meat

Q| What is organic meat? Is it any better than “natural”?

A: Unlike unregulated meat terms — such as natural — the USDA Organic seal has some key standards behind it. First, it ensures that the animal was not fed genetically modified soy or corn — which many consumers believe have not yet been proven safe. Another big benefit “is that organic animals aren't given growth hormones,” says Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator for the University of Minnesota. “Conventional beef cattle are typically given steroids in order to bulk up just like some baseball players. There are some legitimate concerns that those hormones have negative human health impacts, especially on developing children.” Organic beef also comes without added antibiotics, the overuse of which may contribute to the increase in antibiotic-resistant germs. And although the FDA approved cloned meat for consumption earlier this year, organic meats remain assuredly uncloned. Many consumers feel that meat from cloned animals has not been adequately tested for safety, and they are uncomfortable with the prospect of animal cloning, in general, for ethical reasons.

To learn what other beef terms mean, including grassfed, free range, humane certified, and natural, read our related article, Beef labels.

What is irradiation?

What do dental instruments and raw meat have in common? Both may have undergone irradiation — a process during which they're subjected to “ionizing radiation” to destroy harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. Although USDA Organic regulations prohibit this safety measure, irradiation has been approved for almost all conventional foods — including meats, produce, flours, herbs, and spices. Critics say that while it doesn't make foods radioactive, irradiation could have other hidden consequences, such as nutrient loss; damage to natural enzymes; and the formation of free radicals and potentially toxic compounds called unique radiolytic products (URPs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and lipid peroxides. Some URPs are also known carcinogens. Although products that have been irradiated must be labeled as such, you can't be sure that packaged goods are free of minor irradiated ingredients — unless they are organic. Bottom line: If you're concerned about irradiation, choose organic.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Organic Consumers Association.

packaged foods

Q| I already buy organic produce and dairy. Is it necessary to buy organic chips or cereal?

A: The biggest reason to look for the organic label on packaged goods is to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the ingredients — particularly because many packaged goods contain corn or soy, two of the most common GMO crops. Studies increasingly implicate GMOs in health issues such as food allergies and endocrine disruption (which causes malfunction of the body's normal hormonal systems). “Seventy-five percent of all food in America is derived from genetically modified seed. GMOs are going directly into America's shopping cart via processed foods,” says Seleyn DeYarus, development director at the Organic Center. And it's not just “whole” corn or soy ingredients you may need to be concerned about, such as those in corn flakes or tofu, but all corn- or soy-derived ingredients, such as corn syrup, cornstarch, or soybean oil. Because genetically engineered foods are not labeled in the United States, the only way to know you aren't eating a cookie or cracker that contains GMOs is to buy organic.

Q| What's the difference between 100% organic and made with organic ingredients?

A: Because packaged goods contain many more ingredients than, say, an apple, the USDA has several ways to identify the percentage of organic ingredients within them. At the lower end, products with less than 70 percent organic content cannot flaunt any organic ingredients on the front panel but may identify organic items in the ingredients list. Beyond that, see “Organic Packaged Goods” above for more guidelines.

Organic packaged goods

• 100% organic ensures that every grain and morsel in that box or bag is certified organic (with the exceptions of added salt and water).
• Organic tells you that at least 95 percent of the content (by weight) is organic. The remaining 5 percent must come from a list of ingredients specifically allowed in organic foods.
• Made with organic ingredients confirms that at least 70 percent of the product is made from organic ingredients. Labels may list the specific organic ingredients.

Kelly Corbet is the founder of Smart Foods Healthy Kids.

Next page: Organic Timeline