• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Why Should We Eat Organic Food?

November 29, 2010 by ds_9723 Leave a Comment

Organic foods cost — on average — 20 percent more than their non-organic counterparts. If you are looking to increase the nutritional value of the foods you serve your family and to decrease the chemical additives in the foods your family eats, paying the additional cost for organic foods may be worth it.

Organic foods cost — on average — 20 percent more than their non-organic counterparts. If you are looking to increase the nutritional value of the foods you serve your family and to decrease the chemical additives in the foods your family eats, paying the additional cost for organic foods may be worth it.

Strict Standards

Until 1990, there were no universal standards for organic foods products in the United States. It was then that congress passed the Organic Foods Protection Act (OFPA) which required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop national, consistent and universal stands for organically produced products. The OFPA and the National Organic Program (NOP), an arm of the USDA, handle the production, handling and labeling of organic foods. As a result of this act, consumers can be assured that foods labeled as "organic" are truly organic. When you buy products that are labeled "organic", it means during the grading, certification and verification process, the food was found to be grown, handled and processed according to the USDA organic standards. To meet these standards, organic dairy products, eggs, poultry and meat must come from animals that were not given any growth hormones or antibiotics, according to the USDA. They must also be made without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewer sludge or ionizing radiation.

Purity

If you prefer to eat foods free from additives, organic food may be a solution. Organic foods do not contain artificial sweeteners, like high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives like sodium nitrate, and flavor enhancers, like monosodium glutamate (MSG). Since organic foods are free from chemical additives, they may lower the incidence of developing diabetes and coronary heart disease, according to OrganicConsumers.org.

Labeling

When you purchase organic foods, the food label clearly indicates how organic the food is. Foods that have 95 percent or more organic ingredients are eligible to carry the USDA organic seal. Foods labeled as "100 percent organic" contain 100 percent organic ingredients. Foods labeled as "organic" contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients, and foods labeled as "made with organic ingredients" have at least 70 percent of their composition coming from organic ingredients, according to The National Organic Program.

Availability

Organic foods are widely available. Meats, vegetables, fruits, poultry and dairy products can be purchased in organic forms. You can purchase organic foods from local farms or in your local grocery store. You can also grow your own organic foods.

When "Organic" Makes No Difference

If your budget is a concern when you are deciding whether to eat organic, the good news is that not everything is worth buying organic. Avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and papaya have thick skins that protect the parts that are normally eaten from pesticides and contaminants.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Food & Drink

About ds_9723

Michelle LaRowe is the 2004 International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year and the author of the "Nanny to the Rescue!", "Working Mom's 411" and a "Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists." Michelle graduated from Bridgewater State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and holds a Certificate in Pastoral Studies from Global University. To learn more about Michelle visit www.michellelarowe.com.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

After seeing and holding the newest member of our family … [Read More...] about 20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

how to find out your pregnancy due date

How to Find Out Your Pregnancy Due Date

tricks to get pen stains out of light clothes

Tricks to Get Pen Stains Out of Light Clothes

What Can I Substitute for Butter When Making Frosting?

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Refrigerate Fresh Lemon Juice

How Long Can You Refrigerate Fresh Lemon Juice?

Emotional Development of Adolescents

how much weight should a baby gain

How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain?

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.