Chef Dave’s Corner

Organic is a matter of preference…

We all shop or have shopped at local health foods stores. The Organic word is used everywhere, from their grocery sacks to the dishes premade behind the glass at the deli. From the colorful stacks of produce, olive bar, and wide selection of cheese and wine, the genuine feeling portrayed is one of health and wellness. This is a 5 billion dollar industry and even national chains have now given these foods their own corner of glory. In this Tricks of the Trade I will be talking about organic foods and how a play on words can have you spending more.

The USDA defines “Organic” as food which is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. In addition organic meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Another positive side to organic food is that it is produced without the use of conventional pesticides, and fertilizers made with artificial ingredients. Until 2002 the USDA had no guidelines on organic foods. However this has now changed and a Government approved certifier must inspect the farms where the food is grown to insure are guideline are being followed here in the United States and outside are countries borders . If a farm or company uses the term Organic without the certification an $11,000.00 fine can be imposed per incident. Organic foods when eaten in their most pure form with the least amount of cutting and processing have the same nutritional value as those foods that do not carry the USDA organic label. Simply stated by the USDA as quoted from The National Organic Program “USDA makes no claims the organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. So you may be asking yourself why the extra expense? Organic foods differ in the way the food is grown handled and processed. Nutrition is not a part of the equation. As with the many choices we make when buying food, Organic is a matter of preference, not nutrition.

Manufacturing companies that produce organic food such as cereal, sauces, frozen and premade foods the word organic is used, but as a consumer this is where you need to read the label. If a food is made up of 100% organic foods the label will state”100% Organic” but some foods are made with some of the ingredients being organic combined with conventional grown foods. The guideline then allows the word “Organic” to be used but the 100% must be dropped. In addition a food can still be labeled Organic if at least 70% of the food used is grown organically. Not to mention these foods are typically double the price.

Just because it’s organic does not mean it is a healthy choice. A food that is organically grown still has the same carbohydrates, fats, protein, and other nutritional values as their conventional grown counterparts. So desserts, premade and processed foods which state they are organic can still contain large amounts of sugar, fats, and calories, so read your food label. Organic foods are not to be confused with “Natural” foods, they are not the same. Although the claims of foods being natural, free-range, and hormone-free are truthful, the term Organic can only be used on Organic foods.

Cook Smarter…

Chef Dave