Questioning the authenticity of organic products

[fireheart17]

http://www.planetfeedback.com/costco...rganics/323319

I've put this one up here for one reason and that's more or less to get the debate going.

Three points I want to ask people.

1) Do you feel that organic food will result in a better child/better person in the long run? (I'm getting reminded of the Simpsons episode where the mothers group become paranoid of Marge using certain products)

2) Do you think that organic products should be more strictly enforced?

3) Would you be willing to pay more for organic products?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

All IMO, of course:

1) No, not necessarily. I've seen extensive proof that stuff in more industrial food being 'not good' or even toxic in large doses, but very little on the subject of the moderate amounts encountered in day-to-day life. Moreover, there's basically no evidence of anything more harmful or less beneficial in genetically engineered or otherwise modern harvested food, past the odd case of ill-tested pesticides or some-such here and there.

2) Yes, if you're marketing something as having been made a certain way, you should be held responsible for actually making good on that claim. Anything less is nothing short of a scam in pretty wrapping.

3) No. I've had organic potatoes and normal potatoes, organic wheat bread and regular bread. It seems to me that, lacking the placebo effect of believing it to be better, the only difference between organic food and nonorganic food is the price tag and lack of modern processing conveniences.

[crashhelmet]

I'm agreeing with Wingates on all 3 here, especially the last. My sister-in-law is a "health nut." Just about everything she buys is labeled "organic." The only difference I've been able to tell is the price she pays.

The funny, or ironic, thing about all of this is she will drive as far as an hour to goto an organic food store in her SUV to buy them all.

CH

[Rapscallion]

My place sells organics. I've got quite a range of experience of dealing with loonies, including one recently going into hospital for cancer treatment and therefore was eager for organic produce, or those who follow the latest fad, or those who have gone organic for years because it's (for them) the right thing to do.

1. Probably not. Quite a bit of it's based around fears. What's usually the outcome of the sort of testing done is that statistically people who eat organic may get another year or two of life.

2. Yes - a niche product needs consumer confidence. However, should the standards be relaxed to get more organic produce out there? See point 3.

3 - here it is. Relax the standards for two-three years. Currently, the UK requirement is that land has to be farmed organically for three full years before crops from there can be considered organic, and since that affects crop yields then it's a fair investment for a farmer before they can gain the organic status they need to recoup the loss. Make it one or two years for a while and the extra organic product on the market will drive the costs down. Is organic that much more expensive? A mate of mine went as organic as possible a while ago and worked out his shopping for a family of four - an extra fiver a week was the difference. That was a while back - maybe a tenner now.

Rapscallion

[Skelly]

I work as a butcher. We butcher pigs raised without antibiotics regularly. I would NEVER ever consider buying that meat. The pigs raised this way are riddled with diseases of all kinds - they suffer from abnormal rates of abscesses, joint issues, pneumonia, infections and gods know what else. Paying higher prices for what is, in my opinion, inferior meat? A scam (if you are the customer), or a great way to make money (if you are the farmer).

I think someone over here tested organically grown veggies a while back. The results came back showing that you were more likely to get ill from those than the ones that had been grown with a dose of pesticides sprayed over them every once and then, however, I can't find the story now, and check if it passes a smell-test.

As for that link in the original post, what the hell do you guys put in your milk to begin with? . I had to go look at the regular, non-organic, in all ways standard, milk carton in my fridge. Declaration of contents read "Milk, vitamin A, vitamin D". Is this not the norm?

[Cat]

I won't buy organic over non-organic merely due to the organic label. I don't feel it's regualted enough to be trusted.

I try to get local fruits and veggies when possible, that's a bit more important to be. The only real thing I try to avoid is HFCS, just 'cuz it is in everything. I just take a few more minutes and read the label. I will go for pricer bread to avoid it.

[Nyoibo]

Declaration of contents read "Milk, vitamin A, vitamin D". Is this not the norm?

Umm... the contents of my milk are milk.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I like to buy reduced organic products; is it bad I get a cheap thrill from doing so? XD

[Skelly]

Umm... the contents of my milk are milk.

Doesn't say on mine if it's added afterwards either. I is confused now .

[IDrinkaRum]

I won't buy organic over non-organic merely due to the organic label. I don't feel it's regualted enough to be trusted.

I try to get local fruits and veggies when possible, that's a bit more important to be. The only real thing I try to avoid is HFCS, just 'cuz it is in everything. I just take a few more minutes and read the label. I will go for pricer bread to avoid it.

Cat - I feel the same way. Different people (either non-organic growers or organic growers) do different stuffs to their veggies/fruits/whatevers they are passing off as "organic" or "regular".

Also, I've had plenty of weird looks from people as I'm standing in the bread aisle, reading the ingredients sections. I've found the best breads without HFCS (at least in my neck of the woods) are: Martin's Potato Breads (both the regular and the whole wheat), Fiber One Wheat Bread, Nature's Own and Nature's Pride. I usually mix up the breads so we don't get tired of just eating the same brand of bread over and over again. However, I do have to say, if I'm making wheat toast, I have to put jelly or preserves (apricot preferably) on it as opposed to just eating white toast with plain ol' butter. But I'm weird like that.

[AdminAssistant]

I try to avoid HFCS, and I buy local when I can afford to. Luckily, my town has a pretty good local market with nearly all local produce (bananas obviously don't grow well in Kansas, but you get my drift). As far as 'organic' or 'pesticide-free,' I personally don't worry about because I grew up quite literally surrounded by farmland in the 80's-90's. I've been exposed to pretty much anything the chemical companies can throw at me, with no ill effects. I figure I'm kind of immune at this point.

[jackfaire]

While the organic store does have somethings you can't get at the grocery store and they make a mean goat cheese pizza it feels that people don't shop there to be healthy but rather to be pretentious.

[lordlundar]

Doesn't say on mine if it's added afterwards either. I is confused now .

If it's listed as an ingredient, it's a nutrient supplement added after. My post here explains why it's done.

[jackfaire]

What I think is funny is when the next newest bad for you thing comes out and the only things you see mention it are the foods that never had it in the first place using it as a selling point on why you should buy their product.

Now no trans fat, even though we never had it before

[Rapscallion]

"New improved Blammo - no concrete or cyanide!"

Rapscallion