KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: baby food
I used about 95% organic. I also feed them about the same percentage table food organic.
Consumer Reports has an interesting article about Organic Food and infants:
Better for baby?
Our analysis finds organic food is safer for children
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. consumers bought organic food and beverages in 2005. And because children's developing bodies are especially vulnerable to the toxins found in nonorganic baby food, it pays to buy organic food for baby as often as possible.
Children may be at risk of higher exposure to the toxins found in nonorganic food because baby food is often made up of condensed fruits or vegetables, potentially concentrating pesticide residues. While at least one company says their nonorganic baby food has pesticide and heavy-metal levels below government-recommended levels, that may be cold comfort for parents wanting the healthiest options for their baby.
Parents have good reason to be concerned. Children's developing immune, central-nervous, and hormonal systems are especially vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals. "A lot of these pesticides are toxic to the brain," says Philip Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics and preventative medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "We have very good evidence that exposure of the fetus to organophosphorus pesticides produces babies with small head circumference, which is a risk factor for reduced intelligence and behavior disturbances."
Indeed, new evidence also shows that, contrary to previous scientific belief, pesticides in a woman's bloodstream can be passed to a fetus in the womb. A study released in 2005 in which umbilical-cord blood of 10 children was collected by the Red Cross and tested for pollutants showed that 21 pesticides crossed the placenta. Further, studies have suggested that synthetic growth hormones, which can be found in nonorganic dairy cattle (and therefore in their milk), may be carcinogenic, and exposure to them may be linked to the precocious onset of puberty in girls.
Healthy progress
While a growing body of research shows that pesticides and other contaminants are more prevalent in the foods we eat than we thought, there is some good news. Ever since a 1996 federal law required pesticides to meet safety standards for children, more than a dozen formerly widely used pesticides have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers. Under that law, more pesticides are being investigated each year and banned, or they're undergoing a lowering of limits on what can safely be tolerated.
If your child is already eating nonorganic food, starting an organic diet can limit further exposure. A study supported by the Environmental Protection Agency and published in 2005 measured pesticide levels in the urine of 23 children in Washington State before and after a switch to an organic diet. After five consecutive days on the diet, researchers found that pesticide levels had decreased to undetectable levels, and remained that way until their conventional diets were reintroduced. The study's conclusion: "An organic diet provides a dramatic and immediate protective effect" against pesticide exposure.
What to buy
For those wanting to limit their children's exposure to the pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and other toxins found in some nonorganic products, organic baby food should be purchased as often as possible.
Once your child starts eating solid food, certain items should be purchased organic as often as possible, due to the higher levels of pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics found in conventionally grown versions. They include meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy, as well as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.
Multiple pesticide residues are, in general, rarely found on conventionally grown versions of these fruits and vegetables, according to research by the Environmental Working Group (a research and advocacy organization): asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas.
Organic for less
If you're interested in buying organic food for your baby, or your whole family, try these tips:
Supermarket comparison-shop. Do a price check of several local grocery stores for often-purchased organic items to find the lowest prices. We found a 4-ounce jar of organic baby food in the New York City area for as little as 69 cents a jar. Fresh organic produce is often cheaper when purchased in season.
Hit the farmer's markets. You can find organic produce there, and a USDA study in 2002 found that about 40% of those farmers don't charge a premium. Check www.localharvest.org for listings.
Join the farm team. Buy a share in a community-supported organic farm. The produce almost always beats farmer's market organic prices and often costs less than the same nonorganic items at the supermarket. Go to www.sare.org for a list of community-supported farms.
Order by mail. National providers will ship items such as organic beef ( www.mynaturalbeef.com ). Some local businesses offer home deliveries (go to www.freshdirect.com in the New York City area or www.pioneerorganics.com in the Pacific Northwest). Or visit www.eatwellguide.org and www.theorganicpages.com .
Message edited 8/10/2006 11:05:28 AM.
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