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I'm not trying to be provocative with that headline, I truly am curious about how people feel about this. Let me start by confessing that buying organic foods isn't always my number one priority when I'm deciding what to cook, so don't think I'm claiming to be any kind of expert. In fact, when BlogHer Community Manager Denise asked me if I'd write about organic food for BlogHer's Every Day is Earth Day spotlight, I wasn't sure I wanted to, until I thought about what a great learning opportunity it would be for me.
Of course I don't want to eat foods that have been sprayed with pesticides. Actually, in spite of my organic food apathy, I'm probably more concerned about healthy eating than the average grocery shopper, and there are some organic foods I buy regularly (like Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes, which absolutely taste better than other canned tomatoes!) I do love the idea behind organic food production, but price is also an issue for me when I'm shopping for food, and I sometimes wonder if organic red bell peppers are worth $2.99 each when commercially grown ones are on sale for $.99. I found a few answers, but also a lot more questions when I was writing this piece, and I'd love to keep learning more about the topic, so hopefully BlogHer readers will chime in with comments or links to continue the discussion.
There Are Strict Government Standards for Organic Labeling
Just what does organic food mean? I consulted the USDA website to learn about standards for organic foods in the U.S. The U.S.D.A. seal tells you that a food is at least 95 % organic, although the U.S.D.A. states up front that they're making no claim that organic foods are better for you than commercially produced ones. USDA standards have been in place since October 2002, and here's the summary of how organic food is defined
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.
Reasons People Give for Choosing Organic Foods
Although organic foods account for only a small (but growing) percentage of world food sales, people who care about buying organic are passionate about the topic. At A Lucid Spoonful, Paula tells us Why I Eat Organic Food, and Why You Should Too. She compares the price differences in organic and commercially produced vegetables and concludes it's worth it to her to have food that's pesticide-free and grown in ways that don't harm the environment, and claims "cleaner and less processed food means more nutritional content." A very comprehensive post about the basics of organic food at Treehugger expands on reasons people in that community consider organic food so important. I also found a great list of Reasons to Buy Organic at Whole Foods Whole Green Blog.
There's Not Complete Agreement that Organic Foods Are More Healthful
Proving the health benefits of organic food is a complicated prospect, with many studies often contradicting each other. SFGate reported in November 2007 about recent studies finding higher nutrient levels in organic crops. However, in the same article UC Davis food scientist Alyson Mitchel cautions that you can't generalize that higher nutrient levels measured in food in a laboratory means consumers are getting more nutrients, and clarifies that "market studies" attempting to prove that organic foods are better have all failed. Other scientists are reporting results that are more certain. In the U.K a four-year study concluding in late 2007 reported conclusively that organic food is better than regular produce. Of course, there's more to health
