In 2002, the USDA began officially regulating the production of organic produce. Since that time, consumers have been able to choose truly natural and healthy alternatives to conventionally produced produce, meats and other foods. One of the benefits of organic foods is their lack of potentially harmful artificial preservatives. When cooking with organic food, support your healthy decision by considering the presence of preservatives in your preparation.
Organic
Organic foods must follow three basic stipulations. First, they must never be subjected to any insecticides, pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones or other chemical substances in their production. Second, they must be produced using sustainable techniques which create minimal impact on the environment. Third, they cannot contain any artificial preservatives or additives in the final food product. Foods labeled as "organic" are regulated by the USDA which enforces these regulations at each stage of production.
Preservatives
Preservatives are substances which act to decrease the decaying processes in food, including mold and other bacterial growth. There are two types of preservatives, artificial and natural. Artificial preservatives include chemicals such as butylated hydroxyansiole, or BHA, commonly found in fats and oils, and the sugar substitute saccharin, often found in juice drinks. According to CNN, in large doses, BHA may cause tumors, and saccharin is linked to cancer; these effects were studies only on lab animals. Natural food preservatives include salt, sugar and vinegar. Common natural preservative examples are cured meats, fruit jellies and pickles.
Considerations
Because of the possible side effects of some artificial preservatives, it is wise to choose those foods which only contain natural preservatives. Any organic food with a preserving agent uses a natural preservative. However, just because a preservative is natural does not mean it is healthy. Sugar and salt are the two most common natural preservatives. Excess amounts of sugar and salt, even when natural, are unhealthy to consume. Too much sugar increases your risk of diabetes, and too much salt or sodium can raise your blood pressure and lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cooking
Cooking with organic food is a good way to promote a healthy diet. However, monitor all of your ingredients for the presence of preservatives, both natural and artificial. Consider whether the fats, oils and flavorings that you add to your organic food are made without artificial preservatives. When adding components that contain natural preservatives, consider their effect on the food. For example, if you are cooking with a cured meat, avoid using additional salt above that which is already present in the meat. If you are baking a pie with canned organic apples, consider how much sugar is already present in the can before adding additional sugar components.
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