Which looks like the strawberries you eat?!
I know that you are all answering with "the one on the right, obviously?" but that doesn't mean that;s the right answer!
It is no surprise that we have been consuming genetically modified fruit for decades; however, it is time to step back and think about what we are actually ingesting when we place that plump and juicy strawberry against our lips.
"pesticide residues have been linked to attention deficit disorder and other behavioral problems", according to the magazine entitled Nourishing Words.
The major issue that arises when discussing whether to purchase organic or not is similar to the issue that arises when discussing fast food. People choose not to buy organic simply because it is much more expensive than inorganic.
Check out thiss chart that presents just how much more organic vegetables cost:
Can you believe the price of Romaine Lettuce increases by 99% when purchasing organic?!
This is extreme and makes it even more understandable why families choose to purchase inorganic. The real issue here is that the government should begin figuring out how they can subsidize the increased cost of organic food. If they care enough to spend millions of dollars to create anti-smoking marketing ploys, they should care enough to stop inorganic food from being so costly.
Check out the following link that presents
The Good Vs. Bad in Genetically-Modified Foods
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/good-vs-bad-geneticallymodified-foods-3108.html
Another interesting fact about GMOs is that often we are unaware that our foods have them in the first place. According to nongmoproject.org's article entitled Are GMOs labeled?:
This information should encourage each of us to become informed in the food being sold to us. It is unacceptable that we continue to be lied to about the modifications of our foods.
Check out this clip entitled "How to avoid genetically modified foods"...
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Genetically-Modified-Foods
"Organic" does not necessarily mean "not genetically modified." Nor does "not organic" mean "genetically modified." For example, the organic strawberries at the store don't look like the strawberry pictured on the left in the first picture. They still look like the strawberry on the right, maybe slightly smaller in some instances. It seems pretty clear, at least to me, that the seeds from which they were grown have been genetically modified. This is why many people argue that there really isn't a significant difference between organic and "not organic." Organic food must meet the same safety standards as "not organic" food. In fact, organic vegetables and fruits are still sprayed with pesticides, just ones from "natural sources." So to answer "the question," I think that if you can afford it and want to, go ahead and buy organic. Otherwise, I believe that the extra cost isn't worth it.
ReplyDeleteWhoops, I forgot the link that helped me out quite a bit with this comment: http://www.mayoclinic.org/organic-food/art-20043880 (also check out page 2)
ReplyDeleteWhile eating organic food may be better for your health than non organic foods, I think comparing it to smoking is a bit of a stretch. Very rarely do we see the media portraying inorganic food as "cool" despite its health hazards, in fact generally we see the media promoting the idea of eating healthy and organic as the better choice. I don't think it would be smart for the government to stop their anti-smoking "ploys". While, as mentioned before, organic may be better in many ways, inorganic foods do not pose immediate and proven dangers. Many families in the US struggle just putting food on the table, even the lower priced non organic stuff, so maybe the government could use the funding to feed people in general, but that's a pretty big goal too. Humans have been "genetically modifying" their food sources since they started organized food production, i.e. with herds of cattle and farming. Simply choosing which animals to breed or which plants to fertilized based on traits is considered the earliest form of it. And as you point out, by making more food and allowing it to last longer through pesticides or genetic modification means more food available to the public at more reasonable prices so more people can eat. There are pluses and minuses to almost every scientific advancement and the question is where is the line.
ReplyDeletesources:
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts.aspx
http://www.rsc.org/get-involved/hot-topics/organic-vs-non-organic/Index.asp