strawberries
Benefits of organic for food products
benefits of organic food

So you’ve decided to incorporate organic food into your diet. Great! Here are some reasons why that’s a smart decision.

Nutrition: Some studies indicate that organic food may contain more nutrients, such as vitamin C and iron, than conventionally raised food. One reason for this may be that organically grown food is raised in fertile soil that’s not been depleted by chemicals.

Taste: Some researchers believe that because organic food is grown in such fertile soil, it tastes better than conventionally grown food.

Treatment of disease: Since growth hormones and antibiotics are prohibited in organic production, all organic meat and poultry is antibiotic-free. This means that you may have less of a chance in the future of becoming resistant to antibiotics – antibiotics that could help cure you of a serious disease or illness one day.

Health: Organic production’s prohibition of synthetic pesticides and other chemicals means that your food contains significantly less pesticide residue than conventionally grown food. (Organic crops may not be 100 percent pesticide free, as synthetic pesticide residue can blow onto organic farmland from neighboring fields.) Since some studies have linked pesticide exposure to cancer and other serious illnesses, buying organic could lead to better health for you and your family.

Environment: Organic production respects our air, water, soil and wildlife with its ban on synthetic chemicals. So, by buying organic food, you’re helping to create a clean, healthy environment. And organic agriculture’s emphasis on biodiversity means that farmers will continue to produce exotic foods that conventional farming often overlooks.

Support of local farms: Some organic products, particularly fruits and vegetables, are grown locally on small farms. Therefore, by buying organic food, you’re supporting your community, not to mention organic agriculture as a whole.

reading organic food labels

Want to buy organic food but confused about how to tell if a product is really organic? Here are some tips.

For produce items, especially those that are sold loose, bunched or in bulk, look for the price look-up, or PLU, code. It’s often on a small sticker attached to the item. If the PLU code begins with a 9, that food has been grown and processed according to U.S. Department of Agriculture organic standards.

For other food items, especially for processed foods, your best bet is to look for the USDA Organic seal. Products that display this seal are at least 95 percent organic. Use of the seal is voluntary, though, which means food products that don’t contain the seal might still be USDA certified organic. So it’s always a good idea to check the wording on the package. Here’s how …

According to USDA standards, products labeled “100 percent organic” can contain only organic ingredients. Products labeled “organic” must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. If you buy a processed food that contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients, the package is allowed to read “made with organic ingredients.” If the food contains less than 70 percent organic ingredients, the package cannot display the word “organic,” but the manufacturer can specify in the ingredients list which components are indeed organic.

As you read food labels, you may notice a wide variety of seals and other logos that claim a product is sustainable, or is fair-trade certified, or was grown or processed under other specific conditions. These descriptions may indeed be valid, but remember that they are not the same as organic. Also keep in mind that words such as “natural” are not regulated by any government agency, so food companies can use them freely.

If this seems like a lot to remember, don’t worry. Because organic food has become so popular, many grocery stores now feature designated organic sections, especially in the produce section. Other supermarkets have created their own lines of store-brand organic food that meets all USDA requirements.