What are they?
Click
here to
find out
Foods labeled organic are
foods produced without
hormones, antibiotics,
herbicides, insecticides,
chemical fertilizers,
genetic modifications or
germ-killing radiation.
So what does all this
mean? ? ? ?
Let’s identify each word
separately to try to make
sense of it all.
Hormones
• Hormones are added to
speed growth of animals
and ultimately speed
the production of meat
and milk. This will
supposedly result in
lower costs to
consumers. It is unclear
whether they affect the
health of humans.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics commonly
used in commercial
animal feed and
drinking water increase
animal growth and
treat and deter disease.
Herbicides
• According to
the EPA these
kill weeds and
other plants
that grow
where they are
not wanted.
Insecticides
Defined as an
agent that is
used to kill
insects, it is
unclear whether
the benefits
outweigh the
risks to the
environment and
to human health.
Chemical Fertilizers
• Fertilizers provide
nutrients for the
growing plants.
Chemical
fertilizers are
those that are
made synthetically
rather than
naturally.
Genetic Modifications
• Refers to plants created for human or
animal consumption using the latest
molecular biology techniques. It is
used to isolate and insert the exact
desired gene to enhance the exact
desired trait in a plant. This gene can
be obtained from both plant and nonplant organisms.
Genes with your Salsa?
How do you know if you are eating Genetically Modified Foods?
Click
here
to
find
out
Germ Killing
Radiation
• Radiation processing
of food involves
exposure of food to
short wave radiation
energy to achieve a
specific purpose such
as extension of shelflife, insect
disinfestation and
elimination of food
borne pathogens and
parasites.
Irradiated onion (top left), Nonirradiated (top right), irradiated
potato (bottom left), nonirradiated (bottom right)
In the past
decade,
consumers have
increased their
buying of organic
foods by 15 to 20
percent every
year.
To help
consumers with
their purchases
as of Oct. 21,
2002 any food
with this label
will have to
meet criteria set
by the USDA
What will the
new label
mean?
If it says: 100% Organic and
Displays the green and white USDA
seal…
It means: You get produce that is
100 percent organically grown
without genetically modified
organisms, pesticides, growth
hormones, or sewage sludge.
If it says: Organic and the
package displays the green and
white USDA seal…
It means: The product contains
95 % or more organic
ingredients (this covers
processed foods such as soups,
crackers, and candy).
If it says: Made with Organic
Ingredients and displays no seal…
It means: At least 70 % of the
ingredients in the product are
organic.
If the product contains
fewer organic ingredients,
they may be listed on the
side of the package along
with the nutritional
information, but the
package can’t say organic
on the front.
Look for the
green and
white organic
label to be
assured that
what you see
is what you
get.
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