On Organics
by Linda Odum

The Right Choice for Families
Parents make the move to organic

Nothing is more important to parents than the health and well-being of their children. That's why many moms and dads are making the switch to organic products. "I became interested in organic foods when I gave birth to my first daughter, Jessica," says Victoria Smith of Rudi's Organic Bakery. Now teenagers, "both Jess and her younger sister, Stephanie, were raised on a lot of organic foods, starting with organic baby foods."

WHY ORGANIC?
A growing body of research suggests that organic foods are packed with the nutrients kids need most. For example, a recent study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry finds that organic corn and berries have higher amounts of antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. Another recent scientific analysis shows that organic oranges contain up to 30 percent more vitamin C than conventional oranges. Still more research reveals organic crops are higher in magnesium and other nutrients, while containing lower levels of nitrates, chemical additives that are not beneficial for small children. Chuck Enderson of Country Choice says that his company "excludes many ingredients that have been mentioned in the press lately as not contributing to good health-for example, hydrogenated oils that contain trans fats.

" When it comes to feeding kids, what the food doesn't contain also becomes important. Organic foods are produced without synthetic herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, artificial ingredients, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). "Experts believe that children may be more susceptible to pesticide residues because they consume more per pound of body weight than adults, have immature organ systems, and may have limited ability to detoxify these substances," Gwen Scherer of Horizon Organic points out.

Children also consume higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, and juices than adults, making them particularly vulnerable to synthetic chemicals in these foods. "A recent University of Washington study showed that children who eat conventional fruits and vegetables have six times higher concentrations of pesticide metabolites in their urine than kids who eat organic," notes Keri Erving from Pacific Foods of Oregon.

In addition, organic livestock is not fed antibiotics and growth hormones. "There is growing concern that antibiotics given to healthy conventional livestock is contributing to the growing trend of drug-resistant microbes," says Horizon's Scherer. "In June 2001, the American Medical Association went on record opposing the use of antibiotics in agriculture for nontherapeutic use in healthy animals. And though recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is approved for use [in the US], some worry about its safety. Many European countries, Canada, and Australia have all banned its use, while researchers investigate whether cows treated with rBGH produce higher levels of insulin growth factor 1, a protein that has been linked to higher instances of breast and colon cancer in humans." David Neuman of Nature's Path, the leading producer of organic cereals, adds, "We are now selling into school systems. The reason they're looking to offer organic children's breakfast foods is because of studies [such as above]. Schools want to offer something for families who are looking to change the way their children eat. If you can change food at home but you can't change it in the schools, this gives a mixed message to the kids."

IT COMES DOWN TO TASTE
"Moms are the family leaders when it comes to switching to organic products," says Rudi's Smith, "because we're the keepers of the kitchenÄand we're most concerned with our children's diets. But the kids have to like the taste of these foods or they just won't eat them." "The people who are producing organic food for kids more closely mirror the interests and concerns of parents," adds Stephen McDonnell of Applegate Farms. "The movement will be towards kids because that is where eating habits begin." But he also notes that kids will have the final say. "Kids are much hipper-their palates are much more sophisticated. The kids care, and they notice the taste."

Today's organic companies are working harder than ever to provide a wide range of choices. Many products bear the USDA's organic seal, showing they are certified according to strict national standards. "It's not that hard for parents who've become interested in organic foods to switch their picky kids to organic choices," says Smith. "But I'm also a realist, thanks to having two teenagers in the house. They eat a lot of junk foods, so serving organic foods at home helps give me peace of mind that at least they're getting healthier basics at the family dinner table."

A number of organic choices fit any kid-friendly occasion (see "An organic halloween"). But Tonya Martin from Eden Foods highlights what is most important: "To provide organic food for your children gives them a head start on enjoying good and healthy food and developing healthy eating habits throughout their lifetime."

Selected Sources
- Chuck Enderson, Country Choice; Keri Erving, Pacific Foods; Tonya Martin, Eden Foods; Stephen McDonnell, Applegate Farms; David Neuman, Nature's Path; Gwen Scherer, Horizon Organic; Victoria Smith, Rudi's Organic Bakery, personal communication, 8/03

- "Exposure to Pesticides Lowered When Young Children Go Organic, Researchers Determine," New York Times, 3/25/03

- The O'Mama Report, The Organic Trade Association, www.theorganicreport.com

- The Organic Foods Sourcebook by Elaine Marie Lipson ($15.95, Contemporary/ McGraw-Hill, 2001)

Taste for Life (ISSN 1521-2904) is published monthly by CCI, 86 Elm Street, Peterborough NH 03458-1009, 603-924-7271 (fax 603-924-7013); ©2003 Connell Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: $29.95. This magazine is not intended to provide medical advice on personal health conditions, nor to replace recommendations made by health professionals. The opinions expressed by contributors and sources quoted in articles are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content of advertising and for any claims arising therefrom. Information appearing in Taste for Life may not be reproduced in whole or in part without express permission of the publisher. Printed in the U.S. on partially recycled paper.

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