Lots of folks, hoping to enjoy the benefits of higher-quality, higher-nutrition foods, make the choice to go organic. More than 60 percent of Americans - nearly twice the number in 2004 - purchased organic food products last year, and organic foods are among the fastest-growing segments of the food industry. Just take a look at the long lines you're likely to find in your local natural-foods market: It still amazes me to see just how many people willingly shell out top dollar for some sort of nebulous guarantee that we're buying better health for ourselves and our families. Are we making a smart choice?
In the Feb. 2006 Consumer Reports, we learn the answer: sometimes. More often than we care to think, however, we who go organic are fooling ourselves - and wasting lots of money in the bargain.
That isn't to say that many or most of these products aren't worthwhile; CR says certain items indeed are preferable to their non-organic kin. The magazine points to a new study of US Department of Agriculture data conducted by Washington, DC-based Environmental Working Group that says particular fruits and vegetables contain substantially lower amounts of the pesticides and contaminants routinely found in conventionally produced items. Fewer chemicals equals lower health risks, making these purchases smart ones.
More from the Orlando Sentinel:
Based on thousands of samples, the nonprofit research group came up with the "dirty dozen" — vegetables and fruits that have high pesticide residuals, even after washing. They are apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.
In short, buying the organic versions of the "dirty dozen" items is the way to go. (And if you can't afford to spend extra for organics, be sure to scrub your fruits and veggies thoroughly.)
Not all organic choices are as intelligent, though - particularly if you must watch every penny spent. CR notes that many items cost 50 percent more than their non-organic versions. Some items, including milk and meat, are twice as expensive. So, unless you are Oprah or the Donald, it's important to realize that the "organic" label sometimes isn't worth the inflated price. The EWG study says asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples and sweet peas don't have the contamination problems that, say, apples and spinach do, so it makes sense to save money and use the conventional variety.
The same holds for processed foods. Organic or not, they contain additives that tend to be on the unhealthy side. If you're determined to buy, for example, a frozen entree, there's little need to go organic when a Lean Cuisine can fill the bill for less money. The rule to follow is, if and only if the organic version is demonstrably superior to the non-organic (antibiotic- and hormone-treated milk, beef, eggs and poultry; "dirty dozen" items, etc.), buy it if your budget allows.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
Well UK figures show that, here anyway, organic milk is "higher levels of vitamin E, omega 3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants".
With any organic food there's also the added advantage that you are encouraging a more environmentally friendly form of farming, and hence making the world just a little healthier overall. (An indirect effect, but not insignificant.)
I'd agree with you about shampoos and similar being a con, although I reckon organic toothpaste isn't a bad idea.
2 - DJRadiohead
Outstanding article and thank you so much for writing it. I read the Consumer Report article but your additional links and information in here is great. The Wife to Whom I Am Married and I try hard to incorporate organic food and household products as much as our budget will allow. She and I will be looking this information over in more detail and discussing it.
3 - Natalie Davis
Ms. Bennett, indeed organic milk is demonstrably superior to nonorganic milk in the US and the UK - which is why it says above that it's worth spending extra for. Tastes better too, IMO.
Thanks, Mr. DJRadiohead. I'd wager you and The Wife to Whom You Are Married are healthier for choosing to go organic. If this essay can help you save money doing it or to make more informed choices, it has done its job.
4 - Mat Brewster
Very nice article. I will be forwarding this to the wife to whom DJRadiohead is not married. We're lucky in that there is a wide variety of organics in the area. We have a lovely farmers market and two local coops selling the goodies for not that bad a price.
Of course this means grocery shopping takes forever and includes at least 4 stores.
5 - JudiElise
Very informative article. It helped me keep up with what is going on in legislation to water down the stringent rules put in place. Personally, I pay the premium for organic foods because categorically, at least here in Maryland, the food taste better! Also, for health reasons, an organic lifestyle fits my family as we strive for better health, lower medical bills and less prescription medicine.
6 - Natalie Davis
I'm in Maryland too, and we try to go organic whenever possible for the same reasons. And yes, we find organic food tastes better. Being among those who are poor, we are limited as to what we can do re: premium-priced items, but through creativity, coops and CSA, we try to ensure that our diet is the best we can manage.
7 - Paul Roy
Great article. My wife and I have recently changed many of our food choices to organic. The stuff is SO damn expensive though. I didn't realize the amount of disparities with the "free-range", "free-roaming" lable. One of the main things we buy is organic eggs and milk. The things I found to be most satisfying are organic fruits, especially apples. A world of difference.
8 - Victor Plenty
Freedom from pesticide residues is only a tiny part of the reason for preferring organically grown foods. The trouble with chemical pesticides and fertilizers is only partly in their toxicity to humans and other living things (and make no mistake, many are far more toxic than their producers would have you believe). The deeper problem is that these substances cover up a huge number of deficiencies in the health of the soil. Many of them actually cause the deficiencies.
Without good healthy soil, it's simply impossible for plants to produce real food. Through selective breeding and chemical use, we now have many fruits and vegetables that look nutritious even when they are nearly worthless as a food source because they are grown in soils devoid of real nutrition.
Chemical fertilizers are also a vastly inefficient use of resources. Because they have to be water soluble to work at all, most of the materials applied to fields will run off with irrigation water or rainwater. This makes it necessary to apply the fertilizers at higher and higher levels, like an addictive drug, causing increasing water pollution problems for everyone downstream.
This is why organically grown ingredients are important even in products we don't eat, such as clothing, or in shampoos and other cosmetics.
Organic and biological control methods are the future of agriculture. The only question is how much additional damage we will allow the chemical companies to inflict on us before we kick them to the curb like the abusive spouse they've been all these years.
9 - suzanne thompson
I totally agree with everything organic, this includes skincare and shampoos and make-up and toothpaste. I buy all this from www.organics-online.com. The skincare range is 100% organic and is certified organic to food standards, nothing synthetic at all. The shampoos are as organic as you can get them, they are no sodium laurel sulphates or nasty chemicals in them.
10 - Merrill and John Clark
Generally a good article. However, you missed some important points. "Sustainable" has no more meaning than "natural" It defies definition and has no verification network for this reason. "Local" also is a pitfall. Fishmeal should not be allowed as organic feed or fertilizer for the same reason that fish cannot be labeled organic unless they come from a captive impounded water body within a long- time certified organic farm. Yet many organic farms use fish meal as feed or plant food or even as foliar spray. This is wrong and consumers should ask about this when buying organic plant or animal products. Look for direct marketing organic farms that are certified organic, read labels on processed organic foods, avoid products from processors who are members of the Organic Trade Association. Animal products cost at least 50 percent more to produce organically! Therefore price should not be your main criterion for selecting sources. John and Merrill Clark, Roseland Organic Farm, Cassopolis, Michigan, Roselandorganicfarms.com
11 - Natalie Davis
Wow, thanks for that info. Part of the purpose for this column is to enhance my own ongoing education - thanks for addding to what I've been learning on the subject and for giving important info to readers.
12 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Folks here are also going the organic route. Here it is whole different ballgame. The organic fruits and veggies here tend to be much more satisfying that the non-organic. From my experience, you need to eat less of them.
Here, with respect to meat, it is more a matter of whom you know. There is a rule in Judaism called "al tashHít" - essentially meaning that you don't waste. This rule applies for reasons that I do not understand to the living conditions of animals - particularly those raised for consumption, like chicken, turkey.
According to some authorities here, if these animals are confined in such a way as to prevent them having any pleasure in their lives - it doesn't matter how mercifully they were slaughtered or how many rabbis supervised the kashering process - they are not kosher.
So, the bottom line is that a truly kosher chicken had to have had a little pleasure in its stupid life.
Of course pushing that too publicly here knocks over lots of rice bowls...
13 - Natalie Davis
Organic tastes better and is more satisfying here too, IMO. And I often choose Kosher meats because they taste terrific and give me an assurance of wholesomeness (not to mention that somewhere, I have relations who are happy when I go Kosher). I have heard of "al tashHit," of course -- it reminds me of the hunting apothegm: "Only kill what you will eat." it's about responsible stewardship.
I love the concept that a chicken - the birds are reputed to be quite stupid - had some pleasure in its life too.
14 - black power
I HAVE A DREAm that one day there will be live african food to eat here
15 - Shannon W
This is a great article. It really helped me on my school report on why people should switch to organic products!
16 - NR Davis
Oh wow, that is great to hear. Thank you for sharing that.
17 - Roger OBrian
Organic vs Non-Organic Food
Over the past two decades the world has become increasingly health and environmentally conscious. The world of social activism is no longer confined to protest marches and leaflet campaigns. Today, consumers realize that they have the power to evoke change by voting with the most important tool at their disposal, their wallets. Today, it is a well known fact that if you want a cleaner environment and healthier food you should choose organic products.
What makes food organic? In strictly scientific terms, organic substances contain carbon, the building block of life. By this definition, everything that we eat is technically organic. However, agricultural parlance has changed the definition of organic when it relates to food and other consumables. Inorganic food encompasses everything that organic food is not.
Organic food must be free from all synthetic chemicals.
This starts at the ground level when a farmer prepares his field. He cannot use any petroleum-based fertilizer or chemically altered material in his soil. Manure and compost are acceptable natural products; Miracle Gro is not.
Chemicals are also not allowed for pest or disease control. A farmer can treat his crops with insecticidal soap or neem oil, but cannot use store-bought sprays unless they are certified organic.
Organic food cannot be genetically altered in any way.
Traditionally, changes to plants and livestock were accomplished through selective breeding techniques and hand pollination. These techniques are still certified organic.
Genetically modified food, or GM food, has been tampered with at the genetic level. Sometimes varieties of plants have been cross-bred to create hardier or tastier strains. GM seeds can be drought resistant or have higher yields. Purists feel GM technology tampers with the work of Mother Nature and is therefore inorganic.
Organic food cannot come in contact with inorganic food.
In order to ensure that pesticides or other chemical treatments don’t rub off on organic produce, it must be packaged and shipped separately from conventionally farmed food.
Proponents of organic food say that the products are healthier than conventional produce. Fewer chemicals mean fewer carcinogens. They also say that the food just tastes better. At the same time, organic soil may still produce run-off, but it isn’t toxic run-off that will permanently damage the water table. Animals that are fed exclusively on organic products, such as free-range chickens or grass-fed beef are generally believed to be treated more humanely, though this isn’t always the case.
Summary:
1. Organic and inorganic foods are differentiated by their farming processes, not their chemical makeup.
2. Organic food is chemical free, GM free, and free from contact with inorganic food while inorganic food is anything that doesn’t meet those strict guidelines.
3. Many consumers believe that organic food is healthier, tastes better, and is better for the environment than inorganic food.
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