Organic ingredients have an immense effect on more than just your physical wellbeing; how the food and beauty products you consume are grown, processed and manufactured has an enormous effect on our planet as a whole.
If you are using non-organic natural flavors, in place of the NOID form you must submit a Natural Flavor Questionnaire in order to confirm their production without using prohibited methods.
Health Benefits
Organic food has long been considered more nutritious. Organic farms use environmentally sustainable farming practices that limit environmental damage while being better for animal welfare. Many people choose organic food because they believe it to be more healthy. Organic produce contains more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes than conventionally produced goods; and it reduces environmental harm through animal welfare-focused approaches to production.
Eating organic can provide many other advantages, including reduced exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, as well as saving money by purchasing directly from local producers via box schemes, farmers markets or farm shops.
When purchasing organic ingredients, look for products with the USDA organic seal. This seal is administered by the National Organic Program which sets stringent standards for organic crops and livestock production. Only ingredients certified as organic may be included in products bearing this label; processed organic food may include non-agricultural additives up to 5% of its final composition.
Superior Taste
Many consumers report that organic foods taste superior, which they attribute to organic farming practices prioritizing soil health and biodiversity, meaning crops grow naturally without synthetic chemicals being introduced into the ecosystem.
Organic standards allow the use of certain approved nonagricultural ingredients (like citric acid in yogurt and baking soda in cookies) provided that all other components are certified organic and the product was manufactured using approved methods – without genetic engineering or ionizing radiation – during its production.
Organic farming tends to take place on a smaller scale than conventional agriculture, so choosing organic food helps local and small-scale farmers who practice sustainable agriculture in your community. Furthermore, animal-derived ingredients must be raised humanely before becoming certified organic; many consumers find this important. Furthermore, USDA regulations dictate which products may carry its seal. Only products featuring 100% organic ingredients qualify to bear it.
Environmental Impact
Organic farming and processing aim to restore soil fertility while decreasing environmental impacts. Organic food production adheres to principles which forbid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, GMOs, irradiation or other forms of radiation exposure – as well as chemicals or hormones in food additives or animal hormones being used during growth or handling processes.
Organic produce contains up to 81% less pesticide residue than conventional foods, with virtually no risky compounds such as cadmium or lead in them and less antibiotic resistance bacteria present.
Consuming more beans, fruits and vegetables is better for the climate than eating meat-based products as animal agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Selecting certified organic products containing at least 70% organic ingredients is the ideal way to lessen your impact; however it’s unrealistic for most people so an alternate strategy would be selecting organic versions of foods you eat most frequently such as meat or dairy products.
Economic Impact
Organic food production increases farmers’ incomes and provides them with access to premium pricing in both domestic and international markets, but more research needs to be conducted into its profitability.
Even though organic sales experienced slower growth last year, they remain strong as an industry. A record $60 billion was realized through organic sales in 2022.
Organic certification allows consumers to avoid products containing harmful pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage and ionizing radiation which all pose health risks. Organic food and fiber also helps minimize public health risks by protecting farm workers, children and families from being exposed to toxic chemicals.
As demand for organic foods continues to increase, more farmers are turning to organic farming techniques – with some increasing their land areas dedicated to growing crops – in order to meet market stability in terms of organic product supply and market stability. Thanks to reliable national sources for organic product and production cost data such as weekly prices for conventional and organic field crop markets from Mercaris, sustainable farming practices seem promising for future development.
