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To go organic or not?
Most people have seen this debate: Organic food versus normal food, which is best?
In the couple of years I’ve spent in college, the actual cost of the food far outweighs any organic or non-organic concerns! As long as food is reasonably priced and provides some nutrition, it’s good!
Besides, if the supposed nasty pesticides in non-organic, mainstream produce turned me into a freakish mutant, it’d be a whole new career path for me, working alongside the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and other such crime stopping heroes. So, in other words, it isn’t an issue I’ve lost much sleep over.
Supporters of organic food claim it is safer, free from chemicals and tastier than mainstream stuff. And they’re reaching an audience. Worldwide demand for organic produce is growing 20% a year. Governments are also introducing legislation to promote organic foods. In Germany, baby food is almost entirely organic, and 30% of all bread made in Munich is organic. The Italian government aims to have all school lunches organic by the end of 2005.
So, what is organic? It’s produce that’s grown, usually on small to medium sized farms, by planting seeds that have not been genetically modified (GM) or otherwise altered. The whole process of growing is done naturally, as it has been done for thousands of years. No artificial fertilizers, no chemicals, all natural and safe.
Mainstream, ordinary produce, like the stuff you get in all supermarkets, is more likely to be genetically modified (engineered to grow bigger and faster) and will most likely have received synthetic fertilizer. It’s grown as quickly as possible for profit.
Does this mean it’s not as safe, that it’s full of dangerous chemicals? Big businesses are always bad, right? Eat too much of this stuff and you’ll be the Turtle’s sidekick in no time and not a pretty sidekick either, right?
Apparently not. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has concluded that there is no proof that organic means safer, healthier or more nutritious. The UK Authority has reached the same conclusion.
Other research claims that organic produce is tastier but not much different, although they point out that authorities such as the FSAI are concerned with the immediate safety of food and do not consider the possible negative effects of long term exposure to genetically modified (GM) food.
Governments and the European Union make stringent checks of foodstuffs and have declared non-organic produce fit for sale. All research, government-sponsored and independent, has cleared intensive agriculture foods safe for consumption. However, it may be that time is needed to tell what effects it has on the health of both people and the environment.
What to do? The research is often completely contradictory. The statistics vary wildly. Should you run off and live on an allotment, living off your own vegetables? Should you shop only at one place? Buy only organic or non-organic?
For most people, it’s an economic decision of what they can afford. At the supermarket shelf, it’s your choice. However, it may be worth noting that nutritionists aren’t really concerned about where the food comes from but more about its contents.
The old rules of the food groups and what your mammy told you about eating your greens still apply, organic or not. Many nutritionists recommend that it's more important to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables than save for a few expensive organic items, which, according to the FSAI, have no more nutritional benefits than ordinary produce.
By: Andrew Gibbons
The opinions of writers featured on SpunOut.ie do not necessarily reflect the views of the SpunOut.ie team or those of Community Creations. We try to give everyone a chance to have their opinions heard but we are not responsible for inaccuracies contained within these.
