In recent years, there’s been a new fad to go ‘organic’ – It’s suddenly cool to buy everything organic right from your fruits and vegetables, to your face pack. Most of us would have come across stickers on products certifying them to be organic or contain organic ingredients. But what does ‘organic’ mean? And why should you choose to go organic? 

Let’s take a look at this. 

WHAT IS ‘ORGANIC’?

The term ‘organic’ associated with any product is basically a guarantee about the way the product was grown/made – It’s an assurance that the product and its ingredients were grown or made without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides/herbicides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge, or radiation. In the case of animal produce, it signifies that the animals were not fed antibiotics or growth hormones, and were given organic feed. 

These standards are restricted not just to farmers, but also apply to all processors and handlers who come into contact with the produce to turn it into a finished product ready for use. 

WHY GO ORGANIC?

Now that we’ve understood what the term ‘organic’ means, let’s delve a little deeper into the benefits of using organic products: 

1. More Nutritious Food: Studies show that organic food has higher nutrition value than its non-organic equivalents. So, get the most out of your meals by choosing organic food options. 

2. Better Tasting Food: Organic food is not just healthier, but also tastes better (once you’ve gotten over the taste of chemical-free food!) 

3. Cheaper: Yes, you read that right, organic products are cheaper. While they may be slightly more expensive than their non-organic counterparts, evidence shows that using and eating products turns out to be cheaper in the long-run since it leads to overall better health, leading to reduced expenditure on healthcare, and fewer sick days at work. See, win-win situation! 

4. Avoid post-usage irritation: Foods and products with chemicals in them have a high chance of reacting badly with your body, be it an upset stomach or a food allergy or a skin rash. Instead, use organic products that work in harmony with your system. 

5. Save Your Body from Indirect Harm: While we pride ourselves on taking care of our bodies, we inadvertently harm ourselves while using non-organic products since we have no clue about all the artificial ingredients and techniques that have gone into the making of these. For example, agricultural research has found that chemical pesticides contribute to cancers, infertility, seizures, immunity disorders and depression, amongst other health problems. So, do yourself a favour, and choose an organic option. 

6. Overall Improved Health: Products without preservatives, additives, genetically modified organisms, and other harmful chemicals? Doesn’t that sound just perfect? The human body thinks so too, and consuming organic products has shown to lead to overall improved health. 

Moreover, the organic agriculture industry is monitored keenly by specialized agencies whose aim is to ensure that the people selling food with organic labels adhere to the strict rules and codes imposed by the regulators. There are many such organizations that oversee the working of the organic food industry, chief among them being the following three :– 

1. INDOCERT 

INDOCERT is a certification body established in India which also has an international presence. INDOCERT provides certification to organic supplies that can be exported to the US, Germany etc. 

2. Ecocert 

Another certification authority established in France and functioning since 1991, Ecocert is primarily involved in developing standards of environment-friendly agriculture and ensuring those are adhered by manufacturers. 

3. USDA 

Short for United States Department of Agriculture, the USDA is one of the biggest and well-respected certification authorities in the world. A positive certification from the USDA means the best in quality for organic products. 

With the help of these regulatory bodies, you can always be assured that the food you consume is genuinely organic. And with that, you can switch to organic food in the knowledge that the food you’re eating is healthy for your body and friendly for the environment.