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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of organic fruits?

Organic foods are free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. They also contain more nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, E, and K, plus omega-3 fatty acids. These nutritious ingredients make organic foods better for our bodies, and for the planet.

Organic foods are produced with sustainable farming practices that promote soil quality and biological diversity. They are free from harmful chemicals, radiation, and sewage sludge.

Many organic products are not associated with produce. They include dairy and meat, poultry, eggs baked goods, pet food, household cleaning supplies, and personal care products.

The USDA defines organic as crops grown in accordance with strict federal regulations. To grow these foods, farmers cannot use non-organic (or conventional) methods. However, they can use approved organic pest control methods like crop rotation and covering cropping or animal feed made with organic materials.

Additionally, the farmer must adhere to guidelines concerning the amount of fertilizer and pesticide that he uses during the growing seasons and how he rotates his fields among various crops. GMOs, artificial growthhormones, synthetic insecticides, and synthetic fertilizers cannot be used by farmers.

All the above requirements are met by vegetables and fruits that are labeled "100% Organic". But some farms do not label their products as 100% organic because it would confuse consumers. Instead, they will call their product "made using organic ingredients." "

Is organic a guarantee that the product is pesticide-free

Organic food is organic and free of pesticides. This means that organic foods are not subject to chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

Because it is free from harmful additives, organic produce has higher nutritional value than conventionally produced food.

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) requires farmers to follow strict guidelines for growing crops certified as organic.

These guidelines include soil preparation and crop rotation, pest management, water conservation, as well as harvesting practices.

Organic farming also promotes healthy ecosystems which are beneficial to wildlife and natural habitats.

Is organic food better for us?

According to the Environmental Working Group's recent report on pesticide residues within foods, organic fruits & vegetables contained nearly half of the pesticides that non-organic varieties. They discovered that organic apples contained eight more pesticides per gram than non-organic ones, while organic strawberries contained four times as many pesticides.

Other studies suggest that eating organic food reduces exposure to toxic metals like lead and mercury. For example, one study showed that children who ate organic meat had 33 percent lower blood lead levels than those who didn't consume organic meats. Another study concluded that pregnant mothers should avoid eating conventional fish because of the high levels mercury.

Overall, organic food does seem to be safer than its non-organic counterpart. Experts recommend that fresh produce and vegetables be used whenever possible to reduce your chances of developing cancer.

Why should you buy organic?

Conventional agriculture has been linked to several health problems, including asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, cancer, birth defects, hormone imbalances, and other diseases. It is important to make informed choices about food purchases.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), offers these tips to help you choose "cleaner" foods:

Buy organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

USDA organic labels should be used on meat, poultry and eggs as well as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, honey, and other dairy products.

Avoid processed foods marked "natural" or with "no additives."

Make sure you read through all the ingredients. If an ingredient is not listed, it can be added during processing.

Frozen and canned meats should be preferred to fresh. Cans and frozen foods are often less nutritious than fresh meats, such as high fructose corn syrup.

Statistics

• Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids were up to 50 percent higher in organic meats and milk than in conventionally raised products.[3] (en.wikipedia.org)
• To provide the highest quality products and services to every customer, with a dedicated workforce that puts the customer first and takes the extra step to achieve 100% customer satisfaction and loyalty. (hollinsorganic.com)
• When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic [specific ingredient or food group],” they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. (usda.gov)
• As for organic meat, regulations require that animals be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviours (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones. (usda.gov)

External Links

ecfr.gov

• eCFR :: Home

ewg.org

• Summary


• Clean Fifteen(tm). Conventional Produce with the Least Pesticides

doi.org

• Occupational Pesticide Exposures and Cancer risk: A Review: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part B Vol 15, No 4


• Genetically modified foods: Safety, Risks and Public Concerns - A Review - Journal of Food Science and Technology

sciencedirect.com

• The impact of organic food on human health: Assessment of the status quo, prospects for research - ScienceDirect


• Technical note: Simultaneous analysis of vitamin and carotenoid content in milk from cows fed total mixed rations. Xanthophyll detection is possible - ScienceDirect

How To

Organic foods: Are they safer and more nutritious?

Organic food is produced without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. They are grown under natural conditions without artificial inputs such as fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetic engineering. Cover crops, crop rotation, crop rotation, composting animal manure as well as recycling wastewater are all organic farming practices.

In 2002, USDA National Organic Programs (NOP) were established to regulate the production and handling of organic products that are sold in the United States. NOP regulations ensure organic agricultural products conform to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Organic products must also be free from banned substances, such as pesticides residues, growth hormones and irradiation.

The United States offers two certification programs for producers that want their products to be certified organic: one for farmers, ranchers and the other for manufacturers. Both programs require annual audits of operations to verify compliance with rigorous standards. These services are offered by several certifying agencies, including CCOF Certified Organic Farmers & Ranchers and Quality Assurance International. All three organizations provide third-party verification of farms' adherence to strict guidelines regarding environmental stewardship, labour practices, and livestock care.

According to USDA's Economic Research Service in 2013, organic agriculture generated $4.7 billion in revenue. The retail spending on organic products accounted for nearly $1.5 billion in 2013, a 23 percent increase over 2009. Sales at grocery stores were up 12 percent during this period. Spending directly on organic produce grew by 29 percent while that on meat, poultry, eggs and seafood only grew by 1 percent.

While organic food may be more expensive, consumers think its superior quality justifies the higher price. According to a 2015 survey conducted by Consumer Reports, 88 percent of respondents said they would pay more for organic food if it meant higher nutritional value. Health Affairs also published a study showing that organic foods are less likely for people to get heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or obesity.

Although there is no evidence eating organic foods prevents or treats any diseases, some studies suggest that consuming them might improve overall health by reducing exposure to specific contaminants and pesticides. For example, a review of 31 studies published in 2010 concluded that organically raised beef had significantly lower levels of toxic chemicals and parasites than conventionally raised beef. A separate analysis of eleven studies published in 2012 led to similar conclusions.

The Environmental Working Group released a report in 2014 that analyzed data from USDA's Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. They found that there was a decrease in foodborne illness due to E.coli, salmonella, listeria moncytogenes or campylobacter. The group also observed that E.coliO157 is a less prevalent cause of illness in humans among children than adults. This was because the USDA has imposed stricter organic standards on animals raised for human consumption.