What Makes Organic Food Organic?

As one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. agriculture, the organic food industry continues to enrich consumer’s bodies with wholesome nutrients. But let us first define organic – according to the University of Florida, ” for food to qualify as organic, it must meet the standards of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Program standards (which were first implemented Oct. 2001). Organic food is defined by the production practices that cannot be used. According to the USDA, organic foods are produced without using most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or sewage sludge, and they are processed without using ionizing radiation. It must be free of GMO’s and organic poultry, eggs, meat, and dairy products must come from animals that were given no antibiotics or growth hormones. For food to qualify as organic in Florida it must meet these standards:

1. Prior to certification, the land must be free of prohibited substances for three years.

2. A certifying agency annually inspects farms/processor operations.

3. Farmers and processors must keep detailed records of organic practices

4. All farmers and handlers are required to maintain a written organic management plan.

 

Now, it is understandable why organic food is so much more expensive. However, there is always the toss up – do I purchase non-organic and risk my health or do I cough up the cash and make it happen. Of course, not all food purchased must be organic (please see post “I’ll have a strawberry – hold the pesticides) and after my previous post regarding Monsanto it becomes clear why organic food may be the better option. The key is to have a well-rounded knowledge of the foods you are consuming, and how they may affect you and future generations.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “foods that have more than one ingredient, such as breakfast cereal, can use the USDA organic seal plus additional wording. For foods to be 100% organic they must be made of entirely organic ingredients, but for foods that are simply organic they must contain at least 95% organic ingredients. Also, products that are made with at least 70% organic ingredients may be labeled “made with organic ingredients,” but cannot use the USDA seal. Despite this crash course on organic food, it is important you know what you are putting into your body.

 

Monsanto – Skull and Crossbones Required with it’s Name

Over the years it has become evident that Monsanto, an international bio-tech conglomerate, is the lead producer of GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) and Roundup. These products may seem innocent, but their atrocities go far beyond consumer’s eyes.  From altering the genetic make up of seeds to make them sterile so they cannot produce crops after one use to hindering consumer’s knowledge by refusal of honest labeling, Monsanto is all to powerful.

Over fifty countries have halted the use of Monsanto seeds. It was quite obvious when Haiti refused to take Monsanto seeds after suffering from an earthquake that this company is in fact hated. Unfortunately, Monsanto continues its reign of terror within the United States as consumers are blissfully ignorant to the harm they are doing to their bodies.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup (which is sprayed on almost all vegetation) is the main contributor of ” inflammatory bowel disease, entropy, obesity, depression, ADHD, autism, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, cancer, muscle wasting disease, infertility and developmental malformations, according to Anthony Samsel, an independent scientist and Dr. Stephanie Seneff, an MIT computer science and artificial laboratory scientist.

In 2008, President Obama promised voters that he would require Monsanto to label its products. Instead, Obama appointed many former employees of Monsanto to the White House. For example, Tom Vilsack as the Head of the Department of Agriculture,  Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagen (formally a Monsanto lawyer) as well as Hillary Clinton who was also formally a Monsanto Lawyer. This is quite alarming, as some of the most powerful people in the White House have such close ties to this monstrosity.

As consumers we should constantly be looking at our labels to maintain our health. In a sense, Monsanto’s use of Roundup and GMO’s have taken away our basic rights as humans to live off of the earth without worry. It can be safe to ask the question – will we ever regain this right?

I’ll Have a Strawberry, Hold the Pesticides

Photo By Sharon Mollerus

With the demand of food constantly rising, frazzled farmers are looking for innovative methods to produce the most produce efficiently. Unfortunately, these methods  can result in harmful pesticides/insecticides that are absorbed into the foods we consume on a regular basis. Some foods are more susceptible to pesticide absorption than others, but either way chemicals are not meant for eating. It can be difficult (and costly) to purchase all produce organic, but by being selective about a grocery purchase can save your health.

They call it the “dirty dozen,” the foods that you MUST purchase in the organic section, and surprisingly these foods are most common in everyday households. The encouragement of “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” may no longer hold water, because it is the pesticides that are absorbed into the apple that send people to the doctor. This depressing oxymoron depicts today’s world, were there is not enough food to sustain the plant and we (as species) have resorted to altering our food to make ends meet. So, in an effort to rewind and get back to a place of whole natural foods for our bodies, below is a list of produce that have a high pesticide/insecticide absorption rate.

1. Apples

2. Strawberries

3. Grapes

4. Celery

5. Peaches

6. Spinach

7. Sweet Bell Peppers

8. Imported Nectarines

9. Cucumbers

10. Cherry Tomatoes

11. Imported Sugar Snap Peas

12. Potatoes

13. Kale/Collard Greens

 

The “dirty dozen” has been revised over the past few years, hence why there are 13. Although this list may appear daunting, there are quite a few foods that have a low pesticide/insecticide rate, or the “the clean 15.”

1. Avocado

2. Sweet Corn

3. Pineapples

4. Cabbage

5. Sweet Peas (frozen)

6. Onions

7. Asparagus

8. Mangoes

9. Papayas

10. Kiwi

11. Eggplant

12. Grapefruit

13. Cantaloupe

14. Cauliflower

15. Sweet Potatoes

The good news here is that regular potatoes, which are incredibly starchy and high in carbohydrates, have a higher pesticide absorption rate. Whereas sweet potatoes, are high in numerous vitamins, and  have a low pesticide absorption rate. Although organic produce may be a healthier option, there are other non-organic alternatives that do not necessarily make you cringe when you bite into them.