Organic: Someone just posted on the Nextdoor site about a local farmer selling delicious watermelons. The first reply was, "Are they organic?" I avoid anything labeled "Organic" when I...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Someone just posted on the Nextdoor site about a local farmer selling delicious watermelons. The first reply was, "Are they organic?"

I avoid anything labeled "Organic" when I shop for three reasons: higher prices, is it really organic, and does organic make a difference?

I used to buy Breyer's ice cream until they switched from half a gallon to three pints. Now I buy Stewart's - full half gallon, lower prices, and lots more ingredients.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Using the word “organic” is basically a scam, so far as I am concerned, as is the practice of labeling things “gluten free” when there was never a chance in you know where of them possibly having gluten in them. The other day I saw a watermelon labeled gluten free--still trying to figure out how anyone might get wheat flour into a watermelon.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jaymatt wrote:

Using the word “organic” is basically a scam, so far as I am concerned, as is the practice of labeling things “gluten free” when there was never a chance in you know where of them possibly having gluten in them. The other day I saw a watermelon labeled gluten free--still trying to figure out how anyone might get wheat flour into a watermelon.

Some people look for anything that is "gluten free."

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

I used to buy Breyer's ice cream until they switched from half a gallon to three pints. Now I buy Stewart's - full half gallon, lower prices, and lots more ingredients.

Sadly, it's not only that. Once upon a time, Breyer's sold real ice cream, made from "natural" ingredients like milk, cream, sugar, and real flavoring such as vanilla. Alas, Breyer's now primarily sells "frozen dairy dessert" with chemicals and additives disqualifying them from being called "ice cream." Moreover, they now whip more air into the products to give a "lighter and fluffier" consistency that they claim customers want. Adding air reduces the amount of cream to make the product "fluffier," making the product cheaper to make. So not only are the containers smaller, they contain significantly more air, less cream, and all the same garbage additives every other brand contains.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Anything made of carbon atoms is organic. The "organic" craze is just a ridiculous selling scam.

RiJoRi Loc: Sandy Ridge, NC

During the "cholesterol craze", there was a muffler shop on Long Island that advertised "cholesterol free mufflers"! I saw it as a joke/commentary, but now I'm wondering... 🤔

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

jerryc41 wrote:

Some people look for anything that is "gluten free."

Most people see no benefit, but, there a few that definitely must avoid it

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Interesting conversation. Here in New Zealand, anything labelled 'organic' must have formal government certification. If its meat being sold as organic, the beast must have been born on land certified organic, I think for something like the previous 5 years. No chemical pesticides or fertilizers to have been used and there are similar criteria for the animals 'parents'.
Same applies to any crops, fruits etc.
And the fines for anything sold that doesnt comply are pretty high. High enough I think to make it not worthwhile getting caught.
Farmers markets are very popular, where the city folk get a chance to buy stuff fresh from the farm. One doesnt see much there sold as organic though. Its mainly sold in supermarkets and green grocers at a high price and usually looks damn ugly in my opinion.
As country people for quite awhile, we do miss our farm veg and eggs and homekill meat now that we are retired to the city.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

OMG I hope it's organic. If not it's a boulder

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Or alkaline and LiOh batteries sold as being mercury free !
Or products sold as being manufactured locally when some of the contents are listed as sourced in China !
Deliberated lies although I have a feeling a lot of it is due to very stupid marketing people whose previous job was working in sales ie they don't have a clue.

Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa

jaymatt wrote:

Using the word “organic” is basically a scam, so far as I am concerned, as is the practice of labeling things “gluten free” when there was never a chance in you know where of them possibly having gluten in them. The other day I saw a watermelon labeled gluten free--still trying to figure out how anyone might get wheat flour into a watermelon.

What utter rubbish. Before coeliac disease was understood a cousin of mine died from it when gluten had not been identified as the cause of her problem.
My granddaughter suffers from it too and if she eats non gluten free products becomes quite ill.
Thank goodness there are intelligent people able to research and understand these problems.
Restraurants in the UK (if not the US if they think like you)are now brilliant at listing gluten free products and my granddaughter now feels sufficiently confident to trust them and not feel terribly ill for days after eating products with gluten in them.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

sodapop wrote:

Most people see no benefit, but, there a few that definitely must avoid it

My brother DEFINITELY MUST avoid All wheat products to avoid Severe Reactions!!!

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Jimmy T wrote:

My brother DEFINITELY MUST avoid All wheat products to avoid Severe Reactions!!!

As does my Granddaughter!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

jaymatt wrote:

Using the word “organic” is basically a scam, so far as I am concerned, as is the practice of labeling things “gluten free” when there was never a chance in you know where of them possibly having gluten in them. The other day I saw a watermelon labeled gluten free--still trying to figure out how anyone might get wheat flour into a watermelon.

A year or two ago I saw shampoo labelled "gluten-free". I think the FDA issued a regulation saying that non-food items cannot be labelled "gluten-free...

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

kpmac wrote:

Anything made of carbon atoms is organic. The "organic" craze is just a ridiculous selling scam.

So many of these do NOT say that they are "organically grown", so it is just advertising hype. Like "natural". And the latest (from Panera and others) is that something offers "clean ingredients"! Really? As opposed to...?