Tips on Buying "Organic" Foods

Shoppers may see signs and labels promoting organic foods in the grocery store. But many consumers are confused about what exactly makes a product "organic"; what are the advantages of buying organic and whether organics cost more. Tricia DiPersio, a registered dietician from the Wild Oats Marketplace is here with some useful advice on buying organic foods.

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Certified Organic Is Better Any Way You Slice It

Organic is better for all people and our planet. Whether you choose to eat healthy or not, purchasing certified organic products makes a huge impact on the environment and your personal health.

Consumers typically do pay a premium for organic food, but when they choose organic, they also get more nutritional value for their dollar -- and more nutrients per calorie consumed. The higher levels of antioxidants in organic foods, in particular, are powerful allies in promoting healthy immune systems, and in avoiding disease and damage to cells caused, or made worse, by inflammation.

Purchasing certified organic products helps eliminate the use of growth hormones, genetically engineered drugs and feeds and reduces the amount of pesticides going into drinking water.

Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are four times more likely to contain pesticide residues compared to organic produce. In a study, conducted in USA this year, involving 23 school-aged children showed they all tested positive for exposure to one of the riskiest class of insecticides called organophosphates (OP) after consuming conventional foods. After the children switched to organic sources of the same foods for just five days, levels of OP insecticides had virtually disappeared. After just three days back on conventional foods, OP levels went right back up to their pre-study numbers.

Organic can no longer be a small movement. If we want to reap the real benefits of organic, we are going to have to produce more of it. The products that do carry the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic seal, are doing the right thing and are heavily regulated.

For more information,visit the link below:

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=173471

The European Union has banned the use of soft PVC plastic in pacifiers, bite rings, and other teething toys. Mattel Inc., a leading toy manufacturer, also recently pledged to remove PVC from its products and to switch to plant-based plastics.

In 1991, UNICEF and the World Health Organization launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to ensure that all maternities—whether free standing or in hospitals—become centers of breastfeeding support. A designated “baby-friendly” maternity facility doesn't accept free or lowcost breast milk substitutes, feeding bottles, or teats and implements specific steps to support successful breastfeeding.

Since the BFHI began, more than 15,000 facilities in 134 countries have been awarded baby-friendly status. In Cuba, where 49 of the country's 56 hospitals and maternity facilities are baby-friendly, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at four months almost tripled in six years—from 25 percent in 1990 to 72 percent in 1996.

The British Soil Association reported in 2003 that 75 percent of British babies now eat organic baby food on a regular basis.

Organic baby food is one of the fastest growing segments of the organic food market, and the range of selections is expanding rapidly. U.S. supermarket sales of organic baby food increased nearly 2,200 percent between 1989 and 1995—from $1 million to $25 million—while overall baby food sales grew just 20 percent, to $1 billion.

In the late 1990s, the German baby food manufacturer Hipp converted all of its production lines to organic—making it one of the world’s leading organic food processors.

December 05, 2005 03:31 PM US Eastern Timezone Organic and Functional Foods Have Plenty of Room to Grow, According to New ACNielsen Global Study NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2005--

U.S. Consumers Among Least Likely to Buy Organics Regularly; Price is Main Deterrent to Buying Organics; Lack of Confidence in Health Benefits, Poor Taste Main Deterrents to Buying Functional Foods

U.S. consumers are among the least likely shoppers from around the world to regularly purchase organic food and beverage products, according to a new online global survey from ACNielsen, the world's leading provider of consumer and marketplace information. Asked about their purchasing of organic alternatives from 11 food and beverage categories, just 6 to 15 percent of U.S. consumers said they purchase such products regularly - well short of the average among consumers from all 38 markets included in the study. Regularly Buy Organic Alternative
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Product Category Global Average U.S. Consumers
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Eggs 32% 15%
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Vegetables 29% 15%
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Fruit 28% 15%
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Dairy (milk, cheese) 23% 14%
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Fresh Meat 21% 12%
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Fruit Juice 20% 11%
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Poultry 18% 12%
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Tea 18% 12%
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Packaged Food 11% 9%
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Deli Meats 11% 6%
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Carbonated Beverages 9% 7%
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Across all regions, the main reason for purchasing organic food and beverages is that consumers believe such products are healthier for them. The secondary reason cited by consumers in all regions except Europe is the perceived health benefits for the shoppers' children. In Europe, more people cited benefits for the environment as their secondary reason to purchase organics. Top Reasons for Buying Organic Products
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Product Category Global Average U.S. Consumers
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Healthier for me 51% 56%
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Healthier for my children 17% 18%
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Better for environment 15% 12%
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Kinder to animals 7% 2%
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For those who never buy organic food or beverage products, which includes 40 to 72 percent of U.S. consumers, depending on the category, the main deterrent is price. Top Reasons for Not Buying Organic Products
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Product Category Global Average U.S. Consumers
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Too expensive 41% 42%
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Not sold where I shop 16% 18%
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Don't believe food labeled as
organic is really produced the
way it is said to be 14% 6%
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Don't believe it is healthier 9% 10%
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Don't like the taste 4% 9%
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"How mainstream organic products become, to a significant degree, depends on what happens with their prices," according to Tom Markert, ACNielsen Chief Marketing Officer. "But I'm not expecting large price cuts. Even as production increases and the number of categories that include organic offerings expands, marketers may very well opt to maintain organics' upscale positioning."
The survey also asked respondents about their purchasing of so-called "Functional Foods" - products fortified with added vitamins or supplements and promoting specific health benefits. Unlike organic products, U.S. consumers are much more closely aligned with the global averages for functional foods purchasing. In fact, in 5 of the 10 categories included in the survey, a greater percentage of U.S. consumers said they regularly purchase such products than the global averages. Regularly Buy Functional Foods
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Functional Food Global Average U.S. Consumers
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Whole grain, high fiber
products 40% 50%
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Iodine enhanced cooking salt 33% 30%
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Cholesterol reducing oils &
margarines 31% 36%
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Fruit juices with added
supplements/vitamins 29% 29%
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Yogurts with acidophilus
cultures/probiotics 25% 21%
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Milk with added
supplements/vitamins 18% 25%
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Bread with added
supplements/vitamins 17% 24%
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Fermented drinks containing
good bacteria 16% 4%
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Soy milk 14% 8%
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Cereal with added folate 11% 14%
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Among U.S. consumers who do not buy functional foods, the most frequently cited reasons were doubts about the products' health claims and taste considerations. Top Reasons Why U.S. Consumers Do Not Buy Functional Foods
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Don't
believe Don't Too Not sold
Functional Food they offer like the expen- where I Poor
additional taste sive shop quality
health
benefits
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Whole grain, high fiber
products 18% 31% 14% 2% 2%
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Iodine enhanced cooking
salt 35% 17% 6% 5% 1%
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Cholesterol reducing
oils & margarines 36% 25% 17% 4% 3%
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Fruit juices with added
supplements/vitamins 30% 15% 15% 5% 1%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yogurts with
acidophilus
cultures/probiotics 20% 41% 12% 6% 2%
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Milk with added
supplements/vitamins 28% 21% 17% 8% 1%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bread with added
supplements/vitamins 29% 13% 23% 8% 2%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fermented drinks
containing good
bacteria 22% 27% 13% 14% 1%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Soy milk 11% 63% 10% 2% 2%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cereal with added
folate 28% 18% 11% 7% 1%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
According to Tom Markert, "The functional foods distinction is beginning to blur, as manufacturers enhance more and more products with additional health benefits. As that trend continues, an increasing number of consumers are likely to become functional foods buyers without even realizing it."
The twice-yearly global ACNielsen Online Consumer Opinion Survey, the largest of its kind, polled over 21,100 respondents - regular Internet users - in 38 markets across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and in South Africa in May 2005 (See Table 1 for market breakdown). For more details on the survey, go to http://www2.acnielsen.com/press/data.shtml.
About ACNielsen
ACNielsen, a VNU business, is the world's leading marketing information provider. Offering services in more than 100 countries, the unit provides measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes and behavior. Clients rely on ACNielsen's market research, proprietary products, analytical tools and professional service to understand competitive performance, to uncover new opportunities and to raise the profitability of their marketing and sales campaigns. To learn more, visit http://www.acnielsen.com. Table 1. The 38 Markets covered in the 2005 Global Consumer Opinion
Survey were:
North America Latin America Emerging Market Europe Asia Pacific

U.S. Brazil Poland Austria Australia

Canada Chile Russia Belgium China

Mexico South Africa Denmark Hong Kong

Finland India

France Indonesia

Germany Japan

Greece South Korea

Italy Malaysia

Ireland New Zealand

Netherlands Philippines

Norway Singapore

Portugal Taiwan

Spain Thailand

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

UK

The organic foods movement promotes the health of humans and their environment by encouraging farmers to use agricultural methods that neither deplete the soil nor hurt environmental systems or farmworkers. Organic farming also promotes biological diversity and the recycling of resources through such methods as crop rotation, rotational grazing, planting of cover crops, intercropping, animal and plant waste recycling, tilling, and adding minerals to crops.

"Organic" is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production rules and regulations. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole. Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water. Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people."


What are Organic Foods ?

Organic foods’ are health foods grown without the use of synthetic/ chemical treatments. These treatments start right from the seed and continue till the food is consumed. There is no legal definition of what all items are included in the term ‘organic food’ , so many storekeepers or roadside vendors may be claiming to supply ‘organic produce’. Even if they haven’t used chemicals or insecticides / pesticides on the foodstuff, there’s a lot more to be considered before the food can be claimed ‘organic’.

Are Organic Foods Healther than Convential Foods ?

But here, ‘healthier’ does not necessarily mean more nutritious. It means safer for human consumption.This means that growing a food organically doesn’t alter the the nutritional content but the lack of synthetic pesticidal & insecticidal residues on organically grown foods surely makes it a safer product.But it is to be understood that organic food itself is not guaranteed free of pesticide residues. Even the most carefully grown organic products may get contaminated from residues coming from the soil from previous farming practices or from contaminated water supplies.

Is Organic Food “Eco-Friendly’?

Going for organic produce is a positive approach & a respectable gesture of showing one’s concern for the environment.There are stories & stories of well-documented catastrophes having their Impact on plant and animal life and disturbing the ecological balance. Extensive pollution of air & river water by synthetic chemicals has resulted in crop diseases which are resistant to chemical pesticidal treatments. Hence, it is wise enough to go in for a product which is organically grown.

Are Organic Foods not at all Treated for Pests & Insects ?

The spraying is not with the regular chemical insecticides & pesticides. This, is using certified biological sprays which are natural & animal or plant-based. And the quantity or the dose of these natural sprays is also very controlled else even these can leave residues in the food.

Does Organic Food Taste Better ?

More than anything else, this is an individual perception. Just as some people like sweet foods more than salted ones, here also it varies from person to person. There are people who believe that organic food tastes much better than conventionalfood, but again, its an individual choice!

Why is Organic Food More Expensive Than Convential Food ?

Organic produce, since it is grown without the use of any synthetic pesticides or insecticides is more labor-intensive. Also, very often the yields of an organic produce is significantly lower than that grown under non-organic conditions. The time to time certification, use of expensive sprays, training of agriculturists for organic practice etc., all contribute to the price hike.

Wellness and Organic:

"Germs are not the culprit in sickness and disease….
Consuming stuff that poisons the organism is the problem!”

We've realized that we all have a higher mission in life than material gain, which is always unfulfilling in the end. Some people wait until the end to find this out! We'd like to spare you the wait and help you live a fulfilling life right now.

All diseases are the same disease and that healing is an innate body process and educating individuals so that they may assist the body in recovering when it shows signs of ‘toxic intolerance.’


Can organic foods really improve my health?

Yes. Organically grown food is your best way of reducing exposure to toxins used in conventional agricultural practices. These toxins include not only pesticides, many of which have been federally classified as potential cancer-causing agents, but also heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and solvents like benzene and toluene. Minimizing exposure to these toxins is of major benefit to your health. Heavy metals damage nerve function, contributing to diseases such as multiple sclerosis and lowering IQ, and also block hemoglobin production, causing anemia. Solvents damage white cells, lowering the immune system’s ability to resist infections. In addition to significantly lessening your exposure to these health-robbing substances, organically grown foods have been shown to contain substantially higher levels of nutrients such as protein, vitamin C and many minerals.

Research Suggests Organic Food is Better for Your Health

Rats fed organic food were significantly healthier than their peers given conventionally-grown produce, shows research reported by the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, February 2005.
During the experiment, 36 rats were divided into three groups. All were given potatoes, carrots, peas, green kale, apples, rapeseed oil, and the same vitamin supplements. One group was fed organic food, another conventionally grown food with high levels of fertilizer and some pesticide, and the third group received minimally fertilized conventionally grown food.

Although pesticide residue was measured and found to be below detection levels in all groups, the scientists found that the rats fed organically-grown produce were measurably healthier, slept better, had stronger immune systems and were less obese.

Lead researcher, Dr Kirsten Brandt, of Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, was careful not to overstate the findings, but noted: "The difference was so big it is very unlikely to be random. We gave the food to the rats and then we measured what they were doing. We can say the reason why the rats have different health was clearly due to the fact that there was a different growing method, and this was enough for this result. If we want to understand how and why, we need another study."


Arun
e-mail: arun.kr.prasad@gmail.com