Well, here’s the other side of the story. American Agri-Women compiled a report that addresses the errors and omissions – exposes the myths – presented in the documentary “Food Inc.” This is a ‘must read’ in order to develop a balanced perspective and make informed opinions on how our food is developed.

Some summary bits:

* Food prices—especially meat and poultry prices—would rise
dramatically because of the increased costs of their inefficient
production approaches.
* Vast amounts of land would need to be used to raise livestock and
poultry in free range systems.
* The environment would suffer from open systems lacking
environmental controls.
* Many fresh fruits and vegetables, which are seasonal in nature,
would become unavailable in many areas of the country for much of
the year.
* Imported foods like salamis from Italy, Danish hams and many other
items would become “politically incorrect” because of the
distances the products travel.

Excerpts:
“In the U.S, the quantity of pesticides used by farmers has decreased by four percent since 1990 while crop output increased by 15 percent, which indicates a reduction in the intensity of pesticide use due to the introduction of synthetic chemicals that are more specifically-targeted to particular pests…Organic fruit and vegetable growers use insecticides and fungicides that are approved for organic growers. These are inorganic substances (such as copper and sulfur), microbes and toxic plant extracts. They are all registered as pesticides by the EPA and pass the same regulatory safety tests as do the synthetic chemicals used by non-organic growers. However, since the inorganic substances, microbes and toxic plant extracts are not as effective as synthetic chemicals, organic growers spray more often than non-organic growers and use a greater tonnage of pesticides per acre than do non-organic farmers.”

“For the average American consumer, the term “organic” has a positive connotation and the beneficial properties of organic foods may be misinterpreted or exaggerated. Surveys indicate many proponents of organic food production look beyond the final product to consider factors such as environmental impacts, worker safety, and economic considerations which are not related to organic production standards. U.S. consumers frequently have the choice between purchasing organic and conventional foods and make food purchasing decisions that reflect their values, concerns, and lifestyles. Studies show conventional foods may contain more pesticide residue than organic, but organic foods should not be considered to be pesticide free. Most health professionals consider the risks from pesticide residues in the diet to be negligible and consuming organic foods is unlikely to result in health benefits. For optimal health, consumers should continue to eat a balanced diet regardless of whether the food is produced by organic or by conventional practices.”

View the report at:
http://www.kfb.org/faultyfoodinc.pdf
http://americanagriwomen.org
Contact: Chris Wilson
president@americanagriwomen.org
785-537-6171