Is there really a difference between organic foods and regular foods? Other than the price?

Organic foods are actually worse for the environment, because they have to take more land to cultivate the same amount of food produced in regular methods.

And anyone who says no needs to get their head examined…

Blessings to all and,
May all be well with you ^_^

They don't last as long, generally aren't as pretty, and are much more environmentally friendly.

Do the noxious chemicals associated with "regular" foods affect their nutritional value or wind up in our systems?

Well. I've studies that some of the genetic modifications (which the FDA proclaimed totally safe without any testing) in plants are showing up in our gut bacteria.

Other than that, I don't think anyone can really say for sure.

The way its grown

"Organic also means no pesticides" thats not true. It means there are less pesticides used, but to use the name "organic" they have to spray a serten number of days before shipping. Want real Organic? Grow your own, or to the farmers market.

I know the prices are higher, but the difference between organic produce and the other, is that organic is not chemically treated. It is really difficult to wash off fruit and veggies that have been sprayed to keep bugs from feasting off them. Some fruits and veggies also absorb the chemicals so that it even affects the core of the fruit and veggies and not just the skin. Some people get sick off the chemicals that are absorbed, so it's worth a little extra so a person won't become ill.

Several, but here's a couple most don't know.



The main fertilizer for organic farming is manure. human or animal waste, which is why 9 of 10 food recalls for disease out breaks come from organic farms. Don't forget to wash your organic veggies very well.



Organic also means no pesticides are used to protect crops from insect pest, which also means organic farms require 1-2 thirds as much tilled (cleared) land to produce the same yeild as those evil farms that do use pesticides or agri-chemicle fertilizers.

(edit to add) if you truley want Organic, grow it your self so you know what's used or not. I have my own plot and can my own produce. if you can't do that then you are at someones mercy.

Yes....the store picks out the bruised fruit and Veggies and call them Organic

that organics are supposed to be produced without synthetic pesticides and grown in synthetic free soil. Of course that is almost impossible these days with all the pollutants we have created. They are everywhere, in our water systems and in the soil. But the idea is to provide an alternative to big agra's destructive and toxic practices.

Organics taste much better (in most cases). Unfortunately big agra has systematically worked at undermining the very intent of organics and organic certification. In recent years legislation has been change to allow for synthetics to be used in organic production.

Monsanto won an important dispute against Whole Foods (and Organic Valley) because their crops have been infiltrating the organics industry. :-(

http://www.prwatch.org/spin/2...


For the persons who want the list of organic certification entities...

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1...


Greed sucks...

organic foods haven't been treated with synthetic chemicals and pesticides. on the other hand, they have been known to contain more dangerous bacteria.

I dunno. Farmers use better manuer.

I think so. Organic is supposedly without additives.

When you look at an apple to buy and you see a worm hole I bet you will not buy it.
Guess what the worm hole tells you the bug has ate it way out of the apple.
That's right the insect is an egg that is deposited on the blossom and when it hatches it eats it way out.

It's a minefield of a topic.



It depends on how "organic" is done. That those who produce such-and-such organic foods don't use synthetic stuff, pesticides or chemical food additives doesn't tell us the whole story that goes into producing organic foods.



For example, what do they feed the chickens that make organic eggs? Do they let them run around so all their systems are optimal? What do "free run" and "cage free" mean anyway? Not much, it turns out. (This is unfortunately a common problem in our "standardized" terms and farming practices.) http://www.straightdope.com/c...


Do farmers of organic crops replenish the soil so that their organic food is truly more nutritious?



So many things go into making one organic food more nutritious and tasty that aren't covered by the term "organic."



Also, the entire globe is one meta system so pollution elsewhere can affect organic foods in "unexpected" ways. That's an issue too.


I'm still going to pick organic though. At least they're not allowed to (directly) use synthetics, pesticides and chemical food additives and claim that their food is organic

No pesticides, no hormones or chemicals injected into them.

There is very little other than self reporting an item as organic. The USDA has no standard definition for organic, nor does it have the manpower to test any item.

I'm honestly not sure. They are supposed to be more natural but I wonder how much more so? I mean they still have to be able to sell as much as anyone else and the food must keep. I don't know??

chem and value

It is mostly done for the price. The cost savings for not using pesticides should make organic cheaper.
We have our own little garden this year and it is providing us with yummy veggies.

Good for you! Do you plan to learn canning in the future?

less chemicals

Who is charged with proving that?

in maui, there was a huge debate over this

That is because it is a farce from the start, nothing more than marketing to dullards.

agreed

Coming from a farming family I can tell you there is prof that health wise there is absolutely not difference. Id prefer not to have bugs in my food so I don't eat organic

other than tasting bad nothing.

Lack of residual pesticides, hormones, exposure to artificial fertilizers. The difference in cost is directly related to increased cost of production. Worth it? Apparently, to some people.

Who assesses what is "lack of"

How about none directly applied. However, with the long half-lifes of our most popular pesticides, there are residuals everywhere because of decades of use. USDA has organic guidelines on almost every food. They must have a couple of million pdfs on file by now.

Guidelines are meaningless when they are dictated by self reporting. It is a farce, as with most things marketed to the ignorant who do not understand how food is produced.

Caveat emptor

Yes, as with all things the uniformed get what they deserve.

Depends on the brand. Some labeled organic are no different, because there are no standards for the word organic and many companies like Kellogs know ignorant buyers will spend more just because its advertised as organic.

Although if you can get some real organic food (I hear the USDA certified is generally accurate and honest) your food will contain no pesticides, not be genetically modified, and all ingredients will naturally occur in nature. People prefer that because even if there is not enough pesticide to kill you, it still negatively affects your digestive system. As for GMO, there are no official safety tests done, and 3rd parties have found horrible results for animals that consume it. immediate affects include just a general weaker health and low energy, but over a few generations the side effects can include infertility and mutations like hair growing in the mouth.

there is SUPPOSED to be. the food is supposed to be free from chemicals and grown in a controlled enviornment but real the control methods for teh food are not uniformed nor are then regularly checked for complience. If you look at the listeria cases in Colorado which came from a farm who had been selling "organic" its simply too hard to "police". If you want good fresh foods then either grow them yourself or go to farmer markets and buy from teh smaller family farms

chemicals

Organics are supposed to be raised without added chemicals and fertilizers.

I'd be impressed on the technique used to create an inorganic egg...or, how do you make inorganic spinach? Although my opinion is not in the least an informed one on the subject matter...I tend to raise eyebrows over labeling. It seems merely by labeling something, a whole multi-billion dollar industry is created.

Men don't simply snore...now they may have sleep apnea: (get that checked out for $10,000...ya nevah know!)

Women don't simply have a period, now they have PMS. Supposedly women were going to drop dead by the 100,000's from Toxic Shock Syndrome...whatever happened to that label??? Guess it did not catch on ...hmmm...

I remember when somoone once bought me some Oreo's that were "50% less fat". It was 50% less cookie!!! They just cut the cookie thinner and put a thinner layer of goo in teh middle! They charge more too! What a rip off! Call me skeptical...:)

DISCLAIMER: I could be wrong.

you have a great sense of humor :-) I love it!