Organic food - fact vs. fiction

Surprisingly, there is opposition to the growing organic movement. Look carefully at each instance, however, and you will probably find someone who has a vested interest in undermining the growth of public interest in organic produce.

In the battle of the so-called experts how do you know who is right, or who is telling the truth? In an attempt to dispel some of the myths, here are a few of the most frequently asked questions.

Are organically grown foods more susceptible to microscopic pathogens?

No, there is no scientific evidence to show that organic food is any more susceptible than conventional food to any form of microscopic pathogen.

However, everyone should practice good hygiene when handling, preparing, cooking or storing food. Some basic tips are:

Keep fruit and vegetables away from meat Always use clean drinking water when rinsing fruit and vegetables Thoroughly wash your hands before and after handling raw meat Use separate utensils and cutting boards when preparing meat or vegetables Buy fresh produce that is not moldy, bruised or shrivelled

Does organic food cost more than conventional food?

There is not a straight yes or no answer to this question. Organic food prices depend on the costs of all the elements that contribute to the end product: growing, harvesting, processing, transport, packaging and storage, to name a few. Organic producers have to meet stricter regulations all through the process, and this makes the process more expensive in terms of manpower.

However, if the indirect costs of conventional farming were included in conventional food prices (clean-up of polluted water, garbage pick-up and processing, landfill and waste reclamation, environmental protection activities, health care costs), organic foods would probably be considerably cheaper than conventional foods.

Finally, demand for organic produce is high in proportion to the levels of supply, and this may also contribute to higher prices. However, the number of suppliers is increasing all the time, and this will help to bring down prices.

Does organic farming produce less than conventional farming?

Numerous studies have been conducted that demonstrate organic farming to be every bit as productive as conventional farming. The use of pesticides does not guarantee higher crop yields.

Which food safety processes are allowed in organic production?

Organic food is allowed to be pasteurised but irradiation is not permitted.

Why is organic food not allowed to be irradiated?

Ionising radiation has been used to prolong the "shelf-life" of a wide variety of foodstuffs, but in recent years increasing numbers of people have questioned whether this is good practice.