the earth’s best   Going organic is the new buzzwood in health and nutrition. JUSTINA TAN gets to the bottom of what that means, exactly.     YOU’VE HEARD AND read all about the worldwide organic movement, and even your neighbourhood shops and supermarkets are getting in on the action. Some claim that eating organic is better for your health, while others say the production of organic products is more eco-friendly and responsible. But do you know what the term “organic” really means? Read on to find out.   organic demystified Plant products sold with an organic label are grown on certified organic land without pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionising radiation. Organic farming also subscribes to protecting the long-term fertility of soil through traditional practices like crop rotation and natural fertilisers, while non-organic farming permits the use of a wide range of chemicals to keep pests away and increase yield, possibly resulting in chemical residues and pesticides in the produce or end product. While organic foods may not be completely chemical-free, the chemical traces found are considerably lower than in foods produced with synthetic chemicals. For animal products like meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products, an organic label means the animals have access to the outdoors, and eat only organic feed (without any antibiotics or growth hormones) for at least six months to a year. A common misconception is that organic equates to natural – it doesn’t. Natural foods do not contain additives or preservatives, but may contain ingredients that have been grown with pesticides or are genetically modified. Moreover, natural foods are not regulated and do not meet the same criteria as organic foods. “Not all organic products are made equal. There are different categories for how organic a product is.” stamp of approval Not all organic products are made equal. There are different categories for how organic a product is; some are certified by international certifi cation bodies, while others aren’t. Some local produce and products claim to be organic but there’s no way to verify it as there is no certification body in Singapore – you have to make your purchasing decision based on how credible the merchant or manufacturer seems. However, imported organic products usually come with a label or seal by the various organic certification bodies throughout the world, most of them from the US, UK and Europe, with a handful in Asia, like in Japan and Taiwan. The more established certification bodies are the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Soil Association in the UK, and Australian Certified Organic. For a quick understanding of how organic products are labelled, here’s an example from USDA’s National Organic Programme: > 100% ORGANIC Made with 100 per cent organic ingredients > ORGANIC Made with at least 95 per cent organic ingredients > MADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS Made with a minimum of 70 per cent organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30 per cent, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs). > PRODUCTS WITH LESS THAN 70 PER CENT ORGANIC INGREDIENTS may list organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any organic claims at the front of the package.

PHOTOGRAPHY CARLYN LAW