When choosing what food to buy at the grocery store, most students will opt for the most bang for their buck. As a fellow student, I urge you to consider more sustainable food choices that are better for you, and the environment. This article focuses on the basics of sustainability in the world of food and production for anyone who is uninformed and curious.
Here are some reasons to take the time to read labels and see where your food is coming from!
Organics- not just your favorite chemistry class
So by now you have probably heard the buzzword “organic” relating to food, clothing, compost bins and so on. Surely it can’t just mean ‘contains carbon’ so what exactly is this label all about?
Although there is much speculation as to what is certified organic and what the stipulations of that certification are, here are a few key factors to think about:
Organic food is produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or herbicides. It focuses on traditional ways of farming, using natural ways to control pests, as well as biodiversity of crops and animals. Organic food is generally also free from genetically modified organisms (GMO), but check the certification to be sure.
Food in Australia, Canada, the UK and US can only use the word organic on the label if it is certified by an accredited organization.
Organic farming uses less water, saves energy, and produces less green house gases and air pollution.
There are a number of organic certifications out there including: US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Quality Assurance International (QIA) and Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA).
Background:
Pesticides were used to treat about 10% of corn in the US fifty years ago; today 95% of corn is treated. Pesticide residues are detectable in almost every person in North America, including newborns. They are linked to increased cases of cancer, neurological impairment, reproductive effects (sperm abnormalities, birth defects) and can even interfere with the human hormone system. Many ecosystems have been found contaminated by pesticides that have evaporated off of fields, precipitated, or traveled along jet streams.
So then the question is: If the pesticides are in the rain, is organic any better for your health than regular food?
A study was done in Seattle on a group of children who were first eating conventional foods, and then their diet was switched to organic. Pesticide residues in their urine dropped almost immediately to non-detectable levels.
In addition to consuming fewer chemicals, buying organic foods prevents harmful toxins from entering the environment due to unsustainable farming practices.
Organic Meat and Dairy
Organic meat and dairy is produced without the use of antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides. Livestock are fed with organic feed, and diseases are prevented using clean housing and rotational grazing for a healthy diet. Meat and dairy that is non-organic can contain antibiotics, hormones (used for faster growth), and feed grown with pesticides.
Sustainable Seafood
There are many known benefits of including fish in your diet; however, recently a large decline has been seen in a number of species due to unsustainable fishing practices. Fish can also contain a number of contaminants such as mercury, dioxins, DDT, and PCB’s. It is important to avoid large fish (those at the top of the food chain) that are most likely to have high contamination levels such as: tuna, shark, swordfish, and mackerel. There are a few ways to check which types of fish are the safest to eat, and which companies are supporting sustainable fishing practices.
David Suzuki’s list of the best choices:
Catfish (U.S. farmed), Clams (farmed), Halibut (wild, Pacific), Pollock (wild, Alaska), Rainbow trout (farmed).
Avoid:
Cod (Atlantic), Salmon (farmed), Shark, Tuna (Bluefin)
Certain species of wild salmon are dwindling, and this status is often changing. To be sure that the fish you are buying is sustainable you can visit: www.seafoodwatch.org.
Eat Local!
Although organic food is the best choice for your health, it is also important to consider the environmental impact of transporting your food. If food is coming from another country, New Zealand for example, the environmental impact of transporting it will likely be greater than buying conventional food that is locally grown. If you are truly inspired to eat locally, try the 100 mile diet (link: http://100milediet.org/). As for the next time you are at the grocery store, try to choose the B.C. apples over the California ones!
Sustainable Choices on campus:
Support the food venues on campus that are committed to preparing and selling organic food from local sources!
Check out:
Sprouts (Basement of the SUB)
Agora (Basement of Macmillan)
Also check out some of the AMS venues in the SUB that use ingredients from the UBC farm when they are in season!
If you are interested in organic produce you can also look into deliveries of organic food. Sprouts has “Sprouts boxes” that are delivered to campus residences by bicycle. Check them out at http://ubcsprouts.ca/csa.html
Another option is a Vancouver company called Green Earth Organics. They also deliver boxes of produce to your home, whether you are on campus or off. Weekly and biweekly boxes of different sizes and contents are available. Check them out at https://vancouver.greenearthorganics.com/bins/.
Films and Videos
Here are a few related movies that I recommend seeing:
Just for fun: Store Wars