Organic and Green? A consumer trend is to go organic and go green. But what does organic mean? What does green mean? Join this session for an informative presentation which will include definitions, pros and cons, implications on nutrition, community (and world) economics, and how you can talk to your students parents about "green" and about "organic." Debra Spielmaker Utah State University Director, Agriculture in the Classroom

Can we all agree? We want food to be as safe as possible. We want to live in a healthy environment. means objectively. We want a quality of life that supports both.

What is dangerous? Natural toxic chemicals in food? Toxic chemical residues from pesticides? Carcinogens? (cancer-causing agents) Microorganisms? Parasites? Allergens? Genetically Engineered Organisms? Hormones? Cloning?

Many plants produce self-defense chemicals. These chemicals are plentiful and potent. ◦ Allergens ◦ Carcinogens (Cancer-causing agents)  Respond to the handout ◦ Teratogens –(Cause birth defects) ◦ Mycotoxins (Fungal Toxins) They have a long history of making people sick.

Natural Pesticides Could not be registered if made by industry Too Toxic Too Plentiful Of all the vegetation in the world, we can eat very little Many plant toxins are heat stable Humans, other mammals, and insects have evolved special enzymes to detoxify foods.

Insect Damage Creates Ports of Entry for Fungi

MYCOTOXIN WHEAT PRODUCTS -- ORGANIC VS CONVENTIONAL PERCENTILE EXPOSURE mg /person /day conventional organic Probabilistic Model – French Data (amount eaten * contamination level) Leblanc et al. Reg. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 36: , 2002 Reg. Level for 60 kg person

Food News What’s in the news ◦ Jamie Oliver (Food Revolution)Food Revolution ◦ Newspapers & Popular Press  Books (Lots – sum up with “Food Rules”)  Is Organic Food Marketing Hype? Is Organic Food Marketing Hype?  Small changes steer kids toward smarter school lunch choices Small changes steer kids toward smarter school lunch choices  Colorado's K-12 meals get a made-from-scratch makeover Colorado's K-12 meals get a made-from-scratch makeover  Cafeterias serve home-style food Cafeterias serve home-style food

Food Concerns: Organics and Conventional Production Food and Nutrition: Agree or Fiction ©Ag Literacy Works Safety: Producers & Consumers Economics: Producers & Consumers ◦ A word on the cost of buying cheap Environment: Sustainability

How much carcinogen is in my food? Alar Bacon Tap Water Peanut Butter Diet Cola Mushrooms Beer Wine

Manufactured Danger Not Fed Hormones Not Fed Hormones Not Fed Hormones Not Fed Hormones Fed Hormones? Not Fed Hormones

All milk tests exactly the same In the quantity and type of hormones found in it. It does not matter if the milk is produced organically, conventionally or from cows given rBST.

So what can you do? Read, a lot! Be concerned with sustainability, energy is key as is knowing your farmer Buy Local Work on the garbage – a big part of sustainability