Organic Foods

Introduction

Organically grown foods are foods that are grown or processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

  • Organic farmers attempt to protect the environment by using natural matter (e.g., aged manure, humus, and compost) for fertilizer and biologic methods of pest control (e.g., crop rotation and natural insect predators like lady bugs).
  • Livestock and poultry used for egg, dairy, and meat production are raised on organically grown feed, without antibiotics or hormones, and provided with access to the outdoors.



Increased Demand

The increased demand for organically grown food can be attributed to:

  • Concern that pesticides and chemical fertilizers have adverse health effects
  • Concern about environmental effects of pesticides and chemical fertilizers
  • Concern about adverse developmental and health effects from ingesting meat from animals treated with antibiotics, sex steroids, and hormone supplementation
  • Concern about the nutritional adequacy of foods grown by conventional agriculture

In short, organically grown foods are promoted as and perceived by consumers to be healthier than conventionally grown foods.



Cost

Typically, organically grown foods cost 15-50% more than conventionally grown foods, but the price gap has been shrinking over time. The reasons for the higher cost include

  • The smaller supply
    • Organic farmers are fewer and crop yields are smaller.
  • The increased cost of certification
  • The increased labour intensity of growing foods without synthetic pesticides and chemicals.



Food Safety

In general, the traces of pesticide residue that are found in conventionally grown food pose little threat to human health.

  • Most pesticides begin to break down soon after application with exposure to sunlight and rain; they continue to break down after harvest. Additional pesticide reduction can be achieved through washing, peeling, cooking, or processing of foodstuffs.
  • However, foetuses, infants, and children may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of pesticides than are adults.

Limited evidence suggests that the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in conventionally grown (nonorganic) foods may be related to the routine use of antibiotics in livestock production.

There is no evidence that organic foods have higher nutritional quality than conventionally produced foods.



Summary

Ultimately, the decision of whether to buy organic food is a personal one.

  • Some people choose to buy organic food because they believe it is healthier, while others choose to buy it because they believe it is better for the environment.



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