Stanford Organic Food Study Flawed

The research asserted that there was no difference between conventional and organic food.

By LISA GARBER | NATURAL SOCIETY | OCTOBER 17, 2012

We broke the story of Stanford’s ridiculous organic food study the very night of its publication. Now, a month later, the media is catching on to the study’s flaws; New York Times Opinion columnist Mark Bittman apologized for hoping—in vain—that the study would have little impact on the media. “That was dumb of me,” he says, “and I’m sorry.”

Narrow Definitions and Egregious Oversights

The study suggests that organic animal and plant products are no healthier than conventionally grown varieties. Bittman puts it beautifully: “By providing ‘useful’ and ‘counterintuitive’ information about organic food, [the study authors] played right into the hands of the news hungry while conveniently obscuring important features of organic agriculture.”

The study authors narrowly—and misleadingly—defined the word “nutritious” and “healthy,” and on numerous occasions contradicted themselves. How can food that the authors admit “may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria” also be no more or less healthy than foods that don’t? How can foods that put less waste and toxins into the groundwater be no more or less healthy for us than foods that pollute our water and harm those—animals and human—who drink it? We already know of the many nasty effects of pesticides and dangers of GMOs.

Even within its narrow constructs, the study authors erred. Newcastle University researcher Kirsten Brandt last year published a similar analysis of studies to conclude that organic foods do contain more nutrients. How did Stanford miss this? By misspelling a critical class of nutrients found in produce that changed the results of the research: flavonols.

Accusations of Elitism Misplaced

Shortly after the study’s publication, fellow New York Times writer Roger Cohen “cheered” for its results and collectively called organic consumers narcissists. He does admit that organic farming is “probably better for the environment,” but crucifies it for being “an elitist, pseudoscientific indulgence shot through with hype.”

Cohen’s accusation may be true for the likes of Whole Foods executives, who scream “buy organic” while filling their pretty stores with GMO-laden or GMO-supporting foods like Larabar, owned by General Mills, which has contributed over $500,000 to defeat Proposition 37. (If you haven’t seen the undercover ‘Organic Spies’ video about Whole Foods and GMOs, check it out in the past link.)

But the truth is this: organic farming is better for the earth and better for us. The cost of this can be quite high; that’s why we must join together to promote organic, biodynamic farming across the globe rather than subjecting farmers in Africa to Monsanto corn, debt, and health problems. Monsanto doesn’t care about underprivileged farmers. They care about lining their pockets.

Organic living should be available to all of us. It may seem like pie in the sky to some, but it isn’t. And we certainly shouldn’t be stopping the revolution.

To top it off, it’s worth noting that Stanford may have downplayed the benefits of food in response to a hefty donation from Cargill, the biggest private company in the US. Although connections to a political or financial body may not indicate guilt, it’s certainly not helping.

So, who’s elitist now?

Nature outsmarts genetically modified crops

by Anna Knapp
Examiner.com
October 2, 2011

The organic food movement is all about ingesting food that is free of poisons. Conventional food is promoted as 1) being fresher longer due to genetic modification and 2) helping farmers keep more of the crops they plant, using plants that kill the pests that try to eat them, all while ignoring the need to understand the effects of ingestion of these foods. Buying local and organic at places such as Down to Earth, Garden Patch, the Farmer’s Market, and the Purple Porch Co-op, to name a few, is essential after learning of the scientific findings of this past summer.

According to Tom Philpott of Mother Jones, the industry that supports the genetic modification of our food has taken a hit this past growing season. It has been found that Monsanto’s Bt corn is not immune to pests’ destruction. In late July, scientists in Iowa found that the major pests that affect corn plants, corn rootworms, have been devouring genetically modified corn plants. Monsanto’s Bt corn has been designed to be toxic to these pests, but as usual nature always finds a way. The rise in these superinsects has also been affecting crops in Illinois and Minnesota.

A 2008 study was conducted by the University of Missouri and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on these rootworms. They found that within three generations, rootworms that ate Monsanto’s Bt corn were thriving at the same rate as rootworms that ate pesticide-free corn. It truly is amazing to watch nature at work.

So what’s next? More pesticides in our food? It is clear that nature trumps all and that no matter how much poison is genetically modified into our food, nature will always win out. If this version of Bt corn doesn’t stop the pests, and Monsanto tries yet again to create a stronger version, how much poison will have to go in the next batch? All the more reason to buy organic!

Why Organic Food Is Genuinely Better For Your Health?

By Marianne B. Conway
uPublish.info
June 3, 2011

Organic food is certainly nothing new and has existed for thousands of years, however recently more people have been taking an interest in it and the word organic has turned into a big buzzword. Those individuals involved in the health food business are creating massive profits during this hype as organic food costs more then the non-organic foods found in the shop. Keeping all this in mind, the question must be asked; is organic food dramatically beneficial or actually necessary for our bodies?

Believe it or not, but green living has impacted the lives of untold amounts of people. We see so many cases in our every day lives, and it can function as an important reminder. What is interesting about this is the amount of material that is generally unknown to people. There is adequate understanding surrounding this so people know what to expect. But when you can uncover all you can and learn, then you will find oneself in a greater position. That is why we want to present you with some appropriate tips about green living, and with any luck, they will help you in the future.

Organic food is certainly nothing new and has existed for thousands of years, however recently more people have been taking an interest in it and the word organic has turned into a big buzzword. Those individuals involved in the health food business are creating massive profits during this hype as organic food costs more then the non-organic foods found in the shop. Keeping all this in mind, the question must be asked; is organic food dramatically beneficial or actually necessary for our bodies? Since its definitely be costing more, is it unquestionably better for us?

To find out all the basic facts, lets take an initial look at what the phrase “organic” actually means to us. The term organic represents something that has not been chemically modified or had chemicals added to it. For instance, organic crops have been produced without the use of pesticides, ionizing radiation, synthetic fertilizers, GM (Genetically Modified) organisms or sludge from sewers. Organic meat, dairy products and eggs have no growth hormones or antibiotics added to promote production or growth.

The procedure for growing commercial organic food is not an easy one as a total of 3 years need to pass before their produce can be termed “organic” The purpose of this waiting period is to permit the soil to build up natural nutrients and minerals so that the new crop is completely free from chemicals when it is grown A lot of toil and time goes into organic food, hence its no real shock that its more expensive. As good as this all appears, some still contemplate if it is still necessary. Is there any other rationale why I have to be interested in eating organic food?

Many of us recognize that organic food boasts a more significant nutritional value then regular food. A sample of milk used by analysts revealed up to twice as many natural antioxidants, 50% more Vitamin E and 70% more Beta Carotene then milk taken from regular cows. Deciding to use organic food will also be great for your general health and fitness since it contains no chemicals such as insecticides and other harmful substances. Also, you do not run the risk of ingesting cancer-causing toxins that is a massive benefit to choosing organic food. The next benefit is a matter of opinion, as many people say organic food tastes better than non organic, but again you cannot say this as a fact because its down to ones personal preferences.

Organic food is also good for the environment. Pesticides and insecticides have been proven to have a major effect on the global ecosystem and as organic food includes neither of these its better for the ecosystem. Pollution is adding to the important problem of global warming, however organic farming keeps pollution to a minimum which is great news. Organic food additionally impacts the way animals are treated, as free range chickens are allowed to roam free and eat when they like whereas many normal chickens are subject to abuse, such as being crammed in cages with lots of other chickens and force fed food to fatten them up.

I personally think that organic foods are usually better, not just for your health but also for the environment and the welfare of animals. The cost factor should also be looked at but based on all the positive benefits, I seriously recommend you take a serious look at trying to do things the organic way.

Did you realize how much there is to learn about green living? A lot of people are when they get down to reading through about it. All we desired to do is demonstrate what is available but still useful at the same time. But there exists a great deal even more than that about this. There is much more that can really produce the kind of outcomes anyone would want. What follows after this is the kind of material that most will probably have no idea about.

Egg Contamination: Pretext to Pass “Food Safety” Bill


Senate Bill S.510 is called ‘The Food Safety Bill’. It should be called ‘The Food Monopoly Bill’. You see it will require all farms to purchase and use high-tech equipment that family farms and organic farms cannot afford and do not need. It will put these farms out of business. This is shameful because the bad food occasionally produced in this country does not come from these little farms- it comes from Big Agribiz and they already HAVE the hi-tech equipment required by this law. It seems the equipment hasn’t improved the food they produce, and they don’t like competition from responsible farmers – they prefer a Bill that hands them a monopoly over food production by destroying that competition. Further, this Bill is written in such an open-ended way, that if the Feds choose to, they can use it to stop you from having a home garden.

Also– the Feds are handing food distribution in this country over to Homeland Security. That means that food may be scarce in one part of the country, and plentiful in another, according to “politics”. Of course, if family and organic farms are wiped out, the food they move around will be largely processed and not very good, anyway. But it will be all that is available.

How to stop this travesty? Click below to send a message to your Senators that you are aware of the Food Safety Scam and you don’t want the Feds in your kitchen. Further – consider taking off the white gloves and calling both of your Senators’ offices and insist on knowing their positions on this Bill and let them know that you are against it — and furious that it is even being considered! Make sure your friends and family are aware of this Bill – the media will be touting it as a wonderful advancement- but they work for the same masters who own Congress. So spread the word and click below to make sure a letter from you gets to Washington. Your family’s health depends on it!

Bad eggs AND a Fake “Food Safety” Bill a coincidence? We don’t think so!

Take Action Here NOW! http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4613


Related Links:

Togel178

Pedetogel

Sabatoto

Togel279

Togel158

Colok178

Novaslot88

Lain-Lain

Partner Links