Organic. Well known and found in every supermarket. Organic has become a universal term for healthy and sustainable food. For us as a manufacturer of organic breakfast products, it is naturally very important. However, many people buy organic products and try to live “organically” without really knowing what the term means. Today, we want to clear up any confusion.
TO OUR ORGANIC BREAKFAST PRODUCTS
Organic and its origins
The precursors of the organic movement developed early in the 19th century. However, these were associations that were mainly concerned with awareness and nutrition. They focused on whole foods and, above all, vegetarianism. At that time, natural foods consisted mainly of vegetables. The followers tried to find foods that were free of additives and extra processing. Even back then, foods were prepared to extend their shelf life, for example. As early as the 1920s, there were already calls for biodynamic agriculture.
This natural food movement reached its peak during the hippie era. The first shops selling organic products began to appear in Germany. During this period, the first associations were also formed, which focused not only on minimally processed foods, but also on organic farming. By the mid-1980s, there were already 2,000 farms in Germany practicing organic farming. The organic label was officially established in 2000. It was created by the EU and means that products have been grown organically and ecologically. In terms of sales, organic has definitely arrived in the mainstream – sales now exceed 10 billion euros annually.
So why organic?
Many people will now ask themselves: Why should I buy organic products? This question is easy to answer.
No pesticides or sprays
Organic products are generally considered to be of higher quality than commercial products. Products with the organic seal of approval do not use pesticides or other sprays. Only special plant protection products may be used. Commercial products, on the other hand, are sprayed and treated with more extreme chemicals. However, the impact of this on health has not yet been researched. This is mainly because long-term studies have not yet been conducted. It is assumed that the pesticides found in commercial products, which are 3-5 times higher than in organic products, do pose a health risk. However, it has now been sufficiently proven that pesticides and sprays have a negative impact on the environment and also on bees.
Organic is more nutritious
Those who buy organic also tend to buy more nutritious food. Studies have confirmed that organic products contain on average 27.0% more vitamin C, 21.1% more iron, 29.3% more magnesium, and 13.6% more phosphorus. Organic products also contain 15.1% less nitrate than their conventional counterparts. Another relevant health concern is the additional burden posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Studies show that buying pork and chicken from organic farms can reduce the concentration of these bacteria. Organic meat therefore generally means that there is a lower risk of contamination from antibiotics. It can be said with certainty that stricter guidelines must be followed on organic farms. This applies not only to animal feed, but also to animal husbandry. This inevitably leads to a higher quality and more sustainable form of agriculture.
The taste of organic
Another much-discussed topic is whether organic food tastes better than other food. This may be the subjective opinion of many people, but numerous studies have failed to find any clear evidence to support this claim. Some studies have found that organic products taste better than commercial products, while others have found exactly the opposite. There is therefore no consensus on this issue. However, one thing is certain: the placebo effect plays a major role here. People who want to take care of themselves and buy organic will probably find that it tastes better to them – even if it is just their imagination. However, this should not deter people from considering organic products to be a more valuable commodity – because they definitely are.
Organic and the environment
So is organic a panacea for the major issue of the climate crisis? Unfortunately not. Organic provides an indication of the conditions under which products are manufactured. These are uniformly regulated throughout the EU, regularly monitored, and labeled with a seal of approval. That's why organic stands for transparency above all else.
However, switching to organic alone is not the solution to all environmental problems. Although less chemicals are used in the cultivation of organic food, which protects food and the environment, there are still many other factors that must not be ignored.
If you want to be environmentally conscious, you should not just look for an organic label. An organic label alone is often not enough, because if tomatoes come from Chile, for example, but have an organic label on the packaging, this does not mean that they are better for the environment. The ecological footprint is still immense when products travel long distances. The rule here is: less is more. You should try to buy regional and seasonal products as much as possible, perhaps even directly from the farm. Your diet, i.e. whether you are vegetarian or vegan, also has a major impact on your ecological footprint. Here is a comparison: 1 kg of beef causes 22 kg of greenhouse gases and consumes 15,400 liters of water. A person in Austria eats an average of 60 kg of meat per year. That's quite a chunk.
An organic conclusion
Organic and ecological solutions make perfect sense. By buying organic products from Austria, you are also supporting local businesses that might not be able to survive on the commercial market. Organic is not just for fruit, vegetables, and meat—organic is now everywhere.
At Verival, we manufacture all our products organically. We are proud of that. So if you've had enough of dry facts, history and discussions, you are welcome to visit our website. We love organic food and, above all, breakfast. Because it's the most important meal of the day, you should pay attention to what you eat. 😉
