Does The Cost of Organic Food Put You Off Buying it?
By the 4D Personal Trainer in Barnes
The price of organic food is often not well received and has come under a lot of scrutiny of late. When we mention to clients the importance of eating organic the first we here is “Yeah, but that will cost a fortune.”
Here is the difference between an organic apple and a non-organic apple.
Non organic Organic
| Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth. | Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants. |
| Spray synthetic insecticides to reduce pests and disease. | Spray pesticides from natural sources; use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease. |
| Use synthetic herbicides to manage weeds. | Use environmentally-generated plant-killing compounds; rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds. |
| Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth. | Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease. |
Products that are completely organic — such as fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-ingredient foods — are labeled 100 percent organic and can carry the USDA seal.
Foods that have more than one ingredient, such as breakfast cereal, can use the USDA organic seal plus the following wording, depending on the number of organic ingredients:
- 100 percent organic. To use this phrase, products must be either completely organic or made of all organic ingredients.
- Organic. Products must be at least 95 percent organic to use this term.
Here is a list of 12 Organic foods not to AVOID! Also known as the dirty dozen, this list is compiled by the Environmental Working Group’s. The group analyzes Department of Agriculture data for pesticide residue and ranks foods based on how much or little pesticide residue they have. The group has estimated that individuals can reduce their exposure by 80% if they switch to organic when buying these 12 foods.
Apples
Apples consistently rank near the top of the annual dirty dozen list. More than 40 different pesticides have been detected on apples, because fungus and insect threats prompt farmers to spray various chemicals on their orchards.
Celery
Another perennial food on the dirty dozen list is celery. It’s a good one to commit to memory, since it doesn’t fit the three main categories of foods with the highest pesticide residue (tree fruits, berries and leafy greens). USDA tests have found more than 60 different pesticides on celery.
Cherry tomatoes
Tomatoes have been in for some bad press in the past few years, with the programme ‘Tomatoland’ highlighting the environmental, human and culinary costs of the modern tomato. Cherry tomatoes show up on the Environmental Working Group’s 2013 list of foods with the most pesticide residue.
Cucumbers
Cucumber have as many as 35 different pesticide residues that remain on the skin. Peeling the skin off may reduce your chances of ingesting some of them.
Grapes
Imported grapes can have more than 30 pesticides.
Hot peppers
Joining sweet peppers on the list of foods with the most pesticide residue. There is no substitute for a pesticide-laced hot pepper except a good, organic hot pepper.
Nectarines (imported)
Nectarines, at least imported ones, are among the most highly contaminated tree fruits. Domestic nectarines don’t test with as much pesticide residue, but overall 33 pesticides have been detected on nectarines.
Peaches
Another tree fruit that always makes the dirty dozen list: peaches. More than 60 pesticides have been found on peaches.Safer alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.
Potatoes
More than 35 pesticides have been detected on potatoes in testing. Sweet potatoes offer a delicious alternative with less chance of pesticide residue.
Strawberries
Strawberries are always on the list of dirty dozen foods, in part because fungus prompts farmers to spray. Nearly 60 different pesticides have been found on strawberries, though fewer are found on frozen strawberries.
Spinach
Leading the leafy green pesticide residue category is spinach, with nearly 50 different pesticides. (While frozen spinach has nearly as many, canned has had fewer detected pesticides.)
Sweet bell peppers
Another fruit that usually makes the dirty dozen list because it tends to have high pesticide residue is the sweet bell pepper, in all of its colorful varieties. Nearly 50 different pesticides have been detected on sweet bell peppers.
By the 4 D Personal Trainer in Barnes
