4 ms·

That's not an all-natural banana. Here's what natural bananas look like: http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/dc/2e/artificial_selection,banana,domestication,

by ye 13y ago

That's not an all-natural banana. Here's what natural bananas look like: http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/dc/2e/artificial_selection,banana,domestication,food,humans,natural-dc2e804177daa25fba41c856b53cadf2_h.jpg http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/dc/2e/artificial_select... What you buy in the store is genetically modified (through selection mainly).

VLM 13y ago
The author went to some effort to explain how he had an organic grown banana and then called it "all natural" instead of organic. Probably because organic has a totally different meaning WRT chemistry. "natural" is very much like the discredited theory of vitalism. Impossible to define such that you exclude twinkies and premade jars of frosting while still including the produce department.
- smtddr 13y ago
  As someone who is an organic-foods believer, I feel it should be noted that in USA the term "All-Natural" is not[1] a term restricted by law. It doesn't assure you of anything. In contrast, to call something "Organic" or "USDA Organic" has a very legally[2] defined process. Whether or not these certifications are truly being enforced is a different story, but I really hope they are and I try to keep an eye out for stories informing the public that a particular company/brand violated this commitment in some way. Oddly enough, the fact that Naked fruit-juice brand had to remove[3] "All Natural" from its labeling makes no sense to me since "All Natural" means nothing. I don't know what law the courts think they enforced here. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_foods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_foods >>“Natural foods” and “all natural foods” are widely used terms in food labeling and marketing with a variety of definitions, most of which are vague. The term is assumed to imply foods that are minimally processed and do not contain manufactured ingredients, but the lack of standards in most jurisdictions means that the term assures nothing. 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification >>In the United States, federal legislation defines three levels of organic foods.[8] Products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled "100% organic," while only products with at least 95% organic ingredients may be labeled "organic." Both of these categories may also display the USDA Organic seal. A third category, containing a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled "made with organic ingredients," but may not display the USDA Organic seal. In addition, products may also display the logo of the certification body that approved them. 3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/naked-juices-natural-pepsi_n_3659247.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/naked-juices-natura...
aroch 13y ago
What exactly is not natural about human-caused selection? As far as the banana is concerned, we're a "predator" that increasingly preys on banana plants which produce fewer seeds but bigger, sweeter ovary. It's a directed, inverse selection pressure. There is nothing "not natural" about human-directed selection for agriculture.
- ye 13y ago
  > What exactly is not natural about human-caused selection? It's, by definition, artificial selection. With your "logic" everything is natural.
  - aroch 13y ago
    Nothing about artificial selection in this instance is unnatural.
  - curiousAl 13y ago
    Well, it's probably a little more complicated than that. Yes, if we define any actions taken by humans as "artificial", then it's "un-natural". BUT, putting selective pressure on a plant to be more delicious and/or possibly nutritious is as natural with humans as it is with much of the animal kingdom. The edible fruit has an evolutionary incentive to taste better, and therefore produce more offspring. Trying to assign a good or bad grade to this is exactly the naturalistic fallacy.
  - hughlomas 13y ago
    A name is not a definition. Artificial selection is a subset of natural selection. Humans are natural components of the environment for the thing being selected.
    - TheZenPsycho 13y ago
      With no definition for "Not natural", you render the word "Natural" essentially meaningless- turning it into a "valid" adjective encompassing everything. Which, for reasons that should be obvious, makes it problematic as a word for promoting certain types of food. Since humans are components of the ecosystem, twinkies are technically "natural", right?

by ye 13y ago

VLM 13y ago

The author went to some effort to explain how he had an organic grown banana and then called it "all natural" instead of organic. Probably because organic has a totally different meaning WRT chemistry. "natural" is very much like the discredited theory of vitalism. Impossible to define such that you exclude twinkies and premade jars of frosting while still including the produce department.

smtddr 13y ago
As someone who is an organic-foods believer, I feel it should be noted that in USA the term "All-Natural" is not[1] a term restricted by law. It doesn't assure you of anything. In contrast, to call something "Organic" or "USDA Organic" has a very legally[2] defined process. Whether or not these certifications are truly being enforced is a different story, but I really hope they are and I try to keep an eye out for stories informing the public that a particular company/brand violated this commitment in some way. Oddly enough, the fact that Naked fruit-juice brand had to remove[3] "All Natural" from its labeling makes no sense to me since "All Natural" means nothing. I don't know what law the courts think they enforced here. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_foods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_foods >>“Natural foods” and “all natural foods” are widely used terms in food labeling and marketing with a variety of definitions, most of which are vague. The term is assumed to imply foods that are minimally processed and do not contain manufactured ingredients, but the lack of standards in most jurisdictions means that the term assures nothing. 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification >>In the United States, federal legislation defines three levels of organic foods.[8] Products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled "100% organic," while only products with at least 95% organic ingredients may be labeled "organic." Both of these categories may also display the USDA Organic seal. A third category, containing a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled "made with organic ingredients," but may not display the USDA Organic seal. In addition, products may also display the logo of the certification body that approved them. 3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/naked-juices-natural-pepsi_n_3659247.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/naked-juices-natura...

aroch 13y ago

What exactly is not natural about human-caused selection? As far as the banana is concerned, we're a "predator" that increasingly preys on banana plants which produce fewer seeds but bigger, sweeter ovary. It's a directed, inverse selection pressure. There is nothing "not natural" about human-directed selection for agriculture.

ye 13y ago
> What exactly is not natural about human-caused selection? It's, by definition, artificial selection. With your "logic" everything is natural.
- aroch 13y ago
  Nothing about artificial selection in this instance is unnatural.
- curiousAl 13y ago
  Well, it's probably a little more complicated than that. Yes, if we define any actions taken by humans as "artificial", then it's "un-natural". BUT, putting selective pressure on a plant to be more delicious and/or possibly nutritious is as natural with humans as it is with much of the animal kingdom. The edible fruit has an evolutionary incentive to taste better, and therefore produce more offspring. Trying to assign a good or bad grade to this is exactly the naturalistic fallacy.
- hughlomas 13y ago
  A name is not a definition. Artificial selection is a subset of natural selection. Humans are natural components of the environment for the thing being selected.
  - TheZenPsycho 13y ago
    With no definition for "Not natural", you render the word "Natural" essentially meaningless- turning it into a "valid" adjective encompassing everything. Which, for reasons that should be obvious, makes it problematic as a word for promoting certain types of food. Since humans are components of the ecosystem, twinkies are technically "natural", right?