FAQ: What Is Organic Food? Food Grown Naturally Without Artificial Chemicals and Additives May Be Considered Organic.

What is organic food? Organic food has been grown without any kind of man-made chemicals such as pesticides or fertilizers. All organic food in the US and EU, amongst others, must meet stringent certification guidelines to be marketed as organic.

How is Organic Food Raised?

Organic produce is raised without pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers or any other man-made chemicals that may be harmful to humans. On an organic farm all the weeding has to be done by hand and plant-eating insects are often eradicated through natural means such as the introduction of predatory insects. All crops are rotated regularly so the crops can grow well without synthetic fertilizers, promoting healthy topsoil and requiring less water than conventional crops to grow.

What are the Benefits of Organic Food?

Not only is the organic farming process better for the earth because it uses less water and conserves healthy soil, it also has 1/3 the chemical content that conventionally-grown produce has. The chemicals that are found on organic produce is likely from contamination during shipping in the same crates as conventionally-grown has been shipped in or through chemicals being blown over from conventional crops; the residues are negligible and can generally be rinsed off. Ingesting fewer chemicals is believed to be much healthier because the chemicals can build up in the body over time and cause adverse effects. Additionally, organic foods are generally harvested closer to when they're ripe so they tend to taste better and are believed to have more nutrients than conventional produce.

How is Labeling of Organic Food Regulated?

All countries that have organic food labeling regulate which foods are sold as organic, many with strict criteria for certification. Organic food is generally sold at a premium price under the assumption that governing authorities have ensured that consumers are getting what they buy and in most countries, especially in the United States and the European Union, the regulations are strictly adhered to as much as possible. This includes farm inspections to ensure that farming regulations are being met, inspection of produce and ensuring that no genetically-modified seed is used. In the United States, the USDA is the primary regulator of organic produce. Problems can arise when organic produce is being imported from an unregulated country into a regulated one, though tests are now in place so that farming methods are about the only non-regulated factor.