Organic foods seem to be everywhere nowadays. Most grocery stores now have an organic section and specialty stores like Whole Foods sell only organic food. I have been debating if paying more for organic food is worth it. That’s why I made some research about it and this are some of the things I learned:
- The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat) Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.
- Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don’t use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, instead of using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.
- Organic farmers give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. They use preventive measures, such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing, to help minimize disease.
- Not everything that claims to be organic is. The foods that are 100 percent organic carry the USDA Organic sticker (here in the U.S). However, other products can show the stickers if they are at least 95% organic (labeled as organic) or products which 70% of their ingredients are organic (labeled as made with organic ingredients).
- The quality and appearance of organic food meet the same quality and safety standards as conventional foods.
- Most organic food costs more than conventional food products. Higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields.
- A lot of people buy organic to reduce their exposure to pesticides. A report by the Texas Department of Agriculture indicates that conventional produce was eight times more likely to have pesticide residue than organic. However, of the few samples in which a residue was found, the amount was negligible (between 1 and 5 percent of government standards)
- Every day, each of us eats a quarter of a teaspoonful of carcinogens. 99.99% of these are made naturally by all plants to inhibit disease organisms and deter consumption by animals and insects.
- No conclusive evidence shows that organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food. The USDA doesn’t claim that these products are safer or more nutritious.
- Because organic farmers rely on cow and pig manure for fertilizer, organic foods are vulnerable to bacterial contamination.
- Organic poultry have higher rates of bacterial contamination than conventional poultry due to their higher exposure to wild bird droppings.
- Some people claim that organic food tastes better than conventional food, but this is a very subjective claim so decide for yourself.
- Whether you buy organic or not you might want to consider: buying the freshest food that is in season, read the labels and wash all fruits and vegetables before consumption.
There you have it, 13 facts that might help you decide whether to buy organic or not. I think this is a personal decision that has to be taken after taking all the facts into cosideration. As always:
¡Buen provecho!
Sources for this post:
- National Center for Policy Analysis
- Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh
- MayoClinic.com
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17 Replies
Where I live organic is so not an option – unless you want a few ugly looking potatoes, and some wilted celery.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I’ll eat just about anything, so organic isn’t something that I look for on purpose.
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Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I thought that organic food was more expensive because it’s not subsidized by the government – which means that farmers must get conventional loans and financing. (Not to mention the actual money in subsidies.) I do love organic food – have my own organic French Intensive Garden in our back yard. mmmmmm
Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I love organic foods and I go to “Wild Oats” and “Whole Foods” whenever I get the chance. Thanks for sharing.
Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
this was very informative. i always wondered why organic was more expensive. i love central market and whole foods. they sell both organic and non-organic. i just like to eat fresh produce that’s in season, whether it’s organic or not.
Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#10 is the one that concerns me. We have quite a few organic farmers at our farmers market this year. Having grown up with farming myself, I admit to looking a bit too closely at the farmer and the apparent cleanliness of his display and his vehicle before deciding whether or not I want the produce he’s offering. His gardening practices aren’t likely to be any more careful than his presentation…
Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I think organic foods are best since no pesticides are used. I am considering growing my own veggies and fruits.
My 34th TT is up: 13 comments you can make to your physician while he’s performing a colonoscopy on you. Here’s the link.
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 12:09 am
Good list, Ben. I buy it when I can, and when I can’t, consider what I’m putting in my bag. It certainly is more healthy than a three-layer cake filled with butter cream and nuts. Okay, so now that I think of it, the nuts were organic. But not the buttah. I’m just sayin’. Mwah.
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 12:26 am
Hey, thanks for the info! I have been doing a little sleuthing lately to decide if organic is worth it, as well… And I’ve come to the conclusion that sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t. Certain foods are more vulnerable to absorbing pesticides and the like (i.e., tomatoes and berries), so if you can’t afford to buy all your food organic (or don’t want to, for whatever other reason… such as the interesting fact you posted about organic food being more vulnerable to bacterial contamination) and are going to pick, these are some that should top the list. Good topic, informative and relevant. Thanks!
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Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 9:59 am
Really interesting list Ben.
I’ve never fussed too much about buying organic – but I do try to buy fresh, from local producers, and always, always free-range for livestock/dairy…
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 11:36 am
Back again, I forgot to mention that I exclude organic meat.
Thanks for visiting me and just FYI, I linked to this article from my TT.
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I used to be real sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the multiple chemical sensitivities that came with that, and i had to stop making chicken soup from scratch because the SMELL of the chicken cooking made me soooooo sick! Then once i bought a mega expensive organic chicken and the smell from THAT soup was heavenly, and it tasted so good! So I know there’s a difference, but maybe only for more sensitive people.. happy TT!
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I’ve never really compared organic to non-organic.
My dad raises his own chickens. I grew up eating fresh eggs and occasionally chicken or pork that was home raised. My husbands gramma has a garden and we LOVE the fresh greens and squash. My MIL grows her own peppers and tomatoes and cucumbers.
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
good information! thanks : )
Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Thanks for the research. Although I am aware of the pros for organic however they costs twice as much in Greece, so it’s practically impossible to feed 5 on organic products but as you said at least we try and buy the best from the farmers’ market.
Posted on August 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 am
Great post, Ben. I don’t think we all fully realize what all organic food entails, so it’s nice that you put this together. While I don’t normally buy organic food, I do keep it in mind. It’s more a matter of doing what you can instead of breaking the bank because we think that it has to be organic or bust.
I have an award for you at my blog!
Posted on August 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Interesting post. I have also been doing a bit of research on organic foods myself. I totally agree with number 10 and that it is a concern that many people don’t think about.
Posted on August 7th, 2008 at 7:16 am
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