Is Organic Food Better?

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The long lasting debate question, "Is quality or quantity a better option?" has taken the form of typical supermarket foods. In the case of quality organic food and quantitive conventional food, the answer is quantity. Not only is conventionally farmed foods a better option, but it doesn't have the same risks and hazards as organically farmed foods. Moreover, organic foods often lead a distorted viewpoint in their favor, and conventionally farmed foods have many advantages when compared between the two. Common misconceptions, negative environmental impacts, and hazardous chemical usage are reasons why conventionally farmed foods are a better food type than organic food. Of course, the shiny, green, and white sticker labelling a product USDA Organic is appealing. However, what certifies a product as organic, and what are you actually buying? Any non-genetically engineered, non-irradiated agricultural produce produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth managers, or pesticides is considered organic. This being said, farmers must rely on non-synthetic fertilizer, crop-rotation, and government white-listed pesticides. Any animal products are not routinely injected with anibiotics. Also, any food produced must have been farmed for three years organically before it is considered organic (Griswold). This means that organic foods are indeed farmed with fertilizers. After the long list of safety issues and compliances, the label itself only certifies that 95% of its products are organic. Only a product labelled 100% organic will contain 100% organic ingredients. However, a product containing at least 70% of organic product would be labelled as containing organic products (Griswold). A great misconception of shopp... ... middle of paper ... ...le. "Is ORGANIC BETTER?" Alive: Canada's Natural Health & Wellness Magazine. 2013: 87-92. Consumer Health Complete. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. . Johnston, Rob. "Consumers Should Not Support Organic Foods." Is Organic Food Better? Ed. Ronald D. Lankford Jr. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2011. 23-28. Print. Kerr, Jim. Food: Ethical Debates on What We Eat. Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2009. Print. Parnes, Robin B. "Hos Organic Food Works." HowStuffWorks. n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. . Sprague, Nancy. "Counterpoint: Organic Food is Unnecessary & The Current Food Is Safe." Points of View: Organic Food (2013): 3. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. .

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