The organic label does not answer every sourcing question Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride raises in Gut and Physiology Syndrome. Her 2020 book asks readers to look at pasture access, animal feed and farming practices, and recommends knowing the farmer where possible. Its market figures belong to the reporting cited in that book, rather than a current survey of everything on supermarket shelves.[1]
For our family, food comes from several places: Walmart, Costco, WinCo, Azure and nearby Asian and Mexican markets. We have also used raw dairy from a local farm. That is the household experience I can speak to. It does not establish that every food from one place is suitable or that every family has the same access.
What the Book Means by “Fauxganic”
Campbell-McBride uses “fauxganic” for food she considers industrially produced despite an organic label. Her critique focuses on large confinement operations, the distance between a label and pasture-based husbandry, hydroponic produce and fraudulent grain imports. These are the concerns behind her preference for buying directly from a farmer.[1]
It is useful to separate those questions when shopping. Whether a food carries an organic label, how the animal was fed, whether it had pasture access and what has been added to the finished food are not the same piece of information.
The Dated Figures in the Book
The 2020 book cites a Winter 2018–19 report in The Natural Farmer, published by the Northeast Organic Farming Association, for much of this discussion. The figures below are what the book reports from its cited material.[1]
| Figure Reported | Context in the 2020 Book |
|---|---|
| About 80 Percent | Its claim about organic poultry and eggs in American stores coming from concentrated animal feeding operations. |
| More Than Half | Its claim about organic supermarket milk coming from large certified-organic confinement operations. |
| $250 Million and $6 Billion | Figures it cites for fraudulent grain imports and estimated annual “fauxganic” sales. |
| $1 Billion in 1990 and $43.7 Billion in 2017 | Historical U.S. organic-market values quoted in the book. |
| $70.4 Billion by 2025 | A forecast quoted in 2020, not a confirmed 2025 or current market total. |
These dated figures explain the author’s sourcing argument. They should not be used to calculate the likelihood that a particular carton, egg box or bag of vegetables in your shop is fraudulent today.
Pasture, Feed and Growing Conditions
The book objects to confinement operations where animals lack pasture access and to plants grown without soil. Its hydroponic discussion names tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and berries and describes its concern about artificial growing conditions. It also argues that the growth of the organic market drew large industrial producers into it.[1]
Those are the book’s criticisms, rather than a new legal definition of organic certification. A product’s certification status and the particular husbandry practices Campbell-McBride wants readers to investigate should not be collapsed into one question.
Questions to Ask a Farmer
The source’s practical advice is to visit, meet the farmer, see the gardens and animals, and ask how they are looked after. You can turn that into a short conversation rather than trying to settle every food issue from a package.[2]
- What do the animals eat, including purchased feed and supplements?
- What pasture access do they have?
- How are the plants grown and cared for?
- How is the food processed before it reaches you?
- For a finished product, what ingredients have been added?
The feed question also matters in the book’s soy-sensitivity discussion. The milk and dairy guide covers the separate animal-breed and milk-processing questions. These details are easier to keep clear when you ask about one food at a time.
Making Direct Buying Practical
Campbell-McBride describes buying cooperatives in which households take turns collecting food from farms for the group. This is one way to divide the travel and pickup work. She also discusses growing food and keeping animals where that is practical.[2]
For someone who cannot buy everything directly, the same book’s meat section acknowledges patients with limited budgets who used the meat they could obtain. That context matters alongside the preference for higher-quality sourcing. The useful next task is to learn more about a food you buy regularly, rather than invent a requirement that every item must come from a farm visit.[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Are These Percentages Current Market Statistics?
No. They are dated figures quoted in the 2020 book and its cited reporting. The projected 2025 market value is also a forecast in that source, not a measured current total.[1]
Does a Farm Purchase Automatically Settle GAPS Ingredients?
No. Source and ingredients remain separate checks. A finished sauce or prepared food still needs its own ingredient review. Use the food list and avoid list for that part of the decision.
Do I Need to Make Every Sourcing Change at Once?
The source gives a direct-farm preference and a cooperative example, but it does not set a universal household purchasing schedule. Choosing one frequently bought food is a practical way to begin asking the questions it recommends.[2]
Your Next Step
Choose one food you buy often, such as eggs, milk or poultry, and ask the supplier about the practices behind it. Our Budget Sourcing Guide and Store-Specific Grocery Lists are listed in the WFLI Shop for planning around your actual budget and access.
References
- Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Physiology Syndrome (2020), “Can We Trust Organic Labels on the Supermarket Shelves?” dated market and industry discussion; its reference 113 cites The Natural Farmer, Winter 2018–19.
- Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Physiology Syndrome (2020), “Can We Trust Organic Labels on the Supermarket Shelves?” direct-farm visits, questions and buying cooperatives.
- Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Physiology Syndrome (2020), “Meat and Fish,” sourcing preferences, farmer purchases and limited-budget clinical experience.
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