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Organic food
From WikiVerde
Contents |
More on Food and Nutrition
Organic Food
Definition
Organic food means producing food plants in the natural way i.e., without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and sewage sludge. The International Organic Certification society deems it compulsory for a country’s food produce to be more than 95% organic in nature. Organic foods are generally more tasteful and can have a higher nutritional value. They are also environmental-friendly however, these foods cost more.
Environmental-friendly Organic Food: • Organic food plants make minimal or zero use of artificial additives of fertilizers and pesticides. This keeps the top soil layer natural and clean preventing and minimizing the seepage of nitrogen and other harmful liquids into deep soil layers.
• Organic food production reduces the danger of global warming, earth shocks and greenhouse gas emissions as harmful liquids transform into deadly gas fumes and float into the atmosphere.
• Organic food plants successfully sustain different ecosystems of human, animal and plant life.
• Organic food farms are energy efficient utilizing less energy per square area or yield as compared to traditional food farms.
Identifying Organic Food
In earlier times, organic food was grown and sold by the farmer directly to the consumer. Today, organic packaged food is sold in supermarkets under government regulations. USA and Australia lead the way in the manufacture and sale of organic food. Sales of organic food production have been increasing consistently by 1-2% in the world. The growing demand for organic food can be seen as the direct cause of a health-conscious modern society. Organic food is usually sold under a few select brand names of:
• Australia – NASAA Organic School
• Britain – Soil Association, Organic Farmers and Organic Growers
• Canada – Canada Gazette, Government of Canada
• European Union – EU- eco regulation
• Japan – JAS Standards
• United States – OCIA, Quality Assurance International
• India and Sweden – National Organic Standards
Reasons for Choosing Organic Food
Meeting stringent standards: A consumer knows that organic food is pure and natural. Organic food has to be packaged in recyclable bags and sold with government quality assurance. This assumes the role of public assurance that the food is not harmful in any way. It is a way of certifying that the organic food is not composed of any toxic ingredients and has not been grown with the help of fertilizers.
Organic food taste: All well-balanced healthy organic food has a great nutritional value and better taste. A study done in 2001 by Washington State University comparing organic apples to traditionally grown apples found that the sugar ratio in the organic apples was less acidic in nature.
Organic production reduces health risks: EPA argues that 60% of all herbicides i.e. weed killers, 90% of fungicides and mold killers including 30% of all insecticides -- insect killers are potential causes of cancer. Organic farming keeps harmful chemicals and pesticides out of the food and beverages consumed. It also reduces and minimizes the use of antibiotics in animal feed, thereby reducing and nullifying the formation of dangerous antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Organic farms also benefit the farm workers by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and synthetic pesticides.
Organic farms respect planets Earth’s water sources: The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching in combination with soil building helps to protect and preserve water resources. Organic farming reduces toxic farming runoff and pollutants that serve to contaminate water, soil and air.
Organic farmers build soil: Organic food production helps in the maintenance of soil quality eradicating and minimizing the danger of soil erosion. It also reduces pressure on the top soil preventing contamination with harmful chemicals. Soil is the foundation of the food chain and the primary focus of organic farming.
Organic food is natural and safe: Organic agriculture is based on the concept and principle of balancing a healthy ecosystem. Organic farming helps to preserve the three vital ecosystems imperative to the existence of a safe and natural environment. Organic production follows the natural agricultural method of rotating crops and retaining fence rows, wetlands and other natural areas.
Pioneering research for better lifestyles: Organic farmers believe in innovative on-farm research aimed at reducing pesticide use and minimizing agriculture’s impact on the environment. Organic farming is better for the environment and business. It is energy efficient providing nutritious mass-produced food.
Organic food production is diverse: Organic food production is preferred as it gives farmers the opportunity to grow and produce high rich yields of diverse fruits and vegetables. Similarly, consumers are afforded the chance to experience a wide range of food products which are natural in nature.
A healthy lifestyle: When people eat healthy, they live healthy. Naturally well-balanced foods increase longevity as well as the quality of life.
Organic Foods and Human Health
Organic food production will continue to rise as more and more people come to realize the benefits of healthy eating and drinking. As the United Nations predicts, the pace of modern life has made human beings, of all ages, extremely susceptible to respiratory, cognitive and blood ailments. One of the primary reasons seems to be the unhealthy food being consumed. Organic food is natural and pure and so largely preferred. Organic food helps in a variety of ways:
• Increases muscular agility and coordination.
• Increases and builds up the immune system.
• Maintains a healthy level of red, blood cells.
• Regulates natural bacteria produced in the body to fight foreign bodies.
• Keeps cognitive functions active and virile.
• Maintains and increases human libido and energy.
Organic Food Sales
In the USA, organic food sales hit highs with a total of 20% in 2007. This included food production as well as diary produce. Organic food is sold in more than 20,000 manufacturing stores across the country. It is sold in separate aisles in more than 75% of traditional retail groceries.
Austria produces organic food supplies of more than 11.6% yearly. It produces more than 8000 verities of organic foods. These supplies are neatly packaged in reusable and recycling paper and put up for sale in more than 49% of retail stores across the country.
