I have tried to encourage some of my friends to go organic. Believe it or not they make up all kinds of excuses why they wont. Here are some of the excuses that I hear:

"What is organic anyway?"

"Its too expensive."

"I can't afford to spend any more money for groceries."

"What I do is not going to make enough difference to matter."

"Just because the label says it is organic it doesnt mean that it is."

All these excuses seem pretty good, but here are all the FAQ's for these excueses.

1) How can you be sure that food labeled "organic" really is organic?

Use of the term "organic" is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture. In order to put the word "organic" on a food label, the grower or producer must get the product certified as organic by a USDA-accredited certifier. Those who knowingly label or sell non-organic products as "organic" can be fined up to $11,000 for each violation.

2) Is organic food better for the environment?

Yes. By eliminating massive quantities of toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used in conventional farming, organic methods help protect the health of our air, water and soil. Another benefit of organic food is that it does not add the problem of antibiotic resistance.

3) What exactly does "organic" mean?

On a food label, "organic" means the food was produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetic engineering or irradiation.

4) Are some foods with an "organic" label more organic than others?

Yes, among processed foods with multiple ingredients, those displaying the USDA organic seal -- and/or called "organic" on the front label -- have the most organic content: at least 95 percent. Those labeled "made with organic ingredients" on the front may be as little as 70 percent organic. (The label cannot display the USDA's organic seal, but may display the logo of the certifying agent.)

5) Is organic food safer for you to eat?

Yes. Unlike conventionally produced food, organic food exposes you to no synthetic pesticides or growth hormones. Many of these substances have been proven to cause cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous and reproductive systems. What has not been studied is wheather exposure to low leves of these substances, individually or combination, can seriously affect our health. The safest course is not to expose yourself to chemicals designed and proven to kill other forms of life. Which is VERY important for children, because their nervous and indocrine systems are still developing, which put our children at risk more so than adults.

6) Is organic food worth the extra cost?

Yes, indeed it is. You really do get extra value in the form of safer food that's better for you and for the environment. You still might not be able to afford a diet of it. If so, try picking and choosing your organic purchases.

7) Will your purchases make a difference?

Yes. The reason organic food is now the fastest-growing sector of the food industry is that consumers like you have shown they want it by buying it. There is, in fact, no other way to promote organic food than by buying it and encouraging others to do the same!

I have recaently e-mailed all the FAQ's that I have just discovered to all my friends and family in my address book. Telling them that we need to take some steps towards making our lifestyle better.

Each baby step that we all take could one day turn into a big leap into our future!