Organic Foods Kevin Thomas, RD POMH Food and Nutrition Services

Outline  Define Organic Foods  Trends of the Organic Foods Industry  Regulation of Organic Foods  Organic Labeling  Organic Meats  Organic Foods and Health

Organic Foods, Defined  Organic foods are foods produced by methods that comply with the standards of organic farming.  Standards vary worldwide, however organic farming in general features practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.  Regulation of pesticides and fertilizers vary by organization and country.  In the US, pesticide use varies from farm to farm. Organic farming must use approved organic pesticides.  In general, organic foods are also usually not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or synthetic food additives.

Regulating Organic Foods  Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as organic within their borders.  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and European Council of Agricultural Ministers (European Union) are the two biggest regulators in the world.

Consumer Demand  Consumer demand has grown by double- digits every year since the 1990s—and organic sales increased from $3.6 billion in 1997 to over $39 billion in 2014

Organic Foods Market The retail market for organic products is now valued at more than $39 billion in the U.S. and over $75 billion worldwide.

People who sell or label a product “organic” when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $11,000 for each violation.

What about Genetically Modified Foods?  The use of genetic engineering, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is prohibited in organic products. This means an organic farmer can’t plant GMO seeds, an organic cow can’t eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic soup producer can’t use any GMO ingredients. AquAdvantage salmon

Non-organic Farming with Pesticides and Herbicides  May be associated with certain cancers  Potential endocrine disruptor; impacts the endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries and testes.  May be linked with autism and ADHD

What about Pesticides and Herbicides?  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pesticides and herbicides.  EPA sets standards for the amounts of pesticide and herbicide residuals in food.  Both domestic and imported foods are monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure compliance with these safety standards.  Toxic pesticides and herbicides are banned. Ex: DDT (though it is still used in India).

Organic Meats  Requirements for organic poultry, cattle and pigs:  Must be raised organically on certified organic land  Must be fed certified organic feed  No antibiotics or added growth hormones are allowed*  *Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry  Must have outdoor access  Organic Fish proposals have passed; likely when organic fish can be labeled

Organic Meats  The animals’ organic feed cannot contain animal by-products, antibiotics or genetically engineered grains and cannot be grown using persistent pesticides or chemical fertilizers.  A third-party certifier (not the USDA) inspects these farms and ranches annually to ensure the organic standards are met.

Organic Meats  Organic Cattle Farms  Traditional Feed Lot Organic beef has higher omega-3 and vitamin B content thanks to the nutrient content of grass versus the poor nutritive value of grains/corn (traditional feed lot).

Organic Foods and Health  Stanford University, 2012, Meta-analysis – 237 studies of organic produce, meats and dairy foods, concluded that organic foods are no more nutritious than their conventional counterparts.  “The published literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods.”

Nutrient Composition  In studies that compare the same varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in similar locations, organic foods contain higher levels of some nutrients about 60% of the time.  Scientists at Newcastle University in England concluded that organic produce has 12% higher phytonutrient and 6% higher vitamin C content  Since organic plants are forced to defend themselves against disease and pests without the aid of manmade chemicals, they may develop more of these natural defenses.  No large studies in humans to address long-term health outcomes of organic vs. conventional foods

Are Organic Foods Right for You? PROSCONS Reduced pesticides/herbicidesPrice ($$$) No GMOsAppearance is less consistent Slightly higher nutritive valueLimited selection, harder to find, and is seasonal “Environmentally Friendly”Limited data to support health benefits

Cost Cut Your Grocery Bill  Fact: organic buyers spend more on groceries  Fact: Organic foods can cost 20%-100% more than their conventionally produced foods  Buy organic foods that provide the most potential health benefit for the money (see handout)  Start with buying organic food choices that you would eat most often  Chose organic produce that is in-season  Look for farmer’s markets  Don’t waste money on purchasing organic junk foods (cookies, chips, candy)

Organic Junk Food is Still Junk Food

Summary  If your goal is to limit your exposure to pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones or if you have concerns about environmental impact, look for the organic label on foods

What is in this Picture? Satellite image of circular crop fields in Kansas

Handouts & Web-Cites   media/Labeling%20Organic%20Products%20F act%20Sheet.pdf media/Labeling%20Organic%20Products%20F act%20Sheet.pdf  drestaurants/fast-food-chains drestaurants/fast-food-chains  making-the-world-safe-from- superbugs/index.htm?utm_source=hootsuite making-the-world-safe-from- superbugs/index.htm?utm_source=hootsuite