Organic (food)

Organic food refers to food products that are produced, prepared, and processed without the use of any chemicals. It means organic food production prohibits the use of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or chemical preservatives. Consequently, organic foods are increasingly gaining popularity because a greater portion of the population desires to know which chemicals are in their food products.

History of Organic Food

The concept of organic farming has been around since the early 20th century. It was a part of a wave of changing farming practices that emphasized crop rotation, green manure, and biological pest control. The term "organic" was first used in this context by Lord Northbourne in his book Look to the Land (1940), where he discussed the concept of "the farm as organism".

Organic Farming Practices

Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds, or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

Health Benefits of Organic Food

Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts. People with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives often find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods. Moreover, organic food is often fresher because it doesn't contain preservatives that make it last longer.

Organic Food Certification

In order to be labelled "organic", a product must be free from artificial food additives. This includes artificial sweeteners, preservatives, coloring, flavoring and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Organically grown crops tend to use natural fertilizers like manure to improve plant growth, animals raised organically are also not given antibiotics or hormones.

Organic food products are certified by a number of organizations worldwide, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), European Union (EU), and India Organic.

See Also

• Organic farming
• Organic certification
• Organic product
• Organic movement