| Criticism of organic food and organic agriculture | | | | supermarket direct. Now that is progress! |
| includes the following: | | | | Non organic food does contain pesticides of |
| Organic food is expensive | | | | varying amount. Many toxicologists and scientists |
| I understand that we have to pay more for | | | | consider the amount to be so low as to have no |
| organic produce because there are more crop | | | | effect on the consumer. For example, have you |
| failures due to the fact that the farmers cannot | | | | fallen ill the past due to the chemicals in your |
| use pesticides, but what is an acceptable | | | | food? I doubt it! Only those that have an allergic |
| percentage and does this vary from product to | | | | reaction or eat vast quantities of the same food |
| product. Should organic fish be 10 percent more | | | | may do so. Food is not allowed to be sold by law |
| expensive than non organic fish and vegetables | | | | that is unsafe. |
| 20 per cent etc? If we have to pay more for | | | | In todays society, it is virtually impossible to grow |
| crop failures how does this work with processed | | | | produce pestivide free and even organically grown |
| food that uses less fresh ingredients and higher | | | | foods do not claim to be completely free of |
| volumes? Should we still have to pay a premium | | | | chemical residues. Presticides are carried in the air |
| or are they just jumping on the band wagon and | | | | and rivers. Non GM crops around the world have |
| making us pay higher prices? At the moment | | | | been found to contain Genetically Modified |
| most organic items are too highly priced to be | | | | seedlings as these have been carried in the air |
| affordable to most people. Furthermore, many | | | | from GM farms miles away. |
| argue that there is not enough evidence that | | | | Organic food has "sold out" |
| supports the benefits of eating organic food to | | | | Organic food began as a small movement |
| warrant the additional cost. For example its | | | | decades ago with gardeners and farmers |
| difficult to quantify; can organic potatoes be 10% | | | | rejecting the use of conventional non organic |
| better for us, should we then pay an extra 10% | | | | practices. With the growth of the Organic food |
| on the price? or are we paying for a lifestyle | | | | market now outpacing much of the food industry |
| choice? Is this not the same as any branded | | | | many big companies have moved into this |
| clothes, toiletries, cars? We could buy cheaper | | | | market. With these large often multi national |
| clothes, toiletires or cars as they all do the same | | | | companies, and with the creation of a legal |
| as dearer branded ones yet we choose them | | | | certification framework such as the Soil |
| because it makes us feel better and due to peer | | | | Assocaiton, there is worry that the very definition |
| pressure and advertising. | | | | of organic food will change from what it used to |
| Organic Food Safety and Benefits | | | | be and become just another mass produced |
| There is evidence that organic farms are more | | | | brand which will over time be replaced by another |
| sustainable and environmentally sound, among | | | | emerging sector. |
| other benefits. These claims, however, are | | | | For example, Heinz is producing an organic version |
| subject to dispute and are not settled among | | | | of baked beans and has different ingredients and |
| scientists. | | | | packaging, it uses 100% certified organic |
| Another contentious issue surrounding organic | | | | vine-ripened tomatoes. The label will also reflect an |
| produce is the fact that nearly 70 per cent of | | | | organic quality--with Heinz traditional red label |
| produce sold in UK supermarkets is imported, | | | | replaced with a green version. Another difference: |
| generating thousands of food miles to get to its | | | | the organic version will cost about 50% more |
| destination and causing damage to the | | | | than regular Heinz. Does certified organic |
| environment. | | | | vine-ripened tomatoes cost 50 percent more to |
| Often organic food produced in England is sent | | | | buy when bought in bulk, I doubt it! |
| from one side of the country to the distribution | | | | By keeping it small are we not keeping it beautiful |
| warehouse at the other side, only to be sent | | | | and under control? |
| back again to the Supermarket. One supermarket | | | | A final thought...... Organic is more than just a |
| has been run a pilot where the farmer and his | | | | brand, its a way of life! |
| tractor deliver the organic produce to the | | | | |