Many years ago, some environmentalist reporter was interviewing a scientist and asked, “What did people do before artificial pesticides and fertilizers?” His response was, “People died younger.”
Do you know the difference between white eggs and brown eggs? Brown eggs are more likely to come from brown colored chickens and they cost more. That’s the only difference.
Some organic foods are loaded with bacterial contamination..so you have to be careful, especially things like raw alfalfa and bean sprouts. There was just another recall from sprouts grown in Oregon (once again). Don't assume just because it is organic that it is safer. Raw sprouts shouldn't be given to sick or people prone to certain illnesses.
See the most recent recall:
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/05/24/salmonella-outbreak-sparks-nationwide-alfalfa-sprout-recall/
There are indeed pesticides that are certified for use in "organic" farming. I have some of them in my shed for garden use. There is a common belief that organic equals chemical-free, and that simply is not the case.
Years ago professor Bruce Aimes of UC Berkeley did an extensive study of naturally ocurring chemicals such as those in foods and man made chemicals. The study included hundreds of thousands of chemicals.
In general he found man made chemicals were less toxic and carcinagenic than natural chemicals but not by a wide margin.
He compared the toxicity of then used more powerful pesticides with the toxins found in many common foods taking into account the range of amounts people might consume. He then listed the most dangerous in order. None of the top 20 were man made pesticides or antibiotics (which are fully metabolized by the time the animal is processed)etc...
I do not recall the most dangerous in order, but some were coffee, peanuts, naturally grown and untreated corn, wheat and other grains, celery etc...
People stopped eating their lunches during his presentation. But, he reassured them by saying the human system was made to handle normal amounts of toxins and not to worry about it. His advice was don,t smoke, or drink excessively and wear seat belts.
As a scientist, I have found that the people who are gaga about natural or organic foods know very little if anything about bioscience. The “no genetically modified foods” people are really freaky as every food one eats now has been greatly genetically modified by nature or man over time. Read Guns Germs and Steel to get a layman’s description. The only result of eating “organic” food is a weight loss-—in your wallet.
And I hope you enjoy them.
I will continue to consume and enjoy my pesticide protected, hormone added, chemically fertilized, industrially farmed meats and produce, which has allowed Americans and other industrial-farm nations to have the highest standard of living and longest lifespans the world has ever seen.
But you go ahead. Enjoy those weevils in your corn, e-coli outbreaks and fantastically high prices. It’s a free country! Sorta...
Bad idea - When organic foods are attached by viruses, or insects or mold, or birds etc., they develop internal toxins and antibodies(just like we do). Those defense mechanisms are cancer causers. Pesticides wash off the toxins don't.
Eat free range chicken? Same problem but worse.
But hey its your money.
And it still doesn’t help your health.