Dwight Kruse
Dr. C. Jason Smith
Eng101 T-Th 10:30am
23 May 2014
Organically
Speaking
America
has become oblivious to the obvious: Organic food is the best option.
Do you ever wonder why certain foods and meats in grocery stores can
afford to be so cheap? The demand in America for cheaper food has
become so large that everyday consumers turn a blind eye to how their
food is made and more about the quantity over quality. But what do we
really sacrifice? You are what you eat, but do you really know what
you are eating? If you choose a brand other than organic, you are
eating chemical fertilizers that your vegetables and plants grew in.
You are in danger of consuming synthetic insecticides as well as
pesticide residue. The meat you purchase has been injected with
growth hormones while spending their whole lives packed with other
animals with no room to breathe. Those chemical raised plants and
vegetables? They have also been consumed by the meats you are about
to consume. Consumers like us fund these corporations every day
without a second thought. We make them richer so they can continue to
buy more land and pollute the environment. Big corporations overwork
their employees and fatigue those who prepare our food. With the land
we help them buy, they put more and more organic farmers out of
business and continue their reign to poison us little by little. By
eating and purchasing conventional food products, we are putting
ourselves and our future at risk. By taking a little time out and
learning about how our food is made, perhaps we can make a wiser
decision today that will make a world of difference for tomorrow.
While shopping in a
grocery store, you have probably noticed certain labels on meats and
produce labeled "Organic" that is usually followed by a
heavy price tag compared to the items next to it that does not have
an "Organic" label. The reason behind the price tag is a
world of difference between conventional food and organic food.
Organic food is better for your health and the environment and it is
worth the investment. After all, your body is the ultimate machine
and it deserves the best care in the world. By buying organic
products, you are also investing into a better environment as well as
your local farmers. Organic products have to meet strict government
standards to earn their label. Organic farmers invest heavily into
their products by using natural fertilizers to organic feed to
animals compared to antibiotics and growth hormones used by factory
farmers. These farmers work hard everyday to supply American
consumers with a healthier and more beneficial alternative. Even if
the prices are higher than conventional farming, every cent goes back
into your diet and a safer environment. According to an article on
Mayo Clinic, organic farmers apply natural fertilizers such as
compost for their soil and plants. They spray pesticides from natural
sources and give animals organic feed. Organic farmers allow their
animals access to outdoors while maintaining a balanced diet in clean
housing as a measure to minimize disease (Mayo Clinic). Organic
farmers work very hard to maintain their farms while going through a
very strict certification program from The U.S. Department of
Agriculture to earn their organic label. They deserve every cent
invested back into them, because they invest back into their
consumers as well as into their farms.
Although we
know factory farming exists, we do not really think about what goes
on behind those closed doors. Slaughterhouses owned by large
corporations have come a long way from what they once were. Butchers
were once paid a middle class salary and now companies hire
immigrants for less than minimum wage. They intentionally hire
workers who won't complain, do immense amounts of overtime with no
extra pay, and compensate them very little for injuries if not at
all. According to Eric Schlosser from the book Fast Food Nation,"From
a purely economic point of view, injured workers are a drag on
profits. They are less productive. Getting rid of them makes a deal
of financial sense, especially when new workers are readily available
and inexpensive to train". How can we trust these companies when
they do not even care for their workers? Since the boom of fast food
franchises such as Mcdonald's and Carl's Jr., factory farming has
increased productivity to meet the demands of Americans who feed into
their fast food crave due to their busy schedules. This increases the
risk of workers who are fatigued from over work. Bacteria from fecal
matter gets mixed in with the meat that gets delivered right on to
your plate. Eric Schlosser states a quote from the Secretary of
Agriculture Dan Glickman complained in 1997, "We cane fine
circuses for mistreating elephants, but we can't fine companies that
violate food-safety standards." Regarding an E. coli outbreak in
February 1997. By that time the United States Department of
Agriculture even finds out, It would be already to late. These
companies have put a lot of lives at risk and with how fast they put
their products out, anyone can be their next victim.
Large food
industries have put organic farmers out of businesses as well as
buying them out. According to Stephanie Strom from New York Times,
"Coca-Cola, Cargill, ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft, and M&M
Mars among them- have gobbled up most of the nation's organic food
industry". Bear Naked and Kashi belong to "Kellog" and
Naked Juice belongs to PepsiCo. There are also some things to look
for in labels being misdirected. For example, "made with organic
ingredients" are on the label but not used with the seal.
Seventy percent or less organic ingredients cannot use the seal or
the word "organic" on their product labels. Some of these
businesses trick you into buying their products even though it is not
purely organic. Organic farms are being bought out and disappearing
from existence. The ones that are still in business are in danger of
being the next ones out. Big companies have seen how many people are
switching into the organic trend. According to Philip H. Howard, an
assistant professor at Michigan State University says, “In some
ways, organic is a victim of its own success. Big corporations see
the trends and the opportunity to make money and profit.” In some
cases, Organic farmers have no choice but to sell due to lack of
funds and support. At this rate, even if we think we are buying
organic food, we are still funding the same company we have been
trying to avoid and not the independent organic farmers that really
need our help. The best thing to do is research where the food is
coming from and actually funding the local farmers at farmers markets
and reputable organic stores.
According to A.L
Kennedy on an article of Health benefits of Organic food vs.
Processed Food, “Organic
foods are grown or raised without chemical pesticides, antibiotics or
hormones, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic
farmers take advantage of natural methods of fertilizing soil and
controlling weeds and insects. Certain organic foods, such as milk
and tomatoes, may contain health benefits that make these organic
foods a healthier choice than their processed or conventional
counterparts.” There are more advantages to eating organic food
than conventional food. By eating organic food, you are also eating
more nutrition and an increased antioxidant content, because of the
lack of pesticides in organic food. “Conventionally raised plants
do not need to produce as many antioxidants because any plant-eating
insects that might prey on them are controlled with insecticides,”
(livestrong.com Health
Benefits of Organic Foods Vs. Processed Foods). Organic food takes
away the harmful risk of exposing their consumers from pesticide
residue which have been known to cause health complications.
Undoubtedly,
America's demand for convenience is at a grand scale. That's the
reason why so many americans have the luxury of spending so much time
wandering the aisles of grocery stores. Different as it may seem,
most of these products we decide on are owned by the same company or
one of the few that control a majority of the market. The more they
control, the more they expand. Americans invest into fast food chains
that these companies ship their products to and they get richer every
day. By relying on convenience, consumers are encouraging a higher
risk for future health complications. On the other hand, Organic
farmers are struggling to keep alive. They are pushed to sell or go
bankrupt or not make enough money to send their products out to the
markets. Organic food is a healthier option as well as it is more
nutritious despite it being more expensive. Buying organic is an
investment into the environment. Consumers are buying food that have
gone through a rigorous United States Department of Agriculture
inspection. It is a purchase of food that has not been exposed to
harmful pesticides and meats that have not been injected with growth
hormones. It is a support to farmers who treat their animals with
humane care as well as their workers. Most importantly, It is a step
into the right direction of a healthier lifestyle for us and the
future.
Works Cited
Harms,
Roger , and Kenneth Berge. "Nutrition and healthy eating."
Organic
foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?.
N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880>.
Pogash,
Carol. "The Elders of Organic Farming." The
New York Times.
The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/business/the-elders-of-organic-farming.html?_r=0>.
Strom,
Stephanie. "Has 'Organic' Been Oversized?." The
New York Times.
The New York Times, 6 July 2012. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/business/organic-food-purists-worry-about-big-companies-influence.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.
Schlosser,
Eric. Fast
food nation: the dark side of the all-American meal.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.
Kennedy,
A.L.. "Health Benefits of Organic Foods Vs. Processed Foods."
LIVESTRONG.COM.
LIVESTRONG.COM, 3 Nov. 2013. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www.livestrong.com/article/258734-health-benefits-of-organic-foods-vs-processed-food/>.
(America has become oblivious to the obvious: Organic food is the best option. Do you ever wonder why certain foods and meats in grocery stores can afford to be so cheap? The demand in America for cheaper food has become so large that everyday consumers turn a blind eye to how their food is made and more about quantity over quality. But what do we really sacrifice? You are what you eat, but do you really know what you're eating? If you choose a brand other than organic, you're eating chemical fertilizers that your vegetables and plants grew in. You're in danger of consuming synthetic insecticides. Your meat has been injected with growth hormones while spending their whole lives packed with other animals with no room to breathe. Those chemical raised plants and vegetables? They have also been consumed by the meats you're about to consume. Consumers like us fund these corporations every day without a second thought. We make them richer so they can continue to buy more land and pollute the environment. With the land we help them buy, they put more and more organic farmers out of business and continue their reign to poison us little by little. By eating and purchasing conventional food products, we are putting ourselves and our future at risk. By taking a little time out and learning about how our food is made, perhaps we can make a wiser descision today that will make a world of difference for tomorrow.
While shopping in a grocery store, you've probably noticed certain labels on meats and produce labeled "Organic" that is usually followed by a heavy pricetag compared to the items next to it that does not have an "Organic" label. The reason behind the pricetag is a world of difference between conventional food and organic food. Organic food is better for your health and the environment and it is worth the investment. After all, your body is the ultimate machine and it deserves the best care in the world. By buying organic products, you're also investing into a better environment as well as your local farmers. Organic products have to meet strict government standards to earn their label. Organic farmers invest heavily into their products by using natural fertilizers to organic feed to animals compared to antibiotics and growth hormones used by factory farmers. These farmers work hard everyday to supply American consumers with a healthier and more beneficial alternative. Even if the prices are higher than conventional farming, every cent goes back into your health and into our environment. According to an article on Mayo Clinic, organic farmers apply natural fertilizers such as compost for their soil and plants. They spray pesticides from natural sources and give animals organic feed. Allow them access to outdoors while maintaining a balanced diet in clean housing as a measure to minimize disease (Mayo Clinic). Organic farmers work very hard to maintain their farms while going through a very strict certification program from The U.S. Department of Agriculture to earn their organic label. They deserve every cent invested back into them.
Although we know factory farming exists, we don't really think about what goes on behind those closed doors. Slaughterhouses owned by large corporations have come a long way from what they once were. Butchers were once paid a middle class salary and now companies hire immigrants for less than minimum wage. They intentionally hire workers who won't complain, do immense amounts of overtime with no extra pay, and compensate them very little for injuries if not at all. According to Eric Schlosser from the book Fast Food Nation,"From a purely economic point of view, injured workers are a drag on profits. They are less productive. Getting rid of them makes a deal of finacial sense, especially when new workers are readily available and inexpensive to train". Since the boom of fast food franchises such as Mcdonald's and Carl's Jr., factory farming has increased productivity to meet the demands of Americans who feed into their fast food crave due to their busy schedules. This increases the risk of workers who are fatigued from over work. Bacteria from fecal matter gets mixed in with the meat that gets delivered right on to your plate. Eric Schlosser states a quote from the Secretary of Agricuture Dan Glickman complained in 1997, "We cane fine ciruses for mistreating elephants, but we can't fine companies that violate food-safety standards." Regarding an Ecoli outbreak in February 1997. The U.S. Department of Agriculture are actually helpless in such cases where they can pull (example..) from shelves, but they cannot order the recall of food that has been known to be contaminated. By that time they even find out, It would be already to late.
Large food industries have put organic farmers out of businesses as well as buying them out. According to ** a New York times article, "Coca-Cola, Cargill, ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft, and M&M Mars among them- have gobbled up most of the nation's organic food industry". Bear Naked and Kashi belong to "Kellog" and Naked Juice belongs to PepsiCo. There are also some things to look for in labels being misdirected. For example, "made with organic ingredients" are on the label but not used with the seal. Seventy percent or less organic ingredients cannot use the seal or the word "organic" on their product labels. Organic farms are being bought out and disappearing from existence. The ones that are still in business are in danger of being the next ones out. ** more examples and expaination of..**)
