Is organic food really organic? organic stores really organic?

As one other poster says here, their whole business is based on that premise, that what they sell is organic and all that. A few small hints that it might not be so and they're down the tubes and become pretty much like any other grocery store. I'd trust them for that reason alone. Their customers tend to be middle class and upwards, educated people who can shop anywhere they like, spend whatever they like on groceries and who have the smarts to check things out for themselves and stay informed about their food.

I can tell you that they're picky about what they carry. I wanted to buy a brand of instant bouillon once, a brand a bit hard to find. Whole Foods had that brand, in almost every flavour, but not the one I wanted. I asked why they didn't have it and was told that the one I wanted didn't meet their guidelines.

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Certified Organic USDA means that the food was produced using a set of guidelines that mandate that only natural or no chemicals are used for production or processing of the product. There are certain restrictions on how animals are treated/handled housed and medical treatment. Restrictions on drug usage and so on. Keep in mind that there are also certification agencies that also set guides for organic standards. If you want to spend the time to do some informative reading regarding the issue google organic certification agencies as well as take notes on brands websites. Whole Foods is basing there reputation on good trust and viable products, dubious practices would break this trust and the end of there business.

I think you are in the right direction when you take the time to investigate what you and your family are eating and where it comes from, how it was produced, procured, handled and what it contains.

Some people and groups will say there is or isn't a difference in nutritional value between organic and non-organic products but there is major differences about how they are produced.

Another note organic foods do not contain added hormones nor are they produced with genetic modification or GMO's.

Whole foods is not organic, yes they do sell organic foods but the also have been selling a lot of "natural" foods. Unlike organic, which is heavily regulated by the USDA national Organic program, "Natural" has absolutely no regulation. This means that when you see Natural, GMO's artificial colorings, etc are likely part of the ingredients.

the organic consumer association has been getting on Whole foods about this ruse http://www.organicconsumers.org/ (plus this web site has an incredible amount of info to teach us all to be savvy organic consumers)

Your best bet is to buy local direct from the grower at a farmers market, through a CSA or at a farm stand http://www.localharvest.org/

"Organic" is sort of a vague label. The FDA doesn't make farmers tell the truth when they label something as "organic". Your best bet is probably to do some homework before you go out to shop. Look at the ingredients on the nutrition facts label, remember that the ingredients are listed from greatest to least. If you see something that waves a red flag like xionophoplyne for example (I just made that up), chances are it isnt't organic. If you're shopping for fruits and vegetables, locally grown foods (I've heard about gardens in New York) are most likely organic and trustworthy. Know how foods look when they're cut open. Like if the white flesh of an apple doesn't turn brown after being exposed to air within a few mintues, it has an additive to make it look "fresh".

http://yourtruhealth.com/

www.btoxicfree.com/healthy%20eating.htm

Organic foods have no artificial chemicals or pesticides added to them. Organic beef is from cows that are not given antibiotics and growth hormones, and organic vegetables are grown without pesticides or certain fertilizers. The USDA certifies all organic foods, and the requirements are actually pretty strict. The purpose of organic foods is to exclude dangerous chemicals that can remain in meat and cause damage to humans.

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I guess that it means the food is a) free of any chemicals(synthetic) or preservatives

like all the sodium compounds you see on frozen foods made in Maryland.

And yeah, it's probably a gimmick, the word, but it seems to work. Supposedly

no tractor implements are used with modified petroleum engines that cause CO2.

Seriously, it's a game, kinda. If you have time to stand there and look at foods

made in ordinary stores, there are ones you are usually sure are made without

all those chemicals. Foods you have to cook. We only have the word of health

food stores that the stuff there is completely natural.

Down here, we just eat grits, and we eat at about 700 different food service franchises

which make up the night life.

And if we want to go further down south and eat out and

shop, we can, but our options are about the same in terms of who we eat with.

Virtually, or in the "real world".

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True that!!! but anyways i think that whole foods is organic because you can tell in the size and how it looks and Organic food rocks!! and i like organic food better!!

They can not print Organic on any product in the USA if it is not in fact Organic. It's the law!!