Conventional and Organic food :: Food Safety, Legal Issues, Organic Farming

Introduction: In recent years, the food industry has seen a significant increase in the demand for organically grown foods over the alternative choice of conventionally grown food. In 1990, the revenue spent on organic foods was a mere $1 billion, in 2008 sales soared to $21.1 billion, and in 2009, sales reached the highest ever at $26.6 billion (Crinnion 4).The significant increase in demand can be attributed to the common belief that organic foods are overall healthier for human health, and the health of our environment (Crinnon 4). In addition to the concerns over health, there has been a significant rise in concern about how our food is produced and the impact it has on our environment and our economy. The organic food industry has re-implemented the primitive process of growing food; before the corporate companies took over our food system, and began adding harmful chemicals that could save time and improve crop quality. In the 1970’s, private organizations, started to compile a list certification standards to eliminate false advertisement, consumer fraud, and to safeguard the organic label (Dimitri 8). As years progressed, and the consumer demand for organic products increased, the United States passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). The act was implemented in 1990, and mandated the United States Department of Agriculture to create a structured set of national standards for farmers and distributors of organically grown agricultural products to abide by. The National Organic Program, a program of the USDA agricultural Marketing Service, and the OFPA, regulate organic production methods to assure consumers that the food they are eating is in fact grown organically. According to the NOP guidelines for organic crop production pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, genetically engineered seeds, and sewer sludge-based fertilizers are not acceptable when raising organic food. When the org anic method is used to raise animals, the use of antibiotics or growth hormones is not acceptable. Organic feed must be used, and the animals have to be granted access to the outdoors (Dimitri 8). The organic farming method puts ecologically friendly techniques into practice by relying on biological pest management and composting (Dimitri 8). The organic farming method puts ecologically friendly techniques into practice by relying on biological pest management and composting (Dimitri 8). Organic food is grown without using synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, or hormones in both crop production and raising livestock (Dimitri 8). According to the International Federation on Organic Agriculture Movements, the purpose behind