Organic Production and Food Quality. A Down to Earth Analysis

The internet is rife with biased and unsubstantiated claims from the organic industry, and the treatment of issues such as food safety and quality by the media («if it bleeds, it leads») tends to have a negative impact on consumer perceptions about conventional food. Until recently, more and more consumers in many countries were opting to buy organic food over conventional food, resulting in a radical shift in food retailing. This was due to concerns over chemical residues, food poisoning resulting in recalls, food scares such as «mad-cow» disease, issues like gene-modified (GM foods), antibiotics, hormones, cloning and concerns over the way plants and animals are being g…