This is a commonly asked questions among guests at the spa. I hope some of this information will help you make a good decision. Make sure to look at the produce lists as you may be wasting some money on those that lose all pesticide residue when washed.
What is Organic?
Animals have not been treated with: antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed made from animal byproducts.
Animals must have been fed organic feed for at least a year.
Animals must have access to the outdoors.
Food hasn’t been genetically modified or irradiated.
Fertilizer does not contain sewage sludge or synthetic ingredients.
Produce hasn’t been contaminated with synthetic chemicals used as pesticides.
What does the label mean?
100% Organic: Product must contain 100 percent organic ingredients.
Organic: At least 95 percent of ingredients are organically produced.
Made with Organic Ingredients: At least 70 percent of ingredients are organic. The remaining 30 percent must come from the USDAs approved list.
Free-range or Free-roaming: Misleading term applied to chicken, eggs and other meat. The animal did not necessarily spend a good portion of its life outdoors. The rule states only that outdoor access be made available for an undetermined period each day. U.S. government standards are weak in this area.
Natural or All Natural: Does not mean organic. There is no standard definition for this term except with meat and poultry products. (USDA defines natural as not containing any artificial flavoring, colors, chemical preservatives, or synthetic ingredients). The claim is not verified. The producer or manufacturer alone decides whether to use it.
To reduce the risk of exposure to the agent believed to cause mad cow disease and exposure to other potential toxins in non-organic feed, you may want to consider buying organic beef, poultry and milk. These foods contain no hormones, and antibiotics, which have been linked to increased antibacterial resistance in humans.
There are some fruits and vegetables that have been found to have a high pesticide count even after being washed. These you would want to purchase organically grown. Others have no pesticide residue so the extra money spent on organic is wasted.
Should Buy Organic
Apples
Cherries
Grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Raspberries
Strawberries
Bell peppers
Celery
Potatoes
Spinach
No need to buy organic
Bananas
Kiwi
Mangos
Papaya
Pineapples
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Corn
Onions
Peas
