What does it mean when a food label says it is "organic"?.

Canada has recently set a national standard for organic agriculture. It gives the do's and don’ts that Canadian food growers and processors must follow to produce foods that can officially be called "organic".

According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:
• Organic foods are produced without the use of chemical fertilizers or synthetic pesticides, processed without the use of irradiation and are not derived through genetic engineering.
• Animals are raised without hormones and antibiotics and fed organically grown grains and grass.

"Certified organic" is your best bet. This means that the way a particular food was produced and processed has been reviewed and approved by a qualified inspector. This system of "quality control" assumes that producers are following the standards. 

Is organic food healthier for you?   There is not a lot of research on this topic, but what exists suggests that regular vegetables and fruit have similar amounts and types of nutrients as organic foods.  It could take many years for research to help determine whether organic foods are better.  So, at this point it is up to you to make a personal decision regarding whether you want to choose organic products. 

Does "organic" mean completely pesticide free?   It is difficult to completely control pesticides getting on food.  A certain amount of "natural" pesticides are allowed in organic farming, and crops can pick up man-made pesticides from  close-by fields or from organic fields that still contain small amounts of pesticides in old soil .  Even natural fertilizers like animal manure can contain harmful organisms like E. coli that can really make you sick. Thorough washing, scrubbing and peeling fresh produce will help get rid of these and other bacteria.

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