Organic Foods

What does “organic” mean?

Write down one or two words that describe what the term “organic” means to you. Then, we’ll discuss your responses as a group.

Regulating Organic Foods

USDA National Organic Program

• Passed by Congress in 1990

• Set national standards for production process• Crop standards• Livestock standards• Handling standards

• Regulation through• Inspections• Complaints, Investigations and

Appeals• Fines

Organic Foods Defined

100% Organic• Only organically-produced ingredients and

processing aids• Specific processing methods• Specific nutritional labeling

Organic• 95% organically produced ingredients• Specific processing methods• Specific nutritional labeling

Made with Organic Ingredients• At least 70% organic ingredients• Specific ingredients noted• Specific processing methods

Some Organic Ingredients

Organic Misleaders

Why Buy Organic?

Do you buy organic foods?

Using one or two words, state why you do or do not buy foods that are labeled as organic.

Exploring the Issues

Pesticides• Approximately 70% of consumers

purchase organic foods to avoid pesticides

• The USDA prohibits some pesticides in organic food production, but allows others like:

• Water disinfectants of calcium and sodium hypochlorite and copper sulfate

• Insecticides of boric acid, lime sulfur, copper sulfate and oils

Pesticides• EPA regulates all other pesticides by

imposing Maximum Residue Limits

• “Reasonable certainty of no harm”

• Lifetime cancer risk to pesticide exposure are below 1 cancer per 1 million persons exposed

• For non-cancer risk, occurs when acute or chronic basis is below the reference dose 99.9% of the time

• Occupational exposure is the greatest area of concern, specifically to migrant workers

Levels of Pesticides Detected in Foods

Data on pesticide residues from three different testing agencies

Nitrates in Food• What are nitrates and nitrites?

• Naturally occurring inorganic ions

• Microbial action decomposes wastes to ammonia, which oxidizes into nitrite and nitrate

• How does nitrate and nitrite get into the food supply?

• Contaminated food

• Prepared baby foods

• Sausage

• Studies indicate organic production of food results in lower nitrate levels

• An analysis of over 18 independent studies showed the following results in nitrate levels of organic and conventional foods:

Nitrates in Drinking Water

• Levels regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency

• Safe Drinking Water Act sets maximum level at 10mg/L

• Nitrate sources include

• Runoff from agricultural fertilizer use

• Leaching from sewage and septic tanks

• Erosion of natural deposits

Nitrates & Water Quality

Microbiological Safety & E-coli

Contamination• University of Minnesota study measured E-coli

contamination in fields using animal manure as fertilizer

• Study included organic farmers, semi-

organic farmers (non-USDA certified) and

conventional farmers

• All types of produce gathered directly from

fields

• Samples measured for E-coli

Microbiological Safety & E-coli

Contamination

• Degree of contamination contingent upon manure spraying techniques

• Fields using manure aged <6 months before

application had highest E-coli levels

• Fields using manure aged >6 months before

application had lower E-coli levels

• Organic and semi-organic fields most

contaminated

E-coli Study Results

Antibiotics in Meat Production

Uses of Antibiotics in Livestock

• Therapeutic Use

• Control Use

• Prevention-Prophylaxis Use

• Growth Promotion

Antibiotic UseNo current regulation by the FDA on sub-therapeutic antibiotic use in animal production

No reporting requirements, but the following facts are submitted by the FDA’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System:• 20.5 million pounds used by meat

producers in 1999• 17.7 million pounds were used for

prevention of disease and treatment• Remaining 2.8 million pounds used for

growth promotion

Antibiotic ResistanceThe CBS Report

• Nearly 70% of hogs and 64% of workers detected with new MRSA strain where antibiotics were used• No MRSA on antibiotic-free farms

The University of Iowa study• Two facilities – both used antibiotics• Production System A – 60,000 head, sows

from Canada, Minnesota and Illinois• Production System B – 27,000 head, all sows

from Michigan

• Results• Production System A – 49% in swine, 45% in

workers• Production System B – 0% swine, 0% workers

The Denmark Study

• Voluntary ban in 1998

• Mandatory ban in 2000

• As AGP use (growth protection) use decreased, need for therapeutic drugs increased

• As therapeutic drug use increased, human resistance to campylobacter and salmonella increased

Antibiotic Use Organic farms do not use antibiotics

Non-organic farms are allowed to use antibiotics for: Therapeutic use for animals that exhibit

clinical disease Control use on herds where the

morbidity/mortality rate has exceeded an acceptable baseline

Prevention-prophylaxis use on exposed healthy animals to minimize the onset of disease

Growth promotion where antibiotics are used as additives to improve physiologic performance of animals

Therapeutic use of antibiotics necessary for worldwide food safety

Organic Foods & Cancer

Antioxidant Effects of Tomatoes

• In 2003, French researchers used tomato puree to determine antioxidant effects of organically grown vs. conventionally grown tomatoes

• Fresh organic tomatoes had higher levels of Vitamin C, carotenoids and polyphenols than conventional tomatoes

• No significant difference in higher levels of Vitamin C and polyphenol benefit in plasma levels of antioxidants

True or False?1.Organic food is more nutritious

than conventional food

2.Organic food is safer than conventional food

Making a Decision

Is Organic Healthier?

The short answer is no.

• Organic foods have less synthetic pesticides and nitrates but –

• Still contain measurable levels of pesticides and nitrates

• Contain other allowed pesticides with known health risks

• Some foods higher in Vitamin C and carotenoids,with no difference inantioxidant levels

Is Organic Safer?Again, the short answer is no.

• Conflicting study results for microbiological safety

• Issues with organic farming practices concerning manure use

• Antibiotic use in animal food production – more research needed

The Choice is Yours!

• Not scientific evidence exists to show a benefit in organic foods over conventional foods in safety, nutrition, or disease prevention

• Organic foods are usually more expensive than conventional foods while providing basically the same nutritional value

• Whichever route you choose, eat your fruits and vegetables!

Check out www.mypyramid.gov