Consumers have been swindled by massive frauds involving vast quantities of ordinary grain being sold as organic, it is alleged.

The claims have come to light in an investigation by the BBC's Money Programme.

Tonnes of conventional grain have been imported into Britain as organic in a series of deals being investigated by authorities across the Continent.

German public prosecutor Dr. Horst Hund told the Money Programme: "If the public knew what I knew then consumer confidence in organic food would be shattered."

The Money Programme also reveals concern over welfare in organic poultry farming and fears about organic imports produced to lower foreign standards.

Prosecutor Dr. Hund is investigating claims that grain trader Hans Ernst Bastian made �3m illicit profit selling 20,000 tonnes of ordinary grain as organic mostly for animal feedstuff.

In Britain, Norfolk-based Saxon Agriculture told the Money Programme that they were duped into importing nearly 400 tonnes of the suspect grain, believing it to be organic.

They sold the grain on and it entered the food chain.

Loophole

Investigators in France and Belgium are also investigating swindles in which at least 50,000 tonnes of grain was mis-sold - equivalent to half France's entire organic grain production.

Organic inspection bodies admitted that a loophole in the certification system allows frauds to be more easily committed. Only farmers and producers are inspected and certified - not traders and wholesalers.

Dr. Hund said that consumers "pay a lot of money, based on trust, to get better organic food and get just the same stuff as everybody else."

The Money Programme reveals that, even without fraud, the regulations permit governments to change rules on food fed to organic animals.

Intensive farming

In normal times they can be fed with up to 20 per cent of conventional feedstuff and while the foot and mouth epidemic continues they can be fed up to 49 per cent of their daily diet with conventional feedstuff.

The programme also features intensive farming methods in organic poultry - with one organic farm housing 6,000 chickens in one huge shed.

Lower standards

The farm in Nottinghamshire is regulated by certification body Organic Farmers and Growers which permits lower standards than those of the Soil Association, Britain's leading organic inspection regulator.

Francis Blake of the Soil Association said of these conditions: "I don't think consumers would like to see them."

The farmer Andrew Joret responded: "We have to produce a product in sufficient volume to satisfy demand".

He said the birds enjoyed freedom of movement and insisted: "Every one of the birds' welfare needs is satisfied in this sort of house."

Other British organic farmers express concern over competition from imports which, it is claimed, undermine the organic ideal of locally produced food.