Just the other day I happened to be walking around Target. I stopped by the soft drinks isle and saw a case of root beer. “Say,” I said to myself and no one in particular, “that looks interesting, I should give it a try.” However, once I approached that particular brand of root beer I saw something that made me stop dead in my tracks. It was organic root beer. That was enough to get me to look down and to the left and select a brand not tainted by misinformation. You might be wondering why I wouldn't want to buy an organic brand. Well thoughtful readers, let me tell you why organic food is not worth all the hype around it.
First, we have to inspect why people would choose to buy organic. The main reasons I came across in my research are that organic food is perceived as healthier, and better for the environment. It’s obvious to see where these assumptions could come from, organic food is required to not use pesticides and things that kill are generally bad to put in one’s body, or one’s earth. However, when it comes to food that we all put in our body we should look to more than just gut feelings.
For the health benefits, you can find both sides of the organic debate citing different studies on whether organic is healthy or not. Somewhere in the middle of all that debate is the reputable Mayo Clinic, who when asked if organic food was healthy they replied , “probably not,” and further elaborated that in 50 years of studies there hasn’t been any significant difference shown. If it hasn’t been found in 50 years, it’s pretty reasonable to suspect that it will never be found.
When it comes to the environment the exact same debate rages on, with one side saying one thing, and the other side saying a different thing. While it is true that 100% organic food is not allowed to have pesticides, there are other parts of organic food that mother nature is not happy with. Such as the fact that organic food always requires more land, which also means less efficient farming, resulting in less food overall. This is one of the reasons why organic food costs so much more. Not to mention the fact that many people in many parts of the world simply don’t get enough to eat.
Also, what’s the deal with the fear of GMO’s? Yes, they’ve been genetically modified. There is nothing inherently dangerous about that, and in fact, it’s been happening for centuries. You think corn has always been the same? Look up how maize has evolved while it hasn’t been as fast as with modern day techniques, you’re probably pretty glad that corn isn’t the same way that it started out to be. GMO’s are going to be why we can take a stand against hunger, it’s hard to argue against that.
What it comes down to is that organic food is not healthier. Nor is it better for the environment. Can it taste better? If it’s local and fresh. But, do you know what tastes just as good? Local and fresh food that’s not organic. If you’re someone that still wants to pay more for a product with no real benefits, you have a right to do so, this is America. Just as long as you know that it’s a product with no real benefits.
