Organic vs. Non-organic Foods

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Recommended: Different methods of organic farming

Organic products and non-organic products have been a subject of interest for me for a great amount of time because I have often questioned whether there really was a difference between the two types of products. I always wondered what the nutritional, economic, laborious, and pollution differences were, if any, in the creation of the two types of products. Through research, I have found several sources of information which allow me to determine more than a physical difference between the two.

To start, labeling something as organic is specific and determined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The regulations set are extremely specific and it is relatively difficult to meet the standards. The pesticides must be natural, and be part of the approved list established by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (6). The crop must also be void of any prohibited substances for at least three years. The time limit is set to allow room for chemicals, which may have an effect on the crop, may reside over time to become less abundant. This is only a pre-requisite to even have the crop to be considered organic, meaning that the crop may still fail the certification of being organic. The crop that is used is also prohibited from going through genetic engineering.

For livestock to be labeled as organic, the animal must also go through several standards established by the USDA. As several non-organic livestock use a lot of types of medications, organic livestock may not be treated with prohibited medication, which is determined by the USDA. The livestock must also be allowed to have access to the outdoors. The only exception to this condition is that the animal may be contained based on its health, safety,...

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... Florida IFAS Extension. Mar. 2006. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .

4. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Organic Foods: Are They Safer? More Nutritious?" Mayo Clinic. 18 Dec. 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .

5. Milmo, Cahal. "Organic Farming 'no Better for the Environment' - Green Living, Environment - The Independent." The Independent. 19 Feb. 2007. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .

6. "Organic Farming." US Environmental Protection Agency. 29 July 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .

7. T, Pragya. "Organic Food Vs. Non Organic Food." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .

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