Organic food

[GEM3A]

Out of interest - do you buy organic food and why?

I never used to buy organic but recently iv read a lot about pesticides and residue on food and hormones injected into animals (less of a worry as i dont eat an awful lot of meat/eggs etc) and have started to buy some organic products. The cost difference is pretty huge when you compare it to aldi prices and I'm torn as to whether or not its worth it.

For years, in ignorance, I never even washed my fruit and veg so have probably consumed my fair share of pesticides and other nasties! Now I'm torn between am I over reacting (my grandparents happily tell me they have never washed any fruit and veg let alone bought organic and all are healthy late 70-80+ year olds) or should I genuinely be concerned about pesticides etc and try and buy as much organic food as I can?

[Blondie1984]

Only organic milk and that's because it contains more good fat than regular

[GEM3A]

Yes I do tend to buy organic milk. It is one of the things where the cost difference between organic and non-organic isn't huge so I can justify the few pence difference

[DeliveredByKiki]

There's a list somewhere of the "dirty dozen", fruit and veg more susceptible to taking in and retaining nasties so I always buy them organic - there's also "clean 15" which have good protection against chemicals, so I tend to never buy them organic and everything in between when I can/afford it

We only buy organic milk and any other dairy product, grass fed too if possible, and if I buy meat for the family it's fucking expensive pasture raised and organic

[GEM3A]

Hi, yes I have seen the dirty dozen list and typically the fruit and veg we eat most of is on that list. The 'clean' foods we do eat some of but not half as many/regularly.

The organic meat is extortionately expensive! I do try and buy a lot of our meat from our local butchers as a compromise. I know it's not organic but it does seem fresher and supports the local community I guess (although we don't eat much meat at all so my contribution won't be great!)

[DeliveredByKiki]

I live in the US and when we moved here the quality of the meat and higher use if I hefted antibiotics and random hormones meant we started eating less meat - which over the last 4 years has led me to vegetarianism then veganism with occasional fish but I always let the host know!! because it's cheaper and easier than trying to source meat and animal products I'm happy buying to be honest

[GEM3A]

Ah that's interesting. Is the meat/produce generally of a poorer quality in the us? I assumed organic food was a bigger thing in the us but didn't really know why. Slightly off point but we've just come back from a holiday over there and we weren't overly keen on the food - a lot of it seemed really over processed and a bit grim (but obviously we were eating out and not buying from supermarkets). We had some nacho cheese which resembled and tasted like melted plastic! God knows what was in that

[DeliveredByKiki]

The food industry is huge here, corn has destroyed the farming industry and made farmer reliant on growing it, factory farming started here and despite a steady band of Eco warriors who believe in a smaller based pasture raised system ( in the vein of Michael Pollan's books and now Dan Barber) the vast majority of animals produced for food and dairy are living in feedlots causing harm to them and the environment. Animals living in these close quarters have to be injected with all sorts because they get so sick standing in the own filth all their lives.

And yes cheese is rubbish too! Luckily I live in California where there's a big pasture raised movement and I have year round access to good quality organic vegetables - but it's expensive. Especially considering none of it needs to travel very far

[NotCitrus]

Growth hormones are illegal in the EU, ditto pesticide use is more strictly controlled. There's been a lot of work in the last 20 years to reduce pesticide use by using them at the best times and best ways - for example strawberries now have about 10% as much residue as 20 years ago, partly as they are grown more in polytunnels, but they are better at targeting pests.

Organic meat tends to be slower grown breeds and thus taste of more (so even though it looks pricier it's more dense and you need less), and UK organic specifies strict welfare standards that other EU meat has recently risen up to.

I look for local food, then production regime for meat, then EU. Organic is sometimes a bonus but its main benefit is showing mainstream farming what is possible.

[GEM3A]

Ah I didn't realise that about us farming. It's interesting and I wonder how long it will be until the uk moves towards something similar.

Its good that growth hormones are illegal but aren't they still injected with various other things like antibiotics? The reduction in pesticides is also good but the use of them still worries me. I know the levels found on/in food are supposed to be safe but then you read other articles which say pesticides have been linked to various nasty illnesses (I spend far too much time reading stuff online which I accept I probably inaccurate/biased depending on who's writing it!)

[cdtaylornats]

Food in the US has to be shipped huge distances usually by truck so it needs to be chilled, frozen or processed to allow it to be edible.

[DeliveredByKiki]

That doesnt mean it has to be treated inhumanely or injected with drugs to prevent infection because of feedlot production.

And where I live particularly the food travels no distance at all.

Not sure what that has to do with the organic debate?