This September, we celebrate National Organic Month, giving us thirty days to think carefully about all the foods we consume to fuel our bodies and promote long term health. We all see the designated section in the produce department, the special stickers on the fruit, and the certified seals on the food packaging. The term “organic” is thrown around pretty loosely. But what does it actually mean?
To really understand the requirements of what makes a food organic, we first need to discuss GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Created to increase pest and herbicide resistance, size, nutritional content, shelf life and more, GMOs are plants and animals that have literally had their DNA altered by genetic engineering to produce a specific outcome. Thus, they are unnatural interventions and have no place in organic labeling.
All organic foods are non-GMO … but not all non-GMO foods are organic.
According to the USDA, organic foods must not contain any genetically modified organisms. But that’s not where it ends. There are additional requirements to which all food items must adhere to carry the organic label.
Produce –To be deemed organic, all fruit and vegetables must have been grown using clean water and soil, untouched by any unsafe substances like fertilizers and pesticides, for a minimum of three years prior to harvesting. Any and all synthetic substances used in farming must be approved by the USDA as safe for our health and environment. It’s all about the dirt. Can you dig it?
Meat & Dairy – To be deemed organic, all products must come from livestock that follow a strict non-GMO diet. The animals must be raised in a way that accommodates their health and natural behavior. This is where terms like “grass fed” and “cage free” come into play along with fresh air, clean water, shade, shelter and sunlight. Additionally, they can never have been given hormones or antibiotics. Everything else should be put out to pasture!
Shelf products – To be deemed organic, these items must not contain artificial colors, flavors or preservatives of any kind. All of their ingredients must be organic with a few exceptions including “some approved, non-agricultural ingredients like enzymes in yogurt, pectin in fruit jams, or baking soda in baked goods.” If anything’s fake, you shouldn’t partake.
Don’t know where to start? Here are the items you should always try to buy organic.
- Pomes (apples/pears)
- Leafy Greens
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Grapes
- Berries
- Cherries
- Peaches/Nectarines
- Meat/Eggs
- Dairy
Notice any common threads here? Regarding the produce on this list, all of the items named are thinned skin and thus more susceptible to pesticide absorption, even with vigorous washing. So, they’re the most important things to buy and eat organic. For more information, check out the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen.
Conversely, the EWG also has a Clean Fifteen list of items that can more safely be consumed in their non-organic forms because of their inedible exteriors (bananas, avocados, pineapples, etc.)
Choosing to follow an organic diet regimen is a commitment that usually comes with higher price tags. But can you put a price on reducing your exposure to synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, artificial additives and hormones? In addition to tasting better because it’s harvested primarily in season, organic produce often has higher concentrations of nutrients, antioxidants and flavonoids, while organic farming protects wildlife and promotes higher animal welfare. It is all, quite literally, food for thought!
.
Happy National Organic Month, Clean Eaters!
Michele Robert Poche