Organic food and agriculture

Bio food and health

Generally, these organic products are more expensive because the production costs are higher, which implies more elaborated and time consumming labour. Generally, the products you can find in shops are approved by regulatory bodies, but in the case of seafood, things are not yet clarified. In all the other cases, food is labeled as organic taking into consideration the pesticide level, antibiotics and hormones used in its production. As for seafood, the only condition that has to comply with, in order to be labeled as organic food, is to be contaminants free (mercury free).

In terms of  how much it costs…

It’s good to know that there is a difference when you compare it with the traditional food. It’s more expensive and harder to find that traditional food. In average, cost are neary double compared with ordinary food. 

Here are some advices to buy them cheaper:

- compare the prices in specialized shops and see where is the cheapest

- buy organic producs made locally (farms and gardens located near the place you live)

- create and maintain a contact with a provider of such products and buy from him on a regular basis

- buy them on line or through mail services

Organic health

Regardind people exposed to pesticides, there is a study that proves the pesticides level dramatically dropping when those people started to eat organic food. Although the governments try to make us believe pesticides don’t have a negative impact on human body, it appears that pesticides have negative influence in young organisms as those of children and babies. From another point of view, these categories are also affected by antibiotics, as well as growth hormones given to animals from whom the meat comes from. In many areas of the globe, the above mentioned substances are no longer in use, being forbidden by law, but there are still countries where these substances harm children, teenagers and adults. Therefore, organic food is a viable alternative, at least in these cases. Milk is highly advised for human consumption and it seems that the milk coming from cows treated with hormones is not harmful.

What does in fact “organic” mean?

What it matters is the fact that organic food is appreciated all over the globe and organic food production is expected to grow more and more in the years to come. Meanwhile, government standards that regulate organic food category are largely challenged by the public. Below, you can read some of the nowadays indications about the products we are talking about:

- “100%” organic means at least 95% of the ingredients have organic origin;

- “contains organic ingredients” means that at least 70% of the ingredients are organic, and the remaining 30% represent other substances approved by law;

- “natural” or “entirely natural” doesn’t mean that product is organic. There is no clear definition of this standard, excepting meat products, which possibly do not contain artificial flavours, dyes and emulsifiers. Nevertheless, you can’t be certain about that.

Organic agriculture:

- forbids the use of genetics engineering;

- forbids the use of radiation to artificially preserve food;

- forbids the use of artificial fertilizers.

Food labeled as “organic” are:

- cultivated in soils where no chemical substances had been used for at least 3 years

- contain at least 70% organic ingredients

Organic food versus food treated with various substances

Taste is altered almost entirely in aliments treated with chemical substances, which you can easily notice lately. Regarding the role that the quality of organic food plays, we can only think of how many chemical substances, aditives, pesticide traces the ordinary food contains and the choice is not that difficult to make. Do not let yourselves influenced by the exterior appearance of vegetables or fruits, because the larger and colourful you see them, the less natural and organic they in fact are.

If you choose to buy organic food, do not forget that even white flour, refined cereals and organic sugar are not the best choise on the list. Buy instead whole grain, bread made from whole grain and biscuits.

The price of these aliments will drop in time. And even with the prices we have now, is still a good choise to consume it. In a short time, more and more the shops and hypermarkets we’ll have special stands just for organic food.