Is Organic Worth the Cost?

A recent conversation at 4Real about food budgets, coupled with what we can do to help keep the world green, has me pondering whether or not buying organic food is good stewardship all the way around.  After all, I have a whole bunch of big boys to feed.  This is not an inexpensive proposition. This report from Consumer Reports indicates that some items, like dairy, berries, grapes, apples and potatoes are worth the extra expense.  It might not be so necessary for bananas.  I think I prefer to know that my meat would pass a steroid test, too.  For a cook committed to cooking and eating and feeding her family thoughtfully, the issue of junk in our food (and not just our junk food) is one we must take time to consider.

Comments

[Jacque]

Yikes! I would be very careful with bananas!

I would only buy those raised in the USA. If they come from out of country, they do not have to follow our rules for pesticides and herbicides. I understand that in foreign countries, they wet burlap with DDT and cover the piles of bananas to keep the pests off. DDT has been outlawed in this country for more than 40 years. This happens with several imported products. Always read the country of origin, know where your product is coming from. Know that Americans have the strictest standards for their food, and that imported food does not have to meet these standards.
I don’t know the exact details of what specifies Organic Milk.
If you have a site or two to direct me to I would appreciate it.
This is my take on things: I know that milk without hormone is BHT Free. If the milk you purchase does not say this, call the dairy that packages it and ask.
As far as antibiotics in milk; it is unlawful to sell milk containing antibiotics. Milk is tested: at the farm, before it is unloaded at the plant, after it is in the silo, and is randomly checked at stores. If any antibiotic is found it can be traced back to the producer and he is liable for all the milk contaminated. I wouldn’t be concerned with antibiotic in milk.
I can't imagine cows not being treated with antibiotics. They are like children; we must care for them, when they have mastitis or foot rot, or an injury. It would be cruel to leave an animal suffer! I wouldn’t do it to my kids; I wouldn’t do it to the cows.
Hope this doesn’t sound grumpy. Just wanted to provide information.
Jacque