Preview

Is Organic Food Really Healthier For You?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1484 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Is Organic Food Really Healthier For You?
Jeffery Kesterson
Monique Babin
WR-122
15 May 2015

Is Organic Food Really Healthier For You?
Maya W. Paul wrote an article for Helpguide.com about organic foods geared towards helping people understand how to read organic food labels and their benefits and claims. When she wrote her definition for the word “organic”, she defined it as:
Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products. (Paul) While this appears to be the correct definition as most people believe it is there is one major fallacy with this definition. The statement that “farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides” is not only completely false but misleads anyone who reads this article. The fact of the matter is that the United States government regulates and controls how organic food is grown. Under the National Organic Program and the Code of Regulations in section §205.601 titled Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production, (United States) it clearly states which synthetic chemicals are allowed to be used. This section clearly tells you how those chemicals are allowed to be used and under what conditions they are allowed to be used while preparing your land, the maintenance of your land, the preparation of your seeds, the production of your crops, and maintenance of your crops. This one section alone, which is federal law, completely refutes everyone’s claim that organic food is pesticide free whether it is synthetic or organic. This is just one area where people believe that organic food is healthier for you but there really are several reasons why organic food is no healthier than conventional


Cited: Campell, Hank. Like E. Coli? Enjoy Organic Food. Science 2.0. 1 June 2011. Web. 19 Feburary 2014. United States. Government Printing Office. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Washington D.C. 9 Feburary 2014. Web. 20 Feburary 2014. Kluger, Jeffrey. What 's So Great About Organic Food? 18 August 2010. Web. 20 Feburary 2014. Paul, Maya W. Organic Foods - Understanding Food Labels, Benefits, and Claims. Helpguide.org. December 2013. Web. 21 Feburary 2014. Smith-Spangler, Dr. Crystal. Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives? Annals of Internal Medicine 157.5 (2012): 1-23. Strom, Stephanie. F.D.A. Offers Broad New Rules to Fight Food Contamination. The New York Times. 4 Janurary 2013. Web. 1 March 2014. Unknown. Why Organic? Organic Valley. 2014. Web. 12 March 2014.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Critique Paper
    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Critique Paper

    In Kristen Weinacker’s essay “Safer? Tastier? More nutritious? The Dubious Merits of Organic Foods”, she makes a claim of fact that organic foods may not be more nutritional than conventionally grown foods. Weinacker does an exceptional job supporting her claim effectively with evidence by using the opinions of several experts, as well as the appeal to our physiological needs. She warrants that by mentioning the use of slick marketing techniques by organic food companies and our belief that organic farmers “bring us back to nature”, we tend to forgive statistical data and start to lean on our common sense. Throughout the essay Weinacker reiterates that most, if not all, of the research data available does not contain the statistical proof necessary to successfully warrant the claim.…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Organic vs. Industrial Food
    • 1115 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Organic vs. Industrial Food

    Have you ever been standing in the grocery store, undecided on whether there really is a difference between the standard store brand ribeye steak and the organic, grain fed, free range ribeye that costs twice as much? Ever had little devil on one shoulder telling you one thing, and the angel on the other convincing you the devil is wrong? Is cost the only thing holding you back from shelling out a few extra sheckles for the more expensive steak? Have you heard about the health benefits of eating organic? Then maybe it is time you learned about the true benefits of organic food. In doing so, it may just change your life and blow your mind. Eating industrial foods can cause a bevy of health issues today, such as exposure to toxins, as well as leading to diabetes and heart disease, and choosing to eat organic foods instead will help to resolve those issues.…

    • 1115 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Omnivore's Dilemma Summary
    • 1755 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Omnivore's Dilemma Summary

    I gained different knowledge about organic food along with the benefits of it. Non-organic food contain pesticides and plenty of food additives. 100% Organic is made with none of that it’s made all naturally so for example its made with no food supplements and no pesticides. In the food and recipes feature stories section John Reganold, a professor of soil science at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, states, "If you 're talking about pesticides, the evidence is pretty conclusive. Your chances of getting pesticide residues are much less with organic food.” For example in a regular industrial farm where they plant crops they use pesticides along with food supplements for it to grow faster and for it to taste better. Now in organic farming where they grow crops or raise animals there are no pesticides or food supplements used in to make them grow faster, it was…

    • 1755 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Unit 2 Supporting Organic Foods
    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Unit 2 Supporting Organic Foods

    1. The advantages of organic food, you are what you eat: An article about organic food and diseases in non-organic food…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Carroll Jana Paper3 Final Draft
    • 1351 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Carroll Jana Paper3 Final Draft

    Grocery shopping in today’s society can be extremely confusing for most consumers; I have often pondered over which product to feed my children and if organic food is actually better than processed food. Although I have heard many people say organic food is a gimmick to get more of today’s consumer’s money, or that they just can not afford it; I argue that eating organic is a more healthy choice. “Organic food consumption is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. domestic foodstuffs” (Crinnion 4).…

    • 1351 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Argument Sarah Fox
    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Argument Sarah Fox

    Ten years ago it was difficult to find organic foods in local stores, but now most super markets sell several types of foods that are organic. Because of this, the public has been given the opportunity to provide healthier and cleaner foods for their families. But, when buying groceries, people unfortunately tend to buy what they believe to be organic food, but what is actually referred to as conventional organic, without even noticing. There are two different types of organic foods, true organics and conventional organics. True organic food is food grown is healthy soil, which grows healthy, plants, which in turn, feeds humans and creates health within. Conventional organic food is basically industrial agriculture done without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It follows the bare minimum to meet the regulations in order to get the ‘Certified Organic’ stamp. Companies do this in order to cash in on the bigger margins that health- and environmentally-conscious consumers are willing to support for organic food. When shopping it is important to buy mostly true organic foods, doing so allows you, as the consumer, to avoid dangerous chemicals and hormones, benefit from more nutrients, and preserve the ecosystem.…

    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    project 1 Informative Speech
    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages

    project 1 Informative Speech

    Thesis: Choosing to purchase and consume organic food is a smart and healthy choice for you and your family.…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Food Inc, opinion paper
    • 1533 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Food Inc, opinion paper

    Looking at the product: what exactly makes a food organic? Organic can mean different things to different people, and even has a different meaning between companies. According to organic.org, the USDA defines organic food as that which is produced with emphasized use of renewable resources, plus conservation of soil and water. Organic food is produced without conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetics or waste, bioengineered, or ionized radiation. “Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones” (http://www.organic.org/home/faq). A government-approved certifier must inspect farms where organic foods are grown to assure that the farmer follows all USDA rules and meets organic standards.…

    • 1533 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Organic Fable By Roger Cohen
    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Organic Fable By Roger Cohen

    In his essay “The Organic Fable,” Roger Cohen argues that there is little to no difference between organic foods and regular foods. He says, “Organic has long since become an ideology,” says it is branding, not science, and says we need genetically modified food anyway to feed more people. He also says it is an, “obsession of an upper middle class,” and compares buying organic foods to, “paying to send your kids to private school.” I believe, though, that his argument is biased and inconsistent, because of his existing dislike for organic foods and his praising of organic foods at times in his essay.…

    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Gmos
    • 1379 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Gmos

    Currently in our country, there are endless amounts of issues surrounding the debate between organic and conventional foods. Organic and conventional foods differ in many ways; the substance, cost, appearance, health benefits and government interaction of these two types of foods differ from one another greatly, but also are considered extremely similar in the eyes of the average American consumer. Is organic food healthier for the human body? What is the actual difference between the two? Is organic food worth the cost? These are all questions American consumers are asking. In this essay, the similarities and differences of organic and non-organic food will be looked at in detail.…

    • 1379 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sociology Paper #1
    • 572 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Sociology Paper #1

    Coincidentally, before my second viewing of Food INC in our first sociology class, I was in a renaissance of eating healthier. I wanted to lose some weight and maintain that healthier weight not by using a temporary diet but by changing my lifestyle. I decided to cut out processed foods as much as possible. I was also interested in the organic option over the conventional options at a Safeway for example so I did my research on organic food. While there isn’t hard conclusive evidence that non-organic food is surely harmful to the body, there were some interesting correlations with non-organic food and negative effects. Upon further research and article reading, I read that some foods should definitely be eaten organic versus food that doesn’t have to be eaten organically. For example fruits or vegetables with a thick covering like pineapple will be less affected by pesticides because the hard “shell” prevents the pesticides from getting to the…

    • 572 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    The Hidden Cost of Convenience
    • 2898 Words
    • 12 Pages

    The Hidden Cost of Convenience

    "Genetically Modified Foods (Biotech Foods) Pros and Cons." WebMD. WebMD, 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.…

    • 2898 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Organic vs Non Organic Foods
    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Organic vs Non Organic Foods

    It’s hard to walk into a grocery store and not notice a certain new kind of trend. There is a growing urge to have more organic items on shelves. The general belief is that organic items tend to be better for the consumer and the environment when compared to non-organic items. Although many people cant tell the difference, there are multiple pros and cons between organic and nonorganic.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Food Inc.
    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Food Inc.

    Kluger, Jeffrey. "What 's So Great About Organic Food?." Time 25 August 2010: n. pag. Web. 22 Nov 2010.…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive speech: People should support organic food production
    • 855 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Persuasive speech: People should support organic food production

    One of the main reasons why we should support organic food growth productions is for the better benefits for our bodies and health. As farmers plant seeds, they slowly inject the growing food with numerous amounts of toxins to make it genetically modified/ non-organic. The worst additions would be the pesticide toxins and irradiation. Pesticides are horrible toxins used on growing plants like tomatoes and oranges, which cause health risks. The Environmental Health News found a new case study showing that “prenatal exposure to pesticides, can decrease a child’s IQ…

    • 855 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics