Organic today: rating organic dairy brands, the egg scam and an eco-friendly primer
How to run a successful organic restaurant (INC): “A 2009 study by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) cites that 76 percent of adults are trying to eat healthier at restaurants than they were just two years ago. That study was determined over several demographics signaling an overall shift in the dietary consciousness of Americans. The NRA completed another recent study in which sustainability, local sourcing and nutrition are cited as some of the most popular culinary themes.”
Rating organic dairy brands (Only Grassfed): “Organic dairy is a “gateway food." Organic dairy is usually most consumers' first step into purchasing more certified organic foods. Since certified organic products command a premium price, the lure of the almighty dollar often drives questionable behavior. Organic standards have been defined loosely enough to allow for wide differences in farming practices. Most consumers are not equipped with all the facts and falsely assume that all certified organic products follow the same guidelines.”
Buyers: beware of “all natural” (My San Antonio): “Natural” is a common claim on the front of food packages and drinks, and because the Food and Drug Administration neither formally defines the term nor spends resources to enforce its use (or misuse), “natural” interpretations can vary, not to mention confuse and mislead.”
Trouble in the henhouse: the scam of organic eggs (BNet): “The picture is more like what we’re used to seeing for conventional eggs — hens are crammed inside massive window-deprived, metal barns where as many as 85,000 of them compete for space. They’re given organic feed and don’t get antibiotics, but that’s where the distinction ends. Like conventional hens, they don’t go outdoors and they’re often stacked in shelves going up to the ceiling.”
Look for these labels to be sure of eco-friendliness (The Columbia Daily Tribune): “Terms such as “eco-friendly,” “green,” and even “natural” are not regulated and have no clearly defined standards. This means companies can use the terms to make their products look more environmentally friendly than they really are.”
