Store-bought food

It seems a little strange that people need to be reminded that regular grocery stores provide healthy, nutritious food. The scare-mongers have done a fair job of making people nervous about their food choices...so now is as good a time as any to air some of the food fears that plague the nation.

First a look at food safety--a broad and complicated subject which covers things like microbial issues, chemical additives, allergens, and contamination. While the bottom line is that Canadians enjoy one of the safest food supplies in the world, little worries still exist in the minds of some. Not surprising given recent outbreaks of e.coli and salmonella from such innocuous seeming foods as spinach and apple juice. Meat can also be one of the causes of worry, particularly regarding the use of hormones. Are they safe--and why use them in the first place? Well, they're used (in some instances) because they promote faster, more efficient animal growth. This cuts costs (saving significant dollars for the consumer) and also results in a leaner animal, which is nice for the calorie conscious. The growth hormones currently used in Canada have been declared safe by three major independent international scientific groups including the World Health Organization committee on feed additives. Perhaps more to the point is the fact that the residues of these compounds have been shown to be so minimal that they are of no toxicological significance in meat. To put this into perspective, children produce within their own bodies 400-500times daily, the level of hormones they might consume in a 1/2 pound steak. In addition, many other foods, like cabbage, peas, soybeans, and beer naturally contain steroids which people have been consuming without harmful effects.

O.K. then, how about produce safety? Here's a good case of nutrition terrorists versus common sense. For reasons that had nothing to do with good science or good health, the apple-growth regulator Alar was removed from the market many years ago. After Phil Donahue took his axe to the Alar tree and 'nutrition expert' Meryl Streep (who is still taking up questionable food causes) encouraged mothers to throw anything that smacked of apples down the drain, what was the public to think? It was left to think that our present day food supply is filling our bellies with dreaded toxins. One of the chief concerns is pesticides/herbicides--substances with many benefits which are often cloaked under a fear of perceived risk. The benefit is food that is free from pests, molds and fungus...the risk is minuscule. Waxes are another bug-bear for consumers. In fact, only a few varieties of produce are treated with waxes (which are safe) and this is done to prevent loss of moisture and nutrients. It also makes the product look appetizing which annoys those who feel that attractive food just isn't natural!

And speaking of natural, we come to another area of consumer concerns--the 'organic', 'health' and 'natural' food issue. A lot of the problem has to do with semantics. Words just don't mean as much as they used to and promotion of the 'natural' concept can really make hay out of this fact. Take the word 'organic'. Aside from the little fact that the important nutrients a plant takes out of the soil are in fact 'inorganic', the word itself conveys very little. Heck, today we hear Hollywood actors claiming they were attracted to a particular script because it was so "organic". But I digress. The generally agreed-upon definition of organic food is food which is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides. But definitions vary when one examines how long the land has been pesticide free and what substances can or cannot be used.

The term 'organic' is itself seductive--and unfortunately people often believe that an 'organic' product is nutritionally superior to one which is not. This is simply not true. There may be an emotional need on the part of some to pay extra money for what they consider 'pure' food. If one must buy 'organic', then the label should at least say 'certified organic'. It still won't mean much, but it at least won't be a philosophical rip-off. The road to healthy eating isn't the mine-field that some would make it. Just make sure that most of the time you're choosing wisely and nutritiously; the other 5-10 percent of the time: let 'er rip!