Persuasive Essay On Organic Food

A growing number of consumers favor organic foods, claiming that it tastes better and is healthier. Why organic? Organic foods grown naturally in well-balanced soils, ripened by the sun are healthier and tastier than products with synthetic chemicals and growth hormones.

It has been argued that organic are worthwhile because of nutrition. In paragraph 21, David Lazarus, stated, “What you’re paying for, presumably, is a more healthful diet. That means produce that hasn’t been drenched in pesticides, chicken and beef that hasn’t been pumped full of antibiotics, milk with even more nutritional value.” However, organic food is not worthwhile because of nutrition. “A 2012 study found no real difference between organic and conventional food in terms of nutrition. Its findings appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine”(Cernansky 6). This quote shows that there is no difference between organic and conventional food. If there is no difference between the food then why change the

But as consumers are only willing to pay the extra money for organic food mainly for any health benefits they associate with organic foods, such health benefits should be significant enough to warrant this inflated price. Studies demonstrate that the advantages of organic food are relatively small and even some disadvantages were found. Although correlations were found between a few health benefits and eating organically (reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in subjects who eat organic foods more and mitigation of allergic dermatitis from consuming organic dairy products), these correlations were the only ones found amongst hundreds

Food is a vital source for survival, and with a growing population that is likely to reach a total of 9,000 million by 2050, the use of biotechnology in farming for food production should be considered. The most efficient solution to solve the global food shortage might be to rely on science and technology. Though there are many controversies regarding the use of genetically-modified (GM) food, it could be the best solution. Though I support the idea of GM foods, I do believe those who enjoy organic foods should have the option to continue with it. Both organic and GM food supply should be used to suit both sides of the controversy.

Traits of organic food can also be misconstrued in the sense of the ingredients and how it is different from the way processed food is produced. “In reality, certified organics have lower levels of chemical residue, Roethal argues, which is positive for consumers, farm workers and the land itself, but organic growing practices have no impact on how many nutrients, calories or grams of fat are in anyone's favorite foods”(SFGate). As mentioned previously in the quote, often times organic food can benefits one’s health because of the little amount in which chemicals and calories are in the substance. The concern about organic food is that it is substantially more expensive than non-organic food. However,“Organic food sales are increasing by double digits annually, and more than 80 percent of parents reported buying organic food for their families last year”, according to Batch. With the high-price of organic food, this could also be a reason on why people tend to lean more towards the less healthier items, all because of the low cost. Even though there are different and confusing standards on what organic really is, the ideal description would typically be foods that do not have the same producing process as non-organic food.

From the now popular recyclable cloth grocery bags, to the organic garden at the White House, food, and the food industry is changing. The popularity of organic and whole foods is on the rise. Processed foods are increasingly advertising that they are additive and preservative free, and all sorts of products now offer a “gluten-free” variety. The popularity of what is now being called the sustainable food movement, leads many to wonder why are some people willing to pay more, sometimes double, for organic produce, meat, eggs, and milk. Will this prove to be just another trendy American fad, or are there real health benefits from eating organic and whole foods? While the organic market only represents approximately 3% of the total food

I will be writing in my book report on Food Inc about how the food industry is not really telling us what is in our food and how we don’t know much about the food we buy and eat. I was in shock because I try to avoid eating junk food or fast food, and after reading the book I realize I could still be eating junk food, if I don’t learn more about what I am buying. I will be writing about how the food industry can get away with murder and not have to pay for it. Also on how the government is not regulating them as they should. How information is being with help from us, and how we are kept in the dark, for their benefit. How our farmers are treated and how the use of high levels of pesticides to which they are exposed to and their families

Would you like to have no decisions on the healthiness of your food, and being able to only eat fast food, fried foods, etc. Most people would say no and rightfully so, people should be able to have choices on the foods they want to eat whether it’s healthy, unhealthy, fast food, farm grown, we shouldn’t have only unhealthy foods for our choices of what we eat. In the film Food Inc. directed by Robert Kenner there is a part in the movie that talks about the food choices of consumers. A point that was talked about for a decent amount of time in this part was how healthier foods are more expensive than fast food. This stood out to me because it’s true it cost more to eat healthy than it does to just go through a drive through. This is outrageous it should be the opposite, we should have to spend more for fast food than healthy foods. While at most fast food places there are ways you can eat healthy food but it is still more expensive than just buying a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets. During this part of the film a family was talking and saying that they have to choose whether to eat healthier food or get there father/husbands medicine so he could work. A family has to choose between those to things and that is not fair to anyone that has to make that decision. The family wanted to have better food and to not always be eating fast food meals but they don’t really have a choice and that is heartbreaking to see.

Organic, all natural, and genetically modified are phrases you find every day in your local grocery store. The most common misconception concerning GMO’s, is that they are harmful to humans. There are lots of benefits to GMO’s that most of the anti-GMO activists don’t know about because they don’t know what they really are. While the greatest feature for stores is to have their very own marketing gimmick, the gimmick being their products are non-genetically modified. There are lots of genetically modified organisms that humans have been consuming for many years without even realizing it.

In recent years, many people don’t go more than a few days without hearing about organic foods in one way or another, whether it be through the media, friends or the numerous labels at the grocery store. For me, whenever someone brings up organic foods, they always put them on a pedestal of health caused by people’s recent disgust with the industrialized way we produce foods, which, to be fair, is not unfounded. I had assumed it was a bunch of gibberish, however, the data suggests a more ambiguous answer.

When considering differences between organic and conventional foods often the first thing people comment on is the nutritional value. Organic foods have grown in popularity due to the perception that they are better nutritionally. Barbara Hey (2009), health reporter and author of the article, “A Different Health Debate: Conventional versus Organic Food” and Smith-Spangier, Crystal, et al. (2012), emphasize that the benefits of organic foods and farming are important to society. That organic food can help protect what’s most valuable to people, their health. They suggest that eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is a good investment in preventative care. Jeff Gillman (2008) agrees and states, “ …preventing disease is much more cost effective than treating disease. Organic foods can play a vital role in keeping people healthy” (139).

While the designation of foods produced without the use of agrichemicals as organic began in the 1950s, only recently has consumer interest in purchasing organic foods increased. As more and more companies market products to these consumers, some have begun to wonder about the advantages of eating these foods. Deborah Rich argues, “One of the major benefits of organic foods is their increased nutrient content” (Rich 1). Rich cites multiple studies showing that organically grown foods contain higher levels of important nutrients than conventionally grown foods. The low nutritional content of conventionally grown foods that most Americans consume, Rich suggests, has resulted in grave consequences for the nation, including higher rates of chronic disease, nutrient deficiencies, and overeating.

Many people are suddenly having an increase in interest in living healthy lifestyles and eating high quality food. This has caused organic food sales to increase and stores like Wal-Mart and Winn Dixie to start selling organic foods. Additionally, there has been an increase in stores opening like Whole Foods, who devote their entire store to selling not only organic foods, but other organic options such as: vitamins, soaps, and clothing. The growth of sales for organic food has increased because organic food is produced under certain farming conditions that follow the guidelines set by the EC Regulation. This means produce are grown without using pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or anything that could potentially be harmful to the consumer’s body, which makes people think the food has higher quality. The term organic can be misleading because not all organic food sold on the market is certified organic; meaning consumers think they are buying organic food, but possibly are paying more and getting a product that is not approved to be organic. Many people believe that eating organic food is better for your overall health and by eating organic you will receive more vitamins and nutrients. When I asking a lady in her mid thirty’s at Whole Foods why she shops organically, her response was “I read in a magazine that organic food will help me lose weight so I figured I would give it a try.” Unfortunately,

An ongoing debate exists with organic foods becoming the centerpiece of discussion. Are these foods healthier? Is the consumption a better decision, ethically? Does the price justify the product? These are a handful of questions that are commonplace, and there is little research to support either point of view. The popularity of an all-natural production of plant or animal products continues to grow, but purchasing behavior is highly influenced on marketing or an individual's personal beliefs. Although many people throughout the world believe that organic food is more beneficial than its conventional counterpart, the research does not support this claim. Contrarily, research indicates that there are few nutritional differences between organic and non-organic foods.

In a day and age where the type of food we eat is discussed all over the media, it can be hard to tell what is true and what is simply another marketing ploy. In regards to organic food, there is definitely a lot of opinions surrounding the authenticity of claims to their health and environmental benefits. Many people swear that by eating organic, you can prevent illnesses such as cancer. While others argue that organic food is the answer to saving our environment from the harmful chemicals that conventional farming produces. Some even go as far to calm that organic foods may be another way to differentiate between social classes (Isenhour). With so many different opinions, it can be difficult to decide what kind of food you should be feeding your body.