Organic Food

The dioxin scandal in European eggs in early 2011 is being followed by new dioxin-like PCB tainted eggs found in Germany. The source of the 2011 poison was tracked back to fatty acids  of the production of bioDiesel which were illegally added to the feed of hens. However, no source is known which might have caused the 2012 PCBs which poisoned organic eggs of North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany and conventional free range farms in Lower Saxony/Germany. PCBs levels in eggs were found to be six times the permitted limit.

The EU- Directive 1999/74 defines and specifies the standards for the protection of laying hens, defining the barn egg, the free range egg and the organic egg. [1]

Shortly before the eastern feast, in early April 2012, news were spread that organic eggs are tainted by dioxin-like PCB. The chicken farm in North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany with 25.000 laying hens was closed by veterinary authorities. The dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenylen (PCB) content was found to be three to six times of the permitted levels. [1]

A study of Pan et al. 2012 supports the long ongoing hypothesis that red meat consumption increases the risk of total, CVD, and cancer mortality. The data of more than 120.000 observations and dietary habits of 2 prospective cohort studies over the course of 20-30 years demonstrate that people eating daily red meats, such as hot dogs, sausages and other processed  red meats, had a 20% increase in mortality rate. [1]

According to “La Republica” four out of five bottles of extra-virgin Italian olive oil are cheap, less aromatic olive oil from Greece, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia. Italian companies import these oils for less then 25 cents, mix them with a small amount of Italian oil and sell it  for up to 4,00 euros per kilo to supermarket chains abroad, to tourists and to wholesale trade. [1]

Seven executives of the Italian food companies Sunny Land, Sona and Bioecoitalia and  the director of a certifying body from the Marche farming region of central Italy faked the origin of food, labelled as “organic” over years. It is assumed that 700.000 tons (valued 220 million Euros) of faked foods were sold all over Europe. Only 2.500 tons could be arrested. [1]

Honey with traces of GMO pollen must be labelled as GM produce and be submitted to safety authorisation, following new ruling by the European Court of Justice. The ruling stated that GM pollen produced by MON810 maize and present in honey falls under the scope of Regulation 1829/2003 on GM food and feed and is therefore subject to authorisation prior to placement on the market. [1]

Vallverdú-Queralt et al 2011 write that phenolic compounds and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity were higher in organic tomato juice, compared with conventional tomato juices. The authors refer to numerous studies related to the ingestion of polyphenols in diet to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and development of cancers. An increasing demand for processed tomato products, rises the interest on tomato nutrients and the antioxidants of tomato. [1]