Organic vs. Non-organic

I choose organic. A lot of the pesticides on non-organic produce are hormone disruptors, and I figure why make it harder for myself to lose weight by putting those in my body?

I think this guy makes a lot of sense:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/is-organic-all-it’s-cracked-up-to-be/#axzz2WVNJk6tX

Also, eating clean has done me quite a bit of good:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1018745-getting-lean-my-last-4-months-in-pictures

Personally I support the small farmer who use sustainable agriculture where the management of all aspects of the environment are taken into account, who could also practice organic but not necessarily. Generally these farmers believe in diversity of maintain soil integrity, crop rotation, phosphate recovery, water management etc as opposed to the big players that control organic today and who's first obligation is market share and profit and not our health per se.

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/05/hepatitis-a-illnesses-linked-to-organic-berries-sold-at-costco/#.UcCU19jhds0

Even organic food can be harmful.

Personally I support the small farmer who use sustainable agriculture where the management of all aspects of the environment are taken into account, who could also practice organic but not necessarily. Generally these farmers believe in diversity of maintain soil integrity, crop rotation, phosphate recovery, water management etc as opposed to the big players that control organic today and who's first obligation is market share and profit and not our health per se.

I personally don't go for organic or natural. If I purchased all organic I would be broke.

Beetle skins are organic and natural. They are used a food colouring. Secretions from beetles are used to make produce look shiny.

Organic or natural doesn't equal healthy. I do realize that organic is free from chemical pesticides however they are not pesticide free as there are many "organic" pesticides. Also, depending on where you are labelling requirements are not as strict.

When I shop I don't look for organic. I buy produce that is as local as possible. I shop farmers markets in the summer and fall and a lot of farmers around here do use non-chemical pesticides however I would still purchase from them if they did.

If you are concerned with preservatives, make things yourself. Organic packaged food doesn't mean it's good for you.

i swear sometimes this forum feels like the break room at the DMV

Commerical dyes have long been known to cause health issues. In Europe many of our popular foods are made dye free over there. I'm not saying these are healthy, just that they are made without petroluem (sp) commerical dyes: Kraft Mac n Cheese is made with yellow dye 5 and 6 here in the US, NOT in Europe. Fruit Loops is made with natrual dyes over in Europe, it's commercial dyes like Red 40 here. Ever wonder why commercial pickles here in the US have dyes yellow 5 and 6? Or commercial cereals have BHT as a preservative...which is also used in Jet Airline fuel. In Europe, it's been long known that yellow 5 causes problems with people who suffer from Asthma...so any products that go into that country with yellow 5 has to have a warning label....guess what? That doesn't happen here.

In my family we grow as much of our own produce as possible, by from farmer's markets, and trusted sources. We also follow a program called Feingold Diet. www.feingold.org it's a diet developed back in the 70's that takes out dyes, preservatives, artifical junk and etc for kids/adults who suffer from ADHD...and now it's been show to benefit a lot of other people. We also avoid anything with HFCS, and due to food allergies avoid gluten, dairy, eggs and peanuts for our meals/most snacks.

Or commercial cereals have BHT as a preservative...which is also used in Jet Airline fuel.

Dihydrogen monoxide is an ingredient in many foods and is also used in concrete, cleaning products, and in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. You should avoid that too.

I miss Penn & Teller!

Which is better organic or non-organic? Where do you like to shop for produce and other groceries? Do you eat organic or non-organic foods and drinks? I just got back from whole foods. I bought a lot of organic stuff. I just read an article about preservatives in our food. How they use stuff like tar and beetle skin to dye our foods. Plus it is harmful for our health. Certain food dyes and preservatives cause health issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues. So, I am starting to go the organic route.

All nonsense.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/996243-still-think-eating-organic-isn-t-worth-it

§ 205.603 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production.
In accordance with restrictions specified in this section the following synthetic substances may be used in organic livestock production:

(a) As disinfectants, sanitizer, and medical treatments as applicable.

(1) Alcohols.

(i) Ethanol-disinfectant and sanitizer only, prohibited as a feed additive.

(ii) Isopropanol-disinfectant only.

(2) Aspirin-approved for health care use to reduce inflammation.

(3) Atropine (CAS #-51-55-8)—federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the lawful written or oral order of a licensed veterinarian, in full compliance with the AMDUCA and 21 CFR part 530 of the Food and Drug Administration regulations. Also, for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires:

(i) Use by or on the lawful written order of a licensed veterinarian; and

(ii) A meat withdrawal period of at least 56 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter; and a milk discard period of at least 12 days after administering to dairy animals.

(4) Biologics—Vaccines.

(5) Butorphanol (CAS #-42408-82-2)—federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the lawful written or oral order of a licensed veterinarian, in full compliance with the AMDUCA and 21 CFR part 530 of the Food and Drug Administration regulations. Also, for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires:

(i) Use by or on the lawful written order of a licensed veterinarian; and

(ii) A meat withdrawal period of at least 42 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter; and a milk discard period of at least 8 days after administering to dairy animals.

(6) Chlorhexidine—Allowed for surgical procedures conducted by a veterinarian. Allowed for use as a teat dip when alternative germicidal agents and/or physical barriers have lost their effectiveness.

(7) Chlorine materials—disinfecting and sanitizing facilities and equipment. Residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

(i) Calcium hypochlorite.

(ii) Chlorine dioxide.

(iii) Sodium hypochlorite.

(8) Electrolytes—without antibiotics.

(9) Flunixin (CAS #-38677-85-9)—in accordance with approved labeling; except that for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires a withdrawal period of at least two-times that required by the FDA.

(10) Furosemide (CAS #-54-31-9)—in accordance with approved labeling; except that for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires a withdrawal period of at least two-times that required that required by the FDA.

(11) Glucose.

(12) Glycerine—Allowed as a livestock teat dip, must be produced through the hydrolysis of fats or oils.

(13) Hydrogen peroxide.

(14) Iodine.

(15) Magnesium hydroxide (CAS #-1309-42-8)—federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the lawful written or oral order of a licensed veterinarian, in full compliance with the AMDUCA and 21 CFR part 530 of the Food and Drug Administration regulations. Also, for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires use by or on the lawful written order of a licensed veterinarian.

(16) Magnesium sulfate.

(17) Oxytocin—use in postparturition therapeutic applications.

(18) Parasiticides—Prohibited in slaughter stock, allowed in emergency treatment for dairy and breeder stock when organic system plan-approved preventive management does not prevent infestation. Milk or milk products from a treated animal cannot be labeled as provided for in subpart D of this part for 90 days following treatment. In breeder stock, treatment cannot occur during the last third of gestation if the progeny will be sold as organic and must not be used during the lactation period for breeding stock.

(i) Fenbendazole (CAS # 43210-67-9)—only for use by or on the lawful written order of a licensed veterinarian.

(ii) Ivermectin (CAS # 70288-86-7).

(iii) Moxidectin (CAS # 113507-06-5)—for control of internal parasites only.

(19) Peroxyacetic/peracetic acid (CAS #-79-21-0)—for sanitizing facility and processing equipment.

(20) Phosphoric acid—allowed as an equipment cleaner, Provided , That, no direct contact with organically managed livestock or land occurs.

(21) Poloxalene (CAS #-9003-11-6)—for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires that poloxalene only be used for the emergency treatment of bloat.

(22) Tolazoline (CAS #-59-98-3)—federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the lawful written or oral order of a licensed veterinarian, in full compliance with the AMDUCA and 21 CFR part 530 of the Food and Drug Administration regulations. Also, for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires:

(i) Use by or on the lawful written order of a licensed veterinarian;

(ii) Use only to reverse the effects of sedation and analgesia caused by Xylazine; and

(iii) A meat withdrawal period of at least 8 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter; and a milk discard period of at least 4 days after administering to dairy animals.

(23) Xylazine (CAS #-7361-61-7)—federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the lawful written or oral order of a licensed veterinarian, in full compliance with the AMDUCA and 21 CFR part 530 of the Food and Drug Administration regulations. Also, for use under 7 CFR part 205, the NOP requires:

(i) Use by or on the lawful written order of a licensed veterinarian;

(ii) The existence of an emergency; and

(iii) A meat withdrawal period of at least 8 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter; and a milk discard period of at least 4 days after administering to dairy animals.

(b) As topical treatment, external parasiticide or local anesthetic as applicable.

(1) Copper sulfate.

(2) Formic acid (CAS # 64-18-6)—for use as a pesticide solely within honeybee hives.

(3) Iodine.

(4) Lidocaine—as a local anesthetic. Use requires a withdrawal period of 90 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter and 7 days after administering to dairy animals.

(5) Lime, hydrated—as an external pest control, not permitted to cauterize physical alterations or deodorize animal wastes.

(6) Mineral oil—for topical use and as a lubricant.

(7) Procaine—as a local anesthetic, use requires a withdrawal period of 90 days after administering to livestock intended for slaughter and 7 days after administering to dairy animals.

(8) Sucrose octanoate esters (CAS #s-42922-74-7; 58064-47-4)—in accordance with approved labeling.

(c) As feed supplements—None.

(d) As feed additives.

(1) DL-Methionine, DL-Methionine-hydroxy analog, and DL-Methionine-hydroxy analog calcium (CAS #'s 59-51-8, 583-91-5, 4857-44-7, and 922-50-9)—for use only in organic poultry production at the following maximum levels of synthetic methionine per ton of feed: Laying and broiler chickens—2 pounds; turkeys and all other poultry—3 pounds.

(2) Trace minerals, used for enrichment or fortification when FDA approved.

(3) Vitamins, used for enrichment or fortification when FDA approved.

(e) As synthetic inert ingredients as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for use with nonsynthetic substances or synthetic substances listed in this section and used as an active pesticide ingredient in accordance with any limitations on the use of such substances.

(1) EPA List 4—Inerts of Minimal Concern.

(2) [Reserved]

(f) Excipients, only for use in the manufacture of drugs used to treat organic livestock when the excipient is: Identified by the FDA as Generally Recognized As Safe; Approved by the FDA as a food additive; or Included in the FDA review and approval of a New Animal Drug Application or New Drug Application.