Anna Getty's Easy Green Organic - Anna Getty [6]
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Organic milk comes from cows that are free of bovine growth hormones (BGH) and antibiotics. The cows have at least limited access to the outdoors, and their feed contains no pesticides. The milk is not necessarily local. Try to buy milk from a local dairy in a glass bottle, even though it may not be organic. Sustainable is the number-one choice. The same reasoning applies when selecting butter and cheese. Buy local when you can.
Milk that is not local, including some organic milk, may be ultra-pasteurized. Pasteurized milk has been heated to 162 degrees F for at least 15 seconds to kill bacteria and prolong its shelf life, while ultra-pasteurized has been heated to 280 degrees F and then immediately cooled, which extends its shelf life for up to two months. How this process affects the nutritional value of the milk is still being studied. Some say it tastes creamier than pasteurized milk.
EGGS
These days egg cartons come with myriad labels, including “free-range,” “organic,” and “vegetarian-fed.” It’s not always clear what’s behind the labels.
• Organic eggs come from hens that consume feed grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. The hens never receive antibiotics and their eggs contain no hormones, although the egg industry claims that no hens, organic or not, are given growth hormones. Compliance with these rules is verified by a third party.
• Cage-free eggs come from hens housed in laying barns rather than individual cages, but this does not guarantee that the hens had access to the outdoors. This term is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Certified humane eggs are laid by hens raised in barns, without cages. No access to the outdoors is required, but the number of perches and amount of space the hens have is monitored. The certification comes from Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit that works to improve the lives of farm animals. Compliance is verified by a third party.
• Free-range eggs are laid by hens that are raised outdoors or have access to the outdoors. Although the FDA has guidelines about free-range activity, compliance is not verified by a third party.
• “Vegetarian-fed” simply means the laying hens receive vegetarian feed.
• Omega-3 eggs are laid by hens whose feed has been supplemented with omega-3s, which are unsaturated fatty acids that may help to prevent heart disease. The eggs also contain higher levels of vitamin E.
So, given all of these labels, which carton should you grab? The best choice for the hen, the planet, and your health are free-range, organic eggs.
FISH AND SEAFOOD
While there is no organic labeling for fish and seafood, there are labels and standards you should look for. Many species of fish and shellfish are threatened because of overfishing, so the first term to look for at the fish market is “sustainable.” According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program, sustainable seafood “is from sources, either fished or farmed, that can maintain or increase production into the long-term without jeopardizing the affected ecosystems.”
The question of whether to buy farmed or wild isn’t simple to answer; it depends on the type of seafood and the location of the farm, among other factors. Environmentally responsible fish farms can produce sustainable fish like catfish and clams while others, located in polluted waters and operated with no environmental consideration or oversight, are more harmful. The Monterey Bay Aquarium publishes a guide with the most sustainable seafood options (see Resources, page 243).
COFFEE
Coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. Coffee growers use pesticides liberally to eradicate pests and diseases. This is why it’s particularly important to look for organic coffee. These pesticides end up in the water supply and pollute the soil. While the chemicals do not pass into roasted beans, they may harm the health of local growers and pickers and of the wildlife in the region.
The second important environmental concern related to coffee growing is the destruction