Everyday, people ask me: Why don’t I consume more organic food? Isn’t it much better and safer?
I think almost everyone has some wrong perception there.
Let me quote.
USDA proposal itself noted that, “No distinctions should be made between organically and non-organically produced products in terms of quality, appearance, or safety.” In other words, no claim should be made that the foods themselves are better—or even different!
Some will then say: Pesticides leh?
Let me quote too:
In 1997, Consumer Reports purchased about a thousand pounds of tomatoes, peaches, green bell peppers, and apples in five cities and tested them for more than 300 synthetic pesticides. Traces were detected in 77% of conventional foods and 25% of organically labeled foods, but only one sample of each exceeded the federal limit [14].
So, lets wake up. Traces are found BOTH in conventional food and organic food.
Do not kid ourselves.
(and these are done in America, where they have more stringent standard!)
Maybe my turn to ask you: Why are you paying more for organic food?
i think the only organic food worth eating are the ones u grow yourself.
Ah..that one is really organic. if not, why bother! eat la processed food….might as well enjoy it mah!!!
WAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKKAAKAKAKAK
mott jiejie, wah. You are radical
At the other side of the debate is genetically modified food.
Europeans prefer organic food and against GM food. However, some researchers argue that some GM food are more nutritious. For example, GM salmon with added omega 3.
I have no idea which is better.
khengsiong, another factor we have to consider is our global warming effect
As almost every other country which produce crops is / will face drought
And if they develop some drought resistant crops
Do we have a choice to say No to it?
Can we say we rather starve?
Good point actually. Kudos for doing the research and not following the company line
yenjai,
Thanks for this. Now I can show refer your blog to anyone who keeps on saying organic food is more healthy!
blardy hippies eat organic!
good posting … i’m with you
i’m not oppose with organic food, however i not willing to pay dear money for it.
friend of mine obsessed so much with organic food and criticised what i eat, i’m sick with it!!!!!!
Blardy RICH hippies you mean, wuching. Personally, I really don’t care, as long as it’s not hospital food. That’s IN-organic food!
green, I didn’t do the research
It was done by Quackwatch
Yenjai,
Continue from your comment (4):
Proponents of organic food are mostly well off people. They can afford to buy organic food even if price goes up. Food probably account for a few percent of their income.
Poor Africans may spend half their income on food, but that is NOT of the concern of the organic food lovers.
Organic foods are produced according to a certain production standards, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.
We’re not just paying for better quality food, but also helping the environment, fertilizers and pesticides are bad for our environment and antibiotics on animals aren’t good for end users too. Organic food are expensive because they aren’t easy to grow without the use (or little use) of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.
Of course, the pesticides and artificial fertilizers might still exists, but in your post, it quotes only 25% of organic food has it compare to the 77% of conventional food.
The price might keep most of us away from buying it but I’m sure if the demand is high, the price will come down a bit…
I don’t mind paying 10-15% extra for organic food but not more than that.
Eric
So lets argue a bit on 2 of the points
1) If we are concerned about the pesticides and fertilizers in the food
Then the “organic food” industry should be totally revamp
The end product should be sent for validation, that no pesticides or fertilizer is detectable
Only such product can be called organic product
How can we trust to pay for something which is purely base on entirely something else?
why validate the ‘farming practise’?
When you validate that a car is safe, do you validate just the process of making the car, without touching the car itself?
2) If we are really keen to do something on the environment, as to promote a better environment, then shouldn’t we call a spade a spade?
Lets just ask everyone to come out with money to improve on the environment, instead of through a disguise?
organic tak organic, i sapu juge..
eh organic food is from my moms garden where she use pee and poo to fertilize wan…. Joking Joking..
But seriously, where got pesticide free wan? Sendiri tanam like that gordon cook guy la. Then its organic la.
I don’t mind to take organic food if the price is same like ordinary food… hehe
aiyah… dun care for organic food lah! So expensive! Going to eat sweet potatoes and tapioca if rice hike still continue…..