Can We Still Trust Organic Food?
I raise my kids on organic foods and apparently so do an increasing number of parents. Pesticides used in agricultural production have been shown to cause leukemia associated (cancer type) changes, lower the anti-oxidant fighting ability of our body’s enzymes while genetically engineered foods raise other health concerns. Although most U.S. consumers aren’t aware of it, ingredients made from genetically modified crops are present in various products made by Morningstar Farms (Kellogg Co.) and other ‘natural’ foods companies. That’s why we choose organic. We believe that our organic foods are safe and we are willing to spend a little more to protect the health of our families. The success of organic food sales in the last five to six years has caused an unprecedented number of buyouts and mergers in the natural foods industry. Retail sales of organic food and beverages totaled $13 billion in 2003.
But what I found this week really shocked me. Most brands in national grocery chains have been acquired by large corporations. That is to be expected. But what caused me to get up out of my seat was who these large companies are. Philip Morris, the tobacco company notorious for its callous and calculated mission of addicting the public to nicotine- all the while knowing tobacco’s direct link to cancer- is a principal financial stakeholder in the vegetarian Boca Burger and Silk soy milk brands. What’s more, Monsanto (the freedom of information fighting purveyor of genetically engineered agriculture) is a major stakeholder in the Hain Food Group (Garden of Eatin’, Health Valley, Imagine Foods /Rice Dream). Can we trust companies with histories of environmental sabotage to produce our organic food? What are we to do?
We still have options when it comes to organic food.
- Read labels. Natural does not equal organic and even ‘organic’ does not mean that all the ingredients are organic. Organic macaroni and cheese may have organic macaroni and hormone laden cheese OR organic cheese and genetically engineered wheat. Again, read labels.
- Buy local. Your local farmers market supports the local economy and strengthens the ecosystem.
- Support the ‘Mom and Pop’ health food stores. They are more likely to have brands not influenced by huge corporations. Get to know store management and let them know you support their commitment to preserving quality.
When it’s all said and done, more demand for organic products will result in less pollution in our surroundings and this can only be good news. Large corporations will still have to follow organic guidelines to maintain their certification. But I want to support those companies that live up to the spirit of the law NOT the letter of the law. Don’t you?
References:
The Miami Herald,
Kilman, Scott. Demand ‘Biotech-Free’. The Wallstreet Journal.
Lafiura KM, et al. Association between prenatal pesticide exposures and the generation of leukemia-associated T(8;21). Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007 Jul 3
Lopez, O. Changes in antioxidant enzymes in humans with long-term exposure to pesticides. Toxicol Lett. 2007 May 21
http://www.endgame.org/organics.html
http://www.kraft.com/newsroom/02182000.html accessed 7/4/2007