More than ever before, people are paying attention to what they eat. Years ago, few people knew the words organic, natural, free range or hormone free in respect to food. They just did not give it a second thought. Now, however, people are taking these words to the store and coming home with different products. In addition, people now want to find these words when they dine out. For reasons of both budget and availability, it is important for the consumer to note that all organic foods are not equal in overall benefit.
In U.S.D.A terms, foods must meet certain criteria before they can wear the “USDA Organic” seal. It has more to do with manufacturing and production than anything else. To be organic, foods must contain no synthetic ingredients at all, including pesticides and fertilizer residues. A minimum of 95% of the ingredients must be organic or come from animals never receiving antibiotics or growth hormones. Foods labeled “Made with Organic Ingredients”, however, may contain as little as 70% organic ingredients.
Products that are grown locally, therefore requiring less handling before reaching the consumer, are the best organic foods. When organic foods are shipped from far away in order to reach the market, there is more of a chance that some of the organic qualities can be lost along the way. It is generally recommended to buy organic to avoid the elevated pesticide levels found in commercially grown or produced products.
The fruits found to contain the highest level of pesticides are peaches, apples, strawberries, nectarines, pears, cherries, raspberries and imported grapes. The vegetables found to contain the highest levels of pesticides are spinach, bell peppers, celery, potatoes and hot peppers. When choosing these foods, it is probably best to choose organically grown products as the benefit far outweighs the increase in cost.
Low levels of pesticides can be found in plantains, pineapple, watermelons, bananas, plums, mangoes, and kiwi. The safer vegetables with low amounts of pesticides are Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, and radishes. For those who don’t want to spend the extra money on organic, these fruits and vegetables are a safe choice. It should be noted that these products do contain some level of pesticides but are not as risky a choice as those products known to contain higher levels.
Searching the Internet for advice on things like what cookware is best or the best utensil or appliance to use will provide you with countless results. The Internet can also give you facts and figures about organic foods, pesticide levels, and what are the best products, but ultimately the choice of what to buy is left to the shopper’s own preferences. An informed shopper should take all of the information about organic food into account before making that choice.
Stan Dyer is a seasoned writer and photographer residing in Colorado. To have organic food and products delivered to your doorstep, visit http://www.OrganicFoodeStore.com.
