There's been a rage about organic foods that's now become a global trend. In 2012, media mogul Oprah Winfrey announced that she's going organics. It wasn't just a celebrity flash because organic foods are here to stay.
According to the USDA National Organic Program, organic is defined as foods produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources, and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.
Simply stated, organics are pesticide-free ingredients that don't contain synthetic fertilizers or ionizing. On the dairy products and poultry, organics mean the animals don't take either hormones injection or antibiotics. The companies that process organic food must be initially certified before they can offer the products to market.
The USDA has put organic foods into categories of products. A '100 percent organic' food means it's made with 100 percent organic ingredients whereas foods with just 'Organic' label could contain at least 95 percent of organic ingredients. A lower level of organic foods that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients is usually labeled as 'Made With Organic Ingredients'. The latter has a strict regulation to have 30 percent of non-genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Organic foods cost more expensive due to the high demand of the products. Unlike conventional farming, behind these healthy and naturally grown foods, there are farmers who do the labor without receiving federal subsidies. Hence, the organic prices we pay in the supermarket are somewhat, the true cost.
There are lists of foods worth buying organic. According to Dr. Oz, root vegetables like potatoes, leafy greens like celery and spinach are often doused in pesticides. Hence, organic is a non-toxic option to avoid the threat. Yogurt, cheese and other dairy products could be genetically modified and loaded with antibiotics. Since you're eating so much of them, it's worth buying organic.
