Explaining the Organic Food

Trend
By: Nicole Grimes
 USDA Organic Standards
• No antibiotics
• No growth hormones
• Animals raised on organic feed
• Farmed without pesticides or
herbicides
• Farmed without synthetic fertilizers
• Placed on all products
made with 95-100%
organic ingredients

• Products with at least

70% organic
ingredients may state
“Made with Organic
Ingredients”
Pesky Pesticides
Over 400 chemicals are
used to kill pests and
weeds
Pesticides implicated in:
Cancer (Specifically
breast cancer)
Male Infertility
Parkinson’s Disease
Hormones and Antibiotics
• Cause antibacterial
resistance in
humans

• May increase
exposure to
Mad Cow Disease
The USDA states that organic foods are:

“No more Nutritious

than Conventionally
grown foods”
Extra Expense $$$
• Whole Food brand
Organic
applesauce:
$2.99

• Motts Regular
applesauce:
$1.49
Organic Foods you can Skip
• Potato Chips
• Ice Cream
• Product with
processed white
flour
• All other nutrient-
deficient food
Organic Foods you can Skip
• All Seafood and Fish

• The USDA has yet to

set standards for
organic seafood and
fish products

• Products labeled as
“organic” can still
contain harmful
contaminants such as
mercury
Organic Foods you can Skip
• Shucked or Peeled
fruits and veggies
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Sweet Corn
• Sweet Peas
Organic Foods Worth Buying
• Meats
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Dairy Products
Organic Foods Worth Buying
• Apples
• Grapes
• Spinach
• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
The Dirty Dozen
• Apples
• Peaches
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarine
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Grapes (Imported)
• Carrots
• Pears
The Clean Fifteen
• Onion
• Avocado
• Sweet corn
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Papaya
• Watermelon
• Broccoli
• Tomato
• Sweet Potato
National Organic Program www.ams.usda.gov/nop
Carl Winter foodsafe.ucdavis.edu/music.html