Organic and Natural Foods Are Not the Same

September 6, 2007

I love to learn about the ingredients in my oatmeal or breakfast cereal by looking at the nutrition labels. I have recently discovered the company Kashi, a U.S. manufacturer of all-natural foods. I thought my favorite Kashi granola bars were organic-that is until I learned otherwise.
What is organic food? A food is organic based on how it is grown or bred. What kind of feed did the animal consume? What fertilizers did the farmer use? Organic crops are grown without the aid of chemicals such as conventional pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Animals that are not given antibiotics, growth hormones or feed additives are considered organic.

There are two different types of organic foods-fresh and processed.
Fresh “unprocessed” organic food is exactly as it sounds, “fresh.” This category is mostly filled with fruits and vegetables. Although less available, fresh meat, eggs, and dairy are also in this category.
The second type of organic food is processed foods. This kind is made up of an assortment of convenience foods. Organic macaroni ‘n’ cheese, soups, frozen dinners, and potato chips are all examples of organic processed foods.
Because organic food usually costs more than genetically modified food we should be wise in choosing which organic foods we purchase. Prevention Magazine suggests opting first for organic versions of foods that are especially high in pesticides: apples, apricots, bell peppers, cantaloupe, celery, cherries, cucumbers, imported grapes, green beans, peaches, spinach, and tomatoes.
What is natural food? A food is natural based on certain ingredients it does not contain. Wikipedia defines natural foods as “foods that do not contain artificial ingredients and are minimally processed. They are usually more nutritious than refined foods. Natural foods do not include ingredients such as refined sugars, refined flours, milled grains, hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, artificial food colors, or artificial flavorings.” This is what my favorite granola bars are: all-natural, not organic.

Resources

http://www.prevention.com/article/1,5778,s1-3-71-165-3518-1,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Foods_Diet

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