Eco, organic, bio: what does the label on organic products mean. Ecological products and their ability to restore health

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With complete confidence, only those products that have a certificate from one of the world's most recognized certifying organizations can be called ecological or organic.

Russian certification that you can trust - the badge "Leaf of Life" of the St. Petersburg Eco-Union. From foreign generally accepted in the Russian market most widespread received - EU Eurolist, American USDA Organic, Italian ICEA, private foreign certificates of Demetra and Bioland systems.

If we talk about the differences between our and not our certificates, the Russian national standard for organic products has been adapted with international generally accepted standards and has minor differences. True, it came into force quite recently, only this year.

Certificate - quality assurance

The certificate mark on the product means that it is produced without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, anabolic drugs, steroids, GMOs. To obtain such a certificate, the product, at every stage of its production - from the seed to the counter, is very strictly checked by the inspectors of the certification companies. Everything is very strict and everything can be checked: each batch of products has its own number, by which you can check the authenticity of the products by going to the website of the certifying company. It is necessary to confirm the certificate every year and only for a certain volume of products. Selling under the guise of organic products from a neighboring uncertified field will not work, the inspector will quickly find this out. They check everything - land, seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, feed, animal conditions, slaughter method, processing, transportation, storage.

"Eco" and "organic" - do not count

Products that do not have a certificate, but simply labeled "eco", "bio" or "organic" on the packaging - this is just a manufacturer's statement, which may or may not be true. Unfortunately, in Russia, a federal law on organic products has not yet been adopted, which would prohibit simply putting such inscriptions on packaging, which is what many unscrupulous producers use. Despite the fact that in Russia there are catastrophically few certified producers of organic products, no more than 70 for the whole country. While, for example, there are more than 40,000 of them in Turkey, there are 500,000 in India.

If there is no certificate

What to focus on if most domestic products do not have any certificates, but there is something you need?

Foods that need to be treated with special care are pork, chicken, eggs, milk and dairy products, sweets, fruits and vegetables out of season, and industrially grown fish. It is worth giving up semi-finished products and fast food. It is better to prefer natural products with a short shelf life for any processed products. It is extremely difficult to determine the environmental friendliness of products by appearance, color, smell, since there are such “craftsmen” who give ordinary products natural properties that even experienced experts will not find a difference.

The most obvious difference in taste, smell and appearance natural apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, meat, dill, honey, cottage cheese, cheese. Most products are hard to tell right off the bat.

Definitely, you should not choose fruits and vegetables that are glossy-beautiful, the same in size and shape, very large, as a rule, these are GMO products grown with a large amount of agricultural chemicals. Cow and goat milk should not smell strongly and unpleasantly. If this is true, then the animals were kept in the mud and poorly cared for. Ask sellers of meat and milk questions - what they feed animals. If the answer is: purchased "compound feed", then it is better not to take such milk and meat, since most of the blown compound feed already contains GMOs, antibiotics and growth hormones.

Closer to nature

The quality is closer to ecological for those who prepare feed on their own and do without imported premixes. 100% natural and healthy milk comes from free-ranging animals that feed on natural herbal feed as is customary in organic farming. It is better to buy meat and milk in small farms with up to 8 animals. The less crowded animals are, the less they get sick, the less the risk of antibiotics in products. Well, the natural smell of fresh vegetables and fruits grown in a non-industrial way speaks for itself, it is impossible to fake it.

According to WHO, a person eats from 3 to 9 kg of preservatives, stabilizers and other food additives per year. AT organic products all this is not.

Natural products are more nutritious, they are better absorbed by the body, contain more vitamins, minerals, micronutrients. With a properly balanced diet of natural products, it is easier to maintain an optimal weight for the body, while processed foods and industrial food, in addition to losing some useful substances from processing, frost, it still contains cheap components that are difficult for the body to digest.

From your garden

To date, the most safe way of high-quality ecological nutrition - these are either certified organic (Eco, bio) products, or products grown in our own beds. Products from your garden / garden or from the forest can be considered environmentally friendly if you did not use GMOs, agricultural chemicals, antibiotics, growth hormones, food additives in the process of growing or production. And also if your site is far from industrial production and highways, and the land and water for irrigation do not contain heavy metals and harmful chemical compounds.

A striking example of eating low-quality foods is antibiotic resistance, which has arisen due to the frequent consumption of meat and milk from animals that have been treated with antibiotics.
With a sedentary lifestyle, constant stress, overeating and inhaling dirty air, the conditional ecological cleanliness of food products may not affect health in any way.

What are the dangers of conventional products

In pursuit of economic gain, the global food industry is the least concerned about the health of its end consumer. Its main goal is to feed maximum amount people at the lowest cost. To achieve it, food manufacturers are taking a whole range of measures, from genetic engineering to the use of completely useless, and even harmful chemicals.

The main methods used by modern manufacturers to achieve economic benefits:

• reduction of production costs;
• reduction in the cost of manufacturing processes;
• increase the shelf life of food;
• reducing the rate of damage and loss of resources by increasing their resistance to pests and negative external factors.

As a result, the shelves of modern supermarkets, grocery stores, markets and stalls in all cities of the world are filled with bright, beautiful, mouth-watering products that can be stored in the refrigerator for months. And few people think, plunging into all this illusory abundance, about the gigantic size of the chicken and the unnatural brilliance of bell pepper, about the village milk that does not sour for weeks, and about the obviously distorted taste of many familiar products. [sidebar#1]

By eating such “modified” foods, a person unknowingly causes serious harm to his body in the form of chronic diseases, reduced immunity, intoxication, metabolic disorders, allergies, fatigue, disorders of various systems and internal organs. And it is still somehow not customary to associate all these problems with food, although many do not even realize how healthy eating and organic products can transform lives.

Can Organic Food Help Improve Your Health?

Healthy nutrition is the key to normal human life and even one of right ways increase in lifespan. It is not easy to recover from long-term consumption of low-quality foods, and this can only be done with the help of a complete transition to environmentally friendly and natural food.

Replacing junk food with healthy products leads to a gradual improvement in well-being and mood, increased efficiency and the disappearance of a depressive state, a reduction in the manifestations of chronic ailments and the restoration of vitality in general.

When switching to organic food, it is important to understand that a natural diet is not a panacea, and deviations from it are quite acceptable. You should not expect radical changes and total recovery of the body from organic food, and even more so hope that they will help cure any serious diseases. [sidebar#2]

The opposite effect can be given by the wrong combination of products or attempts to oversaturate the body with useful substances due to the uncontrolled consumption of food unusual for the body.

What products are environmentally friendly

Despite the desire of a significant part of the representatives food business get the maximum profit from the sale of low-quality products, the modern market law also applies to healthy food.

Demand creates supply, and every year more and more food products appear on the market, which does not harm the body at all, and on the contrary, saturates it with vitamins and microelements necessary for optimal life. And the main task of those who decide to switch to healthy food of a person - to learn to recognize such products on the shelves of supermarkets.

Environmentally friendly products do not contain genetically modified organisms, synthetic preservatives, artificial flavor enhancers, dyes and flavors. The raw materials used in the production of eco-products are grown without the use of hormones, antibiotics, artificial fertilizers, pesticides and pesticides.

Food grown on organic materials is much tastier and healthier than those obtained through the use of growth regulators, chemical enzymes and other artificial additives. Realizing this, many farms are trying to minimize human interference in the natural development of plants and animals.

Advantages of organic products over conventional ones

In addition to the fact that organic food is completely safe for humans, it has other important advantages.

1. High content of vitamins and microelements (there are about 50% more useful substances in eco-products than in ordinary food).
2. Improved taste, pleasant aroma, juiciness and appetizing (the taste of organic food has no chemical impurities).
3. Security is not only inside, but also outside. Fruits and vegetables are often coated with wax to prevent them from spoiling quickly and to give them an attractive appearance. Environmentally friendly products do not need such processing. They can be eaten with the peel, which means you get even more nutrients.
4. Benefits for children and pregnant women (the absence of chemical additives in the composition completely eliminates their penetration and settling in the body).

What are ecological products

Despite the fact that most often fruits and vegetables are considered natural products, there is a huge list of products that can rightfully be proudly called “ecological”. So, on the shelves of modern stores you can find environmentally friendly pasta and vegetable oils, nuts and dried fruits, natural canned food, dairy products, candy and chocolate.

Eco-products of animal origin are also known, prepared using special technologies that provide for the rejection of growth hormones, chemicals, antibiotics and low-quality feed in the process of growing birds and animals. Some manufacturers show concern not only for people, but also for their pets, launching ecologically clean food for cats and dogs on the market. All these delicacies are united by the absence of harmful components in the composition and the presence of a special sign on the packaging.

Requirements for environmentally friendly products

In order to bring truly safe, healthy and high-quality environmentally friendly products to the market, manufacturers must comply with certain requirements.

1. When growing crops, the use of mineral fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, chemicals and any unnatural radiation is not allowed. Animals can be grown only on environmentally friendly feed, and their diet should not contain hormonal drugs and feed antibiotics.
2. In the production of organic food, it is prohibited to use artificial preservatives, genetically modified organisms, synthetic flavors, substitutes and taste regulators. Aggressive processing methods and changes in the original properties of products are not allowed.
3. Ecological products are characterized by minimal external processing. Wax and exposure to chemical factors is a sign of artificially increasing the shelf life of products and improving their appearance.

Where to buy organic products

Every year, the world market is replenished with new manufacturers of organic products, and healthy food itself is becoming more and more in demand. Many companies from Russia and other countries open retail and wholesale points of sale, participate in international fairs, show their products at exhibitions.

Unscrupulous entrepreneurs are also becoming more active, passing off cheap low-quality goods as ecological products. That is why it is better to purchase eco-products in specialized stores and centers that have licenses and certificates confirming the naturalness of the products offered. Before getting on the shelves of eco-markets, real organic food undergoes mandatory certification and receives a brand certifying its naturalness. Russia has not yet issued a law that would regulate agriculture and control the work of producers of organic products, but a draft of such a document has already been submitted to the State Duma.

Agricultural fairs are regularly held in different cities of the country, presenting to buyers a wide selection of products grown by farmers on their own farms. And despite the fact that all the fruits, vegetables, berries, meat and dairy products they sell look very natural and natural, there is no guarantee that chemicals have not been used in growing plants, and harmful additives and stimulants in feeding animals. That is why it is better to buy ecological products in places where an official and 100% guarantee of their naturalness and safety is provided. A bright sign and an original presentation of organic products are not an indicator of their naturalness and safety.

A modern buyer can recognize an environmentally friendly product by the signs "BIO", "ECO", "ORGANIC". Such badges indicate strict adherence to the principles of organic agriculture in the process of preparing products. The products themselves can be called differently: bioproducts, environmentally friendly products, organic food. It is much more profitable and safer to buy goods marked with an eco-certification mark than buying products from private farmers, whose quality control is almost impossible.

In accordance with the standards established in America and Europe, the inscriptions indicate that the product is 95% natural. Environmentally friendly products can contain about 70% organic matter and even a little less, but the inscription about these indicators must be present on their packaging.

Despite the fact that the cost of environmentally friendly products is usually 20-50% higher conventional products nutrition, a safe organic diet is an invaluable investment in your own health.

Also known as organic, they are grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. These are considered varieties of vegetables and fruits obtained by natural crossing, and not genetic modifications. The diet of people who do not follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle often consists of visually attractive products, which contain up to thirty different pesticides. Such compounds have a negative impact on human health, so organic food is becoming more and more popular.

Benefits of Organic Vegetables and Fruits

Food is considered healthy if it is grown in a completely natural environment. The process should not use chemicals that can harm the human body. Ecological food products contain all the vitamins, trace elements and nutrients necessary for a person. They do not contain pesticides and other potentially hazardous elements.

The level of nutrients contained in organic products is often 50% higher than that of fruits and vegetables grown with chemical fertilizers. The second advantage is a more pleasant aroma and rich taste compared to products that have been treated with pesticides.

People who long time ate only artificially grown foods, may find the taste of organic vegetables and fruits unusual, although in fact it is natural. It may take some time to get used to the taste of natural food.

Promoting organic food

The shortage of organic food provoked a sharp jump in its popularity, caused not so much by the fashion for a healthy lifestyle, but by medical recommendations. Scientific studies have revealed that about 95% of harmful substances enter the human body with food, which has forced many people to radically change their diet.

Children are especially sensitive to changes in the environmental situation, so doctors recommend including organic foods in their diet already in the first years of life. This will significantly reduce the risk of allergies, diathesis, metabolic disorders and other health problems.

A common problem for healthy lifestyle fans is the high price of organic food. To avoid unnecessary expenses, it is recommended to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in specialized stores, as well as in the markets from trusted sellers. The best organic products are usually grown by farmers to be sold in small batches.

About ecological food

Environmentally friendly products- those products in which the content of harmful substances is less than in ordinary "standard" products, corresponding in quality to the required regulatory documents, in particular MPC.

Environmentally friendly product - one that is obtained in a clean area without the additional use of mineral fertilizers, pesticides and other man-made impacts; or is it a product obtained from natural raw materials according to modern technology, which ensures minimal ingress of other substances into the product, practically free of foreign inclusions.

Environmentally friendly (natural) products are crops without chemical fertilizers, without pesticides, these are animals fed with grain and grass grown without chemical additives.

They are formulated without the use of genetically modified organisms, synthetic preservatives, artificial flavors and flavor enhancers, and their raw materials are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pest and weed control agents, hormones and antibiotics. The internal structure of organic products is not destroyed by chemical additives and harsh processing methods, so their taste is natural.

A fresh organic product contains on average 50% more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other microorganisms than a traditionally grown product.

Ecological fruits and vegetables are juicy and fragrant. These products have a rich natural taste without chemical impurities - a taste that takes you back to childhood.

The ecological product is not covered with a layer of chemicals and does not shine from wax. On average, a standard grown apple has 20-30 known poisons on its skin. It is almost impossible to wash off the wax layer, and the unpleasant aftertaste will still remain.

Ecological products are useful not only for ourselves. Many of the chemicals in traditional products, are able to accumulate over time in a woman's body and be transmitted to her future children. And the child's immune system does not protect him from those poisons that adults can consume every day. Don't be selfish

Ecological or bio-products are products that are produced in accordance with organic farming standards:

without pesticides

without synthetic feed additives and growth regulators,

In our modern time, when the air, water and earth are polluted with products of human vital activity and the ecological situation, despite all the efforts of mankind, continues to deteriorate, people are starting to think more and more about their health.

There is a Chinese proverb - "Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are." This proverb most accurately characterizes the relationship between the food you eat and how you look and feel.

In the food market today there are a lot of proposals on the topic of "healthy eating". Starting from all kinds of pills, powders (BAA) and ending with products with an optimally selected diet. But, no one can answer the question which of them are really useful and most effective, for one simple reason: there are so many people on the planet earth and there can be so many options for the impact of these products on them.

So is there one single solution to the problem of healthy eating?

Yes, it exists, and like everything ingenious it is simple. To do this, it is necessary to grow products in an environmentally friendly environment and package them in an environmentally friendly way.

Why is this particular option the only one?

The answer to this question is simple. Products created by nature without human intervention in the process, most fully and balanced contain all the necessary substances for the life of the human body. In this case, you can apply the phrase "made by nature." And this phrase will most fully and capaciously contain the answer to your question.

What is an environmentally friendly environment?

Where and how are the standards and criteria for an environmentally friendly environment established?

The European certification system can give us the answer to this question.

In 1980, the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) established the Basic Standards for Organic Production (IBS).

Here is some of them:

· cultivation of land for at least three years should be carried out without the use of chemical fertilizers;

· seeds for organic farming must be adapted to local conditions, resistant to pests and weeds and, most importantly, not be genetically modified.

· Soil fertility should be maintained with a varied crop rotation and biodegradable fertilizers of exclusively microbiological, vegetable or animal origin.

· the use of herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, nitrogen-containing and other chemical fertilizers is prohibited.

· physical barriers, noise, ultrasound, light, traps, special temperature conditions, etc., should be used to control pests;

· When raising livestock to obtain Organic meat, it is prohibited to use antibiotics and growth hormones;

· Farmers must register any animal treatment. Treatment records are reviewed annually by certifying bodies;

· the use of radiation and genetic engineering in the production of Organic products is strictly prohibited;

· if a product is labeled as Organic, its manufacturer is obliged to use 100% organic ingredients;

“So it is in Europe, but our nature is much cleaner and apples from the “favorite garden” are much tastier and healthier,” you might say.

Yes, everything is correct, and tastier and healthier, but only who checked it, where does the confidence in this come from? Where is the guarantee and criteria, which is more useful?

Unfortunately, no one can give you guarantees. There are no criteria yet.

There are many voluntary certification schemes that will make your ordinary products "environmentally friendly" for a "modest fee". At the same time, these voluntary organizations have their own criteria for evaluating products. Whether they have the right criteria or not, at the moment it is impossible to figure out, since there is no law that sets the standards for Organic products.

As a result, we have many Russian food products that use the terms of European standards to increase the sales of their products. Who among us has not seen juices, kefir, mayonnaise on store shelves, and this list can be continued for a long time, with the designations "BIO", "BIO", "Environmentally safe product”, “Checked by environmental expertise”, etc. In fact, it turns out that our consumer is being misled, simply saying "they are fooling our brother, gentlemen, marketers."

At the same time, in many European countries, at the state level, introduced standards for Organic products. A system has been created to monitor the implementation and compliance with these standards.

How can our customer figure out which products on store shelves are really Organic?

The simplest and fast way it is to find one of the badges of European certification bodies on the product label. Here are examples of some of them:

Organic Agriculture - EC Management System	European Union	In March 2000, the European Organic Commission introduced this emblem. It is used exclusively voluntarily by those manufacturers whose products comply with the European Union standard system adopted in 1991.
Bio-Siegel (Environmental Seal)	Germany	In 2001, the German Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture introduced a national label - Bio-Siegel (Environmental Seal), which identifies the products of enterprises that adhere to the requirements of the EU regulation.
Agriculture Biologique (Ecological products)		France was one of the first European countries to introduce a national label for organic food, which has replaced private labeling systems and is the property of the French Ministry of Agriculture. The application of this logo on goods is allowed after signing an agreement with the owner of the mark and fulfilling all the requirements established by EU law. The mark may also be applied to organic products from other countries, subject to the requirements of French legislation for farms using organic methods. However, plant products must be produced in the European Union, with the exception of exotic ones.
Valvottua tuotantoa/Kontrollerad ekoproduktion (Certified Organic)	Finland	This state mark is issued by the Finnish Crop Inspection Center
	In Sweden, the only accredited control organization is KRAV. Its standard is more stringent than the requirements stipulated by European legislation. Issued by the Swedish Society for Agricultural Control. The mark is also found on products produced outside of Sweden (coffee, tea, fruit).
Netherlands	This mark is issued by the Dutch State Inspection Authority called Skal.
United States Department of Agriculture		This mark has been licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2002 under the National Organic Program (NOP)
Finland	This ladybug badge is issued by Finland's private certification body, Luomuliito. Most often this sign is found on vegetables.
Europe, America, Africa, New Zealand	The environmental certification standard Demeter, which appeared in 1924 on the basis of the work of Rudolf Steiner ("Spiritual and scientific foundations for the successful development of agriculture"), became the first world standard for organic agriculture. The presence of the Demeter biodynamic production mark on the product packaging not only characterizes special conditions strict control at all stages of product creation according to Organic standards, but also reflects a special approach to careful and careful farming, taking into account many natural features (moon phases, seasons, etc.), incl. care for the cleanliness and preservation of soils and the environment. Demeter International currently has 18 member organizations in Europe, America, Africa and New Zealand.

And what about our environmentally friendly packaging?

This issue is no less serious, but easier to resolve.

Why serious?

Yes, because, no matter how environmentally friendly products are produced, if the packaging is toxic, it will spoil us, the quality of the products that we were so striving for.

Why is it easy to solve?

What is environmentally friendly packaging, it is such a packaging that comes into the least contact with the products contained in it, without changing the quality properties of the products. Today, the packaging market can offer many options for solving environmentally friendly product packaging. At the same time, packaging manufacturing and production technologies are constantly being improved.

Summing up, we briefly formulate the formula of "healthy eating".

To obtain "healthy food" products, only two components are needed: "nature" without human intervention and "environmentally friendly packaging" technology created by man.

Ecological products and products for a healthy diet are different concepts.

However, it is worth distinguishing between ecological products and products for a healthy diet. If we approach this issue formally, we can say that these are different concepts. A product produced in strict accordance with environmental standards does not necessarily fall under the concept of "healthy food". You don’t classify a piece of fatty pork as a “healthy diet”, even if the pig was raised according to all the rules. On the other hand, some "innovative" drink, which is a juice mixture enriched with vitamins, skimmed milk and various additives, positioned by the manufacturer as a product for a "healthy diet", cannot be called ecological.

Fortified foods contain vitamin complexes, trace elements, probiotic microorganisms (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (food for them). The name and quantity of this kind of "flora and fauna" must be indicated on the packaging. Such products include, for example, juices, mineral water, isotonic drinks (usually drunk during sports), muesli, breakfast cereals, baked goods and, of course, dairy and dairy products. The main task of fortified foods is to improve human health, reduce the risk of various diseases and eliminate the deficiency of substances necessary for the body. The content of vitamins and trace elements in fortified foods is calculated in accordance with the average daily human need. One serving provides an average of 30 to 50% of the recommended intake.

The idea of ​​fortification appeared in the 1930s of the last century. It belonged to the Russian professor-vitaminologist Viktor Efremov, who at the stage of flour production began to add vitamins B1, B2 and PP to it. The first Russian manufacturer to use a prebiotic in its products was Wimm-Bill-Dann (WBD), which produced bio-milk Bio-Max. According to a study conducted by AC Nielsen, in June-July 2005, WBD accounted for about 34% of the dairy market. In the market for fortified dairy products, their main competitors are Danone, Ochakovsky Dairy Plant and Petmol. In the yoghurt and dessert market, and to some extent in the baby dairy market, Wimm-Bill-Dann competes with foreign companies such as Danone, Campina, Ohnken and Ehrmann. They continue to actively invest in their business activities in Russia.

In addition to ecological and enriched foods, there is a third category of "healthy" food - functional foods. They combine the properties of enriched foods and biologically active food supplements (BAA). The addition of certain extracts from plant and animal raw materials leads to the fact that the products begin to bring specific benefits: normalize metabolic processes, regulate specific physiological functions, biochemical reactions and stimulate work immune system. Soy derivatives are often added to functional products: fibers, proteins, lecithin. They are used in the production minced meat, sausages, mayonnaise, pasta, etc. Many manufacturers mix several useful products in one. Such products do not fall into the category of functional, but their effectiveness does not decrease from this. Separation of functional and enriched foods is not supported by all experts. This is marketing. The manufacturer needs to somehow distinguish their products. So he gives her various incomprehensible names. There are also “fitness products”, “innovative products”, etc. They probably have some medically important differences, but from the point of view of the consumer they belong to the same category - a healthy diet.

New ways to fight for your own health

Natural products have become a part of our daily life. But, even realizing how beneficial the consumption of healthy organic food is, not everyone includes it in their daily diet. In Western countries, there are special stores where you can easily buy natural and guaranteed eco-friendly products. Their quality is confirmed by special certificates. Russia has not yet created a large network of such "healthy" grocery stores, but there are already prerequisites for this.

We decided to make a list of 10 alleged organic products and tell the whole truth about their benefits.

Harmful substances - pesticides - provoke low birth rates, abnormal development of children, hormonal disorders, the development of cancerous tumors, leukemia, cardiovascular disease and problems with nervous system. The government claims to control the use of pesticides and other harmful additives in our food. But because it is very difficult to completely protect ourselves from exposure to chemicals, we must also make every effort to provide ourselves with a healthy diet.

Pesticides are chemical compounds used to protect plants from insects and pests. Their improper use can harm the environment and human health. They can be in the soil for many years, even after the decomposition of the organic product. The main way to protect yourself from getting into the body of chemical elements is to use vegetables and fruits peeled from the skin in food.

Most harmful effects pesticides are exposed to babies, pregnant and lactating women. Their body is not able to resist harmful substances. Compared to adults, children's bodies are less able to eliminate the negative effects of chemicals.

Below we provide a list of foods that have always been considered beneficial for our body. Is it really?

Milk itself is a typical natural product, but don't forget that cows that produce milk are fed supplements containing hormones or antibiotics. Supplement studies have shown that milk and dairy products contain bovine growth hormone (RBGH), which can lead to a number of hormonal abnormalities. Research has shown that only natural milk does not contain harmful additives and hormones. Organic milk is rich in vitamin E, contains omega-3s, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

Eggs are an indispensable source of protein. But in order to increase the number of eggs, chickens are fed with special preparations. As a result, just like with dairy products, only organic eggs are beneficial. With them, foreign hormones do not enter the human body.

Eating "hormonal" eggs or the same chicken broth, children acquire a tendency to grow too fast, and this adversely affects their health.

Potato

Chlorthalonil, a popular fertilizer for potatoes, poses a particular danger to children. It was recognized as so unhealthy that in America, due to the excessive use of chlorthalonil, heated debate erupted, which reached the court. In Canada, scientists have found a link between pesticides sprayed on potatoes and asthma in rural areas. Ketchup will not help you get rid of chemicals. Good for those who are fond of gardening and plant potatoes on their own, despite all the difficulties of working in a potato field and fighting the Colorado potato beetle. For those who do not have their own site, the only way out is to buy eco-friendly products.

Even such a useful product for both adults and children as spinach becomes simply dangerous after pollination with chemicals. Although by nature it is full of unique vitamins.

Grape

Grapes native to the sunny country of Chile contain a lot of fungicides - chemicals used to combat fungi that cause plant diseases. The brothers from other warm corners of the earth are not very different from him.

No matter how good the taste of sweet and juicy pear if it was fertilized with fungicides or other chemicals. Part of the toxic substances remained on the fruit itself. For example, the chemical azinphos-methyl, which is often used to protect plants from insects.

Strawberry

Even sweet strawberry shows a high content of pesticides. This is due to the abundance of chemicals with which they try to protect it from insects and fungi. For example, the substance vinclozolin interferes with the normal functioning of the male hormone androgen, and this is not the most severe consequence.

Any nutritionist will advise his patients to consume bell pepper. He contains a large number of vitamin C. But, unfortunately, 95 percent of the greenhouse pepper crop contains traces of neurotoxic substances and fertilizers.

The English usually say: "An apple a day and you don't need a doctor." But this folk wisdom applicable only to organic fruits. Apple trees are generously fertilized with pesticides and other chemicals. Be careful buying oversized and glossy apples. This fruit occupies the first place in the ranking of products "from the garden" subject to chemical processing. Ideally, try to buy apples in the village or in special markets, from sellers who feed on these fruits themselves.

Some scientists claim that this seemingly innocent fruit contains 10 times more nitrates and pesticides than other fruits and vegetables. And these chemicals are very unsafe for our health. They can lead to the development of cancer.

If you are buying imported organic products, look for labels. If these are products from the USA - organic, if from Europe - bio. Of course, their prices are one and a half to two times higher than for ordinary products. Carefully study our list and think about whether you want to save on your health?

genetically modified foods

Why humanity is switching to genetically modified foods (GMF) and what is ecological food are complex questions. Not always understanding exactly what the essence of these definitions is, we tend to compare and contrast them.

In fact, all the organisms that surround us now are the result of mutation. New plant species, animals that differ from their ancient dinosaur ancestors - all these are the strongest fighting for survival for thousands of years. Those whose genetic code is most suitable for existence on earth. But if nature needs more than a dozen centuries to form a new species, then modern science a few years is enough.

The heyday of genetic engineering came at the end of the 20th century. In 1982, scientists conducted an experiment to change the genetic code of tobacco. And the first genetically modified food was a tomato, which was "deprived" of the ripening gene. The new species is able to be stored for months at a temperature of 12 degrees and in a few hours become ripe in warmth. The following experiments resulted in corn and pears, which release their own poison against insect pests, potatoes, which absorb a minimum of fat when frying, and about a hundred more "improved" crops. Russian scientists have developed a genetically modified potato that improves immunity due to the human blood interferon contained in it. And sheep, in whose milk is present rennet extract. Only 200 animals of the “new model” are able to provide the whole of Russia with cheese.

Humanity does not yet know the final answer to this question. Are GMFs capable of provoking allergic reactions, is resistance to antibiotics a consequence of the use of genetically modified foods, and how to “negotiate” with nature that maintains a natural ecological balance? To date, there is no unambiguous evidence of the harm of GMF for humans, which, however, does not mean otherwise.

Supporters of the development of genetic engineering claim that artificially bred plants are much cleaner from an environmental point of view than natural ones grown on pesticides and fertilizers. Standing up for the ubiquitous distribution of GMF, geneticists give weighty arguments. According to scientists, by the end of this century, the number of people living on earth may double. How will the people of the future earn their living, if already today a number of countries and regions are starving? The answer is simple: genetic engineering is quite affordable way feed humanity.

The main arguments of the opponents are as follows. Short-term trials are not capable of capturing the full range of consequences of GMF use. The negative impact can manifest itself only after a long time. The loss of the gene pool is one of the main reasons for the rejection of genetic experiments. For example, it is believed that there is no place on earth where corn crops would not be contaminated by genetically modified plants. The same fate awaits other species.

To eat or not to eat - everyone decides for himself. Public opinion is opposed to modified foods, demand for them is falling, and individual food manufacturers are “screaming” about their “genetic purity”. And to be honest, there are practically no people who have never touched the GMF in their lives. This is evidenced at least by the fact that today about 120 types of genetically modified products are registered in Russia, but food manufacturers do not report the presence of modified components either, of course, in advertising or on product packaging. Meat and dairy products, vegetables, etc. sometimes contain more than 80 percent of transgenes, but there is no law that would oblige manufacturers to label goods in a special way.

If you are afraid to run into GMF, do not buy: semi-finished meat products(they often contain modified soy), broiler chickens (they are “fed” with growth hormones), unnaturally even and beautiful vegetables eating in restaurants fast food, corn.

When we see trays with cucumbers or packages of kefir on the supermarket counter, marked with eye-pleasing seals “ecological”, “from natural raw materials”, “bio”, etc., we naturally pay attention to this. And although the goods with a “label” are much more expensive, the hands themselves take them off the shelf and put them in the cart. The fashion for healthy eating has come to Russia. We realized that the diet should consist of natural and environmentally friendly products. But how much the quality of the content corresponds to the inscription on the package, and on what basis the manufacturer puts the label is unknown.

In the West, there is the concept of "organic food" - organic, natural food . But the Russian market of organic food products is the same innovation as genetically modified products. By saying "environmentally friendly, organic product", we mean that it is not harmful to the human body, that vegetables do not contain nitrates, sausage and ham - carcinogens, yogurt and cottage cheese - artificial color enhancers and preservatives. And there are more vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances in them than in traditional ones. Therefore, "organic food" is a source of health, energy and vitality.

Advertising, as a rule, draws attention to products produced in ecologically clean areas, without the use of pesticides and other inorganic fertilizers. In addition, any additional ingredients (fillings, fillers, dyes), without which it is simply impossible to do in production, must be natural. Although they are much more expensive than artificial ones, they are unstable to temperature fluctuations, their possibilities are limited. That is why it is more profitable for a mass producer to use artificial additives.

The widest selection of organic, natural food available today in the US. Movie stars and top models, popular TV hosts and economic moguls publicly declare their love for organic products. Several giant supermarket chains, a large number farms provide "organic food" for everyone. In our country, real ecological food is still scarce. Of course, we can assume that everything that is grown in the fields of Russian outbacks is “organic food”. Healthy, natural, environmentally friendly are called the most different products. But they do not pass any special checks. Apparently, the problem is also that the very concept of "environmentally friendly" is not legally fixed by anyone.

When independent organizations check products for the absence of harmful chemicals, when a certificate and a special sign on the product label are a guarantee of "purity", then the ranks of adherents of ecological food will grow. It will be sold in pharmacies, fitness centers, specialized supermarkets.

In Russia, for environmentally friendly products there is still no single name prescribed in the law or state quality standards. In professional circles, different concepts are used: "organic", "bio" or "eco", the meaning of which is the same. Organics refers to everyday consumption and satisfies the physiological needs of a person in high-quality proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. It includes a wide variety of products: fruits, vegetables, cereals, groceries, baked goods, milk, cheeses and confectionery.

All raw materials are produced in accordance with the principles of organic agriculture, which are designed to care for the environment. An important feature of organic products is the non-use of genetically modified organisms, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides at any stage of their production. The yield of such crops is 20 - 30% lower than that of traditional crops, but due to the growing demand, the areas under their cultivation are increasing. At the final stage, the production of ecological products is completed without the use of foreign chemicals: dyes, flavor enhancers, preservatives. Of course, the shelf life of such products is less than that of traditional ones. This leads to a number of difficulties, for example, with transportation. Therefore, the cost of organics is 20 - 30% higher than the cost of conventional food.

Manufacturers are entirely responsible for pricing. However, the price of some “healthy” goods, such as foods fortified beneficial bacteria slightly higher than similar products that do not have similar useful properties. This is not surprising, because such products involve a complicated technological process production, transportation, storage and sale. In European countries, the estimate of additional costs for the manufacturer of ecological products also includes services for mandatory control by certifying organizations.

In 2004, the organic market in the US reached $16 billion, accounting for 2% of total food sales. In Germany and Denmark, the share of such products is 3%, and in France - only 0.5%. There are no exact data on the Russian market of "healthy" products. Market players and experts assess it as dynamically developing, but at the same time find it difficult to support their assessments with specific figures. “We assess the domestic healthy food market as promising and rapidly growing, but there are no exact data on its volume,” says Fyodor Ogarkov, CEO of the meat products manufacturer CampoMos. - There is a general trend - people are paying more and more attention to healthy eating. By the nature of consumption, our market is similar to the European one. The total share of eco-products in Europe is about 3%. The volume of the world market of organic food products in 2004 amounted to more than $28 billion”. The global demand for organics is increasing annually by an average of 15 - 20%. According to KOMKON, over the past five years, the number of Russians who are willing to pay more for organic products has grown by 19.5%.

In Europe and the US, organic products are distributed not only through ordinary supermarkets. There are many specialized retail chains, such as American Wild Oats Markets or Whole Foods Market. Often, these retailers launch their own lines for the production of eco-products, which are then sold at a much lower price than well-known eco-brands.

The CVS Consulting agency conducted a survey of manufacturers involved in the processing and sale of agricultural and food products in Russia. 52% of respondents said that organic food should be sold in specialized places, 48% - that everywhere.

Domestic retail chains are increasingly launching marketing campaigns in favor of "healthy" products. So, in March 2003, the long-term Healthy Eating program was launched at Perekrestok. As part of this program, the retailer, together with the Institute of Healthy Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, has identified a number of products that correspond to the doctors' idea of ​​a proper diet. These products are highlighted on the shelves with multi-colored markers. In response to the growing consumer demand for goods of the "healthy" group, retail chains provide it with a growing offer. More than 15% of the products sold in the Seventh Continent stores belong to the “healthy” group: vegetables, fruits, cereals, dairy products, as well as diabetic, dietary products enriched with beneficial bacteria.”

"Antipodes" for organic products are products with genetic modifications. Fragments of foreign DNA are implanted into plants in order to develop resistance to herbicides and pesticides, increase resistance to pests, and increase their yield. Donors can be microorganisms, viruses, other plants, animals, and even humans. So, for example, a frost-resistant tomato was bred in the USA. The gene for the North American sea flounder has been added to its DNA. The vegetable does not spoil on the outside, but rots on the inside. A scorpion gene was used to create a drought-tolerant wheat variety. The first plantings of transgenic cereals were made in the USA in 1988, and in 1993 the first products with genetically modified ingredients (GMI) appeared on the general market. Transgenic products began to capture the domestic market in the late 1990s. According to a Greenpeace study conducted in Russia in 2004-2005, transgenes were found in 20-50% of samples of the studied products. The number of such products is growing every year. Most often, GMI are included in the composition of meat and dairy products, as well as in confectionery.

Many experts believe that the artificial shuffling of genetic structures is far from an exact science, so the consequences of playing with DNA can be the most unpredictable. Greenpeace does not consider GM foods safe, so we cannot classify them as a healthy diet, - comments Natalia Olefirenko, coordinator of the Greenpeace genetic campaign in Russia. “The future belongs to organic food, the production of which does not undermine the ecological and biological diversity, does not lead to chemical pollution.” In 1998, Arpad Pusztai, a professor at the British University of Aberdino, conducted a series of experiments on animals that prove the connection between the use of products containing GMI and the development of esophageal cancer, liver diseases, allergic reactions. GMI-containing products do not have any nutritional advantages compared to conventional unmodified products.

According to the law in Russia, transgenic plants cannot be grown in open field, but there is no ban on the presence of GM products in the food market in the country. In the production of food products, including children's food, the use of 13 imported types of GMI is allowed. industrial production GMI is prohibited in Russia. In accordance with the amendment to the Consumer Protection Act of 2005, each product containing GMI must be marked with a special label. However, requirements and control rules have not yet been developed for it.

The National Genetic Safety Association (NAGB) considers this rule to be speculative. If only because small amounts of GMI can get into products without the knowledge of the manufacturer. For example, in one delivery sometimes there are mixtures of GMI and conventional components, which are not always traceable. Such a rule only provokes manufacturers to hide information about the presence of GMI in their products. “We are in favor of introducing a European threshold of 0.5 - 0.9% of each ingredient in the product,” says Dmitry Starostin, head of the press service of the OAGB. “For example, if a sausage loaf weighing 1 kilogram contains 300 grams of soy, including 2 grams of transgenic soy, then the sausage must be labeled as containing GMI.”

Non-governmental organizations are trying to influence the market. Greenpeace is now in its third year of publishing a guide to avoiding GMI products. It tells which domestic and foreign companies operating on the Russian market use GM components in their production. This or that verdict is made on the basis of written requests from manufacturers and random checks. The release of the updated guide is to take place on October 17, 2005.

Ecological products are produced in accordance with ecological agricultural standards without the use of foreign chemicals, that is, without fertilizers, dyes, flavor enhancers, preservatives.

Enriched foods contain vitamin complexes, microelements, probiotic microorganisms and prebiotics, the name and quantity of which must be indicated on the packaging.

Dietary supplements are concentrates of natural or identical to natural biologically active substances intended to enrich the human diet. They are not food by themselves.

Functional products combine the properties of enriched products and dietary supplements. They are complete foods that can be part of a person's daily diet.

Organic foods or environmentally friendly products - produced in accordance with certain standards, meaning that they were grown without the use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers. In Europe, such a standard is the “Pan-European Agreement on organic production of agricultural products” No. 2092/91 of June 24, 1991 (Council Regulation No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products). To assign the status of "Environmentally Friendly" to the final product, regulatory authorities inspect the entire path "from grain to counter": agricultural land and agricultural practices, seed, processing methods, packaging. Compliance with the provisions of the Cleaner Production Agreement is monitored by national certifying organizations. The sign of such an organization on the product label is a reliable guarantee of its quality and environmental friendliness.

Such a product is determined by three parameters: environmentally friendly raw materials, environmentally friendly ingredients and technological process.

Environmentally friendly raw materials

Organic farms do not use mineral fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides. Biological and physical methods are used to control pests: natural enemies, noise, ultrasound, light, traps, etc. Many types of agricultural practices are carried out by hand so as not to harm plants and soil.

Eco-Friendly Ingredients

In addition to raw materials, the composition of the product includes various ingredients, without which one cannot do in the production of a complex product: fillings, fillers, dyes, preservatives. Ecologically clean ingredients are considered to be obtained only from natural raw materials, without the use of synthetic elements. For example, when canning, grape or apple cider vinegar is added.

In addition to the advantages, environmentally friendly ingredients have a number of disadvantages: for example, natural dyes unstable to the effects of temperature, are characterized by low intensity tinting abilities and are extremely expensive to manufacture.

Technological process

Process environmentally friendly raw materials sparingly by physical means while retaining as much nutrients as possible. Completely prohibited: chemical refining, deodorization, hydrogenation; radiation exposure; artificial and synthetic sweeteners, preservatives, flavors; mineralization and vitaminization of products, genetically modified ingredients. For example, the process of producing vegetable oil looks like this:

obtaining oil by cold mechanical pressing, as in ancient times;

packaging of oil in dark glass or metal bottles(protection from ultraviolet rays); injection of hydrogen into the neck to prevent oxidation.

In Europe and America, products that do not contain agricultural and food chemicals have long become popular. They are called "organic" - "organic", which even surpasses our idea of ​​​​organic products. Organic products do not contain residues of chemical fertilizers, chemical preservatives, flavors, taste and color improvers, genetically modified ingredients. And there are 50% more vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances in them than in traditional ones. Therefore, "organic" products strengthen and heal, bring energy and cheerfulness. A well-organized system for monitoring the ecological purity of organic products guards their high quality. Independent certifying organizations check the absence of harmful chemicals and genetically modified components at any stage of production: from the field to the counter. A guarantee of purity and usefulness is a certificate and a special sign on the product label. The ranks of adherents of "organic" are constantly growing. First of all, these are those who are always in sight: movie stars and top models, popular TV presenters and journalists, industrial and banking magnates - in a word, the elite. "I eat organic!" means not only taking care of your health, but also a high social status, prestige, the opportunity to be at the forefront of glamor and fashion. Although organic products are significantly more expensive than traditional products, more and more middle-income people are shopping in organic stores. And them right choice in favor of "organic" is quite economically justified.

Organic agriculture is a production system that maintains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. The system is based on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles, taking into account local conditions, and also tries to avoid methods with adverse consequences. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and scientific excellence to benefit from the environment, spread sensible relationships and a good quality of life for all involved in this system. (as defined by IFOAM).

The organic goods market offers not only organic food and drinks, but also organic clothing, products for children, cosmetics and medical devices, food and toys for pets, organic furniture, flowers, etc. In the late 1990s. in Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany, the first "organic" hotels appeared, where all food, bed linen and a number of other goods are organic. However, the main category of organic goods is still organic food.

All links in the production of organic food undergo a rigorous certification system every year. It inspects both the absence of chemical additives and genetic engineering technologies in the production, as well as a whole range of other requirements for organic products. “Organic” pets, for example, have a strictly regulated area of ​​​​residence, special food, and they must walk in the fresh air every day.

You can recognize organic products by a special sign on the packaging. Most economically developed countries have their own widely recognizable mark, certifying that the methods of production of products meet national requirements. There may be several signs on the product, which indicates certification by several organizations at once.