The Skinny on Organic Food: What it Means and What it Doesn't

As people try to modify their lifestyles to fit into the demands on the increasingly magnetic modern day "green movement", many of us are looking towards organic-organic produce, organic meat, organic milk, even organic breakfast cereal and cookies. Organic is definitely a term that is being thrown around, leaving many consumers wondering what exactly organic means, and how it is often misunderstood and misconstrued.

I have been reading a lot of articles about organic lately, and the information being disseminated to the public is somewhat troubling. Why? Because a lot of the information about organic is flat-out incorrect. I've read absurdities about organic that go so far as to claim that the label organic means humane treatment of animals! This terrible misunderstanding demands correction.

This article is meant to portray to consumers exactly what organic means-and at the same time, what it doesn't mean. Additionally, I will attempt to address questions regarding the advantages and disadvantages of buying organic both for the human body and the environment as a whole.

1. Define Organic
To be certified organic in the United States, the methods of growing produce must conform to certain standards set by the National Organic Standards Board.
These include:
• Prohibition of the use of irradiation and sewage sludge
• Prohibition of the use of genetically modified organisms
• Prohibition of certain synthetic and natural substances
Similarly, the production of animals must also conform to certain standards that include:
• Prohibition of antibiotics in organic meat and poultry
• Use of 100% organic feed for organic livestock

Interpretation:
That's it! There's nothing in the regulations requiring animals to be free-range or even grass-fed to be labeled "organic". Organic food doesn't have to be grown locally either, so your organic apples or peaches could be from Chile or Mexico just as easily as California or Oregon.

2. Organic Milk
For milk to be labeled organic in the U.S., it must conform to the above standards, just like produce. Organic milk cannot be from cows treated with rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), or rBST, which is a genetically engineered variant of the growth hormone cows naturally produce. The injection of rBGH into milk cows increases their production of milk by about 10%. Milk coming from rBGH treated cows is often contaminated with pus due to the mastitis, an inflammation of utters brought on by rBGH. Most milk in the supermarket these days does not have rBGH, whether or not it is organic, so you don't need to purchase organic milk to get rBGH free milk. For the rating of organic milk based on ethics, view the resource below.

3. Quality of Organic Food vs. Conventionally Grown Food

Many studies have shown that crops grown organically have higher nutrient content than those grown conventionally (non-organically, using pesticides, antibiotics, and GMO). Organic foods are often richer in vitamins, minerals, omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Conventionally grown foods expose consumers to a large number of pesticides that can cause hormonal problems, neurologically problems, cancers, and development issues in humans. Lastly, organic food often simply tastes better-sweeter, juicier, richer, fresher, and just plain more enjoyable.

4. Environmental Affects of Growing Conventionally

Conventionally grown foods put not only farmers and consumers at risk, but also the environment as a whole. Toxic pesticides used in conventional farming infiltrate our groundwater, endangering our supply of freshwater which causes a host of health problems for humans and wildlife. Pesticides also increase the rate of pest resurgences by helping pests become more resistant to chemicals. Conventionally grown food is often inefficient in terms of energy compared to organic food, which is grown using crop-rotation and other sustainable methods.

5. Genetically Modified Foods Controversy

Many consumers are unsure whether to support genetically modified food or to avoid it altogether; after all, there are many scientists practically pushing GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) down our throats, stating that it is safe, environmentally friendly, and will significantly reduce world hunger. But is this true? While this article isn't meant to debate the claims of GMO, I would like to touch the health implications. Practically speaking, genetically modified food has not been around long enough to scientists to conduct longitudinal studies on its affects on humans. That means we just don't know what, if any, affects GMO has on our bodies. Many scientists are scared to endorse the genetic modification of our food because it disrupts the natural evolutionary processes.
In terms of organic, GMO cannot be labeled organic, so if you want to stay away from these foods, organic is one way to go. If you're interested in the implications of GMO, see the resources below.

6. Local Vs. Organic

As I stated earlier, organic is not analogous to local, or fresh, or even healthy. Ideally these would go hand in hand, but with the onset of organic factory farms, consumers have to be careful about our preconceptions. Studies have shown that local food is more nutrient rich because the time it took to travel from the farm to your plate is minimal. Eating food at the peak of its ripeness is therefore not only tastier, but also healthier. Additionally, consumers that eat locally can also eat a greater diversity of plants, which is in turn good for the body. Because produce does not need to be grown locally to be certified organic, and often it isn't, consumers should be aware that organic and local do not necessarily come hand in hand. For more information about local produce, see the resources below.

7. Ethical Implications
As mentioned above, organic does not necessarily mean ethical when it comes to the production of animals for consumption. As disappointing as it is, organically grown cattle are not necessarily treated ethically, nor are organic milk producing cows. For animals to be certified organic, they must be fed organic food. Again, organic feed is not necessarily healthy for the animals, nor is it what they would naturally eat. Most animals are fed a mixture of corn and soybeans, both cheap to produce and yield large animals. If you are looking to purchase animal meat that has been raised ethically, perhaps grass-fed and free-range, you'll have to do additional research.

8. Whole Foods Vs. Processed Foods
All of the above has been said in reference to purchasing and consuming whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Nutritionally speaking, there is little benefit to purchasing organic processed foods, such as highly processed cookies, cakes, chips, etc. The nutritional benefits of organic are severely outweighed by the processing of these foods. However, the environmental ramifications are still present in packaged foods that were grown using conventional methods, so consumers will have to make their choices based on their own preference.

9. The Cost
Organic food is more expensive, and everyone knows it. This is usually the main hindrance to purchasing organic, other than the fact that it is not as readily available in some cities and towns. My recommendation is to shop at farmers markets when possible, because often the food available at those markets are fresh, organic, and grown locally (although don't assume a stand at the farmers market is organic without asking). Also Community Support Agriculture programs are affordable ways of getting local and organic produce delivered to you. As for purchasing organic food in the grocery stores, where it can often be expensive, consumers really have to decide if organic is a cause worth supporting-it is a cause that encompasses the environment and our personal health, so is it worth it to you

Sources:
Organic Trade Association- Environmental and Health Implications of Organic and Conventional Food
The Cornucopia Institute- Ethical Ratings of Organic Milk
Organic Consumers Association- Information on rBGH and more on organic food