As a mum, you want to give your children the best, and that includes the best nutrition. With all of the confusing terminology that surrounds food these days though, it can be tricky to understand exactly what that is.
The terms organic, and free range, are a case in point.
To be organic, foods need to be grown (or in the case of livestock) raised, without chemical pesticides, additives or antibiotics. If food has been certified organic, then it’s been grown according to international standards for organic foods. That doesn’t mean that no pesticides are used – some may contaminate the food from neighbouring farms (although in lower doses) and some natural pesticides may still be used.
Free range usually refers to animal products, such as meat and eggs. These products may still contain chemicals, since the animals may still be treated with chemicals or antibiotics, but they range free, not cooped up in pens.
Then there are pesticide free foods, which are grown without the use of pesticides, but which may still be contaminated by environmental pesticides.
The main difference, therefore, is that organic food usually has a lower chemical content than ordinary food – but it’s not nonexistent.
