Organic means a food that is grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals, such as organic vegetables, organic fertilizers, or organic farming/methods. Organic foods are good for the environment, but cost more from your pockets. Usually organic foods costs 30% more than non-organic foods, and sometimes are higher.
USDA organic labels:
- 100 Percent Organic: All the ingredients are certified organic.
- Organic: At least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic.
- Made With Organic Ingredients: At least 70% of the ingredients are certified organic.
- Other than the above, you sometimes would see labelled as all–natural or farm-raised, which are not really regulated and don’t mean much.
Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. However, organic food is not pesticide-free food because the farmers can apply ones made from natural ingredients. Research shows that some of the pesticides could be harmful to the environment as the synthetic ones and may be worse.
There are some suggestions for several foods you might eat daily:
- Buy organic: Beef, peanut butter, poultry, pork, and microwave popcorn (for instance, non-organic farms are given sex hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, to cows)
- Buy local: strawberries, apples, peaches, nectarines, potatoes, spinach and kale
- Up to you: avocado and other thick skin produce you toss away, such as pineapples and melon
- Buy conventional: seafood and maple syrup
Because of having less pesticide residue in organic food, but are they really better and safer to eat? Well, “according to Health Canada, there is no evidence to show that it is safer to eat organic foods over conventionally grown foods because of pesticide residue.” (UnlockFood.ca) Most important thing is enjoying your food with delight.
Reference:
- WebMD: Should You Buy Organic?
- UC Davis Health: Are organic foods really healthier? Two pediatricians break it down https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/are-organic-foods-really-healthier-two-pediatricians-break-it-down/2019/04
- Help Guide: Organic Foods: What You Need to Know https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm
- UnlockFood.ca: Understanding Organic Food https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Farming-Food-production/Organic-Foods-and-Growing-Methods-FAQ.aspx
