Are Organic Foods Safer and More Nutritious?

Once found only in health food stores, organic food is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. How do you chose between a conventionally grown apple and an organic one? Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. one common concern with organic food is cost. Organic foods typically cost more than do their conventional counterparts. Higher prices are due, in part, to more expensive farming practices. (By Mayo Clinic staff)

Here are some facts you need to know before you shop.

Conventional vs. Organic farming

"Organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Encouraging soil and water conservation and reducing pollution are the main aim of organic farming practices. Farmers who grow organic produce conduct more sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch (a protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduce erosion, provide nutrients, and suppress weed growth and seed germination)  or manure to keep weeds at bay rather than using chemical weedkillers.

The main differences between conventional farming and organic farming:

Conventional	Organic
Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.	Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.
Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease.	Use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.
Use herbicides to manage weeds.	Rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.
Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.	Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease.

Conventional farming

Use of pesticides in conventional farming

Organic Farming

Organic methods to plant seeds

 The Label

If a product carries a USDA Organic label, it means it's produced and processed according to the USDA standards. The seal is voluntary, but many organic producers use it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established an organic certification               program that requires all organic foods to meet strict                     government standards.

1. 100% Organic: products must be either completely organic or made entirely of organic ingredients
2. Organic: products must be at least 95% organic.
   
   
3. Products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients may say "made with organic ingredients" on the label but may not use the seal.
   
   
4. Products containing less than 70% organic ingredients can't use the seal or the word "organic" on their product labels.

Organic Foods in Lebanon

LibanCert is the first Lebanese organic inspection and certification body. In December 2011 it was added to a list of European Union approved certification bodies worldwide, in turn this allows certified producers of organic crops to export their products to the EU without an export certificate as of July 1, 2012 (Daily Star, January 2012). There are a number of operators who are organic certified organic farmers in Lebanon; more than 130. Organic products in Lebanon (mainly found at The Farmer's Market in Hamra and Beirut Health Store Ashrafiyeh i.e. Beit El Soha): 

1. Bechly Green (they offer a small range of seasonal organic fruits and vegetables)
2. Zeitounati (a Sidon based company that sells organic, but not yet certified, olives and extra virgin olive oil)
3. Biomass can be found in Spinneys (a Lebanese family-owned company selling organic produce)
4. Healthy Basket (a project started in 2001 by the American University of Beirut to improve rural farmers' livelihoods in exchange of putting healthier, environmentally friendly food on the market)
5. Campagnia (they offer organic eggs and dairy products)
6. Shuman Farms chickens (products of the Lebanese Poultry Company which are "free of antibiotics and chemicals"; the chickens are raised on a diet of mainly grains - corn and soy - and some vitamins. The company has not yet considered organic certification)  

There are other places where organic foods can be found, weather locally or exported, such as: Live Organic (Mtaylib), New Earth (Ashrafiyeh), Spineys, TSC and other big supermarkets.

Do Organic and Natural Mean the Same Thing?

"Natural" and "Organic" are NOT interchangeable terms. You may see "natural" and other terms such as "all natural," "free-range" or "hormone-free" on food labels. These descriptions must be truthful, but don't confuse them with the term "organic." Only foods that are grown and processed according to USDA organic standards can be labeled organic.

Are Organic Foods More Nutritious? 

Research in this area is ongoing and the answer isn't yet clear. A recent study examined the past 50 years' worth of scientific articles about the nutrient content of organic and conventional foods. The researchers concluded that organically and conventionally produced foods are comparable in their nutrient content.

Organic fruits and vegetables aren't treated with waxes or preservatives, therefore they may spoil faster. Also, some organic produce may look less than perfect — odd shapes, varying colors or smaller sizes. However, organic foods must meet the same quality and safety standards as those of conventional foods. 

What foods are worth buying organic?

The "Dirty Dozen"