Organic vs. Natural

Buying in

So what’s better: natural and organic? or conventional? USDA makes no claims that organic food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. OTA, on the other hand, states that organic foods are better for you, reasoning that organic foods are higher in nutrients. Kerri Palmer, senior account executive, RMD Advertising, Columbus, OH, who works with Dei Fratelli, Toledo, OH, which uses organic tomatoes in its sauces, agrees that organic is healthier. “Typically,” she says, “what we find is that there’s probably twice as much vitamin C” in these sauces compared to conventional counterparts. “Each one of our products is going to have close to 40% of your daily recommended value of vitamin C,” she says. “As for vitamin A, it has 20% of your daily requirements. There’s also some potassium in there, and some iron.”

Organic products are also “spared the application of toxic and persistent insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers,” according to OTA. “In the long run, organic farming techniques provide a safer, more-sustainable environment for everyone.”

“People who prefer and/or seek organic and natural foods are generally educated, but often not expert technically. They are concerned about the natural and/or safe condition of the food they consume,” says Terri Volpe, technical consultant, Asoyia. “They are very interested in health and wellness and are generally well-read, but often are familiar with anecdotal and popular information, not always technically correct information.” She adds that many women become interested in natural and organic foods for their children.

“What sets organic purchasers apart is the value they place on what organic products represent—a way of farming that takes care of the planet, and processing that maintains the integrity that began on the farm,” says Givens.

Karen Manheimer, vice president, natural products, Kerry Ingredients and Flavours, believes that recent food-safety scares have pushed consumers in the organic direction. “Originally a very niche group, now more and more people are picking up some type of natural or organic product while grocery shopping,” she says.

While going organic might be perceived as better for one’s health, it’s not so great for those on a budget. A 2008 article from CNNMoney.com, “The High Price of Going ‘Organic,’” cited a 2008 survey from consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail, New York, that found the higher cost of organic products vs. mass-market alternatives is a deterrent for some consumers. The article stated that, on average, organic products sell for as much as 50% to 100% more than nonorganic alternatives.

For example, “organic peanuts and peanut-derived ingredients are about double the price of nonorganic peanut products,” notes Bruce A. Kotz, vice president of specialty products, Golden Peanut Co. LLC, Alpharetta, GA.

All about oils

In the manufacturing industry, oils can be certified as organic. “It is usually focused on whether the product is made from non-GMO sources and whether it is processed in a way that does not involve chemicals,” explains Fulmer-Boyer, noting that the grain also needs to be identity-preserved. To avoid potential cross-contamination, the product would have to be produced in a facility that is exclusively non-GMO.

“We monitor the peanut fields and farmer closely,” says Kotz. “The raw peanuts are shelled within our own plant. Therefore, the peanuts we use for the further-processed organic peanut ingredients, such as roasted aromatic peanut oil, are monitored closely.”