Co-op takes on Soil Association in food miles fight

Two leading voices in the fight against climate change are at loggerheads over the weight given to "food miles" in a labelling system designed to encourage consumers to choose low-carbon products in shops and supermarkets.

The Co-operative group says it makes "no sense" for the Soil Association to focus so much on air freight which is often a relatively small part of the total environmental impact of a product and risks increasing poverty in places such as Africa which needs planes to carry some goods to markets.

Wine: Seeing red, white and green

Whether your favorite wine is white or red, it may have a touch of green blended in.

More and more wineries are embracing an environmentally sensitive approach to the product they put on the shelf or pour at their tasting venues. Adjectives such as sustainable, recyclable, organic, biodynamic, global climatic and carbon footprint sensitive are gradually finding their way into many wine operations and onto labels.

Going organic doesn't have to break the bank

These days, with rising food costs, just making ends meet can be tough -- and it's even tougher if you've gone organic.

But it's not impossible. If eat­ing organic produce and other foods is important to you and your family, you can make it work. It may just take a bit more effort.

Back to the soil

# Food-safety scares of the past two years have people wondering what's in and on their store-bought food.

# A reborn environmental movement questions the wisdom of using so many synthetic pesticides that end up polluting waterways and drinking water.

# Organic produce is the latest food-industry darling as restaurant menus brag about organic ingredients and supermarkets display organic choices next to the "regular" offerings.

'Organic,' 'natural' not the same thing

The terms "all-natural" and "organic" are often used interchangeably. Their meanings are different, though, so be in the know. Organic describes the way that an item is farmed - with an emphasis on renewable resources and conservation of soil and water. All-natural means a product does not contain artificial ingredients - not that it is farmed organically.

Wily food fraudsters reaping unfair ‘organic‘ benefits

THE next time you bite into that “organic” apple, think again – there‘s a good chance you‘re being conned by wily food fraudsters passing off their produce as organic to make a quick buck.

Experts say the lack of legislation governing the use of the word “organic” in South Africa means farmers who spend thousands of rands arduously growing legitimately organic products are being dwarfed by “fake organic” producers trying to make money by passing off their goods as organic.

Get healthy! 5 ways to green your diet

Greening your diet is not about sacrificing an entire food group, or strictly eating vegetables, or giving up the foods you love. A green diet is a healthy, diverse diet that involves eating real foods.

Animal Rights Concern Spur Organic Meat Sales

Organic food is moving from the fringe to the mainstream in Finland. Sales in the sector grew briskly last year -- particularly organically-produced meat. Experts say this is partly due to growing public concern about factory-farming methods.

Five Ways to Make Your Diet Healthier (for the Planet)

April 22 will be the 36th anniversary of Earth Day. Have you ever stopped to think about how your dietary choices affect the health of our planet? Sure, buying organic products helps reduce the amount of pesticides and artificial fertilizers that are applied to the ground. But what about the environmental impact of transporting organic produce thousands of miles from its source to your table? How about all the energy it takes to process, package, and transport the organic convenience foods and all-natural junk food that fill the freezers and shelves of high-end whole-foods grocers? And to bring the conversation back to nutrition for a moment, how nutritious do you think those organic sugar-frosted corn flakes really are?

Green wine: It's not just a passing trend

Green wine may sound odd, but it may ultimately be better for you. Green wine, otherwise known as organic, sustainable or biodynamic wine, is made with as little chemical and technological intervention as possible - and it's becoming popular.

The Organic Trade Association expects sales of organic wine to grow an additional 17 percent this year, on a base of $80 million.

Uncorking 'green' wines

Some like their white wines, the lighter, the better. Some are such diehard red fans they'd rather never eat fish again than have to pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc.

And then there are those who like their wine green.

Is food that’s labeled ‘organic’ worth the higher price tag?

Organic Oreos? Yep. These days, supermarket shelves are also stocked with organic Ragu pasta sauce and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

According to ShopSmart, the shopping magazine published by Consumer Reports, organic foods, including fruits, meats and dairy, may not be on everyone’s shopping list, but more and more people are reaching for them anyway.

1 large organic shade-grown coffee, please -- with extra bats

If you get a chance to sip some shade-grown Mexican organic coffee, please pause a moment to thank the bats that helped make it possible.

At Mexican organic coffee plantations, where pesticides are banned, bats and birds work night and day to control insect pests that might otherwise munch the crop.

Majority of Darjeeling tea to go organic

The Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) has mounted efforts to increase the production of organic tea so that the majority of the champagne of teas is organically produced by 2010.

Mixed messages on organics

THE Soil Association has hit back at claims that there is no reliable evidence to suggest eating organic food is better for you.

The association reacted to comments from the former Food Standards Agency chief, Lord Krebs, that there are no clear benefits to eating ‘green’ and that the organic message could distort other important health messages such as ‘eat less salt’.

Wal-Mart rolls out line of private label coffee

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., looking to capitalize on consumers' growing interest in sustainable coffees, is rolling out its own line of organic, Rainforest Alliance and fair trade certified coffees.

Outrage hits 'naturally raised' USDA meat labeling plan

Meat that's labeled "naturally raised" could be coming to supermarkets alongside "natural" meat.

The U.S. Agriculture Department already allows meat to be called "natural" so long as it's minimally processed and doesn't contain artificial ingredients.

Now, the Agriculture Department is proposing to let packers label beef, pork or lamb as "naturally raised," so long as the livestock were never given antibiotics or synthetic hormones or fed any animal by-products. USDA officials say the new labeling would give shoppers more choices in the meat case.

Five ways to save on organics

Organic foods may not be on your shopping list, but it's getting so easy to buy what seems to be better-for-you-and-the-planet versions of your favorite products that odds are you're reaching for them anyway. They are often worth the extra money -- but with a little research, you can still find ways to save.

Organic food 'no benefit to health'

Parents who want their children to eat healthily should focus more on serving them extra fruit and vegetables and less on giving them expensive organic produce, according to one of the country's leading nutrition experts.

Did Your Shopping List Kill a Songbird?

THOUGH a consumer may not be able to tell the difference, a striking red and blue Thomas the Tank Engine made in Wisconsin is not the same as one manufactured in China — the paint on the Chinese twin may contain dangerous levels of lead. In the same way, a plump red tomato from Florida is often not the same as one grown in Mexico. The imported fruits and vegetables found in our shopping carts in winter and early spring are grown with types and amounts of pesticides that would often be illegal in the United States.

Study finds pesticide residues in wine

A study by the European Pesticides Action Network (PAN) reveals that wines on sale in the EU may contain residues of up to 10 different pesticides potentially harmful to human health. But manufacturers argue that the quantities are so tiny that drinking wine poses no health risk.