Many organic foods can be found in most local grocery stores. Cost, taste, concerns about pesticides, hormones and antibiotic use are factors parents may consider when deciding to provide organic or conventionally grown foods for their children.
Knowing Organic Labels
According to the Mayo Clinic website, organic foods can be labeled "100 Percent Organic," which means the food is guaranteed by the USDA to be organic or have been made from all organic foods. The label "Organic" refers to foods that are at least 95 percent organic, and the label "Made with Organic Ingredients" refers to products that are made with foods that are at least 70 percent organic.
Organic farming, according to the USDA, refers to a way of farming produce and raising livestock that does not use pesticides, synthetic or sewage sludge fertilizers, herbicides, antibiotics, bioengineering, hormones or ionizing radiation. All organic meats, poultry, eggs and dairy are certified to have been fed organic feed, received no antibiotics or growth hormones and that animals have had access to the outdoors.
Nutritional Content of Organically Grown Foods
According to the USDA, food-quality standards are not addressed when referring to organic foods, only the process in which the food is grown and handled is considered. In answering the question of nutritional value of organically grown foods versus conventionally grown foods, the USDA provides the following information. There is some research that shows organic foods have slightly higher amounts of trace minerals, vitamin C and antioxidant phytonutrients. There is not enough conclusive or valid research to make a ruling about nutritional value of organically grown products. The USDA says more research is needed before decisions regarding quality of nutrition in organic products versus conventionally grown foods may be made.
Pesticide Use on Organic and Conventionally Grown Produce
Pesticides are substances used to kill off pests that endanger produce. Chemical pesticide consumption has been potentially linked to cancer and hormone and nervous system disorders, making it of concern to parents as they decide what foods to feed their kids. The USDA has found significantly lower levels of pesticide residue on organically grown produce versus its conventionally grown counterparts. The USDA also says that levels of chemical pesticides found on both organic and conventionally grown foods have levels of pesticides that are lower than safety thresholds set by the government as being safe to ingest.
Organic Animal Products
The USDA says that no significant differences in the safety of organically grown livestock and conventionally grown livestock. Organic meat has been shown to decrease exposure to mad cow disease and arsenic residues in chicken. Antibiotics are not used in raising organic livestock, although no health benefit has been clearly linked to the practice.
Warnings Regarding Organic Foods
The USDA says that some organic farming practices have risks. Organic farming may produce products that are contaminated with bacterial or fungal contaminants, and higher in natural toxins and heavy metal content. The USDA also says that dangers from these risks have not been substantiated with research.
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