What is organic food? Where can I find an organic food store?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Today, a growing number of people prefer to be sensitive about the products they eat. Not only labels containing information about the composition, but also data on the area where this product was produced are subjected to careful study, from which a conclusion is made about its ecological and chemical purity.

In America and Western Europe, the demand for natural food has ceased to be just a fashion trend, but has become an urgent need of people among whom there are such ardent fans of eco-food that they resemble religious sectarians.

Organic food has already split the Western society of consumers: for them in supermarkets there are even separate racks with these products. Today, the demand for it is growing in our country.

Organic food: what is it and why is there so much controversy?

I am what I eat

Organic food is called so because of the way of managing, which owes its appearance. This means that when growing fruits and vegetablesagricultural workers should not use synthetic substances that promote plant growth, kill pests, increase shelf life and improve the appearance of plants.

In animal husbandry, with this method of farming, the use of antibiotics, growth stimulants, hormonal drugs and other achievements of the chemical industry and genetic engineering is prohibited.

Processing of raw materials into finished food products must also be carried out according to certain standards without the use of refining, chemical flavor enhancers, odors, dyes and substances that increase the shelf life.

All these principles allow us to produce food products that are guaranteed not to contain unnecessary chemical elements that can harm human he alth.

Minimizing harm to nature: truth or myth?

When growing plants, the means and methods of their processing and cultivation permitted by special documents are used. As a rule, the main principle is to maintain the ecological balance in the area.

But scientists know that even refusing artificially synthesized substances that help agriculture can deal a serious blow to the environment, even if, at first glance, organic food is grown according to all standards.

Natural fertilizers for high efficiency must be applied in large quantities, which is very expensivefarmers. It can cost even more for groundwater, which can get organic pollution in this way, which, in turn, will lead to a whole chain of adverse consequences for nature and humans.

Because when growing plants without chemical fertilizers and insecticides that have become traditional for agriculture, the yield is lower than with these substances. This way of cultivation forces farmers to use all new plots of land, which can lead to the destruction of a significant amount of forestland.

Can natural food hurt?

European legislation already allows for the use in the production of bioproducts many additives marked "E", and not all of them are harmless. In addition, organic food can potentially be a source of poisoning with so-called mycotoxins, since its production excludes the use of insecticides for processing grain, which means that many pests, including fungi, can leave traces of their vital activity on products.

Bio products are tastier and he althier than regular ones?

If you go to an organic food store and buy a basket of products there, and then do the same at the nearest supermarket and take your purchases to the laboratory, where they will analyze the nutritional value of both products, then most likely the results will not shock a curious shopper.

The content of nutrients, vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates in both will not be significantbe different.

The difference in composition can only be found with regards to antibiotics, artificial colors, preservatives and other "synthetics", as well as pesticides used to treat pests of crops.

As for pesticides, according to the concept of growing eco-products, the use of these substances is allowed if they are isolated from living organisms. However, studies conducted in the United States have shown that more than thirty percent of even such pesticides remain in eco-products and enter the human body, accumulating over the years.

Where to buy such food?

One can imagine what organic food means to a person who is terrified of the achievements of the modern food industry, which in recent years has become more like a chemical one.

Ancient wisdom says that food should be medicine, and medicine should be food, so the desire of consumers for the best products is as natural as the desire of every person to be he althy.

Organic food in Moscow, for example, is no more accessible than on the periphery for the simple reason that in the provinces many people cultivate their own, albeit small, land plots, so they can boast of their cucumber and apple, and also put up surplus for sale.

Therefore, in search of organic food in the provinces, one should pay attention to private ads in the newspaper and collective farm markets. But this method exists at the buyer's risk, because the products are unlikely to passveterinary control and certified, and in the absence of the use of synthetic chemicals in food production, the seller is unlikely to provide a guarantee.

Speci alty stores or supermarket counters are different, with colorful signs advising you to buy organic food.

Organic lovers, respond

Yes, those same cups of raspberries and bunches of greens from grandmothers on the market can also proudly be called the term "organic food". Reviews about her among fans of natural farming products are much more favorable than about the ideal in shape, size and color specimens of traditional intensive farming that adorn store shelves.

The same can be said about organic products produced on an industrial scale. Many stores in our country have special racks where only organic food is on sale. Customer reviews without prejudice about the benefits or uselessness of such food are especially interesting. Similar purchases were discussed on one of the forums.

Perfectly shaped organic tomatoes, purchased at twice the price of others, failed to impress consumers. Purchases were made in April, which means that the fruits were grown in a greenhouse, which deprived them of a significant part of their organoleptic properties.

This means that no matter how farmed, the taste of organic food cannot be significantly different from the taste of non-organic food. Similar opinionadhered to by many people who leave their impressions of similar purchases.

Why is organic food so expensive?

The lack of organic food in our country, and in the West, is the high price, which is due to the costs of producing these products. Low yields, death of plants from pests are the result of the rejection of modern farming methods, which inevitably leads to high labor costs.

Due to the rejection of preservatives, products deteriorate faster, and long transportation and storage, even by all the rules, can spoil a significant part of the already poor harvest.

All these costs are borne by the consumer who decides not to save on their own he alth.

Organics and Russian Law

Despite the fact that many Russians enjoy the benefits of going to the organic food store, Moscow is in no hurry to legislate the cultivation and production of such products. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, however, when buying products of domestic manufacturers that place the words "Organic", "Bio", "Eco" and others on the labels, one should not be under illusions and put such products in the basket without carefully studying the label.

Steps towards the preparation of the relevant regulatory framework are still being taken by the Government, because in 2016 the state standard on the rules for the production, storage and transportation of products, which today we call "organic food", came into force. What is it, a step towards food reformindustry or the movement towards the development of natural agriculture, will show further developments.

The domestic import substitution program also contributes to meeting the demand of the population for environmentally friendly products in the domestic market. This also applies to the Western market, since the demand for organic food there has been formed for a long time and is growing steadily.

In Russia, many companies specializing in the production of organic products, intended not only for food, but also for household and cosmetic purposes, exist and operate successfully.

Maybe this food is completely harmful?

The reasons why modern poultry farmers, livestock breeders and crop growers use pesticides, antibiotics and anthelmintics in growing their products are not limited to the thirst for quick profit and the desire to preserve the harvest at all costs.

Basic end-consumer safety concerns, dictated by legal requirements, force them to introduce such drugs, because, for example, the risk of getting sick with salmonella when eating organically raised chickens is three, and sometimes even five times higher.

The same applies to plant products grown on soil fertilized with manure, which is a favorable environment for the development of many pathogenic microorganisms.

Synthetic food will save the planet?

Analysts believe that the mass application of the principles of organic farming and animal husbandry on our planet is notexpected. The growth of the world's population is too great, and to feed humanity, there simply will not be enough organic food for everyone, even if all the forests are cut down and used to fertilize the soil, therefore, organic food is not intended to solve planetary food problems.

Organic food has a lot of advantages, as well as disadvantages, so it cannot fully claim the title of the most useful, nutritious, tasty and he althy food. But that doesn't stop you from enjoying it and making it part of your daily life and family food culture.