GoKawiilAs a biomedical scientist, it has never failed to annoy me that the term ‘organic’ has been co-opted to spread misinformation. Before we get into the topic as it relates to foods (and other consumer products), I just want to emphasize that the term organic in chemistry has a VERY different meaning. And we will talk a lot more about that in the future!
But since the EWG is out there yet again circulating their fear-mongering “Dirty Dozen” list, it bears explaining what organic actually means.
The organic foods industry is a $181.5 BILLION dollar industry as of 2022, with an expected annual growth rate of 11.2% year over year. This industry didn’t even exist until 2002, and was borne out of consumer demand and misinformation. For context, it was worth 26.7 billion dollars in 2010. That is a huge amount of growth for a market that has zero science behind it.
Most people have been misled to believe that organic is superior and that’s not your fault. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has figureheads spouting that lie. Of course people wouldn’t spend more money for something that’s equivalent, so clever messaging is used to insinuate that organic foods are superior. And that is reflected in consumer perception. The number one reason that people opt to purchase organic foods is because they believe that organic foods are healthier, safer, more nutritious, or otherwise superior.
The reality? Organic foods are not superior, just more expensive.
The EWG and other organic activists are deliberately trying to spread misinformation in order to drive people to purchase organic produce, which is on average, around 50% more expensive than conventional counterparts.
Organic food is only 5-7% more expensive to produce, so the difference in price is pure profit, and as a result, organic food is almost synonymous with luxury and privilege. Organic farming is at least 22-35% more profitable than conventional agriculture, especially when factoring in the labeling “markup” that is often default: upwards of 30% more on the price tag and hitting your wallet.
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All organic means in the United States is that produce (or crops) in question are certified to have been grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest.
So what counts as prohibited substances? Certain synthetic chemicals. Organic farming also prohibits the use of genetically engineered seeds in cultivation. But organic farming uses PLENTY of pesticides - they just have a specific list that they deem appropriate. (I’ll discuss myths about livestock and animal products in a subsequent post)
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