why organic?
There are many good health and environmental reasons for going organic.
The challenge of shopping organically for your family can seem
daunting.
It often costs more than conventional food and it is also more
difficult to obtain.
However, if you persevere, the reward is food that tastes better and does not
contain the chemical contaminants, genetically modified ingredients and
additives that conventional food may contain.
For most people, the appeal of conventional food is all about convenience and
perception. As someone once suggested to me: if you walked into your local
supermarket and there were two bins of apples, one marked, 'apples containing
pesticide residues' and one marked 'apples', which would you buy?
So how do I know I'm buying organic?
Young children in NZ are reportedly getting about five times
more pesticide residues in their food than American children
(http://www.Safefood,org.nz).
Children are at special risk from any substance capable of
causing cancer and nervous system damage. This is why it is
especially important for pregnant women, babies and young
children to eat organic wheat, fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese
and butter.
Eat organic as much as possible, but if you can't always get organic, try to
at least avoid the foods listed below.
These are foods that have been shown in government surveys to be more likely
to have pesticide residues and to have the greatest number of pesticides. It
always pays to wash, and if possible peel, non-organic produce.
You can also
check out this guide to find out when it's worth spending the extra money
for organic fruits and vegetables, and when to scrimp.
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"The Dirty Dozen":
United States -
More information on the Dirty Dozen.
'The NZ Dirty Dozen'
| 1. |
celery
|
7. |
peaches
|
| 2. |
wheat products
|
8. |
strawberries
|
| 3. |
tomatoes
|
9. |
oranges
|
| 4. |
kiwifruit
|
10. |
lettuce
|
| 5. |
apples
|
11. |
pears
|
| 6. |
cucumber
|
12. |
potatoes
|