Organic vs. Processed Foods Food is very essential in our well-being and survival, it is important for our growth and survival. Two of the most prominent food groups we come across in life are organic foods and processed foods. Both processed and organic have some benefits and disadvantages to our health. Overall, organic food has better health benefits than processed food. Processed foods are produced and preserved using chemicals. Frey argues, “Processed foods include all food products that have been altered in some way to either turn them into food, extend their shelf life, or prepare them for human or animal consumption” (Frey). Organic foods are produced naturally without any use of chemicals. Farmers tend to grow organic food using natural
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The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before products can be labeled USDA organic (Frey). It is hard to tell which foods are good for us and which foods harm us. Nowadays, it is getting harder and harder to tell what we are actually eating. Chevat states, “Human beings are omnivores. That means we eat plants, meat, mushrooms--just about anything. But because we are omnivores we have very little built-in instinct that tells us which foods are good for us and which aren't. That's the dilemma--we can eat anything, but how do we know what to eat? The omnivore's dilemma has been around a long time” (Chevat). We have a thousand choices of food in our supermarkets, but we don't really know where our food comes from. Overall, organic foods are going to be more healthier and beneficial to the human body …show more content…
Scientists have produced many ways through which food can be produced within a short time and can be preserved for a longer period. In this fast-paced world, it is almost impossible to completely depend on organic foods, as these take their natural time to grow. With the advent of biotechnology, it is now possible to produce food in much less time. However, this artificial process may deteriorate the nutrients level and taste of the food says Guthman. As Frey explains it, processed foods can include “foods prepared at home as well as in commercial food processing plants”. He states, “cat or dog foods and feed mixtures for farm animals are considered processed foods, as are Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) for combat troops and specialized foods prepared for mountain climbers, explorers, astronauts, and others working or traveling in environments where cooking would be difficult or impossible”. Convenience foods are a specific category of processed foods, known as tertiary processed foods. They require little preparation prior to eating and are typically packaged in single-serving portions. Convenience foods may include hot ready to eat dishes, shelf-stable products intended to be eaten at room temperature. Candy, packaged baked goods, processed meats and cheeses, pasta dishes, TV dinners, frozen pizzas, single-serving portions of applesauce, pudding, fruit juices, soups, flavored milk, and some types of fast food are
The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before products can be labeled USDA organic (Frey). It is hard to tell which foods are good for us and which foods harm us. Nowadays, it is getting harder and harder to tell what we are actually eating. Chevat states, “Human beings are omnivores. That means we eat plants, meat, mushrooms--just about anything. But because we are omnivores we have very little built-in instinct that tells us which foods are good for us and which aren't. That's the dilemma--we can eat anything, but how do we know what to eat? The omnivore's dilemma has been around a long time” (Chevat). We have a thousand choices of food in our supermarkets, but we don't really know where our food comes from. Overall, organic foods are going to be more healthier and beneficial to the human body …show more content…
Scientists have produced many ways through which food can be produced within a short time and can be preserved for a longer period. In this fast-paced world, it is almost impossible to completely depend on organic foods, as these take their natural time to grow. With the advent of biotechnology, it is now possible to produce food in much less time. However, this artificial process may deteriorate the nutrients level and taste of the food says Guthman. As Frey explains it, processed foods can include “foods prepared at home as well as in commercial food processing plants”. He states, “cat or dog foods and feed mixtures for farm animals are considered processed foods, as are Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) for combat troops and specialized foods prepared for mountain climbers, explorers, astronauts, and others working or traveling in environments where cooking would be difficult or impossible”. Convenience foods are a specific category of processed foods, known as tertiary processed foods. They require little preparation prior to eating and are typically packaged in single-serving portions. Convenience foods may include hot ready to eat dishes, shelf-stable products intended to be eaten at room temperature. Candy, packaged baked goods, processed meats and cheeses, pasta dishes, TV dinners, frozen pizzas, single-serving portions of applesauce, pudding, fruit juices, soups, flavored milk, and some types of fast food are