Can salt and water be certified organic?

Under USDA National Organic Program, salt, in all of its forms, and water cannot be certified as organic. Only agricultural products produced and handled in accordance with the National Organic Program may be certified as organically produced. Salts are minerals not agricultural products. Water is a chemical substance used in the production of agricultural products but is not itself an agricultural product. Salt and water are excluded when calculating the percentage of organic ingredients in a multi-ingredient product.

What is organic food?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

"Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too."

Foods With Minimal Pesticides

These are vegetables and fruits that are found to contain negligible pesticides:

onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangos, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papaya.

If you are on a tight budget, you can choose to go inorganic on these produces.

Tips on Buying Organic Food On A Tight Budget

Some tips on buying organic food at affordable prices:

1. Shop locally or at a farmer's market - cheaper than buying organic produce at supermarkets as you are buying direct and transportation costs are lower.
2. Shop in season - Buy more of organic vegetables and fruits when they are in season or cheaper.
3. Shop at health food and specialty stores - they stock a wider variety of high quality and affordable produce from various suppliers.
4. Shop at co-op or join a CSA - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) helps to support family farms that are struggling to stay in business, while providing city people, particulary those in low-income neighborhoods with access to high quality, locally grown, affordable produce. New York residents can join a CSA to get affordable, fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is delivered to a central neigborhood distribution site each week and CSA members collect at the nearest neighborhood sites. The cost of a week’s worth of CSA is less than $15.00 per week. 95 cents of each $1.00 goes toward producing quality food compared to .75 cents of every $1.00 spent on food in a supermarket actually covers the cost of advertising, packaging, long distance transport and storage. It is also cheaper to buy organic produce at co-ops.
5. Shop around - You may find the best deals elsewhere. Check out superstores as they use their buying power to buy at lower prices and hence, can pass on savings to customers.
6. Buy house/store brands - Wild Oats has more than 500 natural and organic corporate branded products. The selection of products ranges from cage-free eggs and organic milk to organic cookies, and organic frozen vegetables and fruit pieces. Other stores are Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.
7. Buy in bulk - You save by not paying for packaging.
8. Be choosy - If the vegetables and fruits that you consume most have high levels of pesticides when grown conventionally, then buy organics. See my previous post "To Go Organic Or Not" for a list of vegetables and fruits that contain most and least pesticides.

To Go Organic Or Not?

Organic foods cost more than non-organic foods because organic farmers have to adhere to strict regulations in the growing, harvesting and transporting of the food.

Is it worth paying the higher prices?

Organic foods taste better, safer and healthier. Fruits and vegetables are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, artificial fertilisers and genetic modification. Animals are reared without the use of hormones and antibiotics.

Some foods are more contaminated; apples, peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, peaches, cherries, pears, green beans, grapes, raspeberries, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, sweet bell peppers and cantaloupes.

Neither washing nor peeling skin can remove all pesticides. Hard produce absorbs less pesticides than soft produce.

The less contaminated foods are asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangoes, onion, papaya, pineapples and sweet peas.

There's no organic certification for seafood as fish can be contaminated with mercury and PCPBs.

It is advisable to buy organic meat as it is produced without antibiotics and growth hormones. Animals are fed with organic feed that contains no animal by-products.

It is impossible to eat everything organic as choices are still limited. However, be selective and you can still benefit greatly from eating organic foods that fit your budget.

2nd Detoxification: Day 5 (Last Day)

Our detox officially ended at 6pm, on 9 Sep 2006.

It's been 5 days of:

• eating vegs and fruits, and
  
• drinking plenty of water and Melilea Greenfield Organic.

I had been on 2 detox and it wasn't as difficult as most people seem ti think. I made sure I didn't starve myself by eating a variety of fruits and vegs, and drinking Melilea. Detox is about cleansing your body, not starving yourself.

2nd Detoxification: Day 4

Lina and Alvin have been talking about food all day!

They've even made a dinner reservation at the restaurant for tomorrow night (our detox officially ends at 6pm, 9 Sep 2006). I know what I am having already... veg lasagne.

We went to the zoo today (to get away from the house 'cos our maid's cooking smelt so good!). The crocodiles never seemed so big until I saw them from about 2 metres away (through the glass, of course). I saw many animals from a close distance...such as the penguins, tigers, leopards, snakes, komodo dragon and puma. They looked so real.

At one point, I heard a hissing noise. Then, I saw something round, moving in the dark on the ceiling wall. I shouted 'snake' and scared everyone off. At that moment, I thought it was a real snake. But on close examination, it was a moving fan! You see... I don't like snakes. We were in the free ranging area for reptiles. I was on the lookout for snakes and just couldn't wait to get out of there. My fear could have gotten over me altho' I didn't see any snake or other reptile (unless they were hiding).

We had steamed corn and broccoli for dinner but Alvin and Lina had a veg soup as well. Tomorrow is the last day of detox. They are glad they've made it this far. Hurray!

2nd Detoxification: Day 3

This morning, Lina and I went to the market to stock up on fruits and vegs. We bought so much fruits that the fruit seller probably thought we lived on them!

Alvin and Lina were longing for hot food. So, we boiled some fresh veg soup and had it for dinner. You should have seen their looks of satisfaction!

Alvin can eat any vegs raw but not me and Lina. I don't like eating salad without dressing, but raw carrot, tomatoes and cucumber are fine. I'd have boiled/steam green beans, broccoli and corn for dinner.

I consume Melilea Greenfield Organic daily. So, I don't worry about not eating raw vegs.

2nd Detoxification: Day 2

My body is adapting gradually. I'm not as hungry as yesterday.

My brother-in-law, Alvin, woke up in the morning and asked if he could have cereal!

My sis, Lina is already missing her hot Earl Grey tea and bread/bun. She substituted hot water for tea, the neares she could get to tasting the warmth of a cup of tea.

Here's my two cents worth....

Find a buddy or someone from the same household to go on a detox together. You can motivate each other and make sure no one cheats.

I wasn't planning to detox now as I am not at home, but currently visiting my sister's family abroad. As Alvin and Lina were keen to detox but needed someone to motivate them in the process, I've agreed to join them.

I drank 2 glasses of Melilea Greenfield Organic and plenty of water. Also, ate fruits throughout the day and vegs for dinner.