By Amy Mazurek, sustainabiltiy student
IU South Bend
There are several ways to be a consumer making healthy lifestyle choices while still being a responsible consumer. Three of the biggest are purchasing organic, buying local, and purchasing food that is fair trade.
Buying organic is the first thing that most consumers think about when trying to make more responsible purchasing choices. Foods can be labeled organic if they are 95% pesticide and chemical free and a complete ingredient list. These foods can be identified by ‘100% organic’ or ‘certified organic’. This can be confusing because there are also labels stating ‘made with organic’ which can mean that it is a product that can be as little as 70% organic ingredients. Some grocery stores separate organic fruits an vegetables, while others can only be found by looking for signs mixed in with the regular produce. One guaranteed way to know if your pick is an organic is the PLU code on the sticker placed on all fruits and vegetables. A PLU sticker that begins with a 9 is a certified organic item. There is generally a cost difference in organic items compared to those that aren’t which can make many wonder if their money is well spent.
So, is organic produce worth the cost? “Here’s what we know for sure: pesticides pose risks, can make us sick, and in some cases, kill.” (Lappe) We don’t know the level of pesticide that is harmful until it causes problems. And we know that children have smaller bodies, which equates to smaller tolerance to chemicals. The FDA has levels of acceptability for each pesticide and chemical that is allowed to be applied to food during its growth process, but this isn’t a cut and dry formula. If you have a family that eats a very large amount certain fruits, such as apples, do you know where the line of acceptability is for nonorganic consumption? This is where the Dirty Dozen came from. The Dirty Dozen is the list of produce that is most recommended for organic purchase because it is made up of items we eat with the highest pesticide residue.
Organic isn’t the only way to be a more conscience consumer, but it’s a good place to start!
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