How can the representatives of the organic movement claim that their main
purpose is "to produce high quality, nutritious food that contributes to
preventative health care and well-being" of people while there is no single
scientific evidence about the positive health impact of refined foods? Here
is a full report which looks at this issue from various perspectives in an
attempt to provide evidence of the unhealthy attitudes and practices that are
– without much public awareness – going on inside the organic movement.
You can download here the full report of the research Is
Refined Food Really Organic?
plus
Appendix 1,
Appendix 2-6
and Appendix 7.
Below are the conclusions arising out of investigation of the topics in
question.
Glossary of the Key Words
Holistic Approach to Nutrition
1. Core Values of the Organic Movement
If we look at the CORE VALUES OF THE ORGANIC MOVEMENT
versus the fast food culture we can see the following main food attributes:
| New Food Culture |
Fast Food Culture |
| Natural Food |
Altered/Adulterated
Food |
| Organic Food |
Food with Chemical Residues & Additives |
| Wholefood |
Refined and/or Enriched Food |
Thus we can see that in the beginnings of the organic movement
natural food, organic food, and wholefood were synonyms – presenting three
different aspects of the same thing. But now it is different: the split has
happened. Inside the organic movement are still those who are adhering to
these core values. Beside them are those who have been accepting the
existence of Organic Refined Foods as something ‘natural’.
Regardless of the reasons behind the dilution of these core values it is
fact that nowadays Organic does not mean
Wholefood anymore. Now we can even buy Organic
White Sugar – the utmost symbol of the fast food culture!
2. Integrity of Organic Standards
If we look at the issue of INTEGRITY OF ORGANIC STANDARDS we can
conclude:
The standards of all three organisations – IFOAM, Soil Association and
Demeter – are suffering from the same problem: in regard to Wholefoods vs
Refined there exists a gap between basic principles on the one hand and
practices of food production and certification on the other hand. In its
intrinsic nature it is the gap between ideals of organic movement and
business practices of those who produce organic food.
3. Question of Food Quality
In regard to the QUESTION OF FOOD QUALITY we can conclude:
The main result of refining carbohydrates is denatured, low quality
food, stripped of fibre, minerals, vitamins, and other vital nutrients.
(Organic) Refined Foods are also inferior in regard to taste, smell, and
colour (in spite of the fact that many people today really enjoy such
foods). This is due to the lack of phytochemicals which are the source of
complex tastes, aromas, and colours of the plants.
On the other side we preserve the intrinsic quality of
Organic Wholefood
which is due to organic agricultural practices as much as possible. Indeed
one can only wonder why one would make such an effort to increase the
quality of living soil and consequently the quality of crops, and then, in
the case of Organic Refined Foods, all these advantages are literally thrown
away through costly and unnecessary refining.
4. Evidence of Health Impacts
If we look at EVIDENCE OF HEALTH IMPACTS we can conclude:
There is more than enough scientific, medical and statistical evidence
about the health benefits of wholefoods being rich in fibre, vitamins, and
trace minerals. In regard to human health, Wholefoods
are without any doubt
superior to Refined Foods.
There is also more than enough scientific, medical and
statistical evidence about the detrimental effects of eating predominantly
Refined Foods. So far I haven’t heard any evidence about the positive health
effects of consuming refined foods on the regular basis. In fact, it could
be said that the three greatest negative impacts on human diet in modern
time are caused by the introduction of:
- Refined Foods (especially white
sugar, white flours, and white rice)
- Artificial mineral substances (fertilisers, pesticides and additives)
- Genetically modified organisms
While the last two are harmful because they introduce into the human
diet artificially-made substances which should not be part of natural food,
the first one is also harmful because it deprives human beings from natural
substances which should stay as an integral part of human diet.
And while the last two groups of substances are not tolerated – for very
good reasons – inside the organic movement, we are at the same time
tolerating Refined Foods. Can we, members of the organic movement, continue
our good work with the existence of such disparity?
And above all, can we tolerate the methods of manipulation of consumers
by avoidance and ignorance of the evidence of negative health consequences
of regular consumption of Refined Foods? Maybe it is time for a truly
independent consumer organisation which will expose such unhealthy practices
inside the organic sector?
5. Promotion of Organic Foods
In regard to the PROMOTION OF ORGANIC FOODS we can conclude:
Promotion of organic foods as better quality and therefore healthier
than non-organic is seriously flawed because of the existence of
Organic
Refined Foods. If IFOAM members want to continue to use such claims for the
promotion of organic food, then they should either stop giving
certifications to Refined Foods, or otherwise add the following disclaimer
to their promotional materials "The claim of health benefits does not hold
true for any Organic Refined Foods."
On the other side where are the benefits of consuming
Wholefoods being
promoted inside the organic movement? Is it not our task to promote what we
recognise as good quality food? Is it not an inseparable part of our work to
educate people in regard to food and nutrition?
6. Labelling of Organic Refined Foods
In regard to the LABELLING OF ORGANIC REFINED FOODS we can conclude:
The guiding principle of labelling any organic produce should be to
provide consumers with clear and correct information about the product and
its ingredients, as is explained in the brochure From farm to fork – Safe
food for Europe's consumers (italics mine): "People want, and
have a right,
to know what they are eating. Food labelling rules recognise that right. The
fundamental principle of EU food labelling rules is that consumers should be
given all essential information on the composition of the product, the
manufacture, methods of storage and preparation. Producers and manufacturers
are free to provide additional information if they wish, but this must be
accurate, not mislead the consumer and not claim that any foodstuff can
prevent, treat or cure illness." [5]
IFOAM standards recommend that "product labels should identify all
ingredients, processing methods, and all additives and processing aids"
[6]
(italics mine). The Soil Association also encourages their licensees "to
provide information on the label which will allow customers
to make informed
choices about which product to buy." [7] And in the Demeter standards we can
find the following statement (italics mine): "An honest product is one whose
composition and life history is transparent for all traders and consumers to
see. A clear declaration is the first step." [8]
From the above presented examples it is evident that the practices of
labelling Organic Refined Foods
are not in accordance with these guidelines.
The question is: Do we want to tolerate such methods or do we want to give
customers what is their lawful right – clear information about what they
buy? In my opinion the top priority is to take seriously the law and stop
the above presented practices of misleading consumers as soon as possible.
Another option is to wait for a more unpleasant stimulus to sort out this
unhealthy practice, such as a court case against an organic company for not
complying with the laws regulating consumers’ rights. Can you imagine the
harm to the whole organic movement if this was to happen?
7. Consumers’ Freedom of Choice
In regard to the CONSUMERS’ FREEDOM OF CHOICE we can conclude:
One could use the argument about freedom of consumer's
choice only under specific basic conditions. These conditions are:
- Honest ‘labelling’ of all organic products,
including Organic Refined Foods [8]
- Bigger range of Wholefood products on organic shelves
- Separate shelves with Organic Refined Foods, similarly to Gluten Free range
- Raising awareness about the health hazards of Refined Foods and the
health benefits of eating Wholefoods on the basis of independent holistic research [9]
Only under such conditions could one talk about real freedom of choice
in regard to Wholefood
vs Refined. Real freedom of choice can exist only if
people understand what the consequences of their choices are. For that
reason our primary task is to educate organic farmers, food processors,
traders, and consumers about the real significance of
Wholefoods for the
health and overall development of the human being. The evidence presented in
this report is proof for the need for such ongoing education.
Final Conclusion of the Research
On the basis of all above conclusions we have to arrive
at the following FINAL CONCLUSION OF THE RESEARCH:
On the basis of all evidence presented in this report
we can call Organic Refined Foods Organic Junk Food.
Therefore it should be obvious that their existence is one of the biggest
weaknesses of the organic movement. [1] The production
of Organic Refined Foods is seriously undermining one of the fundamental
goals of the organic movement – to produce healthy food which can nourish
and sustain the whole human being. For the word ‘Integrity’ means
‘Wholeness’. And wholeness is the state of being wholesome. It is no wonder
that the words ‘Whole – Healthy – Holy’ have the same root. But this root of
organic movement has been seriously compromised due to lack of integrity of
those members who have accepted the existence of Organic Refined Foods as
the new ‘normal’.
