4 ms·

I think I'm going crazy trying to figure out how to navigate what is actually healthy to eat, and more importantly, what is healthy for my children to eat. Is

I think I'm going crazy trying to figure out how to navigate what is actually healthy to eat, and more importantly, what is healthy for my children to eat. Is there a single, trustworthy authority that can tell me which brands are safe, knowing full well designations like "USDA Organic" are being gamed by companies?

rossdavidh 8y ago
Short answer: no. Longer answer: buy from farmer's markets, preferably places where you have seen the farm or met the farmer. You can't inspect everything they do, but you can ask yourself, "does this seem like the kind of person who is trying to do things right?" But, also, refer to the short answer, above.
- mirimir 8y ago
  Thanks. Shorter, and more to the point, than my answer :)
mirimir 8y ago
I'm not aware of any such authority. And maybe worse, I doubt that there could be, at the national level. It's not just that designations like "USDA Organic" are gamed. Stuff is just too complicated, and there's inadequate data. Over the past century, the chemical industry has commercialized numerous novel compounds, maybe 10^5 to 10^6 or more. Although there's been some toxicity testing, of course, we are basically living in the only large-scale, long-term test. Anyway, to be safest, your best bet is growing your own food, or buying from trusted local producers. And yes, I realize how impractical that is for most people. But no matter where your food comes from, it's arguably safest to eat as low on the food chain as possible.
strainer 8y ago
The Organic "designation" has to be adequately enforced for international trading purposes, as well as your own consumer confidence. How did you come to the belief that it is being significantly gamed? Besides rumor and anecdote, have you seen any evidence or quality journalistic reports on the gaming of organic certification?

rossdavidh 8y ago

Short answer: no. Longer answer: buy from farmer's markets, preferably places where you have seen the farm or met the farmer. You can't inspect everything they do, but you can ask yourself, "does this seem like the kind of person who is trying to do things right?" But, also, refer to the short answer, above.

mirimir 8y ago
Thanks. Shorter, and more to the point, than my answer :)

mirimir 8y ago

I'm not aware of any such authority. And maybe worse, I doubt that there could be, at the national level. It's not just that designations like "USDA Organic" are gamed. Stuff is just too complicated, and there's inadequate data. Over the past century, the chemical industry has commercialized numerous novel compounds, maybe 10^5 to 10^6 or more. Although there's been some toxicity testing, of course, we are basically living in the only large-scale, long-term test. Anyway, to be safest, your best bet is growing your own food, or buying from trusted local producers. And yes, I realize how impractical that is for most people. But no matter where your food comes from, it's arguably safest to eat as low on the food chain as possible.

strainer 8y ago

The Organic "designation" has to be adequately enforced for international trading purposes, as well as your own consumer confidence. How did you come to the belief that it is being significantly gamed? Besides rumor and anecdote, have you seen any evidence or quality journalistic reports on the gaming of organic certification?