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.

Video 1

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Organic Foods Defined

Organic Foods are produced without the use of 1. synthetic fertilizers, 2. pesticides or3. growth hormones

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 Misleaders

Exploring the Issues

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

Land Use and Pesticides

• Land must be free of pesticides for 3 years

Organic Seal on Livestock

1.Livestock must be given access to outdoor grazing areas

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

Why Buy Organic?

68.30%

67.10%

55.00%52.80%

52.40%

70.30%

Main Reasons Cited

Freshness

Health & Nutrition

Avoid GeneticallyModified FoodBetter for Health

Better forEnvironmentAvoid Pesticides

Making a Decision

Is Organic More Expensive?

The short answer is YES.

Is Organic Safer?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

Would you buy organic foods?

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

GM’s What are they?

They are foods that have been genetically modified by humans selectively breeding organisms to enhance them.

To help further your understanding of what they are and can do, we will read this article . You will need to take notes on what the pros and cons are for GM foods.

Lastly, you are going to write a ‘Letter to the Editor’ stating whether or not you support GM foods. You need to site at least two reasons from your pros/cons list and your letter should be at least a page long.

What is a food concentrate?

A food concentrate is a food that has been reduced in volume or bulk by the removal of liquid.

What are some examples of food concentrates? Evaporated Milk- reduced fat, or fat free milk that has

had about 60% of the water removed. Dry Milk- evaporating milk to dryness (this includes

water and fat) Sweetened condensed milk- Whole or fat free milk with

some of the water removed and a sweetener added (so it doesn’t spoil)

Fruit Concentrate—stronger fruit juice to either mix with water to dilute, or use in food items for a stronger flavor.

Soup—The canned soups you see on the shelves.

Your Assignment Using phones, devices, textbooks, and my

cookbooks, you and your cooking groups are going to look for and find recipes using concentrates.

We will cook with one when I return, but I haven’t picked one out yet so you get to help So work with your group, find a recipe AND write a paragraph PER recipe telling me why I should choose that one. After I return I’ll let you know which one I pick.

I expect at least three per cooking group! *Use sheet provided to make it easier to turn in and fill out*

In summary… We have discussed organic foods, GM

foods, food analogs, food packaging, green packaging, and technological advances on food.

Using that information