Explaining the Organic Food TrendBy: Nicole Grimes

USDA Organic Standards• No antibiotics• No growth hormones• Animals raised on organic feed• Farmed without pesticides or

herbicides • Farmed without synthetic fertilizers

• Placed on all products made with 95-100% organic ingredients

• Products with at least 70% organic ingredients may state “Made with Organic Ingredients”

Pesky PesticidesOver 400 chemicals are

used to kill pests and weeds

Pesticides implicated in:Cancer (Specifically breast cancer)Male InfertilityParkinson’s Disease

Hormones and Antibiotics• Cause antibacterial

resistance in humans

• May increase exposure to Mad Cow Disease

The USDA states that organic foods are:

“No more Nutritious than Conventionally grown foods”

Extra Expense $$$• Whole Food brand

Organic applesauce: $2.99

• Motts Regular applesauce: $1.49

Organic Foods you can Skip• Potato Chips• Ice Cream• Product with

processed white flour

• All other nutrient-deficient food

Organic Foods you can Skip• All Seafood and Fish

• The USDA has yet to set standards for organic seafood and fish products

• Products labeled as “organic” can still contain harmful contaminants such as mercury

Organic Foods you can Skip• Shucked or Peeled

fruits and veggies• Bananas• Avocados• Sweet Corn• Sweet Peas

Organic Foods Worth Buying• Meats• Poultry• Eggs• Dairy Products

Organic Foods Worth Buying• Apples• Grapes• Spinach• Peaches• Pears• Strawberries• Cherries• Raspberries• Blueberries

The Dirty Dozen • Apples• Peaches• Bell Peppers• Celery• Nectarine• Strawberries• Cherries• Kale• Lettuce• Grapes (Imported)• Carrots• Pears

The Clean Fifteen • Onion• Avocado• Sweet corn • Pineapple• Mango• Asparagus• Sweet Peas• Kiwi• Cabbage• Eggplant• Papaya• Watermelon• Broccoli• Tomato• Sweet Potato

National Organic Program www.ams.usda.gov/nop

Carl Winter foodsafe.ucdavis.edu/music.html