Trying to eat healthy and buy organic? Maybe all natural or non-genetically modified? We found out that many foods are not exactly organic.
“There's a ton of organic. How it all comes to be organic, I'm not sure,” said Johanna Donnenfield, a registered dietitian in Scottsdale.
There are certain rules set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a product to be called organic.
First, a farmer must grow his crops for three years without chemicals and get certified before he can claim organic.
“It's an emerging thing, and we're trying to keep up with the mass marketing of organic,” Donnenfield said.
The USDA tries to clear up some of the confusion with a set of rules of what manufacturers can put on packaging.
There are four levels for organics.
The first level is absolute. Foods that are 100 percent organic, like produce, can claim that on their packaging.
The next level is at least 95 percent organic. These foods can have the government's seal of approval and list the specific organic ingredients.
The third level is at least 70 percent organic. They can use the words “made with” and list a couple of organic ingredients on their labels.
Anything less than 70 percent can not be advertised on the packaging, but the organic food can be listed in the ingredients.
“Organic doesn't necessarily mean a good choice. It can still be high in calories,” said Donnenfield.
Organic sugar is still sugar.
“Organic is one of those buzz words that sort of everybody feels comfortable when they see it, and they then feel that it is a good thing to buy,” she said.
But if you take a closer look at the list of ingredients, you will find chemicals in many of them. Farmers left them out, but the manufacturers put them in.
“It still needs all of those things to keep it stable for shelf-life,” Donnenfield said.
She says that everything you eat doesn't have to be organic.
That can get expensive.
As you go down the grocery aisle, pick and choose wisely.
This will help keep the cost down.
“I do recommend it for certain ones that we know the pesticide levels are a little higher," Donnenfield said.
Those are called the
Dirty Dozen: fruits and vegetables that hold water like apples, pears and strawberries.
Fruit with the least contamination have rinds you can peel away. (See below for listings)
Donnenfield also suggests organic milk, but draws the line at meat.
“Natural is another buzz word. No definition. So, they can use natural. There is nothing natural about a product in a box.”
Not a fan of processed food, Donnenfield says if you have to buy boxed food, keep it to whole wheat pastas and high fiber cereals.
She also suggests buying produce from farmer's markets when you get the chance.
Many are organic and ripe. They are not picked early then sprayed with chemicals for transport and longer shelf life.
Check out the
USDA’s website for more information on organics.
