Organic Food Industry Is Duping Consumers on Health, Environment Issues

Organic foods are quite in vogue--they constitute the fastest-growing segment of the food industry. Food markets from Whole Foods to Wal-Mart are trying to capture part of this burgeoning market.

The reason for this is that the public thinks organic foods are more nutritious, less toxic, and better for the environment than conventionally produced foods. Alex Avery's new book will convince you that these claims are all false.

Poabs’ call to back its ‘organic farming movement’

Poabs Group director Thomas Jacob said has called upon ecologists and environmental groups to support the group’s “organic farming movement” and added that he was ready to put his estates “to the most stringent tests”.

When Organic Foods Are Worth Your Money

You do not have to shop at specialty stores any longer for a wide variety of organic foods. Mainstream supermarkets carry a much bigger selection than just apples and oranges. You can buy almost any food as an organic product, but doing so means you'll likely pay more.

Organic consideration

The Nov. 14 column "Is organic food healthier?" suggested that organic food is not worth the additional cost, focusing on the alleged lack of evidence regarding related health effects. Organic foods have only recently become widely available at most grocery stores, so it's true there have not been many specific studies on organic versus conventional food healthfulness. However, there is recent data supporting the idea that organics are healthier. Early results of an EU-funded study indicate organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40 percent more antioxidants and higher levels of some beneficial minerals than their non-organic counterparts. Another study found a two-fold increase in antioxidants in organic tomatoes compared to conventionally grown tomatoes. Antioxidants, of course, are believed to lower the risk of heart disease and cancer in many studies.

Soil Association: Public unaware that most milk, dairy products and pork from GM

Nearly all the milk, dairy products and pork in UK supermarkets are being produced from animals fed on GM crops, and none of this is labelled, according to a Soil Association investigation. Tests of animal feed and a survey of company policies have revealed that all the supermarkets are widely allowing the use of GM feed. The report found that around 60% of the maize and 30% of the soya fed to dairy cattle and pigs is GM. [1] Most consumers are unwittingly eating food produced from GM crops everyday.

Organic air ban raises fears for flavours

The proposed restrictions on air freighting of organic produce into the UK could have implications for the flavour industry, as some valuable raw materials are grown far way and would not survive lengthy sea freighting times.

Organic industry well beyond the rind

Findings from a report by the World Cancer Research fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research of a "convincing link between processed meats and colorectal cancer" is good news for the Australian organic meat processors. The report states there is solid proof that high levels of processed meat containing nitrite and other preservatives increase the risk of cancer in the colon and rectum; two key organs of the digestive system. Nitrites are barred from use in the processing of organic meat.

Organic chocolate off market after cancer substance found

A German organic-foods company has withdrawn its "fair trade" chocolate from the market after testers found in it high levels of a substance that causes cancer. The Rapunzel company recalled all blocks of Bio Negro bittersweet chocolate after the revelation that they contained benzopyrene, a dangerous substance also found in diesel smoke and burned toast.

Tukulu's first organic wines

Tukulu, a member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, has launched its first organic wines, a 2007 Chardonnay and a 2006 Sangiovese, both made from organically certified dryland vines on the Papkuilsfontein farm in Darling and vinified under organic conditions.

To be accredited by the Swiss-based international body, Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), the vines had to be farmed organically for at least three years. The Chardonnay was planted in 1998 and the Sangiovese, a year later. Both have been farmed organically since 2001 and deliver low yields.

I'm organic, buy me

Increasing awareness on the benefits of wholesome, naturally produced foods has seen Malaysians switch from conventionally grown produce to organic ones. But with all varieties of "organic" food flooding the retail shelves, how can consumers identify the genuine product?

Look past 'organic' label for eco-friendly alcohol

Austin is known for being an earth-friendly city, so logically, people prefer food that's either organic or grown locally. Organic fruits, veggies and meats are all available in Texas, but what about alcohol? A few Texas beers and wines are made with the environment in mind, but Austinites will have to look past the label.

Any beer or wine that bears the "USDA Organic" seal meets the requirement that 95 percent of its ingredients are produced organically, without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Amherst 'fair-trade' cause reverberates worldwide

Now that Yuri Friman has convinced Amherst Town Meeting to support his fair trade campaign, he plans to bring a Peruvian coffee-bean farmer to town, urge supermarkets to diversify their offerings and promote fair trade Hanukkah chocolates.

Organic labeling confuses farmers

There's a tectonic shift under way in organic agriculture. An organic label was once a way for smaller farms to find a market niche with produce free of synthetic chemicals.

But as the demand for organic produce and other products has grown, large farms have started muscling in, sparking intense competition for space in farmers markets, health food stores and chain supermarkets.

Organic's good, but will it feed everyone?

The battle has been raging back and forth ever since synthetic pesticides and fertilizers were introduced into agriculture. Is organic produce safer and more nutritious than the conventional variety?

Organic wines: behind the label

In an ideal world, buds would sprout from grapevines in the spring and turn into fragrant flowers after a few weeks. Grapes would follow the flowers and ripen to perfection throughout the summer months.

In the fall, the vintner who had been sitting back watching the vineyard develop would pick perfectly ripe, succulent grapes, ferment them into wine and bottle a pure, delicious product.

Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world.

Does the consumer really know best?

Yesterday's decision by the Soil Association to continue certifying organic produce flown in from abroad is a fillip for those who believe in consumer power. As a result of the ruling, after lengthy public consultation, consumers can still decide for themselves whether they wish to support organic farmers in developing countries who rely on air freighting their produce to the UK, or whether they prefer to boycott such produce due to environmental concerns about using planes to transport food. If the Soil Association had decided that it should withdraw certification from air-freighted food, then that choice would have been denied the consumer.

Sweet injustice

By the time that last batch of holiday fudge is wrapped and shipped to friends and family, Americans will have spent upwards of $15 billion on chocolate this year. Recent reports citing the benefits of dark chocolate on blood pressure have provided justification for our indulgence, but there is a bitter exchange for our pleasure: hundreds of thousands of children kidnapped, beaten and enslaved by cocoa farmers with dollar signs in their eyes.

Kenyan organic farmers 'relieved'

A lobby group for Kenya's organic farmers, Rodi, has welcomed a decision by the UK's Soil Association not to ban organic produce imported by air.

African farmers risked losing $66million (£32.6 million) in annual retail sales if the ban was imposed.

Organic milk, cheese and yoghurt 'protects children against asthma'

Organic milk, cheese and yoghurt may protect young children against eczema and asthma, researchers say.

They found that infants raised on organic dairy products are a third less likely to suffer from allergies in the first two years of life than those fed conventional food.

Organic produce 'better for you'

Organic produce is better for you than ordinary food, a major European Union-funded study says.

The £12m four-year project, led by Newcastle University, found a general trend showing organic food contained more antioxidants and less fatty acids.

But researchers did admit the study showed some variations.

Europe grows more (and more) GM crops

Just days after the European Commission gave its stamp of approval to four new GM plants, a report has revealed that the area of Europe's arable land devoted to genetically modified crops has risen by 77 per cent in the last year. The total area of GM cultivation is now 1,000 square kilometres*.

EU research finds organic food healthier and better

A European project has found that some organic foods, such as fruit, vegetables and milk, could be more nutritious than non-organically produce and contain higher concentrations of antioxidants, believed to cut the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Study could give organics a boost

Is organically grown food scientifically better for nutrition than conventionally grown produce?

Long has this question been vehemently debated with theory.

Thanks to a $25 million, four-year study going on in the United Kingdom, we may have some concrete answers soon.

Organic food ‘equivalent to having an extra portion of fruit and veg a day’

ORGANIC food is more nutritious and can even help fight cancer, according to new research out this week.

Scientists leading the £12million project have called on the Government to accept the evidence and encourage consumers to eat organic produce.

Organic food for the world

A small village community in Matale produces tea packs made out of reed under a regular Rs 2 million monthly contract -- in a-too-good-to-be-true story -- thanks to the efforts of Bio Foods (Pvt) Ltd.

The Kandy-based company founded by former Tea Research Institute (TRI) Scientist Dr Sarath Ranaweera is Sri Lanka’s biggest organic food producer and amongst the best in the world with turnover this year likely to reach 5 million Euros (Rs 800 million).