Frankly, the grocery stores are getting entirely out of control. Last week at Giant, there was a display of insanely, unnaturally large cantaloupes. I just stood in front of them, openmouthed. And no one else seemed to notice that they were 50% larger than last year's cantaloupes, or why they should mind. No one seems to notice the food is so much BIGGER than it's meant to be. It's all genetically engineered to be uniform-looking, survive long shipments, and grow to unusual proportions. As a result, it's less tasteful and less nutritious.
Right then, something hit me: produce is often sold by the pound, the size of the produce we are eating has gotten out of control... that has to be one of the reasons produce has gotten so expensive. By comparison, the stuff you get at the farmer's market is smaller, and occasionally dares to be misshapen, but has such a better concentration of flavor. So that's where I choose to put my money.
And just when you think it's safe to buy organic, The Washington Post published a disturbing article a few days ago, called Purity of Federal 'Organic' Label Is Questioned. It's about how higher consumer demand and lower federal standards turned the organics market into a $23 billion-a-year business.
There were a lot of disturbing facts, but here's one that hit this mother-to-be: synthetic additives in organic baby formula banned just three years ago can now be found in 90% of organic baby formula. 90%!! Why? Because a USDA program manager was lobbied by the formula makers and overruled her staff. I hope this breastfeeding thing works out!
Small, independent organic companies are being bought up by companies like Kraft (Boca) and Kellogg (Morningstar Farms). And they have the money to press the government to expand its definition of "organic," especially through their Organic Trade Association (which wants you to buy THEIR kind of organic products, those prepared, processed and packaged with synthetic food substances). Don't think things like the OTA have power? Check this quote:
Under the original organics law, 5%of a USDA-certified organic product can consist of non-organic substances, provided they are approved by the National Organic Standards Board. That list has grown from 77 to 245 substances since it was created in 2002. Companies must appeal to the board every five years to keep a substance on the list, explaining why an organic alternative has not been found. The goal was to shrink the list over time, but only one item has been removed so far.
And here's another gem from a man making decisions about whether the food you eat is truly organic:
"I say, 'Let's find a way to bend that one, because it's not important.' . . . What are we selling? Are we selling health food? No. Consumers, they expect organic food to be growing in a greenhouse on Pluto. Hello? We live in a polluted world. It isn't pure. We are doing the best we can."
I don't think he is. Do you?
I choose to pay more for certain organic products, and I expect them to be free of synthetics, pesticides and other chemicals; not to be genetically engineered; and to be grown in a way that is gentle to the environment. Farmers and food producers shouldn't be able to shop around and hire private certifiers to inspect products. There should be clear guidelines on what can be used in organic products, and that list shouldn't grow! Terms like "access to pasture" should have specific definitions; don't put true organic dairy farmers at unfair competition with those who run more or less confinement dairies. There has to be a strict interpretations of "organic." The organics industry shouldn't focus on growth at any cost; it should focus on preserving the integrity of the organic label.
Remember that old saying: you are what you eat? If you want to learn a little more, I recommend In Defense of Food; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; and will be sure to eventually blog about Food, Inc.
