Organically Grown Foods: What are They?

The organic food industry is a $20 Billion a year industry. Consumers pay between 30 and 50 percent more for foods that are labeled organic. A family of two spends approximately $100.00 per week more than the same couple who do not choose to use only organic foods. Is consuming only organic foods worth the increase in cost? Some people may not think so after reading what 'organic' means.

Most people believe that 'Organically Grown' means that the foods in question have not had chemicals fertilizers or pesticides used on them when grown. This is NOT the truth. Organic farmers DO use pesticides, but they do not use SYNTHETIC pesticides. Organic pesticides used by farmers who grow organic vegetables and fruits are NATURAL. This does NOT mean safer! Some of the pesticides used by organic farmers include nightshade, hemlock in addition to others. These are organic, but they are not safer than the synthetic pesticides used today. In the 1960's when chemical pesticides like DDT and other dangerous pesticides were used, it may have been more beneficial than today. The tests in place to protect the environment and people have made the synthetic pesticides much safer than the organic ones used now. Organic fertilizers are also not safer or more healthy than synthetic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers used are mostly manure. Manures contain more dangerous and toxic items such as E-coli and Salmonella bacteria. People die from these bacteria in food. Organic fertilizers are not better for the environment. Manure causes methane. Methane is bad for the ozone layer, and therefore the environment. To find out what items may be used in 'organically grown' or 'organically produced' labeled products, the FDA has a publication for farmers and producers which specifically spells out which items may be used, both natural and synthetic. The website is: (pdf online) http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv./getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5068682&acct=nopgeninfo it spells out every substance that is allowed to be used. Some of these may be surprising to those people who think that 'organic' is better.

Hormones used by farmers to increase milk production are supposedly responsible for girls going into puberty sooner and having larger breasts. This is not because of hormones used to increase milk production, but because we are 'fatter.' Girls are going into puberty sooner because they have enough body fat earlier than children in the past. Hormones to increase milk production are NOT used in Europe. European girls are also going into puberty sooner and have larger breasts. Our better standard of living today, means that girls are getting better nutrition and therefore are reaching a level of body fat sooner than in the past, and triggers puberty earlier.

Some may argue that organic foods are better nutritionally than non-organic foods. This is not true. There is no proof that there are more nutrients in organically grown or produced foods than in regular supermarket fare. The USDA does regulate what can be used in organic farming and what cannot. It also regulates what manufacturers of food items can be labeled as 'organic' and 'made with organic ingredients.' Just because something is labeled organic does not mean that no pesticides or chemicals are used in it. There are some chemicals that are allowed even though they are synthetic.

Most organic foods sold in grocery stores today does not come from small family farms. Organic farming has become big business, and most of the organic foods sold come from larger corporate farms. In addition to this not supporting small local farmers, some of the organic foods sold in grocery stores today comes from other countries, such as China. With the problems that China has had with other items such as baby formulas and chocolates in it's own country, should the FDA be taking China's word that these items grown in China are 'organic?' Wanting to support small and local farmers is a great idea, in theory, however the truth seems to be something different. Approximately 20 percent of organic foods available in grocery stores are imported from other countries such as China. Maybe it would be better to label the food 'American Grown' or 'Grown by USA farms' or maybe even 'locally grown,' if a person wishes to support American farmers.

With today's economic downturn and families not having as much money to spend on groceries, 'organic' products may not be as important as once believed. What was once a normal 'farmer' in the United States has now become an 'organic farmer' in the United States. During the 1970's and 1980's most farmers were 'organic' farmers, it is corporate farms that seem to have changed everything. Going back to encouraging people to start small farms and rewarding current family farmers should be begun by the US government to make the changes wanted by everyone. The corporate farms going back to the way farmers have done it for centuries and avoid/change the problems caused by huge corporate farms trying to increase yields of crops and increase milk and meat productions seems to be the way forward. Keeping our foods hormone free is important, but not for the reasons some people think. Artificially increasing or otherwise changing hormone levels of food animals may have untold effects on health of the population at large. Every person who consumes dairy or meat products consumes natural hormones each time animal products are eaten, in natural levels. Increasing these hormone levels cannot be good for those people who consume meat and dairy products. Treating cattle and other animals with these hormones are most likely not healthy for the animals, as well as those consuming animal products.

More and more consumers have started eating only anti-biotic free, free range, and vegetarian fed eggs. This trend may be because of the treatment of the animals as well as not wishing to consume antibiotics in eggs. Chickens and poultry in general were not housed in ideal situations. Animal rights groups have had some effect on public opinions on the humane treatment of animals. Not everyone decides to become a vegetarian, but many do decide to only purchase meat and dairy products that have been humanely treated before being processed. Organic does not mean 'humanely treated.'

Sources:
1) http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/On-your-radar/Organics/Organic-sector-increasingly-dependent-on-imports-USDA

2) http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml

3) http://www.howtogoorganic.com/index.php?page=allowed-prohibited-substances

4) http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5068682&acct=nopgeninfo

5) http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Financial-Industry/Organic-sector-increasingly-dependent-on-imports-USDA

6) http://www.ers.usda.gov/Browse/view.aspx?subject=InternationalChina