The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) requires organic food to be pesticide and chemical free. What this means to you as the average consumer shopping at the local supermarket is that you now have the option to buy food that’s guaranteed to be healthy, nutritious and natural.
To truly understand and get the big picture, here are some reasons why organic food is better:
- Lower risk of getting cancer: according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 90% of fungicides, 60% of herbicides and 30% insecticides can contribute to the development of cancer. Avoiding these carcinogenic chemicals can help stay healthy and protect you from potentially life threatening diseases.
- Preserve natural resources.
The use of chemicals is not only harmful to humans, but it can also have significant negative impact on air and water quality. Chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides are contaminants that are frequently found in ground water, including water supplies that are consumed by millions of people. By eating organic food, you can help keep water clean and safe for consumption.
- Support local farmers
They are dedicated to providing people with high quality, chemical free products. Large food manufacturers are able to produce more food at a lower cost because they use products such as pesticides and other synthetic chemicals. As a result, local farmers that produce organic food have a hard time staying in business because they simply can’t compete with larger suppliers. Buying organic food helps support small farmers who refuse to trade quality for quantity.
- Protect the environment
Large agricultural manufacturing plants have much higher energy consumption than local farmers who only use natural method to produce their food. By buying organic food, you will not only be supporting small farmers but also saving energy and protecting the environment.
- Support wild life and biodiversity
Pesticides are dangerous to animals that can become sick if they come in contact with any type of synthetic chemicals used in agriculture. Another agricultural practice that hurts biodiversity is planting the same type of crop on the same plot of land over and over again. The soil eventually becomes depleted and farmers have to increasingly rely on fertilisers and pesticides to produce the same amount of food. Break this cycle by creating organic foods, which is grown using traditional methods.
- Protect the younger generation
Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of chemicals that are frequently used in food production. Research shows that children consume four times as many carcinogenic chemicals as adults because they tend to eat foods that contain artificial ingredients. Children should eat a healthy diet composed of organic foods that contains all the essential Nutrients their bodies need to grow up strong.
- Support innovative research
Organic farmers are at the forefront of developing environmentally friendly methods of producing delicious, chemical free food. Eating organic food can be our way of helping them fund their research that will revolutionise the food industry.
- Organic farmers work in much better conditions.
Employees who work in large food manufacturing plants are exposed to pesticides that are commonly used in food production and can develop serious disease as a result. According to a study done by the Harvard school of public health, there is 70% increase in case of Parkinson’s disease among workers who handle pesticides. By eating organic food, you can help end unfair treatment of workers who are regularly exposed to harmful chemical can potentially shorten their lives.
- Organic foods do not contain neurotoxins
Neurotoxins can damage your brain and nerve cells. Many food suppliers use pesticides known as organophosphates to kill pest that attack fruits and vegetables. The problem with using them is that organophosphate can be harmful to human as well. In fact, they were used as a toxic nerve agent designed to disable the enemy during World War 1. By eating organic foods, you can avoid dangerous neurotoxins that can harm your body.
- Organic food taste better.
Not only are they better tasting, organic products are also more nutritious. Organic foods have more minerals, vitamins and other essential nutrients than mass produced food that has been treated with chemicals.
There should be no doubt about why organic food is better. I hope I persuaded you into making the right choice. Make sure the foods you buy are certified organic with seal on them by a DAFF approved certifying body. It is better for you and the environment.
There are currently seven registered DAFF accredited certifying bodies in Australia;
NASAA Certified Organic www.nasaa.com.au
Organic Food Chain www.organicfoodchain.com.au
AUS-QUAL www.ausqual.com.au
Australian Certified Organic (ACO) www.aco.net.au
Bio-Dynamic Research Institute (BDRI) www.demeter.org.au
Safe Food Production Queensland (SFQ) www.safefood.qld.gov.au
The Tasmanian Organic Producers (TOP) www.tasorganicdynamic.com.au