Organic Food/Cosmetics: Worth the Money?

January 21, 2006

, Butch Owen <butchbsi@s...> wrote:

>

> Original page: http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/117/112503.htm

> Here is the list, which appears in the magazine's February edition:

>

> Organic items worth buying as often as possible: Apples, baby food,

> bell peppers, celery, cherries, dairy, eggs, imported grapes, meat,

> nectarines, peaches, pears, poultry, potatoes, red raspberries,

spinach, and strawberries.

I agree, especially with the fruits and veggies -- they're the ones

that get the most nasty chemicals. I don't buy organic meat and dairy,

just too much $$ for it. Don't use much of it, anyway.

>

> Organic items worth buying if money is no object: Asparagus,

avocados, bananas, bread, broccoli, cauliflower, cereals, sweet corn,

kiwi, mangos, oils, onions, papaya, pasta, pineapples, potato chips,

and sweet peas. Also included are packaged products such as canned

vegetables and dried fruit.

Well, money is an object, so I grow my own. My tomatoes and veggies

and herbs are growing beautifully right now, all organically-raised.

Used to raise my own beans, but hand-thrashing them was a big PITA ;-)

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January 22, 2006

Original page: http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/117/112503.htm

Organic Food: Worth the Money?

Magazine Article Lists Organic Items Worthy of Your Shopping Cart

By Miranda Hitti

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

on Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Jan. 10, 2006 -- Pondering the purchase of organic foods? A story in

Consumer Reports spells out which organic items are worth buying -- and

which aren't.

Here is the list, which appears in the magazine's February edition:

Organic items worth buying as often as possible: Apples, baby food,

bell peppers, celery, cherries, dairy, eggs, imported grapes, meat,

nectarines, peaches, pears, poultry, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach,

and strawberries.

Organic items worth buying if money is no object: Asparagus, avocados,

bananas, bread, broccoli, cauliflower, cereals, sweet corn, kiwi,

mangos, oils, onions, papaya, pasta, pineapples, potato chips, and sweet

peas. Also included are packaged products such as canned vegetables and

dried fruit.

Organic items not worth buying: Seafood and cosmetics.

Expect to pay more for organic foods, which are more labor-intensive to

grow and don't get government subsidies, states the article.

Magazine's Standards

When Consumer Reports drew up those lists, they considered government

standards for organic foods and residues of pesticides, antibiotics, or

hormones used in raising nonorganic foods. The article doesn't focus on

environmental issues.

Why did seafood and cosmetics fare poorly?

Consumer Reports notes that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

hasn't set standards for organic seafood, and wild and farmed seafood

can be labeled " organic " even if they contain contaminants such as

mercury and PCBs.

As for cosmetics, the article states that products typically contain a

mix of ingredients that didn't necessarily come from organic agriculture.

What About Cost?

Organic foods are often more expensive than nonorganic foods. " On

average, you'll pay 50% extra for organic food, but you can easily end

up shelling out 100% more, especially for milk and meat, " states

Consumer Reports.

The article offers these ideas to cut costs of organic foods:

* Comparison shop

* Buy locally produced organic foods (check farmers' markets)

* Buy a share in a community-supported organic farm to get a

regular supply of seasonal organic produce

* Order by mail

Consumer Reports also recommends checking that fresh organic fruits and

vegetables aren't placed too close to nonorganic produce in grocery

stores, since misting could let pesticide residue run.

Organic Health

The magazine article mentions a study in which kids' pesticide exposure

quickly dropped after switching to an organic diet. The researchers

tracked pesticide exposure, not the kids' health.

The web site of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states

that while pesticides carry some risks, especially for babies and kids,

strict rules protect people from being exposed to too much pesticide

residue.

The Consumer Reports article mentions concerns that widespread use of

antibiotics in conventionally raised animals may spawn drug resistance

and that synthetic growth hormones (which are banned for poultry and any

organically raised animals) could cause cancer or speed up puberty for

girls.

Those fears don't hold water, critics say.

The National Dairy Council's web site states that " American milk and

dairy products are among the safest and most highly regulated foods in

the world " and that milk from hormone-treated cows has repeatedly been

shown to be " safe for human consumption. "

What's 'Organic?'

The U.S. market for organic foods has skyrocketed in recent years and is

expected to more than double by 2009, states Consumer Reports.

Meanwhile, government standards for organic foods have been hotly

contested. Here's Consumer Reports' guide to label lingo:

* " 100% organic " : No synthetic ingredients are allowed by law.

* " Organic " : At least 95% of ingredients are organically produced.

* " Made with Organic Ingredients " : At least 70% of ingredients are

organic; the other 30% are from a list approved by the USDA.

* " Free-range " or " free-roaming " : Animals had an undetermined

amount of daily outdoor access. This label does not provide much

information about the product.

* " Natural " or " All Natural " : Doesn't mean organic. No standard

definition, except for meat and poultry products, which may not contain

any artificial flavoring, colors, chemical preservatives, or synthetic

ingredients. Claims aren't checked.

SOURCES: Consumer Reports, February 2006; vol 71: pp 12-17. WebMD

Medical News: " Organic Diet Cuts Kids' Food Pesticide Levels. " " Organic

Diet Cuts Kids' Food Pesticide Levels. " National Dairy Council:

" Nutrition & Product Information: Dairy Food Safety. " News release,

Consumer Reports.

January 22, 2006

Can anyone give a suggestion on how to grow a few things on just a patio

space? My patio is enclosed with a screen but it is not in direct

sunlight. I love organic foods but I've been shopping at a farmer's market

b/c even commercially grown foods are getting outrageous in price (don't

taste all that great either after tasting the stuff at the farmer's

market...).

Drae