What Is The True Definition Of Organic Food?

As more people look to adopt a more healthy lifestyle, the question of what foods to eat needs to be answered. Many dieticians and health experts have been recommending a diet of organic foods, which begs the question: What is the definition of organic food?

There are actually a couple of different answers as to the definition of organic food. The biggest school of thought is that organic foods are foods that are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or growth hormones. In other words, completely and wholly natural.

Another definition of organic food is food that is grown without the use of pesticides or antibiotics, and is also grown on soil that has not been treated with any chemicals whatsoever. Either definition of organic food can actually apply.

The United States Department of Agriculture has actually set up what they call National Organic Standards. Under their specific standards, the definition of organic food means foods that are produced without any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, without the use of bioengineering, and cannot include antibiotics of any kind. They also rule out the use of sewer-sledge fertilizer as well. Organic foods also include animals who are raised without the use of any antibiotics and are fed with organic feed only.

Under the USDA definition of organic foods, all foods must meet the strict requirements of the Quality Assurance International certification. The QAI certification follow foods from the growing fields all the way to the retail shelves to ensure that no biochemicals or additives of any kind has been introduced to the organic food.

Farmers who grow foods according to the definition of organic foods are regularly inspected to ensure that all processes of growing and harvesting are natural. Growing organic food is generally considered much better for the environment as well, as the soil is preserved much longer without any chemicals or pesticides being used on the soil. Organic foods not only help the dieter, but they also help keep the environment safer as well.