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Cageless chicken eggs? Are you serious?Posted Friday, April 11, 2008, at 3:52 PM
Call me "old fashion," "set in my ways" or just plain stubborn, but I have a real problem accepting this organic food kick we hear so much about these days.
You venture out to your local grocery store and what do you see on the shelves, in the produce bins and in the refrigerated compartments? Organic foods. All kinds of them. Fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, dairy products and even meats. The word "organic" simply refers to the way farmers grow and process these agricultural products. "Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weed killers, organic farmers conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay," according to the Mayo Clinic's Web site. Products that are completely organic -- such as fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-ingredient foods -- are labeled 100 percent organic and can carry a small USDA seal. Foods that have more than one ingredient, such as breakfast cereal, can use the USDA organic seal on their package labels, depending on the number of organic ingredients. Foods containing less than 70 percent organic ingredients can't use the organic seal or the word "organic" on their product label. They can include the organic items in their ingredient list. In my view, these organic goodies look the same as the conventional versions, probably taste the same and cost significantly more. The higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields. Because organic farmers don't use herbicides or pesticides, many management tools that control weeds and pests are labor intensive -- and more costly, according to Mayo Clinic researchers. For example, organic growers may hand weed vegetables to control weeds, and you may end up paying more for these vegetables. You may see other terms on food labels, such as "all-natural," "free-range" or "hormone-free." Again, is there really any difference in these products from the way generations before us have prepared our grown foods and livestock? My sweet youngster daughter drew my attention a couple weeks back when I discovered that she was using "free range" or "cageless" eggs as I was about to prepare breakfast during a visit. Please don't try and tell me that a free range or a egg produced by cageless chicken is really any different than a conventional egg. The only difference is the price -- which is more than a dollar higher per dozen. I have to admit, that's just smart marketing if you ask me. Some animal activists are campaigning for a "free range" egg and poultry industry as the first step toward ending egg production, which is one of the first steps toward ending animal agriculture altogether as we know it. It is a big ploy to end farming and ag practices as we known them. An interesting sidelight was pointed out by my son-in-law who wondered how much more difficult it would be for farmers to gather "free range" eggs rather than their caged counterparts. He likened it to a huge Easter egg hunt. Good point. Also, USDA officials tell us there is no conclusive evidence that organic food is more nutritious or safer than conventionally grown food. The USDA also suggests that organic fruits and vegetables spoil faster because they are not treated with waxes or preservatives. Also, you expect less-than-perfect appearances in some organic produce -- odd shapes, varying colors and perhaps smaller sizes. Still, some people contend they can taste the difference between organic and non-organic food. Others say they find no difference. Taste is a very subjective, so I guess you'll have decide for yourself. For me, I'm not buying the organic stuff. Call me stubborn or stupid, I don't care. At breakfast tomorrow, just dish me up a couple of good, old-fashion caged eggs, a heaping helping of German fried potatoes loaded with onions with a couple of pork sausage patties from a conventional Hoosier farm-raised hog on the side. Nick is assistant editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at nschneider@gcdailyworld.com or schneider.nick@gmail.com Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Nick-- my wife will purchase nothing but free range and the ect. stuff. I think back growing up on the farm we had organic cows,,, they fed off a pasture that was not enhanced. The offensive weeds were dug up by me and a shovel. (under Dad's direction) However in the winter they were moved to the barn and feed lot with corn and hay from our own fields. OK, the corn was fertilized.
I will meet you for some REAL eggs, taters, biscuts and gravy at breakfast next week.
I don't particularly care about how the weeds are pulled, I do care however about all the pesticides & preservatives that is being put in and on all the food. Does anyone ever think "Why is everyone getting Cancer?" Just think what all the chemicals can do--they kill weeds at the drop of a hat, can't you guess what's doing to your insides??????????? How about your children or grandchildren.???
To mother2, help me. What are the farmers to do? Today's grain will not grow to produce a crop without the "stuff" The weed killers we use do NOT kill at the drop of a hat. That type of weed killer is what the home owner use to clean around your sidewalk. The fast acting brush killer was outlawed many years ago. Now there is a weed/grass killer that acts fast but not at the drop of a hat fast.
Yes Cancer is all around us. I am a city-slicker for the most part and the city pollution is choking me, that is what scares me regarding cancer. My family farm is not near as dangerous as my back yard here in Hamilton County.
We should be concerned and most farmers do have respect for the land they farm, if they did not it would shut them down because of poor practices.
Enough of my ramblings. Be good to each other.
Okay, time for another 2-cents worth of my opinion. Folks, this organic farming business is a good thing. Suppy and demand will keep increasing, and more folks will return to backyard gardening, as well as supporting the local farmers market-which is a good thing in this world of Walmart supercenters. Everyone accepts the old saying that you are what you eat. So plant some goodies in your backyard (get your kids or nieces and nephews involved), buy from local veggie vendors, support your local butcher shop and keep your local economy, and your family healthy!
Organic foods are here to stay.
I didn't mean to bad mouth farmers-I was raised on a farm. It's also what happens to the products once it leaves the farm!!!! It has very little nutrition by the time its processed & preserved!!! My husband died from Agent Orange-also know as Dioxin which has long been used in fertilzers!! Still is??
Like with all human endeavor, there's always some inherent flaw. So goes it with organic foods and the marketing thereof. Personally, I wouldn't buy organic, or free range, or any other pricey egg due to my concerns of freshness. Finding a supplier I can trust is my problem, so I buy what moves the fastest. Yet in a world of druthers, I'd druther eat fresh brown eggs from the farm.
And bring on those Rhode Island Reds-yum!
Anyone with any serious health 'issues' may be well served to 'try' the organic options and see if their health issues don't lessen or disappear completely.
One may find numerous books on the matter, one for church folk out there may open your eyes to some living saving truths, in 'Gods Way to Ultimate Health", By Dr.George Malkmus. http://www.hacres.com/home/home.asp
Also "A diet for a Small Planet" points out some pretty obvious problems and solutions.
Both those references are going to set off the people making money off mass produced food, of course, we'll see that shortly after posting.
Of course, there are those making money off of most of society's way of eating and even more people raking it in as our medical needs rise due to it and they will be quick to discredit anyone who threatens their livlihood, whether changing the way things are currently done could save lives or not.
Just not sure how anyone could chose to suffer ailments, including weight problems, without at least 'trying' an organic diet. Most people who do, find out fast that there IS a big difference.
For those who'd rather save a few bucks, eat processed and toxic substances, that's ok with me, but I don't understand the intense animosity with which those people react to the fact we are being offered OPTIONS and some are chosing the alternatives.
Take a look inside one of our local 'turkey farms' for a look inside how this 'product' is mass produced. Common sense tells us that if their environment isn't healthy for the animal one maybe eating, it's most likely not making a healthy product for you to eat.
Wow - somebody has the feathers all in a ruffle.
Is that me? No ruffled feathers here, just an opinion based on my experience and others I know. Take it or leave it, no problem there. Some people may honestly not know about the extreme toxins in our foods and waters. It's always good to consider all the facts when it comes to ones health, if you value it. Question everything. You maybe surprised at what you uncover.
Frankly though, it doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things. We are all going to die eventually, but's not rocket science to deduce that our life choices today stack the deck either in or out of our favor when it comes to 'natural selection'. If someone wants to stack the deck OUT of their favor, ok with me! I just prefer not to bring about any unnecessary physical suffering if I can avoid it, but that's just me and my crazy ideas! ;)
Knock yourself out with your own choices, makes no difference to this poster, enjoy!
Wow, if these comments weren't so sad, they'd be laughable. When this becomes a 'free country' to the point of allowing even SUSPECTED child rape to be ignored, there is big problem. Sexual abuse of minors is a horrific crime happening in our own community regularly. But alas, not too many seem to care muc about that either.
It's cult brainwashing that teaches childern like these NOT TO QUESTION AUTORITY-the idea of which was so scary to another poster-and leaves them vulnerable to quietly bearing abuse without speaking out. (Why not give a kid a valid reason for something if they question it...unless there is no valid reason?)
Is this all just a tad off topic? Or did I miss something and the alleged child abusing cult did organic farming?
Did Greene County ever chose a slogan? Based on columns and comments like these that make me think of something I read on another blog ; "Greene County Indiana; you can almost hear the banjo music'.
My guess is, america, you maybe a perfect example of pesticides and toxins soaking into the body and affecting brain function. Only child abusers support weaker child abuse laws, so you are actually pointing that finger at yourself. Innocent people have nothing to hide and don't fear false reports or 'investigations', since there is no truth in them. No clue who bud klien is but I'm sure he knows your calling from the shallow end of the gene pool, I won't worry.
Now what about feeding kids organic foods?
GCP, why feed the chickens antibiotics unless they are needed? There is a pretty big problem with antibotic overuse in farming relating to drug resistant disease in humans. There are several references to the CDC citing that MILLIONS of americans are affected yearly and thousands die.
ANTIBIOTICS POSE DANGERS
May 5, 2000
Montreal Gazette
Editorial / Op-ed
B2
Andrea Gilker, Sutton, writes in this letter to the editor: According to the
current New England Journal of Medicine, salmonella infection in a
12-year-old Nebraska boy proved immune to the drug Rocephine because of
indiscriminate use of a related antibiotic on his family's farm. The
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention was cited as saying that there
are no effective alternatives to Rocephine in treating children.
The growing immunity to antibiotics due to their excessive use in factory
farms has, according to this letter, raised the spectre of worldwide
epidemics. In fact, production and consumption of meat and other animal
products have been the chief source of food poisoning in the United States.
The CDC was cited as estimating that several million Americans are afflicted
each year and thousands are killed.
But routine use of antibiotics in animal feed is, according to this letter,
an integral element of today's animal agriculture. The meat and drug
industries have fiercely been cited as opposing attempts by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration to limit this practice.
So, back to the subject, are sellers at the farmers market in Linton going to be allowed to claim to be organic if they are or do they have to have official status from USDA to make that claim?
Guess it's time to try my hand at growing our family organics. Although with the japanese beetles as thick as they are on flowering plants, that sounds like a tall order.
To green county patriot--My husband was a Vietnam Veteran & I'll thank you to not call me "paranoid" about agent orange!!! Its what he did for this country that gives you the right to say what you want!! I did not say they were in eggs-only all the pesticides and antibiotics are!! All this is destroying this planet full of people-at least in the USA!! People have to make their own choices in what they eat and how they live their lives.