The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.
. . . . Market research seems to have reached the conclusion that many people will simply not buy anything that is not organic. So, let’s make everything organic!
. . . .
The mismatch between the chemical use of the word [organic] and all other uses creates a number of paradoxes. . .
For example, here are some chemicals that are permitted for use in organic farming:
Copper sulfate, boric acid, elemental sulfur, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), ammonium carbonate and magnesium sulfate.
. . . . Chemically, not one of them is organic.
Here’s another list:
High-fructose corn syrup, aspartame, red dye No. 40, glyphosate, BPA, neonicotinoid insecticides and genetically modified foods (all of them).
. . . .Chemically, every one of them is organic. Which brings up an interesting paradox: Crops that are protected from insects by copper sulfate (not organic) are permitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be called organic, while the same crop that is protected by neonicotinoids (organic) is not . . .
If you are any more confused than when you first read this, don’t feel bad. That was sort of the point.
Read full, original post: Commentary: Organic Oreos? A chemist explains what ‘organic’ really means
