| Organic Food |
Article Index for Organic |
Website Links For Organic Food |
Information AboutOrganic Food |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ORGANIC FOOD | |
| organic foodorganic food | |
| organic farming | |
| organic gardening | |
| food and drink | |
|
Organic foods are produced according to certain production Standard s. For Crops , it means they were grown without the use of conventional Pesticide s, artificial Fertilizer s, Human Waste , or Sewage Sludge , and that they were processed without Ionizing Radiation or Food Additive s.1 For animals, it means they were Reared without the routine use of Antibiotic s and without the use of Growth Hormones . In most countries, organic produce must not be Genetically Modified . Increasingly, organic food production is Legally regulated. Currently, the United States , the European Union , Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain Organic Certification in order to market food as organic. Historically, '': Nov. 1, 2005. TYPES OF ORGANIC FOOD ]] See also: Organic Farming for information on the production of organic food. Organic foods can be either ''fresh'' or ''processed'', based on production methods. Fresh food Fresh, "unprocessed" organic food, such as Vegetable s and Fruit s are purchased directly from growers, at farmers' markets, from on-farm stands, supermarkets, through speciality food stores, and through Community-supported Agriculture (CSA) projects. Unprocessed animal products like organic Meat , Egg s, Dairy , are less commonly available in "fresh" form. In Australia, organic eggs must be from Free-range hens, rather than from Battery Chicken s Choice , October 2004.. Animals for the organic market may not be fed growth hormones or drugs such as steroids or antibiotics. Processed food Often, within the same , frozen vegetables, prepared dishes and other Convenience Food s. Processed organic food usually contains only organic ingredients, or where there are a number of ingredients, at least a minimum percentage of the plant and animal ingredients must be organic (95% in Australia). Any non-organically produced ingredients must still meet requirements. It must be free of artificial Food Additives , and is often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions (no Chemical Ripening , no Food Irradiation , and no Genetically Modified ingredients, etc.). They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable or biodegradable materials when possible. IDENTIFYING ORGANIC FOOD At first, organic food comprised mainly fresh vegetables. Early consumers interested in organic food would look for chemical-free, fresh or minimally processed food. They mostly had to buy directly from growers: "Know your farmer, know your food" was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted "organic" were developed through firsthand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Small farms grew vegetables (and raised livestock) using Organic Farming practices, with or without certification, and the individual consumer monitored. Consumer demand for organic foods continues to increase, and high volume sales through mass outlets, like supermarkets, is rapidly replacing the direct farmer connection. For supermarket consumers, food production is not easily observable, and product labelling, like "certified organic", is relied on. Government regulations and third-party inspectors are looked to for assurance. A "certified organic" label is usually the only way for consumers to know that a processed product is "organic". Legal definition (run by the USDA) is in charge of the legal definition of ''organic'' in the United States and does Organic Certification . It administers the Organic Seal to products and producers that meet strict requirements.]] See Also: Organic certification To be certified organic, products must be grown and manufactured in a manner that adheres to standards set by the country they are sold in: :Australia: NASAA Organic Standard . :Britain: Organic Farmers and Growers Organic Standards and the Soil Association :Canada: Canada Gazette, Government of Canada . :Japan: JAS Standards . :United States: National Organic Program (NOP) Standards . :Sweden: KRAV In the United States, the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.A. ยง 6501-22) required that the USDA develop national standards for organic products. |
|
|