Anything organic is supposed to help save the planet, or so the media keeps saying. You probably noticed how much more organic foods cost to ‘regular’ foods. Is there really much of a difference – or is this just another excuse to legally raise prices? Although this writer loves a good conspiracy theory, there isn’t any evil conspiracy to fleece the public by labeling something organic. There essentially is a difference in organic foods from regular foods.
The most important difference in organic foods from regular foods is in how they’re grown. The farm isn’t to use any chemical manure or insecticides. More and more, organic foods are also made in as least packaging as possible, and with recycled packaging, too. But when organic foods are certified, the United States Department of Agriculture usually just checks on growing conditions for certification criteria.
The USDA’s organic certification is considered pretty lax, but it is still better than nothing. Many states in America have their own organic certification program, which are usually tougher because there’s less area to patrol and less farms to check out than with an entire nation.
Europe’s organic foods licenses standards are thought to be far tougher ( and so, more ‘organic’ ) with France being the most well-liked by organic foods promoters. In Europe, organic foods can’t be genetically altered and cattle can’t be raised with expansion hormones.
Processed organic foods do exist, even if they’re put together in factories. They’re called mutli-ingredient foods, and need to be licensed organic to be legally sold as organic. At least 70% of the ingredients used in the canned soup, bag of pretzels or whatever have to be from organic foods.
Taboo Practices Some of the forbidden practices that will make a food item loose organic certification can make you grovel. These practices include ‘ingredients that have been produced using sewage sludge’ and any ingredients that have been irradiated. Let’s look up ’sewage sludge’, shall we?
Sewage sludge is also known as biosolids, is mostly black goopy water left behind after it has gone through sewage treatment plants. It is certainly high in organic material, because it’s harder to get anything more organic than excrement. It’s been used as farm manure in numerous states for years. There is concern about the affects of long term use.
Sounds really appetizing, doesn’t it? Whenever you see organic foods, you know they have nothing to do with sewage sludge. That alone is worth paying a little additional for.