Is organic really pesticide free

Does organic mean pesticide free? 5 things to know about the USDA organic label

Why do we all have a different definition for organic foods? Is it really pesticide-free? Hormone-free? And if the label reads natural, is it also organic? We took a look at how the USDA monitors organic products and what the term really means.

Did you know that vitamin C doesnt cure the common cold? And that Twinkies dont last forever theyre only fresh for around 25 days? And that gum doesnt stay in your gut for 7 years it passes through just like everything else? These myths have been proven false by credible institutions.

So, in this age of transparency and information, how can we still believe so many falsehoods?

Theres another big misconception in the food industry. And with two kids and a goal to prepare nutritious foods for us this holiday season, I decided to closely examine what it means when a food is labeled organic. Is it really worth splurging for that organic heritage turkey and finding herbs and vegetables locally grown on organic farms to prepare and season our dishes?

What Ive found when asking what organic means to people is that its a very contentious term with very strong opinions. It means many different things to different people: pesticide-free, GMO-free, small local farms, nutrient-dense, richer soilthe list goes on.

For many, choosing organic foods is an emotional decision. Mintel reports that most of us purchasing natural or organic products dont fully understand the nuances of these claims, but just feel better about buying them, for one reason or another. This leads to most of us purchasing these products for our family while not knowing precisely why, besides a broad feeling of moral obligation.

So, despite its perceived flexibility in definition, what makes a food officially organic in the U.S. is not as wholly-encompassing as many of us think it is.

So what does organic really mean, then?

For a food to be considered organic, it requires the approval of the United States Department of Agricultures Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS).The overarching purpose of the AMS is to create worldwide marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops while also ensuring the quality and availability of applicable food products.

In addition to the National Organic Program, the AMS oversees a variety of other programs affecting our food and ag system, including food quality protection, hemp production and country of origin labeling. With the U.S. organic industry under the scrutiny of the AMS, all such foods must be produced using their approved methods, whether it is grown in the U.S. or another country.

So now we understand that organic foods cant be genetically engineered nor cultivated with popular synthetic pesticides, like Roundup. But what about other claims, like pesticide-free, clean, locally-farmed, grass-fed, and all those other terms that are tossed about when thinking of organic food? Lets take a closer look.

Organic food can have pesticides?

Contrary to popular belief, organic foods have pesticides, whether used directly on the crops or not. Organic foods can be treated with pesticides from the USDAs approved substances list, which includes products like copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide. Though organic farmers mostly use natural pesticides on their crops, there are synthetic pesticides approved for use on organic crops, as well. Also, the USDA reports thatpesticide residues are found on both organic and conventional crops alikein its Pesticide Data Program, but all crops are held to regulations governing safe consumption levels.

Arent organic foods locally farmed?

Just as conventional farms have larger and smaller operations throughout the country, so do organic farms. In fact, many larger farms have both organic and conventional operations. Because of this flexibility, it is awesome that we can find both conventional AND organic raspberries on our grocery shelves in the dead of winter. An amazing feat!

Organic foods are also imported into the U.S. every day from countries all over the world. All farms exporting their organic products to the U.S. must also be organically certified according to the USDA organic regulations. Though not all organic products indicate their country of origin, the products must still comply with the U.S. National Organic program.

How about only grassfed and no drugs?

Contrary to popular belief, organic livestock can indeed be raised in a feedlot; purchasing organic meat does not guarantee grass-fed or grass-finished animals. However, the USDA organic seal on meats does mean a few other things that may be important to you.

For instance, organic livestock must be raised and must have year-round access to the outdoors. They must also be fed an all-organic diet (which can include organic grains), and may not be given antibiotics or hormones. However, they can receive vaccines for disease prevention and a handful of approved drugs, like pain and deworming medications.

Its important to note that, for the U.S., hormones are prohibited for use on all chickens, turkeys, and pigs whether organic or not. So if youre buying your family organic chicken tenders only to avoid added hormones, save your money and buy conventional chicken!Furthermore, almost all dairy cows, both organic and conventional, dont receive additional hormones, like rBST.

But at the least, arent organic foods better for us and the environment?

Many of us assume that organic foods are better for our bodies than their conventional counterparts. However, a consensus has not been formed by the scientific community on this hypothesis, as many studies have had inconsistent research parameters, such as too small of sample size to apply to a larger population.

Of particular note, several studies have shown that those eating organic foods more frequently are less likely to be overweight and have heart disease, but it turns out they were more likely to practice healthier diet and exercise choices, in general.

But you know whats definitely better for all of us? Eating a fresh salad instead of a bowl of Annies organic and grassfed mac & cheese! No offense to Annies my kids are obsessed with their shells with white cheddar ? But the answer is to just eat lots of veggies, no matter how theyre grown!

Theres another big issue here thats not as black and white as organic or conventional. If nutrient-rich soil is of utmost importance for you, then youll need to do some research and look into the farms growing your produce. As stewards of the land, good farmers whether of organic or conventional crops take great care of their soil, crops and livestock, which is the most integral part in creating healthy, wholesome foods.

Thinking about it a different way, lets say you lease a modestly-priced, mid-range SUV for your family, while your neighbors, the Joneses, purchase a top-of-the-line, luxury SUV. Darn those Joneses! Three years later, when the lease is up, youre eager to trade in your car because youve taken such good care of it. However, your neighbors have significantly damaged their once-sweet ride and must suffer the consequences. Its not the model of the car, or the type of farm, that mattersits the owner the farmer.

I hope this has been enlightening for you as doing this research was for me. Its definitely opened my eyes to how easily we make decisions based on marketing and misperceptions without thinking about whats really important our ongoing health and wellness that can only be achieved by making sound dietary choices.

For my family and me, that means paying less attention to gimmicky food labels and simply just eating tons more fresh fruits and veggies, organic or not.

The Bottom Line

Organic foods are overseen by the USDAs Agriculture Marketing Service and must be produced while protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances and technologies. Contrary to misconception, it doesnt mean organic foods are better. Just take heart knowing you cant go wrong with eating lots of vegetables and fruits every day, whether conventional or organic!

Hillary Kaufman covers food trends and technological advances in health for Dirt-to-Dinner, a site dedicated to helping you better understand how your food is grown. She graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a B.S. in Business Administration

This article is published as part of a partnership with Dirt to Dinner, which can be followed on Twitter @Dirt_To_Dinner

Whats the Difference Between Pesticide Free and Organic?

Whats the Difference Between Pesticide Free and Organic?

01/31/2019

As you are perusing the grocery store, you may notice that some foods display different labels that look, and sound, similar. Specifically, you may have questioned the difference between pesticide-free and organic labeling. Is there a difference between the two? Does one mean more than the other? We have been taking a look at common questions about pesticides Are Pesticides Needed to Grow Food?Are Pesticides Safe for Food Consumption?Are Pesticides Safe for the Environment?

To gain some insight into the difference between pesticide-free and organic, we reached out to Dr. Paul Vincelli, Extension Professor and Provosts Distinguished Service Professor, University of Kentucky.

What does it mean to be pesticide-free? What about organic?

Dr. Vincelli: Pesticide-free is not a strictly defined term, but it might be used to refer to crops that were not treated with any synthetic (human-made) pesticides. Pesticides are substances for controlling insects, weeds, or disease-causing organisms. Organic commonly refers to certified organic: agricultural products certified to have been produced in compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP) of the USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service.

The NOP is responsible for creating national standards for organically produced agricultural products. If a product meets their standards, they will receive the USDA organic seal; however, it should be noted that these regulations do not address food safety or nutritional value.

In order to meet the USDA organic standards, a product must contain the following criteria:

• Produced without excluded methods, ionizing radiation or sewage sludge
• Produced per the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
• Overseen by a USDA National Organic Program authorized certifying agent, following all USDA organic regulations

If something is organic, doesnt that mean that it is pesticide-free?

Dr. Vincelli: No. It means only that the product was produced according to the standards of the NOP. While organic growers are commonly committed to using limited to no pesticides, they canand often douse pesticides allowed under the NOP standards.

Have you wondered what a pesticide is? According to Dr. Vincelli, there are three categories of substances that act to kill pests:

1. Synthetic pesticides. These are pesticides created by humans. This includes substances that may be designed to mimic natural substances. These are applied to the plant in some way: as a spray, a seed treatment, etc.
2. Natural pesticides applied to plants. These are pesticides made from natural substances. An example would be copper-based pesticides. Copper is mined by humans, but the copper-based active ingredient has not been created by human design. Another example would be pesticides made from naturally occurring bacteria found in the soil. These naturally occurring substances can be toxic to pests, such as spider mites, mosquitoes, ants, fruit flies and others. Spinosad is such a compound and some spinosad products are approved for use in organic agriculture. Pesticides in this category are applied to the plant in some way, much like synthetic pesticides.
3. Natural, internal pesticides. These are natural chemicals synthesized internally by the living plant to defend itself against pest/disease attack. Plants are figuratively assaulted constantly by microorganisms and insects that want to consume the plants tissues. Since plants cant run away to escape these attacks, they must defend themselves through chemicals. Plants are rather remarkable chemists, and defense against attack is a big reason for this.

When people say the word, pesticide, they almost always are thinking of category #1, said Dr. Vincelli. Some of the substances in category #2 are approved for use by organic producers. Even though they are natural, they are toxic to target pestsand sometimes to non-target organisms also, including humans. But since these substances are natural, many people mistakenly believe that they cannot be pesticides, but they are, because they kill or disrupt pests. A common assumption about natural substancespesticides or notis that, since they are natural, they must be safe. It is an easy assumption to make. I often find myself making the same assumption. However, it is an invalid assumption. The world is full of many natural substances that are hazardous to our health at some dose, even at doses we might consume.

Dr. Vincelli continued to explain that substances in category #3 fly under the radar of public consciousness.

Sometimes we have some scientific knowledge of the human risks of eating natural, internally produced chemical pesticides, but commonly we dont know much about how they might impact human health, explained Dr. Vincelli. I am not saying we should be worried about eating plants and plant products, because of these natural, internal pesticides. To the contrary, a healthy diet includes eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, regardless of the possible presence of low amounts of natural, internal pesticidal chemicals. But these are in our food, naturally, and it is interesting to ponder how little we know about these natural pesticides in our diet and how much more there is to learn about eating for optimal health.

Alright, weve received several reader questions about this. Is organic food safer to consume than conventionally produced food?

Dr. Vincelli: Simple answer: I purchase and eat both conventional foods and organic foods. This is because I am generally impressed with the rigor of the regulatory process for pesticides. Most of the time our federal review and approval of pesticides by EPA is impressive and designed to protect public health while maintaining agricultural productivity. In my 35+ years of working with pesticides, I recall only one instance in which I thought the federal government was not adequately protecting public health through conservative decision-making about a pesticide. That was a recent example. But almost always, our government does an excellent job of vigorously assuring the safety of pesticides on and in our foods.

Summary

Foods that are labeled pesticide free and organic represent different ways in which the food was grown. Pesticides include a variety of substances, some of which occur naturally and some of which may be used on organic food. Foods in the United States are tested and vigorously regulated to make sure they are safe to eat.

Other articles in this series:

Are Pesticides Needed to Grow Food?

Are Pesticides Safe for Food Consumption?

Are Pesticides Safe for the Environment?

Loading ...