Food labels provide an abundance of data – from nutrition facts to ingredients lists – making the information abundantly clear.
Organic foods have become an increasingly popular choice, appearing on more grocery store items with this label than ever before. People choose organic products for many different reasons and this article will discuss both their benefits and what exactly the “organic” designation implies.
1. Health Benefits
Organic foods provide many health advantages, including lower levels of pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables as well as less exposure to synthetic chemicals. Furthermore, organic products typically lack artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors which have been linked with various health problems.
Organic farms must limit their use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Furthermore, GM crops or synthetic hormones cannot be used in their livestock, while their meat and dairy products come from animals who are allowed to freely roam and forage for grasses or natural foods without receiving antibiotics or any other type of medication.
Pesticides have been linked with various health concerns, including developmental delays in children, infertility, non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer and various neurological issues. Some studies suggest organic food consumption could help lower rates of these illnesses; however, more evidence is necessary before we can make any definitive statements about its long-term impacts.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes annually a list ranking the 15 fruits and vegetables with the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide residue, to assist consumers in prioritizing which produce they should buy organic. Furthermore, fruits with hard skins or rinds such as apples, carrots, pineapples and squash tend to absorb less pesticide than their soft counterparts.
2. Environmental Benefits
People often assume that organic foods are healthier and better for the environment when they see them at a supermarket or farmers market, however these items are subject to the same federal regulations as non-organic items and there is no evidence to indicate otherwise.
Conventional farming techniques that rely on chemical pesticides, deplete soil nutrients and pollute waterways with chemicals contribute significantly to climate change. Organic farming techniques offer an alternative by increasing carbon sequestration in soil and decreasing exposure to pollution in waterways.
Organic crops tend to require less water than conventional varieties. The term organic refers to food grown without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Unfortunately, many food manufacturers may incorporate non-organic ingredients in their organic products and still label them as such; additionally meat raised on organic farms may still require antibiotics and hormones if their diet does not consist solely of organic vegetables and fruits.
When considering your environmental footprint, purchasing seasonal produce grown locally and seasonally from small farmers is the most beneficial thing you can do. Local farms typically use less resources in growing crops nearer to you reducing transportation costs as a result. If budget restrictions limit what produce you can purchase look for products on Environmental Working Group’s Clean Fifteen or Dirty Dozen lists that have low levels of pesticide residue; frozen versions of such foods may also help.
3. Animal Welfare Benefits
Organic foods are grown or produced under strict regulations that prohibit synthetic chemicals, hormones, antibiotics and GMOs from use during production and processing. Furthermore, these guidelines promote soil quality improvement, animal welfare and limit exposure to pesticides for those eating the food.
Many consumers believe organic products to be healthier, safer and tastier than non-organic alternatives. This assertion may or may not hold up depending on the specifics of each product; organic vegetables for instance tend to stay fresh longer without needing long distance shipping, can have lower sodium content, and have fewer preservatives compared with non-organic equivalents.
Organic meat follows similar standards. To be certified organic, animals must access open pastures during their grazing seasons without receiving hormones or antibiotics; this will produce leaner and more flavorful meat free of antibiotics.
An important caveat here should be noted; organic does not automatically mean pesticide-free. While most organic crops may be free of synthetic pesticides and herbicides used on non-organic farms, contamination from adjacent non-organic farms still exists and copper sulfate pesticide is allowed under organic farming standards – always check labels and wash your produce prior to eating!
4. Economic Benefits
Organic foods have quickly become a consumer favourite, as many believe they offer superior nutrition and flavor over non-organic food options. When shopping for groceries online or offline, it is crucial that consumers understand what the “organic” label signifies.
Organic products must meet USDA regulations regarding soil quality, animal welfare and pest control to be labeled organic. These rules prohibit synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, limit antibiotic and growth hormone use among livestock as well as be free from artificial preservatives, flavors or colors – in essence making organic produce truly organic!
Conventional farmers often apply pesticides to their crops, and these chemicals often drift onto organic fields where they can harm plants or animals. Therefore, it’s wise to select fruits and vegetables with hard skins or rinds that protect from pesticide spraying; The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes an annual “clean 15” list which highlights these items with minimum residue levels.
Organic label food may cost more than non-organic versions, but buying local and seasonal produce can help support our environment and local economies while helping lower grocery bill expenses. If on a tight budget, ask your grocer what seasonal items they carry or visit local farmers markets to shop local for seasonal foods that might reduce costs further.
