Organic vs - York College of...
Click here to load reader
Transcript of Organic vs - York College of...
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 1
Organic vs. Nonorganic:
Are Organic Foods the
Better Choice?
Sheldon Cooper
York College of Pennsylvania
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 2
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to provide others with the facts about organic food and
to show what society is still unsure about. It was also to see how knowledgeable York College
students are about organic foods and to see if they include organic foods in their diet. The goal of
this research is to make people think about why they do not include organic food in their diet,
and if they already do, it is to make people think about if it makes them healthier, as well as why
they eat organic foods.
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 3
Introduction
Most Americans are trying to live a good and healthy lifestyle. One thing needed to live a
healthy lifestyle is the right diet. That is when some people may wonder, ‘Should I buy more
organic food, or stick with buying conventional food?’ There are upsides to buying organic
foods, but what most people overlook are the downsides to buying organic foods. Not only that,
but some people are confused about what organic is. For example, there is the misconception that
the terms ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are interchangeable, when they really mean two different things
(Dahm, Samonte, & Shows, 2009). It is important for people to understand what makes foods
organic and what makes foods conventional, and that organic foods may not always be the better
choice.
First, it is important to know the real meaning of organic. Foods are organic because of
the way they are grown. Farmers use natural fertilizers and pesticides, manage weeds manually,
and only give their animals organic feed (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011). This is where one
misconception lies. Many people believe that organic foods do not contain pesticides, but in
reality, organic foods just contain fewer pesticides than conventional foods. In addition, the farm
animals also need access to the outdoors (Is organic food better for you?, 2004), and there are no
growth hormones that are given to the animals (Organic foods-overview, 2011). Lastly, organic
farmers avoid using genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs, and avoid using
irradiation (Dahm et al., 2009).
There are also other requirements, established by the USDA, which foods must adhere to
in order to be considered organic. First, the food needs to have the official USDA seal to be
considered organic, but it is also important to keep in mind that using the seal is voluntary
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 4
(Organic foods-overview, 2011). Organic farmers have to follow the certain requirements in
order to have the seal. At least 95% of the ingredients must be organic to have the seal (Is
organic food better for you?, 2004). If the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients, it
can say that it contains organic ingredients on the label, but it is not allowed to have the seal (Is
organic food better for you?). If the product contains less than 70% organic ingredients, it is not
allowed to have the USDA seal or say it contains organic ingredients on the label, but it can put
any organic ingredients it does contain on the ingredients list in the nutritional facts (Is organic
food better for you?). This information should help clarify which foods are organic.
Second, it is important to know the advantages of organic foods. The one that most
people are aware of is that organic foods have fewer pesticides on them. However, even though
organic foods contain fewer pesticides than conventional foods, the pesticide residues on
conventional foods don’t exceed safety limits (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011). Organic foods also do
not contain food additives like artificial flavors and food coloring (Mayo Clinic staff), and the
organic process as a whole is kinder to animals than the conventional process (Is organic food
better for you?, 2004). It is also arguable that it is better for the environment because of crop
rotations and mixed planting (Wilcox, 2011), and its efforts to conserve water and soil (Is
organic food better for you?, 2004).
However, with advantages come disadvantages. One of them is the environment.
According to Wilcox (2011), conventional farms produce more food per unit of land than
organic farms do. This means organic farms need more space just to match the amount of food
that conventional farms produce. Also, as mentioned before, organic farmers avoid using GMOs.
GMOs can reduce the amount synthetic chemicals used, and can reduce the amount of toxins
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 5
used (Wilcox). Some of the natural pesticides that farmers use can be more ecologically
damaging (Wilcox).
Another disadvantage about organic farming is the use natural fertilizers, which is simply
just manure. When manure is used, there is a higher risk of spreading E. coli through the manure
(Kluger, 2010). In fact, one outbreak of E. coli that occurred in Germany was traced back to an
organic farm in Bienenbüttel, Germany (Dyer, 2011). The manure could also contain other food-
borne illnesses. In addition to that, organic farmers avoid using irradiation, which is when X-rays
or any other type of radiation is used to kill bacteria. Using radiation could reduce the risk E. coli
(Dyer). Conventional farms use manure, but also use radiation to help remove any pathogens
(Wilcox, 2011). Lastly, organic foods may spoil faster, because they don’t have any waxes or
preservatives (Is organic food better for you?, 2004). By eating organic foods, there could be an
increased risk of getting sick.
Despite the disadvantages, there are certain factors that persuade people to buy organic
foods. According to Dahm et al. (2009), the number one factor is that organic foods taste better.
A study was done in Denmark by Ulf Hjelmar to discover other reasons. Some other reasons
people buy organic is because of concerns about the environment, food safety, the well-being of
animals, and family (Hjelmar, 2010). Some people stated that organic foods became a bigger part
of their diet once they started having children and families of their own (Hjelmar). The study
also looked at why people don’t purchase organic foods. These reasons included lack of
availability, high prices, lack of trust in labels, and not knowing which products were organic
(Hjelmar). Hjelmar discovered that if organic foods weren’t so expensive, they would by them
more often. Organic foods are more expensive because organic farms are smaller than
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 6
conventional ones, they require more work, cost more to feed the animals, and they don’t receive
any money from the government (Organic foods-overview, 2011).
Another study looked closely at the environmental factor. It was done by Dahm et al.
(2009) to discover if there was a relationship between organic food consumption and eco-
friendly behaviors in college students. He found out that there was a relationship between
environmentally friendly behaviors and organic food consumption (Dahm et al.). In addition, he
discovered that 50% of the students would support the use organic food on their campus, and
64% of the students reported that they would buy organic foods if offered on campus (Dahm et
al.). This may be because most of the students believe that organic foods are healthier.
With that said, are organic foods healthier like everyone thinks they are? According to a
study that was funded by the FSA, there were no significant differences in nutrition-related
health outcomes between organic and conventional foods (Dangour, Lock, Hayter, Aikenhead,
Allen, & Uauy, 2010). After a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from the past 50
years on the nutrient content, the researchers found differences in antioxidant activity, but it was
not a big enough difference to make any kind of impact on a person’s health. A news report that
disagrees with these findings, saying that long-term studies would be needed to provide a clear
answer on whether organic food has health benefits or not (McVeigh, 2009). Gill Fine, the FSA
director commented by saying there are many reasons people choose to eat organic, but they
shouldn’t eat them on the basis that they’re healthier (McVeigh).
The previous research has done a good job in showing the reasons that people buy
organic food, how knowledgeable people are about organic food, and the nutrient content of
organic foods. One gap in the research is that all of these studies were done outside of the United
States. Not a lot of research has been done about organic foods in the United States, so these
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 7
statistics may not be totally accurate. For example, the study that was done to show the reasons
why people buy organic food was conducted in Demark. Denmark is one the richest countries in
the world, so more of them may be able to afford organic food.
Another gap would be small sample sizes. The study that was done in Denmark only
interviewed sixteen people, and only twelve publications were reviewed for nutrient content
study. Also, this study mostly referred to organic fruits and vegetables. What about the other
food groups? A survey of more people could be done, instead of interviewing only a few people.
By doing this, we can get opinions from United States citizens.
Methodology
In order to test the research question, a study was done to see how knowledgeable people
were about organic food and to see if they eat organic foods. The participants included current
students at York College of Pennsylvania. This audience was used because there is easier access
to the students on campus. There was no target class, but most of the participants were freshman.
A survey was used to obtain information from a larger amount of people than in previous studies.
These surveys were distributed electronically by email to people in my classes. A link to the
survey was also posted on the “YCP Class of 2015” page on Facebook. The survey contained ten
questions: eight multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions. The surveys were
filled out anonymously, and a total of 37 students filled out the survey. The results of the survey
were related back to the primary research to see if there was a correlation between the two.
Results
When students were asked how often they eat organic food, most of them (35.1%) said
that they don’t eat organic food at all. 21.6% percent said they only eat organic foods one to
three times a year. No one responded that they eat organic foods all of the time (see graph 1
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 8
below). In another question asking students if they thought organic foods were healthier than
non-organic foods, 35.1% of them answered with a 4 on a scale of 1-7 (1 meaning strongly
disagree, 4 meaning neither agree nor disagree, and 7 meaning strongly agree). This was the
highest percentage, but most of the answers were in the 4-7 range (see graph 2 below). When
asked if students thought ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ were interchangeable, the majority (21.6%)
answered with a 1. 16.2% of students, which was the next highest percentage, answered with
either a 2 or 3 (see graph 3 below).
Graph 1
Graph 2
How often do you eat organic food?
13
87
2
6
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1 (Not atAll)
2 (1-3times ayear)
3 (5-7times ayear)
4 (5-7times amonth)
5 (1-2times aweek)
6 (3-5times aweek)
7 (All thetime)
# of
Peo
ple
Series1
Organic foods are better for us than non-organic foods:3%
0%
5%
34%
14%
22%
22%
1 (Strongly Disagree)
2
3
4 (Neither Agree norDisagree)5
6
7 (Strongly Agree)
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 9
Another question provided students with various adjectives and food groups, and the
students were asked to show what they identify as organic or non-organic. The students could
choose either organic or non-organic, or they could choose both organic and non-organic.
Students classified the following as organic: whole-grain (77.1%), natural (88.6%), more
nutritious (94.1%), fruits (94.1%), vegetables (94.1%), grains (77.1%), and water (71.4%).
Students classified the following as non-organic: conventional (96.9%), better-tasting (68.6%)
synthetic (97.1%), meat (78.8%), dairy (76.5%), and candy (100%). A graph of these results
(graph 4) can be found below.
The two open-ended questions asked students to name three things they know about
organic food, and to explain why they do don’t include organic foods in their diet.
Graph 3
The terms 'natural' and 'organic' mean the same thing:
22%
16%
16%14%
11%
16%
5%
1 (Stongly Disagree)
2
3
4 (Neitrher Agree norDisagree)
5
6
7 (Strongly Agree)
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 10
Discussion/Conclusion
Based on the results that were collected from the primary research, it seems that the
college students at York College are fairly knowledgeable about organic food. One thing from
the survey that didn’t mesh were questions 7 and 8 (see survey in Appendix). In question 7, the
number one answer was “strongly disagree,” but 88.2% of the students said that they associated
the word ‘natural’ with organic. Another thing that didn’t mesh was that the students said they
would eat more organic food if it was less expensive, but when asked if they would eat organic
foods if they were offered at school, most people answered with “neither agree nor disagree.”
This may show that people are still unsure about what organic is.
One thing that differed between the primary and the secondary research were the factors
for buying organic food. The secondary research shows that people buy organic food because
they taste better, but the primary research shows the exact opposite. The students think that non-
Graph 4
Which words do you associate with organic and/or non-organic? (Can coose both for one word)
05
10152025303540
# of
Peo
ple
Organic
Non-organic
Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 11
organic foods taste better. However, the primary research does agree with the secondary research
about if organic foods are the better choice. Research shows that people are still unsure about
whether organic foods are more beneficial than non-organic foods. Students answered this
question (question 2) with “neither agree nor disagree”.
For further research, a blind taste test could be done for college students. That way they
won’t be able to tell what they’re eating, and may find that they like the organic version better.
Other age groups could also be looked at, possibly adults. Some college students and youth
depend on their parents to do the grocery shopping and may not have any say on whether to eat
organic or non-organic foods. There may also be other factors as to why adults choose or don’t
choose to eat organic foods.
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 12
References
Dangour, D., Lock, K., Hayter, A., Aikenhead, A., Allen, E., & Uauy, R. (2010). Nutrition-
related health effects of organic foods: a systematic review. The American Journal of
Clinical Nursing, Retrieved from http://www.ajcn.org
Dahm, M. J., Samonte, A. V., & Shows, A. R. (2009). Organic foods: Do eco-friendly
attitudes predict eco-friendly behaviors?. Journal of American College Health, 58(3),
Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.
Dyer, D. (2011, June 25). Kill all known germs. New Scientist, 210(2818), Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.
Hjelmar, J. (2010, December 28). Consumers’ purchase of organic food products. A matter of
convenience and reflexive practices. Institute of Governmental Research, Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.
Is organic food better for you?. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/food-
recipes/features/organic-food-better
Kluger, J. (2010, August 30). What’s so great about organic food? Time, 176(9), Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.
Mayo Clinic staff. (2011, December 03). Organic foods: Are they safer? more
nutritious?. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255
McVeigh, K. (2009, July 29). Organic food not healthier, says fsa. Retrieved from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/29/organic-food-nutrition-fsa
Organic foods- overview. (2011, February 04). Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/organic-foods-overview
Wilcox, C. (2011, July 18). Mythbusting 101: Organic farming > conventional
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 13
agriculture. Retrieved from
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2011/07/18/mythbusting-101-organic-
farming-conventional-agriculture
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 14
Appendix
Blank Survey:
1) How often do you eat organic food?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2) Organic foods are better for us than non-organic foods:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3) If organic foods were offered at my school, I would choose to eat them:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4) I try my hardest to maintain a healthy diet:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5) How often do you (or your parents) buy the organic version over the non-organic version?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6) I have access to organic foods in my local grocery store, dining hall, or convenience store:(Check appropriate box for each)
1 (Strongly Disagree)
2 3 4 (Neither Agree nor Disagree)
5 6 7 (Strongly Agree)
I don’t know
Grocery StoreDining HallConvenience
Not at all
sometimes
All the time
Strongly disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Strongly disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Strongly agree
Not at all Sometimes All the time
1-3 times a year
5-7 times a year
1-2 times a week
3-5 times a week
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 15
Store
7) The terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ mean the same thing:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8) Which words do you associate with organic and/or non-organic? (Can choose both for one word)
Organic Non-organicWhole-grainNaturalConventionalBetter-tastingMore nutritiousSyntheticFruits VegetablesMeatGrainsDairyWaterCandy
9) Name 3 things that you know about organic foods. (It’s ok to answer with “I don’t know”)
10) Do you include organic food in your diet? Explain why or why not.
Other Results:
The following results are from questions 3-6 on the survey. The most popular answer for each
question is shown below.
Question 3: 4 (30.6%)
Strongly disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Strongly agree
ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 16
Question 4: 5 (41.7%)
Question 5: 1 (33.3%)
Question 6: Grocery Store- 7 (50.0%)
Dining Hall- 1 (36.3%)
Convenience Store- 1 (33.3%)
The table below shows the mean score for the questions that were asked on a 1-7 scale.
(N=37) Mean Scores
Question 1 2.59
Question 2 5.08
Question 3 4.86
Question 4 4.70
Question 5 2.95
Question 7 3.46