Organic Food

Written by nutritionist Linda McCourt

Sarah and I are passionate about organic food. Not only is the nutrient content better, organic food tastes and looks better, is kinder to the environment and comes with a guarantee of purity.

The key point about organic food is that it is food that has been grown or raised, in the case of livestock, using natural farming methods, without artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones or antibiotics.

Why Organic Food is Best

• Plant foods contain higher levels of vitamins, minerals and beneficial phytonutrients like antioxidant flavonoids, in addition to being free of chemical residues.
• Organic meat contains less water and has more nutrients per unit weight. It is also free of growth hormones and antibiotics, which are given to make conventionally reared animals reach market size more quickly.
• Organic dairy products are free of hormones, antibiotics and chemical residues. They have raised levels of antioxidant vitamins and omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are so important for brain development and function.
• Processed organic foods are free of artificial additives.
• Organic food consistently tastes better.
• Organic farming methods are ecologically friendly and therefore better for the environment. They have higher standards of animal welfare providing animals with better conditions in which to grow and develop naturally.
• Food will only be given organic certification if it has not been genetically modified or does not contain any genetically modified ingredients.

Problems with Pesticides

Research in America shows one child in twenty consumes unsafe levels of pesticides every day and a child has a one in seven chance of eating an apple with an unsafe dose of pesticides. In another study the blood levels of pesticides in children on conventional diets were nearly six times higher than those eating organic diets.

Organic foods are particularly important for infants and young children as their bodies are still growing and developing. Exposure to pesticides early in life has been linked to immune, hormonal and nervous system problems in later life, as well as an increased cancer risk. Decreased male fertility and reduced sperm production is strongly associated with pesticide exposure. Concern is so high in some countries about the consequences of pesticides on young children’s sexual development that in Germany, for example, 90% of all baby food is now certified organic.

Genetically modified (GM) Food

Many Europeans are now so concerned about GM food that most major food companies have withdrawn GM ingredients for the European market. Nobody knows yet what the long term effects of consuming GM food will be. However there are current concerns about increased allergies and other health issues, as well as the potentially adverse ecological impact. South Africa does not have stringent GM reporting requirements, so if you are concerned about eating GM food, I would suggest eating organic food wherever possible.

Our family policy is to buy organic produce whenever we can. A lot of products claim to be organic but are not always certified by an independent regulatory body. Look for a stamp or sticker showing organic certification. In South Africa, you are likely to find the following certifiers, Afrisco, BCS, BDOCA, IMO, Lacon, OFF, Skal, SGS and Soil Association.