View complete polling information

View CFS testimony concerning organic pasture standards

View the NOSB’s Draft Recommendation on Pasture Requirements for Ruminants

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a national non-profit, public interest membership organization. CFS works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the proliferation of harmful food production technologies and promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture.