What is Organic

Organic or Chemical?

Organic is always perceived as “expensive” and “high-end” products. But have you thought of what you are consuming every day? Pesticides? Chemical? Herbicides? Or REAL FOOD?

In order to meet the demand of populations, food products are produced massively. Due to shelf life issue, quantity on shelves issue, profit issue, there are too many “black-hearted” cases regarding processing of food happening around the world. Can you be sure of what are the content / nutrition / additional additives inside the food you are consuming? Why risk our health and our life when we have a choice? Yes, it might be a little bit costly, but we are sure that the medical expenses you might be spending in the future would not be less. (oh, it’s a little bit cruel to tell the truth). So, Organic or Chemical? It’s your choice.


Define Organic

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards.

How do I know if something is organic?

The USDA has identified for three categories of labeling organic products: 

100% Organic: Made with 100% organic ingredients

Organic: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients

Made With Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms)

Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may list organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any organic claims on the front of the package.

Why does organic cost more?

Most of the organic products are produced overseas. Malaysia produce only very limited quantity of organic products. Hence, most of the organic products found in market are imported.

In overseas, many organic farmers do not receive federal subsidies like conventional farmers do. Therefore, the price of organic food reflects the true cost of growing.

Besides that, organic farming is more labor and management intensive. Organic farms are usually smaller than conventional farms and so do not benefit from the economies of scale that larger growers get.

Anyhow, it’s still worth the price, buying yourself a better health and living!



Why Organic?


1. Reduce The Toxic Load

Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies
Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all living things. With only 0.5 percent of crop and pasture land in organic, according to USDA that leaves 99.5 percent of farm acres in the U.S. at risk of exposure to noxious agricultural chemicals. Our bodies are the environment so supporting organic agriculture doesn’t just benefit your family, it helps all families live less toxically.


2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm Pollution

Industrial agriculture doesn’t singularly pollute farmland and farm workers; it also wreaks havoc on the environment downstream. Pesticide drift affects non-farm communities with odorless and invisible poisons. Synthetic fertilizer drifting downstream is the main culprit for dead zones in delicate ocean environments, such as the Gulf of Mexico, where its dead zone is now larger than 22,000 square kilometers, an area larger than New Jersey, according to Science magazine, August, 2002.


3. Protect Future Generations

Before a mother first nurses her newborn, the toxic risk from pesticides has already begun. Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals in utero. In fact, our nation is now reaping the results of four generations of exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals, whose safety was deemed on adult tolerance levels, not on children’s. According to the National Academy of Science, “neurologic and behavioral effects may result from low-level exposure to pesticides.” Numerous studies show that pesticides can adversely affect the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer, and decrease fertility.


4. Taste Better and Truer Flavor

Scientists now know what we eaters have known all along: organic food often tastes better. It makes sense that strawberries taste yummier when raised in harmony with nature, but researchers at Washington State University proved this as fact in lab taste trials where the organic berries were consistently judged as sweeter. Plus, new research verifies that some organic produce is often lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants than conventional food. Let the organic feasting begin!


5. Avoid Hasty and Poor Science in Your Food

Cloned food. GMOs and rBGH. Oh my! Interesting how swiftly these food technologies were rushed to market, when organic fought for 13 years to become federal law. Eleven years ago, genetically modified food was not part of our food supply; today an astounding 30 percent of our cropland is planted in GMOs. Organic is the only de facto seal of reassurance against these and other modern, lab-produced additions to our food supply, and the only food term with built in inspections and federal regulatory teeth.