• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world

 

Saturday, May 26, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

Tweet
Pin It
Email Bookmark and ShareShare
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More

Earn Points
What's this?
MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Robin Shreeves

Organic vs natural food

Wed, Dec 10 2008 at 12:10 PM EST

Your grocery store might have a natural foods section, and that is where you will probably find most of the organic foods. There will probably be foods in the section that aren’t necessarily organic but are labeled natural. Do you know the difference?
 
Organic means that the food has been grown without chemical/synthetics/poisonous pesticides and fertilizers. Animals that produce food have been given no antibiotics or growth hormones. The FDA regulates foods that are organic and issues a certification. To get that certification, strict rules must be adhered to. No artificial flavorings or colorings are added to organic foods.
 
Natural foods are ones that are minimally processed and don't contain any additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors and colors. The fruits, vegetables and grains in all natural food may have been grown using non-organic standards and the animal products may come from non-organic animals.
 
Example: I have bought natural peanut butter for years. I like just peanuts and salt in my peanut butter. However, since the peanuts have not been grown organically, I may be getting more than just peanuts and salt. The peanuts contain harmful chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers used to grow them. So in my all-natural pb, I may have some not so natural stuff.  An organic pb would be free of that not so natural stuff.
 
However, I choose the natural peanut butter because I find that many organic peanut butters include sugar and some sort of oil, and I don’t want those in my peanut butter either. Also, since peanuts have a thick shell, the shells absorb the majority of the chemicals, shielding the peanut inside from a lot of the pesticides and fertilizers.
 
Very few of us have the money to go completely organic with all our food, and there are choices that need to be made each time we shop. There are some foods that are non-negotiable for me. I always buy organic milk, fair trade organic coffee, and organic eggs. When I have the money, I buy other organic products, too. But sometimes, like with the peanut butter, I choose to go with the natural product.
 

The trick to it all is educating yourself as to which foods are most important to buy organically, figuring out what you and your family eats the most of, and making judgment calls based on information. MNN’s Leah Koenig has an article Don’t panic, it’s (mostly) organic, that can assist you in figuring out what works for you. And, I’ll be writing a lot here about organics and food choices, so keep coming back. 

Previous Post
Store wars: May the farm be with you
   Next Post
Kitchen recycling tip: Coffee grounds
You might also like:
Related Topics: Green shopping, Organic Foods

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:
  • All (0)

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
    Log in or
    create an account
     
    •  
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use

EDITORS' PICKS

tease to asteroids

tease to pet facials

tease to emotional eating

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered

CONNECT WITH MNN

Follow @twitterapi
 Tumblr
 Google +

About Robin Shreeves

Stay-at-home mom on eco-friendly food options.

RSS feedMore about Robin

Recent Posts

  • 5 dairy recipes for Shavuot with local and seasonal ingredients
  • 5 recipes for watercress
  • Most people want equal access for all to good food
+ Add this to my site
From our sponsor

Ocean Mysteries Resource Report: Re & De from Georgia-Pacific

Ocean Mysteries, Georgia Aquarium & Georgia-Pacific present the Resource... more >

Charlie's PB&J

See what happens when Charlie wants a PB&J, when there is no J. more >

Detective Charlie

Who has been digging up mom's flowers? more >

Ocean Mysteries Resource Report:

Now & Then from Georgia-Pacific more >

Charlie's Lemonade Stand

Introducing Charlie, a nine-year-old super fan of The Brawny Man™. more >
Sustainability—A Long Term Approach

GP Facebook link

Robin's BLOGROLL

Follow NathanGreen Fork Blog
Twilight EarthCook Local
BittenMore Hip than Hippie
John and Lisa are Eating in S. JerseyGrass Stain Guru
The Atlantic Food ChannelThe "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks

ADVERTISEMENT



Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports

Follow MNN

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Google+
  • StumbleUpon
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS