Is CAFO Animal Waste the Dirty Secret of Organic Foods?

If the farmer producing your organic vegetables wants to save money, there's a good chance he may be using this legal option to fertilize his crops.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Chicken feces, or chicken litter, and other animal waste from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) is commonly used as fertilizer, including for organic crops

• CAFO waste used as fertilizer is contaminated with pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant genes, growth hormones, heavy metals a…