Why do people buy Organic Foods?

[matthewfullhart]

Recently, I've been listening to a podcast called "Skeptoid," which is hosted by the rather excellent fellow, Brian Dunning.  As I am a self-professed skeptic, I thought it would help me understand some of the controversial claims regarding pseudo-scientific beliefs.  As I was listening, the episode about organic foods came up, and I found it to

Comments

[mattymorgs]

Tis true.

[youkosiren]

Actually, the Chinese only drink boiled water / bottled water because their municipal tap water isn't filtered to the same high standards as the U.S. I wouldn't drink water tainted with agricultural runoff, organic or not.

I don't necessarily buy organic (unless it's the cheap option, which is actually more often than you would think), but I do like to buy produce at the farmer's market. Organic or not, it's tasty stuff.

[geekbitch]

I'd have to agree that shit that's labeled "organic" is bullshit. Sometimes whatever product is labeled as organic sometimes has more veggies in it (like spaghetti sauce) or whole wheat (noodles), which is usually the reason I buy anything "organic". I had no idea fermented urine is an organic pesticide: that is UBER DISGUSTING.
I agree with youkosiren up there, I think the farmer's market is a great place to buy produce. I don't think a small-time local farmer would use ....fermented urine.

[matthewfullhart]

Yeah, I agree with supporting local farmers. It's just that most organic produce in stores isn't locally produced.

[new_wave_witch]

This reminds me of an episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit. Have you seen? It's pretty good (although I catch them imposing a bias in some episodes, such as finding a goofy stumblebum kinda guy to argue in opposition to the episode's claim).

Anyhoo... They had a good episode called "Eat This!" which you could probably find on YouTube... They basically introduce this guy, Norman Borlaug, who saved OVER 9000!! people in his lifetime through genetics in agriculture and all that good stuff, building stronger and newer crops to save starving people. Then they talk to some people protesting outside of a grocery store about genetically altered food. And they talk to a bunch of scary hippies who are into the raw food movement. They basically wag their finger at the organic-only claimers, in that their argument discourages the technology that can feed starving people all over the world. Yadda yadda... check 'er out!

[matthewfullhart]

I have seen that episode, actually. I happen to agree that Norman Borlaug is the greatest human being. Over a billion people. That boggles the mind.

[new_wave_witch]

I know! I love the part, "...and you've probably never heard of him."