The Greener Christian

31 March 2008

Buying Organic: A Primer, Part 1

Posted by todd under: Healthy Eating; Organic .

Buying organic food is good, right? Better for your health, better for the environment, everybody wins. Right?

Not necessarily. Buying organic food is, for the most part, a good idea. But what exactly is organic, anyway?

Here’s a quick definition from the USDA’s Consumer Brochure on organic food:

“Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled “organic,” a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.” (from USDA, “Organic Food Standards and Labels: The Facts”, April 2002, updated Jan 2007)

Although the USDA makes no claims that organic food is safer or more nutritious than regular food, it makes sense that products grown without chemicals that are PROVEN to be harmful (read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson), without growth hormones, without synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge (yuck) would be better for you. Better for you, not necessarily more nutritious. The jury is still out on whether or not there is nutritional benefit, and some scientists have alleged that organic food can actually be less nutritious and pose higher risks from disease than conventionally grown produce (see this article from CNN, although I find it suspicious that Mr. Avery’s institute is subsidized by Monsanto and other pesticide companies. Probably not very impartial). But common sense seems to dictate that food grown simply, using sustainable agricultural practices, will, in the long run, be better both for the individual and the environment, as long as a few simple precautions, such as adequate washing, storage, and handling, are taken by consumers.

Personally, I feel that the less done to my food the better. God set up the natural world to function a certain way, and it’s better not to mess with it.

So, now that I’ve decided to eat organic, where do I find it and how can I tell the difference? Stay tuned for Buying Organic: A Primer, Part 2, when I talk about how to identify organic food and where to get it.

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