Is Organic Food Healthier?
While the USDA does not claim that organic foods are safer or more nutritious than those produced conventionally, many people who produce, buy, and eat organic foods believe that they are. Fans of organic foods are buying more and more of it — sales have risen more than 20% every year in the past decade and the Food Marketing Institute says that more than half of Americans buy organic food at least once a month. Even with organic products, though, be sure to follow the safe handling recommendations for all foods: • Thoroughly wash all produce, and if the skin still isn’t clean, peel it off. • Organically raised and processed meat can harbor bacteria and should be handled the same as regular meat products — follow kitchen cleanliness rules and cook meats to the proper temperature: 180° for poultry, 160° for beef.
