Organic is NOT Just Short for 'Twice As Expensive' !
15 Aug
Clark has repeatedly reassured me:
“Becky, people just fear what they don’t understand. And, plus – old habits are hard to break for most people, making the switch to Organic could appear much too hard for them. So it’s easier for them to rationalize the price as too expensive – so it must not make sense [to them] and the news band-aids peoples frustration with the Organic choice price by saying that there’s no scientific proof.”
“So far nothing is definitive, but there really hasn’t been a lot of money expended on looking at the nutritional benefits of organic products,” — WebMD article
While in Canada and in UT I overheard some people making the statement: “I heard on the news [so it must be true] that Organic food has never been scientifically proven to be better for you. Ha! Organic is just short for ‘Twice as Expensive’“.
I cringe at that statement, and then Clark says the above statement to me once again…
In UT while we were making our lunches, I had brought my Organic Peanut Butter with me in a cooler. Clark had been showing his Parents and Sister our Organic PB and after they dispersed I oversaw my Father In-Law preparing his PB&J sandwich with the Reg. JIF PB. I took the opportunity to explain to him the difference between Reg. PB and Organic in simple terms:
What you’ll see in ORGANIC labeled food (that yes, is a bit more expensive but so is going to the Dr. far more in your later years) is FAR fewer ingredients, with less extra gunk.
Organic Peanut Butter:
- Organic Dry Roasted Unblanched Valencia Peanuts
Regular Peanut Butter:
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil (Grapeseed, soybean and cottonseed oil)
- Salt
Hydrogenation is a class of chemical reactions which result in an addition of hydrogen (H2) usually to unsaturated compounds.
It’s done to unsaturated oils, like plain old vegetable oil – to extend the shelf life, but hydrogenation creates ‘trans fats’ which raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Trans fats are also found naturally in foods like beef or cheese.
Regular vegetable oil is not ‘bad’ for you like hydrogenated vegetable oil is. For the most cholesterol healthy oils, choose canola or olive oil.
Adding ALL those unnecessary *oils in the Reg. Peanut Butter is not good for you (although, they sound ‘good’).
In order for food to be labeled “U.S.D.A. Organic,” under the United States Department of Agriculture’s definition, means it is generally free of synthetic substances; contains no antibiotics and hormones; has not been irradiated or fertilized with sewage sludge; was raised without the use of most conventional pesticides; and contains no genetically modified ingredients.
Are you starting to see the difference now? How Organic is [quite a bit] better for you?
*See a list of the good & bad oils
What you want to look for in Organic vs Reg. Food Shopping is NOT JUST THE NUTRITIONAL LABEL — look at the list of ingredients. If you can understand MOST of them, you have a good food selection. Preferably, you’ll be able to understand ALL the ingredients, as the list is very short. 
These types of situations bother me, because they make me wish SO BADLY that I had my Dietetics degree and could actually feel firm in my foundation of my belief in Organic Food within debates such as this. For now, I’m just a novice with minimal study credentials. *Sigh*… the day I have my degree will be so sweet. Then when I hear someone say, “Organic is short for ‘Twice as Expensive’” I can say “You don’t understand! Let me help you…” and further into the discussion I can whip out my degree, and feel more confident in defending why Organic is WORTH the extra expense. Because lets face it, those like myself – who just have a passion, & can show articles and facts on why Organic is better – nothing is better than hearing it from a certified professional face to face. 
Which I’ll be soon enough.
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Your science is absolutely hitting below the intellect. It overwhelms any part of me that is inclined to resist. Also, really? The USDA really uses the term “sewage sludge”? That does not seem very technical of them…
There has been an improvement in the USDA standards for what is organic. We do use some organic things and some times we don’t. We still prefer to get as much produce as possible from the Farmers Market. We can actually talk to the farmers and find out what it is raised. We have been going long enough to have regulars that we like.
I completely agree with you on organic food Rebecca.
People literally don’t know what gets put in the food and how much good food not only makes us healthier but the environment healthier.
I’d recommend the book/movie Food Inc.
The U.K. actually has banned several food items from the USA because of the stuff they put in. The Food industries do everything in their power to convince us otherwise as its about PROFIT….there is more profit margin for unhealthy food than healthy food.
It pays to educate yourself on healthy food and decide yourself. To me food that has no or very little nutrition I CAN’T AFFORD. I need to get the best value for money and organic/free range/local is this.
Please don’t resist. Share your intellect with us all. Yes, it does mention sewage sludge. You may read it here: USDA.gov
Farmers Markets are one of the best ways to get FRESH produce! It’s one of Clarks and my favorite things to do is hit the local Farmers Market too!