| Everyone wants to eat nutritious foods and most | | | | The same quality and safety standards apply to |
| people can tell you exactly what they are. People are | | | | organic and conventionally grown foods. |
| divided into two camps: conventionally grown (cg) | | | | Appearance |
| versus organic foods. By far, most of the cg foods | | | | Organic foods may be smaller, have odd shapes or |
| that are available to us are processed. The seeds for | | | | varying colors, but in most cases, they look identical |
| plant products have been genetically engineered and | | | | to their cg counterparts. Because they aren't treated |
| some have been irradiated. The plants are grown | | | | with waxes, organic fruits and vegetables are not |
| using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Once | | | | shiny and without preservatives they spoil faster. |
| harvested, the plants are refined and vitamins and | | | | Taste |
| minerals added to them. During processing, the food | | | | Taste is a matter of personal choice. People are |
| is further enhanced with vitamins, minerals, | | | | divided as to whether organic and non-organic foods |
| preservatives and colourings. Finally, the product is | | | | taste the same or are different. Common sense |
| canned, boxed or frozen before it reaches the | | | | dictates that the freshest foods available will have |
| consumer. Today, over $2.1 trillion of foods, | | | | the best taste. Most fruits and vegetables taste best |
| beverages and consumer package goods are sold | | | | if they are bought the day they are brought to |
| annually. | | | | market. Taste is also affected by the way produce is |
| Organic foods are grown without the use of | | | | stored and prepared at home. |
| irradiation, bioengineering or pesticides. Meat products | | | | Pesticides |
| are raised without antibiotics or hormones. The USDA | | | | Conventional growers use pesticides to protect their |
| defines organic three ways. The term 100% organic | | | | crops from molds, insects and diseases. This is one |
| means only organic ingredients are found in the | | | | reason that many people prefer organically grown |
| product. Organic means that it has 95% organic | | | | foods, which are not treated with pesticides. Studies |
| ingredients. Made with organic ingredients means that | | | | have shown that the amount of residue found on |
| only 70% of the product is made with organic | | | | fruits and vegetables is minimal and poses no real |
| ingredients. Contains organic ingredients means that | | | | health risk. Nonetheless, you should wash all fresh |
| the product contains less than 70% organic | | | | fruits and vegetables thoroughly with running water. |
| ingredients. Farmers who grow organic produce and | | | | Peel both and trim the outer leaves of leafy |
| meat must follow strict soil and water conservation | | | | vegetables after washing them. Because pesticide |
| methods and guidelines for the humane treatment of | | | | residue is found in fat, remove fat from meat and |
| animals. Today, over consumers buy more than $15 | | | | the skin from poultry and fish. |
| billion of organic foods and beverages annually. | | | | Cost |
| Okay, so which is better? Just because a product | | | | Organic food can cost 50-100% more than cg food |
| says it's organic or contains organic ingredients | | | | products. This is due to higher labor costs, tighter |
| doesn't necessarily mean it's a healthier alternative | | | | government regulations and lower crop yields. You |
| than cg foods. Some organic products may actually | | | | should consider the best value for your money |
| be higher in sugar, salt, fat or calories. Before you | | | | before buying either cg or organic foods. |
| buy, check food labels to know exactly what you | | | | My belief is that food production will change and |
| are getting. | | | | eventually more and more information will be required |
| Nutrition | | | | on food labels. Maybe within another 5 years |
| There is no scientific evidence or support from the | | | | checking food labels will reveal about the pesticides |
| USDA that organic food is more nutritious than | | | | used during production as well as the nutritional |
| conventionally grown food. | | | | content. Remember to keep checking the food labels |
| Quality | | | | for all the information! |