What's Up With Organic?

Ever wondered if it's worth the extra money to buy organic and what organic even means? Let's break it down.

What does organic mean?
·Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, or GMOS
·Organic farming DOES still use pesticides. They just have to be from “natural origin”. That does not mean that they aren’t toxic. Organic agriculture does limit pesticides tending to use them more as a last resort.
·Lower use of pesticides = fewer residues.
·To be labeled organic, a food product has to be free of artificial food additives. This includes artificial sweeteners, preservatives, coloring, flavoring, and MSG.

Organic Livestock:
·Cannot be given antibiotics or growth hormones.
·Produced without genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge.
·Managed in a way that conserves natural resources and biodiversity.
·Allowed year-round access to the outdoors except under specific conditions (e.g., inclement weather).
·Raised on certified organic land meeting all organic crop production standards.
·Raised per animal health and welfare standards.

USDA Guidelines
·100% Organic:
This label is used on fruits, veggies, eggs, meats, & other foods that have one ingredient or foods with multiple ingredients that are all certified organic.
·Organic:
At least 95% of ingredients are certified organic. The items that aren’t organic have to be from a USDA list of approved additional ingredients.
·Made with Organic:
Product with many ingredients that has at least 70% certified organic ingredients. Ingredient list must say which items are organic. Can’t have USDA seal.
·Organic Ingredients:
Some organic ingredients but less than 70%. Cannot be labeled as organic or have USDA seal.

Potential Benefits:
·Nutrients: Studies have shown small to moderate increases in some nutrients in organic produce. Organic produce may also have more antioxidants and vitamins.
·Omega-3 fatty acids: The feeding requirements for organic farm animals (closer to their natural diet) causes higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. These higher omega-3 fatty acids are found in organic meats, dairy and eggs.
·Toxic metals: Cadmium is a toxic chemical naturally found in soils and absorbed by plants. Studies have shown much lower cadmium levels in organic grains, but not fruits and vegetables.
·Pesticide residue: Compared with produce grown using conventional methods, organically grown produce has lower levels of pesticide residue. The safety rules for the highest levels of residue allowed on conventional produce have changed. In many cases, the levels have been lowered. Organic produce may have residue because of pesticides approved for organic farming or because of airborne pesticides from conventional farms.
·Bacteria: Meats produced using conventional methods may have higher amounts of dangerous types of bacteria.The overall risk of contamination of organic foods with bacteria is the same as conventional foods.

Tips:
·Choose a variety of foods from a mix of sources. You'll get a better variety of nutrients and lower your chance of exposure to a single pesticide.
·Buy fruits and vegetables in season and locally when you can. Buy meat, dairy, and eggs locally when possible.
·Soak fresh fruits and vegetables in a water and baking soda mixture. Then rinse well under running water. Throwing away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables can lessen contaminants. Peeling fruits and vegetables can remove contaminants but may also cut nutrients.

So, is organic worth it?
It depends. To me, supporting local farmers is most important. Many farmers use organic methods but can't afford to pay for the USDA label. I will always prioritize buying organic animal products over conventional to avoid hormones, antibiotics and grain heavy (unnatural diets). A downside to organic foods is that they are obviously more expensive. You can look up the EWG "clean 15" and "dirty dozen" list to prioritize which produce to buy organic. Use this as a resource to make your own informed decisions when considering purchasing organic or conventional.