Farm Communities » Food Safety

What is Organic Farming?

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:10:46 +0000

These days, we may have become concerned with the quality and safety of the food we eat. The production methods of the food reflect to our awareness with the outcomes of our consumption of food, especially when we think of pesticide and herbicide residues left in our food that are slowly poisoning us. Over the recent years, organic farming has become more and more popular in which organic food may resolve the problems of certain problems brought by “less natural” farming.

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that is based on ecological management which excludes the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and antibiotics applied on plants and animals. It promotes and focuses on agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity while minimizing the risk to human and animal health and natural resources. It has been proven as an effective approach with the United Nations (UN) in their report on world hunger and poverty.

People during the World War II had experienced food shortages. After the war, the farmers were encouraged to use chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides as everyone wanted affordable and plenty of food. Meat was affected as well when the animals were administered with growth hormones and antibiotics. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides had caused severe water and environmental pollution. Over the years, the consumers have become more concerned about its disadvantage and started to support organic farming.

How organic farming is done

In organic farming, farmers naturally nourish soil with the use of quality compost, cover crops. Plants that grow on healthy soil are much better and can actually protect themselves from pests and disease without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming also helps in protecting the global environment as they can significantly reduce the amount of factors that contribute to global warming such as carbon dioxide.

Animals are organically raised are fed with certified organic feeds, hormone-free and GMO-free. Organic farmers prevent disease on livestock by ensuring that they have are healthy, fed right, and have given comfortable shelters. One of the outcomes is some certified organic milk cows have a life expectancy 3 or 4 times the life expectancy of their conventional counterparts.

Organic foods

It is however that many in the industry are not convinced that organic foods are more nutritious than the conventionally grown food as there are no conclusive evidences shown. Even though USDA certifies organic food, it does not claim that these are safer and more nutritious.

Some people prefer to choose organic food to avoid their exposure to the pesticide residues from conventional farming. But since organic foods tend to have more farming practices, they are more expensive than conventional foods.

Organic farming is very much debated topic and its environmental benefits will continue to be studied which in turn will find a better understanding on how it will cure or help in reducing the effects of environmental hazards brought by the modern agricultural practices.

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Environmental Concerns Versus Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered Food

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:34:33 +0000

The US Supreme Court, for the first time, is considering a ban on genetically modified food while hearing a case against the use of Roundup Ready – a herbicidal resistant Alfalfa (a type of legume) – produced by the biotech giant Monsanto. The leading producer of the genetically modified seeds for species of food plants, Monsanto is now fighting its case to overturn a three-year-old ban on its genetically altered Alfalfa. The issue of contention is not only safety of the genetically altered food but also its environmental impact.

The US-based Monsanto started in 1901 with the production of the artificial sweetener saccharine. By the 1940s, it had expanded its business to Europe and had become one of the leading chemical manufacturing companies in the United States. Among its herbicide products, the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) became particularly infamous for its disastrous health risks and environmental damage, and was banned in 1972 in the US, owing to the efforts by environmentalists.

In early 1980s, Monsanto started genetic experimenting on plant cells. This was a big leap for the company, away from chemical production to biotechnical engineering, and by the end of the century Monsanto had become the biotech giant of the world, specializing in genetically modified seeds. Genetically modified (GM) foods, mostly crops, have the advantages of high tolerance of herbicides, resistance to pests, diseases, drought, and low temperature, and added nutrition. At the same time, such crops have been subject to strong criticism. A number of human health risks, including different types of allergic reactions, have been known as caused by GM foods. And equally, or even more, serious are the concerns of genetic invasions caused by GM species.

Studies show that GM plants are capable of interbreeding with non-GM plants of the same species, which are planted near them. Thus, the biotechnologically altered genes travel through crops and multiply in numbers as well as complexity, posing unforeseen threats to public health. Furthermore, the altered genes can be incorporated into the genetic makeup of the weeds growing around them, causing the weeds to become herbicide resistant. This would mean a threat to environment and crops, as well as additional cost to economy due to the need for researching new, stronger varieties of herbicides.

With an expanding business going hand in hand with the genetic contamination of crops, Monsanto also continued to have an increasing experience of litigation against the farming community. Crop farmers in US and Canada have been sued by Monsanto for reproducing GM seeds/crops without paying the due royalty to the company. By 2005, at least 90 lawsuits had been by Monsanto against American farmers alone. A famous case highlighted by the Greenpeace International was that of a Canadian farmer Percy Shmeiser who lost his case in 2004 to Monsanto for failing to pay the company while accidentally discovering herbicide-resistant canola on his farm and reproducing it without the prior permission of Monsanto. Greenpeace called the GM invasion of common crops ‘genetic pollution’. Does a company have the right to genetically contaminate common crops of farms and then claim patent rights when the uninvited GM seeds on one’s own farm are reproduced?

This question, with added environmental concern, has already entered the law court and the verdict of the court will certainly be the determinant of the future of farming and feeding in and outside America. What is unambiguously clear so far is the fact that if you try to transcend nature, it will cost more than it pays; though for companies like Monsanto, the profit may surpass both the investment and the cost of litigation.

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Organic Milk VS Regular Milk

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:13:05 +0000

A lot of people are now looking into organic foods as more news of the harmful chemicals in the normal food we eat are getting linked to diseases like cancer, heart disease and other ailments. Milk is one of the most staple foods in the American diet and lately, the spotlight on regular milk versus organic milk has hit lots of chat rooms, message boards, blogs and even spurned researchers everywhere.

Organic milk is a little more expensive than regular milk. This is because cows that produce organic milk do it the normal way. They are fed with grass and are free to roam vast farmlands. They are not given any hormone injections to boost milk production and their feeds are not sprayed with chemical fertilizers. In short, they live easy stress-free lives, grazing and eating whenever they feel like it.

Regular milk producing cows on the other hand are given bovine growth hormones (BGH) to increase milk production. They live in crowded pens where they eat feeds laced with ingredients that may have been genetically modified. They live their lives in crowded barns with little exercise. Their milk is cheaper to buy because of all the tricks used to increase milk production.

Studies have found that organic milk contains a higher quantity of vitamins and nutrients. Organic milk contains 50% more Vitamin E, 75% more Beta Carotene and three times more antioxidants compared to normal milk. Aside from this organic milk contains more Omega 3 essential fatty acids that help the body, specifically the heart function properly. Organic milk is also easier for the body to break down and metabolize. This property makes it easier for the body to fight of diseases and boost the immune system.

However, organic milk producers are still small in numbers compared to regular milk producers. This is because of the price differential between the two. Unless studies and advocates for organic milk take their case to the public, this disparity will continue and the number of organic milk farmers will not increase. It is very clear that organic milk is more beneficial to humans than regular milk and the time is ripe for a change in milk.

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MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) – The most common poison in your food.

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:38:39 +0000

The first thing most of us think of when we hear MSG is Chinese food. Monosodium Glutamate is a quite commonly used flavor enhancer and it is an additive in many different foods, including many condiments, snack foods, canned foods and processed meats. According to the FDA, MSG is “generally recognized as safe.” These food labels may not indicate that they contain MSG; they might contain the words “hydrolyzed vegetable protein”, “HVP” or “yeast extract.” The best thing that we can do is to learn how to recognize MSG in our diets and stay away.

MSG might make your food taste better, but is it worth it? Obesity is one of this nations biggest problems and MSG has been linked to the cause. It is also said that toxic compounds can associated with such neurological diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, brain cancers, ADHD and more. Of course, the FDA still stands by their claim in amounts that would be used for cooking. They did admit that MSG symptom complex – short-term responses to the ingestion of MSG – is a problem for some people. The symptoms can include such reactions as headaches, sweating, nausea, chest pain and more. The only way to avoid this effect is to stay away from Monosodium Glutamate.

This additive is presented to us as a food product that is harmless, but it is poison. At the very least, it is completely unnecessary and as a matter of precaution, if nothing else, an additive that we should do our best to avoid.

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Gluten And The Human Body

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:47:42 +0000

For people who suffer celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, a gluten-free diet is a must. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder which affects both adult and children. It is known to be an inborn disease and a lifelong one. When a person with celiac disease accidentally consumed gluten-laden food, their bodies respond by releasing auto-immune reactions which attack small intestines. It, too, makes it harder for vitamins and minerals to be properly absorbed by the body.

On the other hand, dermatitis herpetiformis or Duhring’s Disease is an allergy induced by gluten consumption. It is a skin condition characterized by intense itching, blisters, and skin eruptions. Health care practitioners have found this condition to have a strong link to Celiac disease.

Aside from the two above-mentioned medical disorders, some people opt to go for a gluten-free diet. Food researchers indicated that while eating grains benefit your body, those with gluten can do more harm than good. It was said that a human body is not capable of fully digesting gluten causing the said protein to rot inside our bodies and leak to the bloodstream—now considered as toxin, since it is unnatural for this substance to be present in blood. It can also cause insulin levels to increase and stirs auto-immune reactions inside the body. Furthermore, a strong link was found between emotional responses and gluten particularly that of ADHD, depression and other mental disorders.

In a nutshell, gluten is a substance primarily found in wheat, rye and barley but it can also be present in some cereal grains. It is a protein substance that comes with starch and is fairly resistant to natural digestion process of the body. To date, there is no existing list of exactly what grains have been found carrying gluten in its composition.

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Going local makes more sense for your health and the environment

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:47:13 +0000

To eat well means avoiding “edible food-like substances” and sticking to real ingredient, especially more and more from the plant kingdom.
Specialists state that if consumers would reduce their meat utilization by 20%, it would help the environment noticeably. There would be less need to raise herds of livestock for food production and therefore cut down on the amount of gases released into the air. If your diet alteration would include mainly vegetarian dishes, then the damage to the global environment can be reduced significantly.
It has also been proven that keeping livestock for purposes of food production increased the toxic chemicals being released in the air because the animals themselves produce methane gases through natural bodily functions. Cows can produce more harmful toxins than your average car! A standard cow farm can literally produce tons of carbon dioxide and methane in a year.
Eating red meat has been associated to some possibility of cancers and consumers are just not getting enough nutrients in their current diets. The utilization of proteins has doubled in just a short period of time. Nutritionist warn that unless you change your unhealthy eating habits and reduce the amount of meat you eat and replace it with fresh vegetables, grains, and fish, you are subjecting your body to various illnesses and disease.
Change your eating habits and make a conscious effort to buy food that is locally grown. This may include various types of fruits and vegetables. It is ideal to grow your own garden and not hard at all. This will ensure that the fruits and vegetables go from the garden to your table without releasing dangerous emissions and pollutants into the air that contribute to global warming.
By eating locally grown fruits and vegetables you can make an impact on your health and environment as well. Making a difference in your carbon footprint can affect your surroundings and global warming specifically. If you follow these suggestions, you will be doing your part in making the world, a healthier world to live in.

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Eat Healthy, Go For Free Range Chickens

admin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:56:35 +0000

It was said that if the chicken you’re eating right now has had a cruel and stressful life, chances are, you’re eating a chicken that’s soaked in its own toxins and would then be passed to you causing diseases that are without cure. In other words, healthy meats produce quality proteins which prevent most lifestyle diseases.

Organic farmers believe that a free range chicken is one happy chicken and therefore is not oozing with harmful toxins. Not only will it help your energy levels and staying power last longer but also it was said to delay the aging process when introduced along with overall healthy lifestyle.

Most free range chickens are kept organic, since then it became so popular to health buffs the world over causing a shortage in supply. This alone makes it a very lucrative business for farmers worldwide especially in times like these when people are beginning to make a conscious effort in living a healthy lifestyle. Organically raised chickens are grass fed and they are encouraged to live a stress free life of clean air and water. As much as possible, no chemicals are introduced to the chicken’s system, whether directly to the chicken or to its surrounding areas.

Free range chickens are a great source of protein. Aside from that, it offers many benefits to humans when consumed. It is healthy and very delicious too unlike those that are raised in coops which tend to be less tasty. Be warned though, since free range chickens require special care, it tends to cost more than its supermarket counterparts.

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Organic Fertilizers for Your Garden

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:30:41 +0000

Just by the sound of it, organic fertilizers must be good for our gardens especially now that we have become fully aware of the harmful effects of chemical pesticides to humans and what abnormal things it can induce to our plants and produce. Little by little, more farmers are beginning to apply alternative methods to a safer and better produce but naturally, organic fertilizers are expected to be met with a little resistance especially when farmers have grown used to commercial fertilizers.

Although it’s to be expected, the slow phase organic fertilizer is currently experiencing is partly due to the fact that farmers are quite confused on what organic fertilizers are and how it can work on their farms. It seems that there is no existing group or organization that helps spreading the word to farmers while commercial fertilizers come complete with instructions and even extend support to small farm communities. According to surveys, almost a hundred percent of gardening hobbyists already made the switch and have been enjoying the benefits of organic fertilizers ever since. It’s because they can afford to wait, spend a little more money and most of all, can try again next time if this season’s batch won’t come out great while farmers don’t have this kind of luxury and unfortunately, they are not informed how to do it properly.

Basically, anything that comes from nature and encourages bacterial growth is considered as an organic fertilizer. Some examples of which are manure, fish emulsions, blood meal, bone meal and even sewer sludge. Organic fertilizers take time to generate results but if one can afford the wait, it will all be worth it.

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Swine Flu: Food Safety Risk?

admin — Sun, 10 May 2009 07:32:55 +0000

With the human swine flu attack happening all over the world, we can’t help but wonder if this virus can somehow end up in our plates and if it is still safe to eat pork since clearly this new strain is a mutated kind. Due to this uncertainty, people stayed away from buying pork hence the big drop in pork market sales by up to 50%. Clearly, this new strain is affecting pig farms all over the world.

Actually, the scary human swine flu affects humans only and the infection is made from one human to another and never by eating infected pork although it is not advisable as well to eat that kind of pork. This human swine flu is a combination of flu strains: human, swine and avian. To avoid further misconception, the CDC changed its name from swine flu to a more technical H1N1.

Again, this human swine flu does not affect the way we eat or put us in any food safety risk by eating pork but proper food handling is highly encouraged to avoid food poisoning. Apparently, there was a reported case wherein a farm worker passed the virus to a herd of pigs but there is no known infection of pig to human, so far.

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Salty Soups and Peanut Butter Found Risky

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:37:59 +0000

Bad news for foodies here: salty soups and peanut butter have both been found risky food items according to the latest research in health and nutrition. Regular consumption of soups high in salt has been found to increase the risk of cancer while peanut butter is believed to be a potential carrier of infectious bacteria.

Salt is already known to health experts as a high-risk nutrient for cardiovascular problems – high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. A new study conducted by Dr. Rachel Thompson, of the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), concludes that regular consumption of salty soups increases the risk of stomach cancer. This particularly applies to several well-known brands of creamy soups, especially those containing ham or bacon. Some of these contain around half of the recommended daily intake for salt, which is a maximum of 6 grams per day, in a single serving. Vegetable soups are generally lower in salt (and hence safer), though some of these also carry as much as one-third of the recommended daily intake for salt per serving.

Owing to the risk of stomach cancer, Dr. Thompson recommends that people watch the salt content of branded soups (reading the labels) and make low-salt versions of their favorite soups. People who consume other salted foods – like sausages, hams, and processed cereals (especially those taken for breakfast) – are at a still higher risk of stomach cancer, if they also continue regular intake of salty soups. To stay on the safe side, it is advisable to watch all branded foods for their salt content.

The risk of getting bacterial infection from peanut butter is more immediate as the popular food item is suspected of spreading the infectious bacteria Salmonella. After the latest Salmonella outbreak (culminating in January 2009) in the United States, which left around 600 people down with illness and possibly killed 9 people in the US, the food safety center of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the collection and testing of peanut butter for bacterial content before allowing it to go into a facility. Stewart Parnell, the CEO of the Peanut Butter Corporation of America, was summoned by congressional subpoena to explain his orders to ship products of bacteria-tainted peanuts to about 50 manufacturers of food items. While Parnell chose to use his right of not answering the questions, the potential risk of acute bacterial infection remains with the peanut butter products and consumers are advised to stay away from these until the investigation comes up with its conclusions. A list of peanut butter products recalled by the FDA can be read online at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

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