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MomsRetro.com Food Facts
Things you probably didn't know about the foods you
eat.
What
Organic Really Means
By Fran
Black (guest author)
The word "organic" may appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or
eggs, cheese and other single-ingredient foods. Certified organic requires
the rejection of synthetic agrochemicals,
irradiation and
genetically engineered foods or ingredients. Literally, of course, the
term is a redundancy: all food is composed of organic chemicals
(complex chemicals containing carbon).
Any materials used in the
production or processing of organic food must be proven safe. Awareness
is growing about the value of organic foods. But, whether
organic
chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represents "healthier" alternatives
has long been a subject for debate.
Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S.
Gardening organically is much more than what you don't do. In fact,
sales of organics have surged more than 20 percent each year in the
past decade. In terms of number of farms, acreage and value of
production, the organic food industry is growing at a rate of 20-30%
per year.
As commodity programs are eliminated, more farmers have
discovered that organic production is a legitimate and economically
viable alternative enterprise. The growth in the number of organic
farmers has increased steadily, similar to the growth of the U.S.
In current organic production systems, growers are not permitted to use
conventional synthetic organic fungicides in their disease management
program. Non-organic milk comes from farms that are allowed to use
genetically modified cattle feed, along with routine antibiotic
treatments and synthetic pesticides. Arguments have long raged as to
the effects these hormones and chemicals have on the bioproducts.
Growth hormones in cows, pesticides on produce and antibiotics in
poultry are among the reasons many Americans are turning to organic
foods.
Organically raised animals may not be given growth
hormones to or
antibiotics for any reason. Producers are required to feed livestock
agricultural feed products that are 100 percent organic, but farmers
may also provide allowed vitamin and mineral supplements.
The US Department of Agriculture finally put in place a national system
for labeling organic food. The new federal rule guarantees you, the
consumer, organic products that are grown without toxic pesticides,
herbicides, or fertilizers. Pesticides derived from natural sources
(such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically
grown food. Limitations in relation to which pesticides may or may not
be used, present the organic grower with some unique and very demanding
challenges. Food that is at least 70 percent organic will list the
organic ingredients on the front of the package.
More than 40 private organizations and state agencies (certifiers)
currently certify organic food, but their standards for growing and
labeling organic food may differ.
Even with these labeling rules in
place, consumers should be prepared for some confusion when shopping
for organic foods. For one thing, organic products are not
uniformly
labeled because many farmers using organic methods do not pursue
certification at all. In addition, the language contained in seals,
labels, and logos approved by organic certifiers may differ.
While consumers struggle with the fact that often, the availability of
organic materials is limited when large quantities are needed. More and
more people have come to appreciate the added dimensions of value and
quality available in the organic marketplace.
Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items
http://www.organic-items.com and Pilates Shop
http://www.pilates-shop.net leading portals for organic products and
natural exercise.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fran_Black
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Organic-Really-Means&id=194831
The United
States Department of Agriculture is one of the many agencies charged
with protecting the food supply.
Information from the USDA:
Additives
in Meat & Poultry Products
This fact sheet contains information regarding the food additive
approval process and a glossary of additive terms you may see on a meat
or poultry product label.
Natural
Flavorings on Meat & Poultry Labels
The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline answers some of its most common
questions about the natural flavorings listed on meat and poultry
labels.
The
Poultry Label Says "Fresh"
For
consumers, "fresh" means whole poultry and cuts have never been below
26 °F. The fact sheet provides background information on this
labeling
rule.
Approval
of Food Ingredients & Sources of Radiation For Use in Meat &
Poultry
FSIS streamlined the approval process for food ingredients, including
food and color additives, and sources of radiation, by ending the
requirement that they be approved separately by both the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and FSIS.
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