From the beginning of human existence, one fact has remained; all humans need nourishment from several food sources to sustain health and vitality.
In fact, since humans learned the skill of farming, keeping pests at bay has become a rather important skill as well. In recent years, pests such as fruit and vegetable eating insects like the Aphid have grown in numbers. Animals with infections that could pass on to humans have also been a concern, and ways to control these health inhibitors have become enormous. Farmers have the choice of treating foods naturally or with chemicals, and treating animals with antibiotics or homeopathically.
Nevertheless, with these synthetic methods of protection, are we trading one evil for another? Because chemicals on food are to cause serious health issues in humans such as cancer, eating organic food is healthier than foods treated with chemicals.
What is Organic?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines organic agriculture, as “Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.” It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony (United States Department of Agriculture [USDA, 2007¶ 1).
In a simple definition, organic is growing food without the aid of synthetic pesticides, growing livestock without administering antibiotics or hormones to enhance the production of by-products from the livestock, and using biodiversity to promote and protect animals, humans, in addition, the environment.
For example, Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that do not have antibiotics or growth hormones administered to them. They are free to roam the farm and eat organically produced feed. Produce such as fruits and vegetables must be free of synthetically made chemicals. Rotation of animals on the farm to enhance the well-being of crops and animals is strongly encouraged according to the rules and regulations set by the USDA. Furthermore, enforcement of prohibiting the use of fertilizing techniques such as sewage sludge because of the various toxic chemicals found in such matter.
Organic foods go through a certification process before deemed as “organic.” Inspectors check crops and animals for unnatural alterations that are not environmentally or animals friendly, such as injected hormones in cows, or antibiotics in chickens. Farmers must maintain records over a period of years of the standards they kept even before the farmer is certified as an organic food source.
What is Non-Organic?
The definition of non-organic farming also known as “conventional farming” is simply
the use of synthetic products, possibly toxic pesticides, herbicides, sewage sludge on fruits and vegetables to enhance and protect the viability of the crop. Alterations of animals raised in a conventional setting are also possible to enhance the bi-product of the animal, such as the use of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) hormones in cows to produce more milk. Stein, (2008, ¶1).
The inspection process for conventionally grown food is similar to organic food. An un- biased third party inspects for flaws, infection, and un-edible content. Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act in 1996 to set stricter food quality laws for The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to follow. (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] 2007, ¶ 2). Maximum residue tolerances were re-evaluated and lower levels were enforced, and pesticides must now comply with The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Through FIFRA, a pesticide’s specific use “through labeling, packaging, composition, and disposal” is required. (EPA, 2008, ¶ 3)
However, pesticides are still used. No one can really tell how much pesticide, hormone or additive is needed to cause significant harm to the human body. It is different from person to person. Pesticides have a tract record of terrible consequences for humans, especially infants and children.
Effects of Pesticides in Children
Consequently, infants and children take the brunt of the toxins left in and on our food from residues. Sadly, the trouble can start in pregnancy. According to Marla Cone, Los Angeles Times staff writer, she reports a new research study done by California health officials suggests pregnant women that lived near crops that used organochlorine, endosulfan, and dicofol during the first three months of pregnancy could have children who are at significantly greater risk for developing Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The director of the Department of Health is Dr. Mark Horton. According to Horton (2007), he stated that the data was in a preliminary stage, that there might be an association. (Cone, Marla June, 2007)
Additionally, the EPA warns of the effects of pesticides on humans, children in particular. Pesticides may harm a child’s growing body by blocking certain nutrients from use by the body. In addition, the relation to a child’s weight versus an adult’s weight, children consume more food and drink than adults do, possibly exposing them to more pesticides than adults. Furthermore, children’s developing excretory systems may retain more pesticides because the body does not know how to get rid of the pesticide correctly. (EPA, 2007 ¶ 1, 2)
Is Organic Healthier?
According to an informative article on MSNBC’s website written by Francesca Lyman (2003), a study done by The University of Washington, compares children who ate organic foods and those who ate a conventional diet. Eighteen organic food eating children with 21 conventional food-eating children all roughly the same age (2-to-5-years-old on average), gender, and of similar family income were in the study for three days. (Lyman, 2003). The parents of the studied children wrote down the foods their children ate. After the three-day period, the children tested for pesticide by-products called metabolites. The children with primarily organic diets had far lower levels of pesticide byproducts known as metabolites in their bodies. (Lyman, 2003).
Moreover, Studies show that organic foods have a higher nutrient level than non- organic food. Take tomatoes and oranges for example; organically grown varieties of these fruits are shown to have more Vitamin C than non-organic food. (Worthington, 2001)
Additionally, Walter J. Crinnion N.D, a Naturopathic Physician in Bellevue, Washington stated that a study on the mineral content of organic and conventional varieties of apples, pears, potatoes, sweet corn, and wheat was completed. The proof shows these specific nutrients to be higher than non-organic foods: Chromium at 78%, Selenium was 390%, Calcium by 63%, Boron at 70%, Lithium 188%, and magnesium was 138%. (Crinnion, 1995,)
Finally, a lack of vitamins and minerals account for many illnesses and deficiencies in American diets today. Adding these vitamins back into the daily diet through eating organically grown food could reduce many illnesses plaguing the U.S. today. Does conventionally grown food cause the illness? The answer is no, it is not the food, but the pesticides that remain on and that are within the food that is supposed to nourish us do pose the threat of illness. Our only hope is that we can look to the future and be educated. It is our choice to decide what goes in our bodies. Knowing both sides of the story is our first defense and right as humans. Eat and live well.
References
Cone, Marla Pesticide link to autism suspected. (2007, July) as cited in Los Angeles Times (latimes.com), p. 1 .PDF. (Horton, 2007),
Crinnion N.D., Walter (1995). Are organic foods really healthier for you?. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from Wellness Web’s Web site: http://lookwayup.com/free/organic.htm
Environmental Protection Agency , [EPA] (2008 January). Laws and Regulations. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from United States Environmental Protection Agency Web site: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/laws.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, [EPA] (2007, July). Pesticides and Food: Why Children May be Especially Sensitive to Pesticides. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from United States Environmental Protection Agency Web site: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/food/pest.htm
Lyman, Francesca (2003 November 4). New reasons for eating organic?. Retrieved January 20, 2008, from MSNBC Web site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3076638/
Organic Trade Association, [OTA] (2006). Organic Trade Association. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from Nutritional Considerations Web site: http://www.ota.com/organic/benefits/nutrition.html
Stein, Lisa (2008 January). “Milk and Honey, er, Hormones.” Retrieved February 3, 2008, from Scientific American Web site: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=milk-industry-gag-order-on-artificial-hormones-lifted
United Stated Department of Agriculture, [USDA] (1995, April). Organic production/organic food: Information access tools. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from United States Department of Agriculture (National Agricultural Library) Web site: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml
Worthington, Virginia (2001). Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from Foodisyourbestmedicine.com Web site: www.foodisyourbestmedicine.com/organic.pdf
