In developed countries there has been a recent craze in the health industry regarding the consumption of produce grown without the use of harsh chemicals; such produce has come to known as “organic”. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce do not use conventional methods to fertilize and control weeds. Organic farmers follow a distinct set of standards to manufacture organic food and fiber. Congress penned a general list of organic principles in the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), and the United States Depart of Agriculture (USDA) also defines specific organic standards. The standards set by the OFPA and USDA have specific …show more content…
However, according to Jeffrey Kluger, “a 2009 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition led to a firestorm in the food world. It found no difference between organic and conventional produce with regard to all but three of the vitamins and other food components studied, and conventional produce actually squeaked past organic for one of those three.” Nevertheless, more research should be done to affirm to this claim before coming to a conclusion. Organic agriculture is preordained to improve the soil quality over time by avoiding most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics; the only reason there is an increase in vitamin and mineral levels in comparison to inorganic food may be because some vitamins and vitamins are destroyed through the inorganic growing process.
Investigation The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet standards which regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed. Products that are completely organic (single-ingredient foods such as fruits, vegetables, eggs) are labeled 100 percent organic and can carry the USDA seal. Foods that have more than one ingredient (such as breakfast cereal) also can use the USDA organic seal. However, they have to include a specific wording depending on the type of food and the number of organic ingredients. If the
To begin with, the film Harold and Maude is about two people of different age groups trying to fit in the society. The main characters, Harold and Maude, meet under different circumstances and they are determined to face life regardless of how cruel it might be. The movie discusses the issue of romance and life in general. Harold and Maude find companionship and love in each other, and although Harold is troubled and wishes to die, his love to Maude makes him stronger, and he is not discouraged by the age difference between them. The two protagonists find pleasure in attending other people’s funerals, and especially Harold who is longing to die. Nevertheless, when
Long time ago, the idea of organic food was something ridiculous, nobody cared. But after proved the nutritional benefits and better taste of organic food, many farmers become interest in grown organic food. The article Beyond Organic by Eliot Coleman said that “Now that the food-buying public has become enthusiastic about organically grown foods, the food industry wants to take over.”
The clear conclusions drawn from numerous studies targeting organic food are that organic food does not equal safe food, does not have clear nutritional advantage and does not have reduced level of naturally occurring toxins over conventional plants or livestock (80, 81). Fertilization enriches soils and provides nutrients in food, regardless of it being organic or chemical fertilizer. Risk of exposure to microbial contamination is not lower in organic food (82). Level of naturally occurring toxins such as aflatoxins in peanuts and grains, solanine in green parts of potatoes, goitrogens in some raw vegetables, and other poisons in mushrooms and herbs is not affected by the method of growing (81). Pesticides usages are monitored and will not pose harm to health when applied in regulated manner. However, the amount of pesticides residue is usually lower in organic food (82). One observational study and one systematic review found no protective value of organic food over eczema or atopy diseases (83, 84). Hence the claims being made over benefits of organic food can be concluded as misleading at best, and there is a pressing need for proper public education on this issue
Commitment and self-defense are two things required for the growth of a person. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness is a very well written book. This book is about a boy name Todd Hewitt who is the last boy in a town called Prentisstown in the New World. In Prentisstown there is a law that states boys don’t become a man tell their thirteenth birthday. One day he finds a girl name Viola in the swamp; he finds her because she creates a hole in the noise, which is a germ everyone one on New World has.
The farmers of organic food have to certify, or evaluate by government organization, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Organic certification is a certification process of producing organic food that must needed. The farmers can not use any chemical solution, such as pesticides, and fertilizers.
Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the United States, and in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity (Rubin 1). The sales of organic food have been increasing by about 20 percent a year over the past decade (Marcus 1). That is over ten times the rate of their conventional counterparts (Harris 1). There are 10 million consumers of organic food in the United States, yet organic food represents only one percent of the nation’s food supply. This year organic food sales are expected to rise to six billion dollars (Rubin 1). So what is organic food? Organic food is that which are grown without hormones, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Also, the soil in which organic food
In order for farmers to label their products as USDA Organic they must adhere to the strict standards outlined in the organic certification program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The article, “Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?” explains that these standards include how food is “grown, handled and processed”. Rather then using pesticides, organic farmers use methods such as beneficial insects and microorganisms and special disease resistant crop selection to protect their crops. They may use crop rotation and mulch to manage weeds. They do not use or include food additives, fortifying agents or preservatives in their products.
When considering differences between organic and conventional foods often the first thing people comment on is the nutritional value. Organic foods have grown in popularity due to the perception that they are better nutritionally. Barbara Hey (2009), health reporter and author of the article, “A Different Health Debate: Conventional versus Organic Food” and Smith-Spangier, Crystal, et al. (2012), emphasize that the benefits of organic foods and farming are important to society. That organic food can help protect what’s most valuable to people, their health. They suggest that eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is a good investment in preventative care. Jeff Gillman (2008) agrees and states, “ …preventing disease is much more cost effective than treating disease. Organic foods can play a vital role in keeping people healthy” (139).
Pollan states, “the word ‘organic’ has been stretched and twisted to admit the very sort of industrial practices from which it once offered a critique and an alternative” (Pollan 157). This is because there are certain factors that influence the regulations related to organic farming. All of these factors lead to one root cause for certain regulation, money. Big organic companies consistently ask themselves, how we can make the most money. They use certain words on labels as previously mentioned to capture the eyes of their consumers. This growing industry needs the USDA to approve certain regulations in order to give the consumer what they want and make the most money possible. Founder of Cascadian farm, Gene Kahn was a pioneer for the big organic industry and serves on the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board in 1992. As a result, the final standards approved by the USDA permitted certain additives and synthetics from ascorbic acid to xanthan gum that could be used in organic foods and still be labelled as organic food. With this came the invention of the organic TV dinner, a fast made food for when Americans don’t feel like cooking, an instant seller. The USDA needs to keep big organic companies such as Earthbound Farm and Grimmway Farms happy (by allowing certain additives), in order to keep them quiet. Big corporations make the laws not the
7 Catholic Social Principles The seven basic principles of Catholic social teaching can give us many insights into the social issues that America is grappling with today. Although only 20% of the United States identifies as Catholic, everyone can learn from Catholic social teaching. Education, health care reform, gender equality, obesity, climate change, immigration, and unemployment are at the forefront of social issues in America, and all can be addressed by Catholic social teaching. Catholic social teaching can be an excellent tool to address the many problems we have today.
According to the USDA, organic foods consist of foods and products that are grown without the use of sewage sludge, harmful pesticides, and fertilizers made from synthetic ingredients. These standards and guidelines were implemented with the overall objective of improving the quality of the food supply while also preserving the environment. The Organic Foods Act (OFPA) “authorized a new USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to set national standards for the production, handling, and processing of organically grown agricultural products. In addition, the Program oversees mandatory certification of organic production.” (Gold “Organic Production/Organic Food:”) When these standards are upheld, consumers are given the opportunity to educate themselves on the contents found in their food, which
One primary reference is the US National Organic Standards set by the National Food Production Act. Under the Act, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) manages the National Organic Program (NOP) that defines organic standards and processes. For example, if a product contains at least 95% organic ingredients it may be labelled as organic. In addition, organic products are subject to stringent crop production and livestock management standards, such as implementing buffer zones and organic animal feed.
The department of the United States government that is responsible for programming anything related to food, agriculture and nutrition (USDA) defines organic as “food produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.
Organic farming is becoming an increasingly popular market throughout the world. (Adam, 2004, p. 666). The aims of organic farming are, to decrease pollution, maintain soil fertility and biodiversity, be more sustainable, and have increased nutritional benefits than conventionally grown foods (Yaping et. al., 2003, p. 298). While the aim of conventional farming is to provide safe, proficient supplies of food, in abundance and at low prices (Trewavas, 2001, p.409). Since 1996, the amount of land in the UK dedicated to organic farming has risen tenfold (Adam, 2004, p. 666). As well, from 1992 to 1997, the amount of certified organic cropland in the US more than doubled (Tafel et al, 2007, p.182 ). The main difference between organic and
Organic farming might be new to many people but it has been around since the late 1940s. A lot has changed since then but the main idea for organic farming has stayed the same. The growth of organic farming has led this phenomena into becoming its own industry. Unfortunately, during this time period there were no regulation and certifications that organic farmers needed to follw. In the 1980s, this began to change; “a consensus of production and certification standards” had been requested by the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).2 Finally, by the end of 2000, National Organic Production (NOP) standards were issued. NOP regulations “prohibits the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge.”2 Also with NOP guidelines must be followed and they include ways of production, processing, handling, materials