In accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting public comment on amending the List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances referred to as the “National List”. Of importance to the poultry industry is a proposed removal of restrictions on incorporation of methionine in organic poultry feed.
Methionine is synthesized in a fermentation process using selected microorganisms that may or may not have been subject to genetic modification. Notwithstanding the fact that production of synthetic amino acids is essentially an industrial-scale process, the final products including methionine, lysine, tryptophan and threonine, all essential amino acids and are structurally identical and are metabolized in the same way as the natural equivalents in vegetable ingredients whether conventional or organic. In the absence of commercially available methionine and other essential amino acids, it is difficult and expensive to formulate feeds that are nutritionally adequate and contribute to optimal growth and sustainability.
As with many decisions made by statutory committees functioning under the Organic Foods Production Act, unnecessary and scientifically baseless restrictions and regulations are applied. Decisions rely on sentiment, misunderstanding and in the worst instance, mendacity with vested interests disfavoring commercial livestock production.