|
|
Welcome to the Exploding Garrmondo Weiner Interactive Swiss Army Penis. |
GFF is a community of gaming and music enthusiasts. We have a team of dedicated moderators, constant member-organized activities, and plenty of custom features, including our unique journal system. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ or our GFWiki. You will have to register before you can post. Membership is completely free (and gets rid of the pesky advertisement unit underneath this message).
|
|
Thread Tools |
to be or not to be Organic?
So I was talking to a friend last night and she claims that my views about trying to eat the least processed foods (factory refined, packaged, etc.) as possible and choosing organic food as much as possible is a BIG JOKE. She is claiming that it is all a lie. Everything that I have read or heard about food, she's telling me that all of it is aimed at making money and that's all it's all about. She was also trying to convinced me that eggs are eggs and that free-range as opposed to factory egg factories are the same thing, Hormone injected cows are no different from organic cows (so as a result the milk to drink from either doesn't matter), pesticide and chemical treated fruits and vegetables are better that ORGANIC because she claims that the organic products have bug shit on them and even goes so far to claim that the Chemicals and Pesticides are actually good for us.
Of course I disagreed with her, which annoyed the hell out of her. I am a hardcore runner and exercise regularly and care deeply about what I put into my body. I understand that although food labels can be misleading at first sight, that's why it's important to check the ingredients and the nutritional value percentages (fat from calories and so on). What do you guys and gals think about this? What's your philosophy on food or rules that you follow when it comes to food? do you care? do you care or know exactly what people put in your food? Jam it back in, in the dark.
Last edited by SpaceMonk; Apr 3, 2008 at 11:41 AM.
|
I think it's a matter of ethics and statement more than anything.
For instance: Free-range cattle versus slaughterhouse, "mass-produced" "beef factories" Who wouldn't want to buy from a free-range cattle farm where animals are treated more humanely and given a higher standard of life? The question is: do you want to PAY more for your guilt? I'm not sure about the hormones free-range farms put into their cattle, if any at all. I imagine their main selling point is that their cattle are, in fact, "free range." Of course, I don't know about the actual validity of the marketing claim, SO. Organic vegetables, local farmers, what-have-you's I can't really say much about. I know that when I am given the option, I prefer buying local to aid my local economy and support my local farmers. Chances are they don't use as many pesticides as the huge conglomerate vegetable folks do, but that opinion isn't based in fact. I'd buy locally (or organically) not for health reason, but for local reasons. I like my local economy to thrive and be more self-reliant. The reasons I would buy organic is not a question of health as much as ethics, local economy, supporting small-time Mom & Pop farmers, and to see a thriving local community. I'm not someone who knows a hell of a lot about the agricultural fields, but I am pretty sure that locals do it better. Healthier? Not sure. Depends. I can't imagine you can make such HUGE generalizations about an entire industry. There's nowhere I can't reach.
Last edited by I poked it and it made a sad sound; Apr 3, 2008 at 01:15 PM.
|
The dairy manager where I work insists Organic Milk isn't any healthier for you. The only difference is that due to not using what they normally would to make the cows produce more milk, they produce less milk and therefore charge more since there is a lower supply.
This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it. |
I think Sassafrass is right, it's basically a question of how much you're willing to pay to feel good about your eating habits. Personally, I don't notice much difference in the taste of most 'organic' foods, but sometimes I'm okay with paying more just because it feels more special.
On the other hand, whether organic food is better on a global scale, I'm not sure. It would be nice if everyone could afford it, but there are a lot of people in this world who barely get any food at all, and if you have to choose between starving or eating food that was only possible to grow thanks to pesticides and artificial fertilisers, the choice is quite clear. I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body? Nothing wrong with not being strong
Nothing says we need to beat what's wrong Nothing manmade remains made long That's a debt we can't back out of |
I agree as well, if I could afford organic all the time, I would. The only few things I get that are organic is sugar, and other odds and ends.
I usually buy locally in the summer since I am home. We have a large market of local beef, vegetables, and fruits so I generally purchase local grown food. Besides, some of the stuff produced at home is awesome! Especially local bakers using local staples. I was speaking idiomatically. |
Scholeski |
I'm all for organic foods.
I'm sure many chemicals/pesticides/etc.. used in farming have various effects on the body after a hearty build up over a lifetime of minute dosages when we eat. I also believe scientisits may find a causal link in the future to all sorts of ailments. I do sometimes find that organic food does taste better but alot of the time its the same. (Unless Marks & Spencers but I suppose thats a quality issue, their organic stuff is heavenly). HOWEVER Your friend may be right; I can't help but be sceptical as being 'organic' is the new marketing and money making thing in this enviromentalist period of time. I read this on the Food Standards Agency (UK Government body) website a while ago:
I'm also sceptical about whether the food really is organic because many farmers and companies use certain loopholes and 'interpretations' for their own needs in the regulations for marketing and crop growing. Its hard to see how DEFRA can police these farms with any real rigor to stop these theiving supermarkets. Its funny when something is labelled 'Healthy & Organic' yet when you pick up the regular version it has less salt or fat per 100g than the organic version which shows its just those bastard supermarkets again. The consumer always gets exploited. What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?
Last edited by El Ray Fernando; Apr 3, 2008 at 03:33 PM.
|
The "organic" label needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Sorry, organic oreos are not healthy. =p
Free-range, grass fed and finished beef, if you can get your hands on it, is without a doubt worth the money. The same goes for chicken and eggs. And if you're going to buy fish, make sure it's wild as opposed to farmed. The difference is all in the fat. I'm sure everyone's aware of the benefits of omega-3's by now. Regular ground beef is something like 20:1 in omega-6 to omega-3. Grass fed beef is more like 2:1, which is on a par with wild salmon. Produce these days is pumped up with extra water and lacking in nutrients. I'm not sure that being organically grown really changes anything here. But the fact is that Americans don't eat enough fruits and veggies. When I hit the grocery store, I generally shop around the perimeter. But I'd rather go to the farmers' market. FELIPE NO |
Scholeski |
I was in the supermarket maybe a week ago and my sister showed me the packages of 2 items where the organic or health encompassed version which may have used organic ingredients had either more salt or fat per 100g. I suppose you could say its not dissing the ingredients but the way supermarkets fiddle about with them. Like I said it may be free range but if it takes longer to get the shelf than the regular type it may have lost its better taste or nutrients by then which is damn shame. Meat generally is alot less stringy when free range for sure I must say; but I haven't noticed a difference with eggs like you have. What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?
Last edited by El Ray Fernando; Apr 3, 2008 at 03:51 PM.
|
That's why I don't go down the aisles.
Jam it back in, in the dark. |
Scholeski |
I'd like to shop at more expensive places where you know the stuff is organic and the simple feel and look shows you the freshness but concurring with other posters its either too far away, too expensive, or I cannot taste the difference.
so meh.. Most amazing jew boots
Last edited by El Ray Fernando; Apr 3, 2008 at 04:00 PM.
|
I think people confused the ideas of Expense and Convenience. Sure to buy something that is not as expensive is saving you money but at the cost of putting unnecessary ingredients into your body is not worth doing. Yes, healthy and Organic food are most of the time more expensive but you got to think about what you are willing to invest in, for me it's my health
This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it. |
I figure the best way for me to try and stay healthy is by cooking as many of my own foods as possible and not using pre-packaged meals. I don't care how unhealthy a bacon cheeseburger might be, it's still a lot more filling and probably about as bad for me as eating two poptarts.
I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body? |
I'd like to point out that between "free-range" and "organic", only "organic" is an actual certification with enforced criteria. There is no uniform "free-range" criteria for growers to follow, and no agency regulating it - therefore, "free-range" is even more of a marketing tool than "organic" may be.
That's not to say that there aren't "free-range" animals who are truly given plenty of space to roam - but at the same time, you could slap a 2 by 6 feet enclosed yard next to a huge chicken barn full of thousands of chickens, and say that's "free-range" just by the fact that you gave the chickens a tiny yard that they can theoretically walk around in. There's nobody making any rules for that. Regardless, I do eat organic foods, simply because it's a good way to avoid many kinds of additives. As others have said, though, organic doesn't necessarily mean "wholesome" or "healthy" - it just means it was (hopefully) produced under strict guidelines to limit the amount of certain pesticides, hormones and antibiotics used in its production. I was speaking idiomatically. |
The only food product I strictly follow organic/free-range policy on is eggs. I love eggs, so I'll pay $5 for a half-dozen to be sure that the eggs I eat (especially when I like to eat them raw) are safe to consume.
As far as produce goes, I'm not too picky, but I like getting my produce at the local farmer's market. I know that the produce there is fresh and it tastes better. It also supports the local farmer's economy, like Sass mentioned. Whether it's organic or not, I don't really care. I do prefer organic foods as opposed to non-organic if it's available for relatively the same price. Why? Well, to be theoretical (according to SpaceMonk's friend's logic, you'd want to buy products grown with pesticides because you don't want bug shit on it): why the hell would you want to eat produce that even bugs (or any other creature, for that matter of fact) wouldn't touch? What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now? |
I'm curious, how many people in this thread use margarine or some other butter substitute?
FELIPE NO |
I'm sure some of them do but don't realize it.
What, you don't want my bikini-clad body? |
Also Sass, local farmers do it better? Efficient farming requires equipment that's big and costs a huge amount of money. If every farm started doing the "local farm" bit, we wouldn't be able to support as large a population. How ya doing, buddy? |
On the other hand, truly free-range chicken may be less likely to carry disease simply because they aren't crammed into battery cages or closed warehouses with hundreds or thousands of other chickens. It's the same reason why disease is more likely to spread in a crowded human slum than in the suburbs - if one chicken is sick, the close proximity to other chickens and sometimes, the amount of filth left in the environment, facilitate rapid spread of disease than if they were raised with plenty of free space. Where it comes to food distribution, I think that the huge concentrations of people in urban centers makes it quite difficult for local farming to support everyone. It may be possible that in the future, some farmers or economists may find a clever way around this, but for now, our current system seems to be the way to go. That's not to say that it's not full of glaring flaws ( huge food-borne disease outbreaks, food security threats, control of food distribution by a few corporations), but until a better way is found, it'll have to do. There's nowhere I can't reach. |
Nicely put! I totally agree with you, I mean that's the stuff that kills. Sure the FDA approve that it's not harmful to us in small amounts BUT over a life time those chemicals and whatever else they put in it to kill those critters builds in our system and can possibly give us trouble later on. Additional Spam: oh Yea! by the way Thanks everyone, Everybody reply REEally is helpful. Most amazing jew boots
Last edited by SpaceMonk; Apr 8, 2008 at 12:22 PM.
Reason: This member got a little too post happy.
|
How about if they were genetically modified such that they produce an enzyme that bugs find unpalatable (however, this enzyme is taken from some other food that you eat regularly and is non-GM)?
Most amazing jew boots |
Not to mention the fact that comparing a bug's digestive system to ours is kind of a dumb argument
Cockroaches don't eat cucumbers, right? Better not touch those. Hey, that dung beetle is eating shit! Hook me up with some of that organic goodness! I was speaking idiomatically.
Returned
|
Mmm, I never thought about that. I don't know about the genetically modified stuff, I will definitely have to look that up, Thanks! Most amazing jew boots |
I don't get genetic modification, either. We breed crops to do certain things, hence modifying the genes of the parents through the offspring...
Why not just cut out the trial and error and do it with technology? FELIPE NO
Returned
|