Women and Organic Food
In today's society the market for organic
food is growing very day. More and more people are switching
to organic food for one reason or another. For those of you who
haven't joined this organic food revolution I have written this
article to give you reason I see for eating organic food.
Organic Food and your Health
It is a proven fact that organic food doesn't contain as many
chemicals like pesticides. There are over 500 additives used
in conventional food processing, some of which are suggested
to be harmful. These additives include monosodium glutamate,
phosphoric acid, sulphur dioxide, hydrogenated fat, aspartame,
and artificial colourings and flavorings.
Recent Government testing shows that up to a third of our
food contains pesticides. A test carried out in 2004 revealed
that 40% of all the non-organic fruit and vegetables that were
tested contained pesticides according to the Government's Pesticide
Residues Committee. The results for particular fruit and vegetables
were much worse; Over 70% of the soft citrus fruits, pears, apples,
strawberries and speciality beans contained pesticides.
Government testing in 2003 for lettuce's also found that over
half of the samples tested contained pesticide residues; 50%
of these contained multiple residues of between 2 and 5 different
chemicals, 13% contained residues over the maximum level set
by the government, and the number of samples of pre-packed salads
containing residues was even higher.
More Government testing revealed that over 25% more pesticides
were found in samples of fruit and vegetables supplied to school
children under the official School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
(SFVS). Nearly 30% more instances of multiple pesticides were
found in the school fruit and vegetable samples. In total 84%
of the school fruit and vegetables were found to contain pesticides
and 65% of the samples contained multiple pesticides. Other findings
included 72 items of fruit and vegetables, collected between
April and July 2005, tested positive for pesticide residues,
mostly in tiny quantities, and two pieces of apple had chemicals
above the 'benchmark' for good agricultural practice.
There are also pesticides found in things like women's breast
milk - over 350 man made contaminant's including pesticides were
found in women's breast milk.
It is common sense then, that eating organic food will lower
the risk of of exposure to pesticides.
Pesticides and Food
Here are some results from recent Government survey:
| Food |
Pesticide
Residue |
| Apples |
80% contained residues in 2004
with 48% having residues of more than one chemical. |
| Beer |
31% contained residues in 2004.
Growing non-organic hops involves 12-14 annual sprays with about
15 chemical products used on average. |
| Bread |
Residues found in 67% of the ordinary bread sampled
in 2004 and 18% contained multiple residues. |
| Cereal bars |
Two surveys of cereal bars
were carried out in 2001. The first found that 64% contained
detectable residues with 22% of them containing multiple residues
and the second found that 71% had detectable residues with 14%
of them containing multiple residues. There is currently no maximum
residue limit for cereal bars. |
| Cheese |
67% of feta cheese samples contained residues
of DDT when tested in 1999. |
| Farmed Fish |
85% contained residues when
tested in 2004, 34% had multiple residues. The pesticides found
were chlordane, DDT, dieldrin and hexachlorobenzene. These take
a long time to break down after they are used and can also build
up in fatty tissues. |
| Grapes |
54% contained residues when tested in 2004, 34%
had multiple residues. |
| Lemons |
Two surveys of lemons were
carried out in 2001. The first found that 100% contained detectable
residues with 90% of them containing multiple residues and the
second found 93% contained detectable residues with 81% containing
multiple residues. |
| Oats and rye |
85% contained residues when tested in 2004, 26%
had multiple residues. |
| Pears |
76% of those tested in 2003
contained residues, 48% had multiple residues. |
| Potatoes |
41% contained residues in 2003 with 13% containing
multiple residues. |
| Pre-packed salad |
40% contained residues in 2004
with 18% containing multiple residues. |
| Raspberries |
57% contained residues, 31% with multiple residues
in 2003. |
| Rice |
54% of samples tested in 2003
contained residues, 10% containing multiple residues. |
| Spinach |
24% of samples tested in 2003 contained residues. |
| Wine |
10% contained residues in 2003. |
Organic Food and the Environment
Although there are many good reasons stated above why we should
eat organic food, there are also some other very important points
we haven't mentioned yet. Firstly, to help protect the environment;
many of us in modern times think about our impact on the environment.
Where ever you turn there are people talking about global warming
and other issues.
Research shows that organic food and farming is better for
the environment than conventional agriculture. There have been
many surveys and reports carried out on this subject of organic
food and farming. Some of which are from the Ministry of Agriculture
and the British Trust for Ornithology. These reports have shown
that organic food and farming has beneficial effects on wildlife.
This is seen through the routine use of pesticides in conventional
farming methods, which kill off many soil organisms, insects
and other larger species. They also kill many plants that they
consider 'weeds'. This results in fewer food sources for other
animals, birds and beneficial insects and it also destroys many
of their habitats.
Organic farming, in contrast provides a much wider range of
habitats for animals etc, such as more hedges, herb and clover
rich grassland, wider field margins and a mixed range of crops.
An organic farmer considers wildlife to be an essential part
of the farming system and not just a luxury.
The avoidance of artificial chemicals means organic farmers
minimise health and pollution problems. They also reduce the
use of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels which are
used to produce fertilisers and other agrochemicals.
Organic Food and Animal Welfare
Many organic certification bodies etc such as The Soil Association,
insists on stringent animal welfare standards. Organic farming
rules are under constant review by a group of experienced organic
farmers, vets and experts to ensure that all the farm animals
are reared in optimal conditions on organic farms.
Organic farmers are able to manage their livestock without
the routine use of antibiotics and other drugs because they run
healthy, balanced organic farm;, not keeping too many animals
in a given area, using natural feed and keeping a mixture of
species wherever possible.
Homeopathy and herbal remedies are also used in organic farming
methods, to stop the routine use of so many veterinary medicines.
Find out more
There are many articles, information resources and reports
carried out about organic food. You can find some information
here on The Organic Store - an information resource for organic
food, farming, vegetables, meat and a free UK directory of organic
food suppliers, retailers, manufacturers, producers, etc. Click Here
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Organic Food