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Organic Confusion Part One

Written By: Alexandra Perez-Urbina on Monday, July 14, 2008

Is organic produce really better than conventional? Alex gives us the scoop.

A few weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to write a column about organic food, and folks, it was not easy! My kitchen instructors at school do not hold organic food in high esteem, and that is what really perked my interest in the subject. The word "organic," by itself, is somewhat misleading to anyone who understands basic science - I mean the word has many definitions, but essentially, "organic" things are alive or were once alive, are carbon based life-forms, yadda, yadda. My husband and I have been baffled by the use of such a word on produce - conventional or non-conventional, produce is organic. The most frustrating result from all my research is that I found few objective sources and a whole lot of opinions and agendas. I found that both sides scare readers in hopes of conversion; therefore, presenting one-sided evidence.

In my nutrition class we discussed organic food and myths, and I know that perhaps people might disagree with me, but that's okay. In my searches and in my books, I learned that:


  1. organic food is not more nutritious than conventional foods.

  2. organic farms can use all-natural pesticides that are toxic.

  3. organic farms aren't necessarily small or local.

  4. purchasing organic produce doesn't necessarily help the environment.

  5. genetically modified food is not dangerous.

  6. as far as nutrients and the environment go, it's best to go local.



Why isn't organic food necessarily more nutritious than conventional food? The USDA says, "basis of these standards is on process, not product." The only way organic food differs from conventional is on the way it is grown, handled, and processed. Organic food websites insist that organic food is more nutritious because of studies done mostly in Europe, but one must remember that the EU and USA are two different entities with different laws and regulations. For example, the USDA last year allowed 38 inorganic ingredients in organic food, such as celery powder and "fish oil stabilized with organic ingredients or only with ingredients," whatever that means! In fact, the USDA organic seal, simply means that the product is at least 95% organic. If you want true organic food and wine, do your research!

There is a common myth that toxic chemicals are not allowed to be used in organic farming. The USDA allows a list of natural pesticides to be used, and those chemicals are just as harmful to us as man-made chemicals. Rotenone, which has been linked to Parkinson's, is an allowed pesticide in organic farms. If you happen to run into organic produce from a farm that does not use pesticides, be ready to spend a pretty penny on that lettuce!

The word "organic" stamped onto your favorite carrots is pretty much a clever marketing scheme (I believe that Wal*mart is also joining the organic circle), and when something is this big, you can only expect that it comes from big places. Shopping organic is a huge trend now, because of this, many organic farms are big, commercial farms. You're not necessarily helping a little farmer somewhere out in Jersey or Lancaster by purchasing organic from your supermarket.

Organic produce does not necessarily help the environment. If you purchase organic tomatoes from California and you live in New York, those tomatoes have to get to you, either by plane or truck; therefore, the travel contributes to the carbon footprint. There's also no real guarantee that organic food is grown and processed in organic methods. There's no real telling of what goes on in farms and how much of an eye the government can keep on them.

My nutrition textbook states that genetic modification and irradiation are in a gray area, where they might be included in the organic label. This causes a problem when someone purchases organic products thinking that they are free of genetic modification or irradiation. In defense of genetically modified food, it is safe as there is no evidence proving otherwise.

Genetically modified foods can be a little scary in the sense that produce could be made to be resistant to certain herbicides, but at the same time, foods can be made to be richer in micronutrients. I recently read an article written by Lee Silver of Princeton University where he argues that genetic modification could be used to turn off plant allergen genes (I look forward to the day I can eat strawberries!)! Also, with all of the animals we eat, our planet could benefit from animals that emit less methane. Most of us are not going to stop eating meat and cheese because it's bad for the environment, so we have to find ways to work around this problem and genetic modification could get us closer to a happier medium.

To be continued...

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aperez
Philadelphia, PA
Posted on 7/18/08

I believe that the best way to support organic is to support your local organic farmers. I don't know how whole foods handles organic foods, where they are coming from, or how they are being treated, but look for "100% organic," and avoid the "natural" label as it legally means absolutely nothing.


apples7
Santa Barbra, CA
Posted on 7/16/08

So spending the extra 20% on whole foods may be something I should look into more. I am by no means a tree hugger, but have supported the organic movement... good clarity.

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