Organic or healthy food?

We’ve all seen foods labeled “organic,” but what does that really mean?

A ccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic farming practices preserve the environment and avoid most synthetic materials, including pesticides and antibiotics.

Among other requirements, organic farmers must receive annual on-site inspections and not use genetically modified crops. The fact is that being organic doesn’t mean a food is healthy. You can now buy pesticide-free potato chips and organic jelly beans, and there are even organic Oreo cookies. Junk food is still junk food, even if it was produced organically.

The ongoing debate about the effects of GMOs* on health and the environment is a controversial one. In most cases, GMOs are engineered to make food crops resistant to herbicides and/or to produce an insecticide.

GMOs are also commonly found in U.S. crops such as soybeans, alfalfa, squash, zucchini, papaya, and canola, and are present in many breakfast cereals and much of the processed food that we eat. If the ingredients on a package include corn syrup or soy lecithin, chances are it contains GMOs.

The USDA organic standards do not allow animals that produce meat, eggs and dairy products to be fed or injected with antibiotics or steroids.

All foods of animal origin—organic or not—naturally contain sex steroid hormones, though, such as estrogen, but the hormones naturally found even in organic cow’s milk may play a role in acne, diminished male reproductive potential, and premature puberty.

Any product labeled as organic in the description of the product or packaging must be certified by the USDA. If certified, the producer can also use an official USDA organic seal.

The USDA makes an exception for producers who sell less than a certain amount per year in organic foods. These producers must follow the guidelines for organic food production, but do not need to go through the certification process. They can label their products as organic, but they can not use the official USDA organic seal.

How your food is grown or raised can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health as well as the environment. Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts and people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives often find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods.