Informative Essay Draft #1

Yechan Bae

Professor Matyakubova

English 21003 M

February 22, 2018

First Draft: Organic vs Inorganic

In less than two decades, the sales of organic products rose by $20 billion, growing “from $1 billion in 1990 to $21.1 billion in 2008” (Crinnon, 2018). Ever since the introduction of the organic food industry, consumers are convinced to buy foods with an organic label, as they perceive that it is  healthier and safer to eat. With the growing organic food industry, it is questionable whether spending extra money is justifiably worth the benefits of consuming food with an organic label. When the consumer debates whether to buy an organic food or inorganic food, one should consider the differences in the method of production and its effect on our health, the differences in price and the reasons behind it, and the differences in the taste between the two industries.  

Method of Production

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word, Organic, as, “produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial chemicals.” This suggests that the main difference between organic and inorganic food is the method of production. Among the several factors farming industries consider in their mass food production, these four main things are neutrally common in both industries and are especially crucial when distinguishing what makes one organic or not: promoting plant growth, reducing pests and diseases, weeds management, and preventing animal diseases.

First, while conventional industries apply artificial and chemical fertilizers in order to promote plant growth, organic industries apply natural fertilizers, such as compost and manure. Second, conventional industries use insecticides to reduce pests and diseases, while organic industries release birds and insects. Third, to manage weeds, conventional industries use chemical herbicides, while organic industries hand weed or rotate crops. Lastly, regarding the prevention of disease on the animals, conventional industries insert antibiotics and growth hormones to animals, while organic industries allow outdoor access to the animals to ensure their health and well-being.

According to Dr. Edward Group, a founder of Global Healing Center and the guest writer for Wake Up World, pesticides harm the nervous system of the human body, therefore, consuming food with pesticides gradually poisons our nervous system. In his article, 6 Important Health Benefits of Eating Organic Food, he states, “The way to avoid these poisons is to eat only organic foods” (Group, 2014). On the other hand, a study conducted by the Stanford University concluded that there is no evidence that supports the notion that organic foods are safer or nutrient dense than inorganic foods. Although the researchers discovered that organic foods are 30 percent lower in terms of the risk of pesticide residue, they also found that the inorganic foods are harmless and well within the safety line as well.

Cost

            Due to the expensive farming methods and stricter government regulations for food production, organic foods cost more compared to inorganic foods. Joseph Rosen, a professor of food toxicology at Rutgers University, wrote in his journal: A Review of the Nutrition Claims Made by the Proponents of Organic Food, “Any consumers who buy organic food because they believe that it contains more healthful nutrients than conventional food are wasting their money” (Rosen, 2010). In his abstract, he explains that the organic food industries “has a large financial interest in convincing the public that the food they sell is healthier, tastier, and better for the environment” (Rosen, 2010). Rosen further argues that no evidence has been found to prove that organic foods are more nutrient dense than conventional foods. On the other hand, some people still prefer to pay more for an organic label for the sake of their conscience. Dr. Edward Group suggests that being “aware of the devastation brought by agribusiness to animals and the environment, [our] conscience suffers” (Group, 2014). He further explains that choosing organic food industries over conventional food industries will help the environment and the way they are produced.

Taste

            Although people consider food as filling the necessity, taste has become one of the crucial factors that people consider when choosing their meal. I conducted a survey with a simple question, asking if organic food has a difference in taste with inorganic food. To ensure validity in this survey, the 20 participants were carefully and equally chosen with consideration of age, ethnicity, and living locations. Based on the survey, most people found no difference regarding the taste factor. The participants further explained that they choose organic products because of other reasons, such as health and conscience.

            When deciding what food is better than the other, debating between organic and inorganic food is just one of the many debatable factors one can consider.