Mad Cow & Food Safety Drive Organic Sales

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4507034/

By Phil Lempert
"Today" Food Editor MSNBC
March 12, 2004

One factor driving the explosive growth of the multi-billion-dollar organic
food industry is a rise in consumer concern about food-borne infections such
as mad cow disease, E-coli, bird flu and salmonella.

Consumers worried about these illnesses -- along with concerns about
improper food handling, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and contaminated
water supplies ­ are drawn to organic meats by the strict rules on how
animals are raised.

Here are the major guidelines:
? No pesticides, antibiotics or hormones.
? 100 percent certified organic feed and pasture, which means no
genetically modified food seeds or feeds.
? The animal is raised without herbicides, pesticides or chemical
fertilizers.
? No nitrates, nitrites or preservatives.
? Animals are never fed animal by-products (believed to be a
transmitter of mad cow disease.
? Freedom of movement for animals, with full access to the outdoors.
Humane treatment of animals (defined by the Humane Society of the United
States.) Farm and farm records are inspected every year by a third party to
ensure the standards are being enforced.

Confused by Oorganic¹ labels? Here¹s a 101

Recent rules have made it easier to separate truly organic food from the
rest on the supermarket shelves. Phil Lempert has the details.

Where do you find organic meat? Most health food stores now carry certified
organic meats, and mainstream supermarkets increasingly have an organic meat
section.

Expect to pay more per pound and, as always, remember to read labels
carefully. Don't confuse meat labeled "certified organic" with meat labeled
"natural." Natural is a loose term generally meaning that no artificial
ingredients were added in meat processing. But the claim has nothing to do
with what the animal was fed and drugged, the conditions in which it was
raised, or the health of the animal. Certified organic meat, on the other
hand, goes far beyond just avoiding artificial ingredients. It is a
guarantee that the product went through strict health and safety control
points before it got to your store.

Want to know more about Phil and food? Visit his website
atwww.supermarketguru.com.