Organic vs. Non-Organic: Knowing the Facts
Buying food in today’s culture can be confusing, to say the least. There are labels like organic, non-organic, non-GMO, cage-free, all-natural, fair trade, vegetarian-fed, and more. Some of those labels require certifications and inspections and testing, and some do not. Certain labels can even be misleading, whether it’s deliberate on the part of the company selling it or a result of the prohibitive costs related to obtaining certification labels. Either way, with all of the information available, it can be hard as a consumer to sift fact from fiction, especially when it comes to such a hotly debated topic like organic versus non-organic food. In the hopes of shedding some light, keep reading for a breakdown of facts and definitions for both of these terms, along with a couple of differences. We’ll even give you a list of foods we recommend always purchasing organic, just to be safe.What Does Organic Mean?
When talking about organic food, it is usually referring to how the food is produced. There are certain processes food must undergo before it’s ready to be sent to market, and what that process looks like determines whether or not that food is considered “organic.” For instance, food that is considered organic is produced without the use of pesticides and chemicals, antibiotics and growth hormones, and in most cases, without GMOs as well. There are also other practices related to farming that are considered “organic” too, such as not using fertilizers or synthetic herbicides to control weeds. In the case of livestock, it’s often raised on land that is certified as organic in order to meet standards, and animals are fed natural, organic diets (not animal byproducts), and have access to clean water and outdoor space. Additionally, organic means the food hasn’t been exposed to ionizing radiation as a way to extend shelf life or kill pests and disease.
The USDA actually allows four different labels for organic foods. “100% Organic” means exactly that. There is nothing in the ingredients or in the production of the product that is not organic, and there are no GMOs present in the product. The next label down is “Organic,” which means 95% of the product is certified as organic, with no GMOs. The next label down from that is “Made with Organic,” which requires 70% of the product ingredients to be certified as organic. However, the product cannot have an organic seal. Despite the differences, all three of these labels are required by the USDA to use ingredients they have listed as allowed in certified organic foods. The final label is “Organic Ingredients.” The seal is not allowed for this label either, and the difference between this label and the other three is that they don’t have to comply with the list of allowed ingredients by the USDA; they may have GMOs, and they aren’t required to have any set percentage of certified organic ingredients to get this label.
What Does Non-Organic Mean?
Non-organic is essentially the opposite of all of the above. Non-organic food may be produced using farming practices that are not organic, including using chemical fertilizers and insecticide to encourage plants to grow and limit disease and pests. Chemical herbicides may be used to control weeds, and in the case of livestock, animals may be given growth hormones to encourage growth or antibiotics and other medications to fight disease. However, it should be noted that sometimes, non-organic farmers also use some organic farming practices. Which essentially means it can be tough to know what you’re actually getting unless the food is stamped with a USDA certified organic label.
What Are the Differences Between Organic and Non-Organic Food?
While the biggest difference is in how the food is produced and which processes are used, there are also some who feel there is a difference in the way organic food looks compared to non-organic food, as well as whether or not the nutritional value is increased or decreased in one food over the other. There are varying theories on the aesthetics issue, but really, as long as it tastes good and is nutritious, does it matter if one apple is prettier than another? There are also varying opinions on whether there are any major nutritional differences between organic and non-organic food.
Foods Best Consumed Organic
It can be tough to always buy organic, especially if you are on a tight budget. However, there are a handful of foods, called the Dirty Dozen, that are considered to be at the highest risk of contamination with pesticides, that you should consider buying organic whenever possible. Keep in mind the list sometimes changes so these suggestions are a rough guide.
- Apples
- Cherries
- Celery
- Grapes
- Hot Peppers
- Pears
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
My friend had a ? About the oatmeal. For the non organic, what type chemicals, pesticides, do you use on them?
Do you use sulphites for longer shelf life? My ?
How do you keep pests out of non organic when you are bagging the product?
Do you store oats in silos? How do you keep bugs out of the silos?
I think I remember that the mill you first started, maybe the ground had been exposed to something not considered organic, or something.
Please tell me what chemicals it was exposed to…
Also, how can foods be organic if there is roundup drift from other farms?
And for organic, is it that you make natural fertilizer from compost?
Is it that you can use organic fertilizer like epsoma fertilizer garden tone? And not typical 10 10 10 that is cheap and from petroleum?
I have a terrible sulphite allergy. In 100 percent organic, are sulphites considered organic enough for 100 percent organic?
Thank you so much.
Also instead of sulphites, could celery juice be used to preserve, and is that considered and listed as a natural flavor?
I may be allergic to celery juice also.
Thank you so much!!!!
Jeannie
Do you use sulphites for longer shelf life? Our products do not contain added sulfites, but some may contain naturally occurring sulfites and this is not something that we test for. Any ingredients used in our products will be listed on the label under “Ingredients.”
How do you keep pests out of non organic when you are bagging the product? We have strict Quality Assurance and Good Manufacturing practices in place for all products we produce.
Do you store oats in silos? How do you keep bugs out of the silos? Our Oats are not stored in silos but rather stored in totes.
I think I remember that the mill you first started, maybe the ground had been exposed to something not considered organic, or something. Please tell me what chemicals it was exposed to: The original Bob’s Red Mill burned down and then was relocated to International Way in Milwaukie, OR.
Also, how can foods be organic if there is roundup drift from other farms? And for organic, is it that you make natural fertilizer from compost? Below are some links to blog posts from our website for more information about our non-organic (conventional) and organic products and Bob’s commitment to quality.
https://www.bobsredmill.com/blog/healthy-living/difference-between-organic-non-organic
https://www.bobsredmill.com/blog/featured-articles/our-quality-process
Is it that you can use organic fertilizer like epsoma fertilizer garden tone? And not typical 10 10 10 that is cheap and from petroleum? We do not have this information available.
I have a terrible sulphite allergy. In 100 percent organic, are sulphites considered organic enough for 100 percent organic? Also instead of sulphites, could celery juice be used to preserve, and is that considered and listed as a natural flavor? I may be allergic to celery juice also. Thank you so much.
Many agricultural products naturally contain sulfites, but no sulfites are added to our products. We do not test our products for any sulfites that are naturally occurring. Any ingredients added to our products will be listed on our labels. The “Natural Flavorings” listed in some of our products are proprietary ingredients and as such, cannot be shared as they are part of the recipes that make our products unique. Please be assured that these flavorings meet our standards for high quality ingredients and are compliant with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act which requires food manufacturers to list if one or more of the eight major food allergens are in a natural flavor or food. This includes: milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish. The natural flavorings used are also free from MSG.
Why does the organic oats have more fiber and less or more fat?
Is it a different strain of oat, or do the organic compost or whatever cause the oat to have these different characteristics.
Thank you again
Jeannie