Organic food - what is the truth?
Perhaps surprisingly, there is opposition to the growing organic movement. Look carefully at each piece of resistance and you will probably find someone who has a vested interest in undermining the growth of public interest in organic produce.
In the battle of the so-called experts how do you know who is helping and who is hindering you to find the truth? In an attempt to dispel some of the myths, here are a few of the most frequently asked questions we have heard and the answers to those questions.
Are organically grown foods more susceptible to microscopic pathogens?
There is no scientific evidence to show that organic food is any more susceptible than conventional food to any form of microscopic pathogen.
However, everyone should practice good hygiene when handling, preparing, cooking or storing food (regardless of whether it is organic or not). Here are some basic tips:
|
Does organic food cost more than conventional food?
There is not a straight yes or no answer to this question. Organic food prices depend on the cost of all the elements that contribute to the end product: growing, harvesting, processing, transport, packaging and storage, to name a few. Organic producers have to meet stricter regulations all through the process, and this makes the process more expensive in terms of manpower. We are the first to accept that caring for animals costs more in time and care, however, and this inevitably finds its way to the consumer. We don’t apologise for this though - we think the animals deserve it.
However, if the indirect costs of conventional farming were included in conventional food prices (clean-up of polluted water, garbage pick-up and processing, landfill and waste reclamation, environmental protection activities, health care costs), organic foods would almost certainly be considerably cheaper than conventional foods.
Finally, demand for organic produce is high in proportion to the levels of supply, and this may also contribute to higher prices. However, the number of suppliers is increasing all the time, and this will help to bring down prices.
Does organic farming produce less than conventional farming?
Numerous studies have been conducted that demonstrate organic farming to be every bit as productive as conventional farming. The use of pesticides does not guarantee higher crop yields.
Which food safety processes are allowed in organic production?
Organic food is allowed to be pasteurised but irradiation is not permitted.
Why is organic food not allowed to be irradiated?
Ionising radiation has been used to prolong the “shelf-life” of a wide variety of foodstuffs, but in recent years increasing numbers of people have questioned whether this is good practice.
