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I think the organic movement is mostly a big scam: an excuse to charge more money for less food. Tim Send a noteboard - 12/09/2012 11:40:40 PM
The worst thing is that nobody knows what it means. As Isaac points out, all food is made of organic compounds, as it's all carbon-based. So obviously that's not what's meant. Originally it seemed to mean not genetically modified – this was back when loads of people were banging on about how we shouldn't "play God" with our food. Then it somehow turned into no chemical pesticides. And what if stuff is artificially bulked up by injecting it with water? I assume there must be rules about this kind of thing, but I don't believe there's any public awareness of them. I can't even find a definition on the website of DEFRA, which certifies organic food in the UK.

I honestly think a lot of people who buy organic do so because they think it's more moral in some undefined way, or even just that if it's more expensive it must be better. For all I know there may well be benefits to organic food*, but if so, nobody's told me what they are in a way that makes sense.

*By which I mean food that is labelled as organic in supermarkets, as opposed to any individual's opinion about what constitutes "real" organic food.
Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt.

—Nous disons en allemand : le guerre, le mort, le lune, alors que 'soleil' et 'amour' sont du sexe féminin : la soleil, la amour. La vie est neutre.

—La vie ? Neutre ? C'est très joli, et surtout très logique.
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I'd be interested in knowing what you guys think about organic food - 11/09/2012 08:01:41 PM 1159 Views
Re: I'd be interested in knowing what you guys think about organic food - 11/09/2012 08:55:17 PM 689 Views
Okay - 11/09/2012 10:05:39 PM 631 Views
Re: Okay - 12/09/2012 01:26:20 AM 582 Views
Re: Okay - 12/09/2012 04:25:19 PM 665 Views
Re: I'd be interested in knowing what you guys think about food - 11/09/2012 08:59:54 PM 858 Views
I am intrigued by your ideas. - 12/09/2012 03:20:13 PM 561 Views
I'm a biology graduate so I'm a bit bias but... - 11/09/2012 09:41:00 PM 770 Views
Thank you for you perspective! *NM* - 11/09/2012 10:14:49 PM 302 Views
I think organic food is a luxury that few will want as food prices increase in the coming decades. - 11/09/2012 10:11:33 PM 619 Views
Re: I think organic food is a luxury that few will want as food prices increase in the coming -- - 11/09/2012 10:35:08 PM 672 Views
Re: I think organic food is a luxury that few will want as food prices increase in the coming -- - 12/09/2012 02:38:24 AM 705 Views
Good points - 12/09/2012 09:28:41 AM 704 Views
Re: Good points - 12/09/2012 02:09:49 PM 630 Views
Yes. - 12/09/2012 10:01:36 AM 607 Views
I like it. - 11/09/2012 11:29:08 PM 703 Views
What I think - 12/09/2012 03:43:29 PM 561 Views
Re: What I think - 12/09/2012 04:26:34 PM 647 Views
Did you just INVITE me to ramble? - 11/09/2012 11:30:01 PM 782 Views
Actually (minor pedants point) - 13/09/2012 08:23:48 PM 675 Views
I hold to the view that most food is organic - 12/09/2012 12:15:27 AM 730 Views
What I think (now in the right spot!) - 12/09/2012 04:02:31 PM 726 Views
I'm so glad you responded. - 12/09/2012 04:14:31 PM 703 Views
Well... - 12/09/2012 08:15:13 PM 739 Views
I think the organic movement is mostly a big scam: an excuse to charge more money for less food. - 12/09/2012 11:40:40 PM 595 Views
Actually, I believe the "no pesticides" part predates the "no GMOs" part. - 13/09/2012 05:26:53 AM 611 Views
You're right... - 13/09/2012 08:43:52 AM 697 Views
Thanks for confirming my general impression as right on the money. - 14/09/2012 03:35:56 PM 661 Views
Re: Thanks for confirming my general impression as right on the money. - 16/09/2012 07:45:25 PM 674 Views
That is a very interesting overview, thanks. - 17/09/2012 11:22:38 PM 644 Views
Re: That is a very interesting overview, thanks. - 20/09/2012 08:44:45 PM 673 Views
Re: That is a very interesting overview, thanks. - 24/09/2012 03:06:35 AM 682 Views
Curious as to where you read these things - 13/09/2012 08:41:43 PM 664 Views
I am aware of no corroborating scientific research, no - 14/09/2012 03:53:42 PM 682 Views
I have some serious problems with that I'm afraid. - 14/09/2012 05:53:39 PM 569 Views
Fair enough; I have some serious fears with GMOs. - 15/09/2012 03:58:13 AM 708 Views
This is a long one... - 15/09/2012 08:28:36 PM 674 Views
Tends to happen around me for SOME reason.... - 17/09/2012 05:31:44 PM 766 Views

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