March 5, 2009

The ‘Organic’ Stamp - Does It Mean That Food Is Safer? - NYTimes.com

The ‘Organic’ Stamp - Does It Mean That Food Is Safer? - NYTimes.com:

We should all be very concerned about food safety and nutrition, but an 'Organic' label guarantees neither. I have long believed that the mass migration to "Organic" and "Supplements," both multi-billion dollar industries, has far more to to do with emotion, marketing, ideology, and style than sound, common sense health and eating habits.

One thing I know, 'Organic' means costlier, not necessarily healthier.

"...Meanwhile, consumers are becoming more skeptical about certification, said Laurie Demeritt, president of the Hartman Group, a market research firm.

Some shoppers want food that was grown locally, harvested from animals that were treated humanely or produced by workers who were paid a fair wage. The organic label doesn’t mean any of that.

“They’re questioning the social values around organics,” Ms. Demeritt said.

The Organic Trade Association, which represents 1,700 organic companies, wants to shore up organic food’s image. This week it’s beginning a $500,000 Web-based campaign on the benefits of organic food with the slogan: “Organic. It’s worth it.”

Supporters of the National Organic Program think additional money in the recent farm bill will help improve its reach."

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