There have been a lot of opinions and ideas on the subject of organic food and it’s safety versus cost and increased nutrition. So far, I was surprised that there was so much to be said on the subject and that it seemed quite polarizing. I also found that parties in support seemed to have some motives behind it. They sold organics as either farmers or organic markets.
The most moderate view was hospital research. I don’t think that they served organics. I did try to find that connection but came up empty. They supported locally grown food and fresh, healthful whole food versus processed.
I think that nutrition is important so I went back to find more information on FSTA (Food Science and Technology Abstracts). It was the database that talked more about nutrition so I headed there initially. I used the topics organic foods and health benefits and cost effectiveness and came up with two articles but neither was relevant. They discussed clean drinking water and grape oil extract’s use in the diet. Since they weren’t on target I dropped the cost effectiveness and tried again but got 224 results and most were not in the United States so I added that to the search and came up with 12, which seemed right on target. But again, it didn’t directly address my needs. Two of the articles focused on elderly adults not getting enough vitamin B which affects cognition and inner-city poor not having access to high quality foods (organic and whole). Both of those concerns are valid but take me down other paths.
I found several articles that seemed pertinent and was interested in the depth and variety of angles they covered. This is a topic that has a lot of research about food value and nutrition. The first article was very interesting to me. I love chocolate. It talked about the burgeoning organic market and how dark chocolate was being touted for it’s antioxidant benefits. Organic confections don’t see themselves as a copycat market but a legitimate market for a discerning public who want to consume chocolate covered coffee beans, health bars and flavored granolas. The organic confection industry sees itself offering quality and health not found in everyday candy. Their items are often lower in fat and have items that are healthful and high quality.
Here’s the information for that article:
Authors: Vreeland, C.
Title: The Organic Confectionery Market
Date of Publication: 2004
Journal: Candy Industry; Vol. 169 (12), 2004, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46.
Link: http://web.ebscohost.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a15664ed-c72a-4eb4-8e75-4bac57784b19%40sessionmgr11&vid=6&hid=17
This next article investigated the way that consumers buy organics versus the information over bio-engineered foods or foods with hormones. The article discussed food safety. It also probed whether growth in the organic food industry was fueled by reports about engineered food being unsafe and whether it really was unsafe. And it hinted at organic food growth slowing if consumers felt that non-organic food was also safe long-term.
To read more click the link below:
Authors: Rimal, A. ; Moon, W. ; Balasubramanian, S. K.
Title: Perceived risks of agro-biotechnology and organic food purchases in the United States.
Date of Publication: 2007
Contact Information: Dep. of Agriculture-Agribusiness, Missouri State Univ., Springfield, MI, USA
Journal: Journal of Food Distribution Research; Vol. 37 (2), 2007, 70–79.
Link: there was not a complete article but article notes with more complete article review.
http://xz6kg9rb2j.search.serialssolutions.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/?v=1.0&dbcodes=cok9vz-&s=PN&c=JOFDR&L=XZ6KG9RB2J
And another relevant discussion included a comparison of organic foods and genetically modified foods. With all the discussion over additives like pink slime and other additives, it isn’t surprising that after polling students from two Midwestern cities, they found that students felt organics were safer. This isn’t the exact topic I had searched for however. I wanted to know if locally grown, non-modified foods were equally nutritious. But I think some of the desire for organics is being fueled by the genetic modification controversy. I think organics may be safer long-term as well but there is information to the contrary as well.
Titles: Perceptions of genetically modified and organic foods and processes.
Authors: Anderson, J. C. ; Wachenheim, C. J. ; Lesch, W. C.
Contact Information: Minnesota Crop Improvement Ass., 1900 Hendon Ave., St. Paul MN 55108, USA
Journal: AgBioForum; Vol. 9 (3), 2006, 180–194.
Date of Publication: 2006
Link: http://web.ebscohost.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=17&sid=a15664ed-c72a-4eb4-8e75-4bac57784b19%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ffh&AN=2007-05-Ag1365
The last article from this search was called Dairy Tales and addressed a variety of new products in yogurts that regulate digestion, improve health and have probiotics. Milk is one of the modified foods that people have concern about. I grew up on a dairy and we never used any shots or feed that had growth hormone or antibiotics. It makes me sad. I do buy my milk from a local dairy that doesn’t use hormones or additives.
Title: Dairy tales.
Authors: Roberts, W. A., Jr.
Journal: Prepared Foods; Vol. 176 (3), 2007, 43–44, 46, 49–50.
Date of Publication: 2007
Link: http://web.ebscohost.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a15664ed-c72a-4eb4-8e75-4bac57784b19%40sessionmgr11&vid=9&hid=17
The more I learn, the more I am convinced that I am on the right track and I feel that local foods and organics are fairly safe. I think that as a consumer I will be aware and it is sad every year when people buy food that makes them sick. I am also glad I was raised on a farm. I know my childhood food supply was wholesome and safe. Part of what I face now is avoiding processed foods and incorporating more healthful foods at my home when I am at night class and not there to feed everyone.
The search for the healthiest foods continues. I know that making informed choices is important and challenging with so many differing points of view but I feel more confident each time I search that I am learning what I need to know to find the answers. And the research is tasty…
No comments:
Post a Comment