What to Eat - Organics: Hype or Hope by Marion Nestle

So much controversy has surrounded organic foods.  Let's face it, organic foods are big business.  What makes corporations so interested in organic food is the pace by which the market for these food is growing.  Since 1990, sales have increased at about 20% per year.  Customers are willing to pay more for organic foods.
    When a food is labeled Certified Organic it means that it had to be grown according to principles established by the Organic Foods Act of 1990 and by the USDA Organic Standards established 12 years later. Those foods that carry the seal have been inspected  by a state or private agency and approved by the USDA to make sure they meet the standard.
     Whole Foods which calls itself "America's first national Certified Organic grocer" carries both conventional and organic and makes it very easy to tell which is which.  Whole Food also displays the country of original and they started doing that long before they had to.  Based on the lines that Marion always encountered at the Time Warner Whole Foods in New York, consumers are happy to pay premium prices for organic foods.
     "The organic seal tells you the the grower has followed a long list of rules: they did not use any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers: they did not plant genetically modified seeds, use fertilizer derived from sewage sludge, or treat the seeds or foods with irradiation; they kept records of everything they did and showed the paperwork and everything on their farms to inspectors from a USDA accredited state or private certification agency anytime there were asked to, announced or unannounced."  The document of standards takes up hundreds of pages.  But because the USDA principal mandate from Congress is to promote conventional growers they are clearly in the position of being in a conflict of interest.  "The USDA makes no claims that organically produced foods is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food.  Organic food only differ in the way it was grown, handled and processed." This statement sounds like that doesn't make any difference.  Marion believes it does.
    Opponents of organics want you to doubt the credibility of the certification.  Don't!  In one long time inspectors experience, very few violations have occurred.  "Organic producers care about what they are doing and go to substantial trouble and expense to grow foods without pesticide, to keep records, and to pay for inspections and certifications."
    So the question still exists, are organic foods better?  For the environment, definitely.  Overall organic farms are nearly as efficient in their production of food, leave the soil healthier, and use energy more efficiently than conventional farms.  Now about those pesticides, "if crops are grown without pesticides, it seems self-evident that fewer pesticides will get into the soil and water, foods will contain less of them, and people who eat organic foods will have lower levels of pesticides in their bodies."  The government would have us believe that pesticides are safe.  Not true.  If it kills the pests, it will harm us.  Think of the bug repellent you put on your skin.(which is really bad for you but....)  Would you eat that?  Why not?  It is made with chemicals! It is a pesticide!
    Next Friday we will continue with the discussion on organics.

Have a great weekend and Eat Well, Lose Weight and Be Healthy!