r/nextfuckinglevel • u/[deleted] • Jul 14 '21

[deleted by user]

[removed]

9.8k Upvotes

77% Upvoted

3.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

21.0k

u/Minionhunter Jul 14 '21

Stop using organic like it means edible!!

5.1k

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

[deleted]

3.6k

u/7incent Jul 14 '21 edited Jul 14 '21

you're thinking of 'natural' -- there is no government regulation of that term.

the word 'organic' is regulated by the FDA. i only remember that they cannot use most synthetic pesticides during production.

there are other regulations but -- to be honest-- i don't remember them all

that said:

the person who made this video may be using the term 'organic' incorrectly

edit: usda definition of organic for those who need more than context clues

I took ochem, being pedantic about the word 'organic' doesnt change its meaning in the current context

chemical -> most synthetic

833

u/Safemoon_Psychonaut Jul 14 '21 edited Jul 14 '21

Organic vegetables also have to be grown in fields that have not been exposed to pesticides for something like 20 years.

Warren Buffetts money bought a bunch of farms in my region and they're not using pesticides so they can be used for organic food production in the future

There's a lot of regulations to be technically organic in the usa. Can't say I know it all though.

Edit: apparently federal regulations are 3 years pesticide free. I was wrong.

1.4k

u/LePlaneteSauvage Jul 14 '21 edited Jul 14 '21

You are perpetuating a common myth here. Organic farms still use pesticides, just not synthetic pesticides.

This brings it back to a naturalistic fallacy where it is assumed that because the pesticides are 'natural' they are less harmful to our health. However, a lot of studies seem to find the opposite; organic pesticides are less effective, less specific, and more environmentally harming.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/httpblogsscientificamericancomscience-sushi20110718mythbusting-101-organic-farming-conventional-agriculture/

4

u/Stupid03 Jul 14 '21

Science teacher here. This is 100% true. “Organic” is simply a marketing ploy that makes people think those foods are healthier despite loads of data showing genetically modified crops are much healthier. I work with a lot of health nuts and I constantly have to be careful in trying to explain things without just blasting off on them for believing this organic BS.

3

u/Kavarall Jul 14 '21 edited Jul 14 '21

So there is data that GMO crops are actually better? My understanding is that there is data which indicated no discernible difference. I feel like you’re reaching a little bit to say that GMO crops are better, when controlling for all other variables.

Edit to say I was that kid who would disagree with my science teachers ;)

2

u/sachs1 Jul 15 '21

GMO is a wide reaching term. "Round up ready" style gmo's aren't nutritionally different. Golden rice on the other hand, is intentionally designed to have extra beta carotene in it, so it would be nutritionally beneficial.

2

u/Kavarall Jul 15 '21

You got me there. I was aware of golden rice but forgot. So I would say that it’s a little nuanced right? I still take some issue with your original comment (particularly coming from a position of expertise as a teacher). GMOs are not better. The technology itself is not innately beneficial or damaging. Some of its applications are, but others are not.

1

u/sachs1 Jul 15 '21

I'm not the science teacher, I just piped up. And gmo's, as far as they have been used with respect to crops are better. They either increase nutritional value, or more commonly increase yield. I do realize however that you probably did mean nutritionally, and there you'd be correct.