Ecologically clean food, why are they safe for humans. Overview of the Russian organic food market
Russian Federation
Federal Agency for Education
Bryansk State University named after Academician I.G. Petrovsky
Faculty of Technology and Design
Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology
Essay
on ecology
"Environmentally friendly products, their characteristics"
Completed:
3rd year student
Rodina T.V.
Teacher:
Associate Professor Vysotsky O.G.
Bryansk 2011
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...3
Characteristics of environmentally friendly products………………………4-5
II. Classification of organic products
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………… 13
List of literature used ………… .. ………………………… ........ 14
Introduction.
Natural products have become a part of our daily life. But, even realizing how useful the consumption of healthy, ecologically clean food is, not everyone includes it in their daily diet.
“Good food is the best medicine,” says the proverb. Natural clean nutrition preserves and strengthens health, improves the quality of life. Energy, optimism, cheerfulness, which overwhelm adherents of this healthy food, have inclined to such a "diet" many millions of people around the world.
In our modern time, when the air, water and earth are polluted with products of human vital activity and the ecological situation, despite all the efforts of mankind, continues to deteriorate, people are starting to think more and more about their health.
In the food market today there are a lot of proposals on the topic of "healthy eating". Starting from all kinds of pills, powders (BAA) and ending with products with an optimally selected diet. But, no one can answer the question which of them are really useful and most effective, for one simple reason: there are so many people on the planet earth and there can be so many options for the impact of these products on them.
Characteristics of environmentally friendly products.
In the dictionary of S. I. Ozhegov, “pure” is defined as “containing nothing extraneous, without impurities.” Therefore, an environmentally friendly product is a product that does not contain foreign impurities, in this case, substances that could penetrate into this product from a polluted environment, from packaging, or get into the product during its production. And it goes without saying that in all these cases we are talking about substances that adversely affect health.
It's no secret that environmental problems today have become one of the most important in the world. Now everyone is concerned that everything is environmentally friendly. First of all, it concerns food. By environmentally friendly food we understand a fairly wide range of requirements for various products. A product produced in strict accordance with environmental standards does not necessarily fall under the concept of "healthy food".
Food products are characterized by their nutritional, biological and energy value. Nutritional value is a general concept that includes the energy value of a product, the content of nutrients in it and the degree of their assimilation by the body, organolentic qualities, good quality (harmlessness). The nutritional value of products is higher, the chemical composition of which is more consistent with the principles of a balanced diet, as well as products that are sources of essential nutrients. The energy value is determined by the amount of energy that the food substances of the product give: proteins, fats, digestible carbohydrates, organic acids. The biological value primarily reflects the quality of the proteins in the product, their amino acid composition, digestibility and assimilation by the body. In a broader sense, this concept includes the content of other vital substances in the product (vitamins, trace elements, essential fatty acids).
Different foods differ in their nutritional value, but none of them are harmful or extremely beneficial. Products are useful if the principles of a balanced diet are observed, but can be harmful if these principles are violated. This provision remains valid in clinical nutrition, although, depending on the disease, some foods in diets are limited, excluded, or allowed after special cooking, depending on the disease, while others are considered more preferable.
Among food products there are no those that satisfy the human need for all nutrients.
The number of consumed natural products is limited: mainly fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, honey. Most products are consumed after processing: sausages, confectionery, bakery products, sour-milk products, various dishes, etc. It is advisable to use in clinical nutrition products combined for a better balance of nutrients: new types of cereals, egg and dairy pasta, butter and processed cheese with Ocean paste, etc. The use of artificial products is promising. These products are obtained on the basis of proteins and other nutrients of natural origin, but their composition, structure, appearance and other properties are artificially formed (artificial cereals and pasta and meat products, granular protein caviar, etc.). In artificial products, it is possible to regulate the chemical composition, which is important for the creation of special health food products.
The quality of products is a set of properties that determine the suitability of a given product to meet certain needs in accordance with the purpose of GOST.
The organoleptic properties of products - appearance, texture, color, smell, taste - are important indicators of their quality. A change in the organoleptic qualities of a product usually indicates a deterioration in their biological value (a decrease in the content of vitamins, essential fatty acids, etc.) and a possible accumulation of products of protein breakdown, decomposition of carbohydrates, and fat oxidation that are harmful to the body, especially for sick people. Moldy products may produce toxic substances. Organoleptic changes in perishable products may be accompanied by the reproduction of pathogenic microbes.
When receiving products in catering units and diet canteens, as well as before cooking stored products, their quality is checked by organoleptic indicators.
Classification of environmentally friendly products.
Taking into account the general characteristic features and features of use, the following groups of food products can be distinguished:
1) milk and dairy products;
2) meat and meat products;
3) fish, fish products and seafood;
4) eggs and egg products;
5) dietary fats;
6) cereals and pasta;
7) flour, bread and bakery products, bran;
8) fresh and processed vegetables, fruits (fruits, berries, nuts) and mushrooms; 9) sugar and its substitutes, honey, confectionery;
10) canned food and concentrates;
11) flavor products (tea, coffee, spices, seasonings, food acids); 12) mineral waters.
Products of all groups are divided into types according to origin or receipt. Some products are divided into varieties and categories based on quality in accordance with the requirements of the standard. For example: type of cow butter - creamy unsalted, grades of the highest and 1st; beef of I and II categories - according to fatness; fresh eggs of category I and II - by weight and quality.
Many food products, in particular after appropriate cooking, have certain medicinal (dietary) properties in relation to certain diseases. However, this does not give reason to call them dietary products. Dietary products are specialized products intended to replace in the diet of sick people traditional products prohibited for medical reasons and differing from them in chemical composition or physical properties.
There are 7 groups of dietary products:
1) products that provide mechanical and chemical sparing of the digestive organs and are used in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, maxillofacial injuries, violation of the act of chewing and swallowing, in the postoperative period. These products have a high degree of grinding, they contain few extractives, sodium chloride (table salt), dietary fiber, and no spices. Such products include fine flour from cereals, homogenized (especially mashed) canned food from vegetables, fruits, meat, fish freed from inedible and indigestible parts, dry water-soluble concentrates of high nutritional value (enpits, inpitan, ovolact, etc.). ) and etc.;
2) products with a low sodium content (salt-free), used for certain diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, etc. This group also includes salt substitutes (sanasol, etc.), which are used to improve the taste of salt-free food;
3) protein-free products or with the exception of certain proteins and amino acids, for example, substitutes for bread, pasta, cereals, prepared without protein from various types of starch and used for chronic kidney failure and other diseases;
4) products with a modified composition of carbohydrates - their reduced content, the replacement of sugar with sweeteners, lactose-free dairy products, sugar substitutes (sweetener, saccharin, fructose, etc.). These products are used for diabetes, obesity and other diseases;
5) products with a reduced amount of fats and (or) their improved composition (sour-milk products and cow butter enriched with vegetable oils, etc.), used in diseases with impaired fat metabolism - atherosclerosis, obesity, etc.;
6) products of reduced energy value due to a decrease in the content of fats or carbohydrates in them, with fillers (dietary fiber, methyl cellulose, etc.);
7) other dietary products enriched with complete protein, iodine, iron, vitamins, lecithin.
Conclusion.
Environmentally friendly products must be of high quality, produced in ecologically clean regions, must not contain modified genes, grown according to recommended technologies, without the abuse of fertilizers and growth stimulants. Unfortunately, these requirements are not always met in real life. When buying food, it is very important to check by whom, where and when fruits and vegetables are grown. Appearance can also tell a lot, if vegetables or fruits do not look natural, it is worth assuming that some chemicals were used to grow them. It must be remembered that crop producers are primarily interested in making a profit, and not in environmentally friendly products. One of the most common violations in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits is the excessive use of fertilizers, in particular nitrates, which are natural growth and maturation stimulants for many plants. Of course, fertilizers are necessary, because without top dressing, not a single field will be able to produce constant crops. Ideally, any field or plot should be given a 1 year rest after harvest, which is not economically viable. Therefore, mineral fertilizers come into play.
By saying "environmentally friendly, organic product", we mean that it is not harmful to the human body, that vegetables do not contain nitrates, sausage and ham - carcinogens, yogurt and curds - artificial color enhancers and preservatives. And there are more vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances in them than in traditional ones.
Bibliography.
Voronkov N.A. Ecology general: Textbook. - Moscow, 1999.
Glukhov V.V. Economic foundations of ecology: Textbook. - St. Petersburg, 1997.
Denisov V.V. Ecology: Rostov-on-Don, March 2002.
Kruglyakov G.N., Krutikova G.V. Merchandising of food products: Textbook. - Minsk: Urajay, 1998.
Mikulovich, A.V. Loktev, I.N. Furet and others; Merchandising of food products: Proc. allowance / Under the total. ed. O.A. Brilevsky. - Minsk: BSEU, 2001.
Mikulovich L. S. Commodity science of food products with the basics of microbiology, sanitation and hygiene: Proc. allowance / L. S. Mikulovich. - Mn.: Vysh. school, 2002.
Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine
Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade. M. Tugan-Baranovsky
on the topic of: "Environmentally friendly products"
Donetsk 2009
In our modern time, when the air, water and earth are polluted with products of human vital activity and the ecological situation, despite all the efforts of mankind, continues to deteriorate, people are starting to think more and more about their health.
There is a Chinese proverb - "Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are." This proverb most accurately characterizes the relationship between the food you eat and how you look and feel.
In the food market today there are a lot of proposals on the topic of "healthy eating". Starting from all kinds of pills, powders (BAA) and ending with products with an optimally selected diet. But, no one can answer the question which of them are really useful and most effective, for one simple reason: there are so many people on the planet earth and there can be so many options for the impact of these products on them.
So is there one single solution to the problem of healthy eating?
Yes, it exists, and like everything ingenious it is simple. To do this, it is necessary to grow products in an environmentally friendly environment and package them in an environmentally friendly way.
Why is this particular option the only one?
The answer to this question is simple. Products created by nature without human intervention in the process, most fully and balanced contain all the necessary substances for the life of the human body. In this case, you can apply the phrase "made by nature." And this phrase will most fully and capaciously contain the answer to your question.
What is an environmentally friendly environment?
Where and how are the standards and criteria for an environmentally friendly environment established?
The European certification system can give us the answer to this question.
In 1980, the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) established the Basic Standards for Organic Production (IBS).
Here are some of them:
· cultivation of land for at least three years should be carried out without the use of chemical fertilizers;
· seeds for organic farming must be adapted to local conditions, resistant to pests and weeds and, most importantly, not be genetically modified.
· Soil fertility should be maintained with a varied crop rotation and biodegradable fertilizers of exclusively microbiological, vegetable or animal origin.
· the use of herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, nitrogen-containing and other chemical fertilizers is prohibited.
· physical barriers, noise, ultrasound, light, traps, special temperature conditions, etc., should be used to control pests;
· When raising livestock to obtain Organic meat, it is prohibited to use antibiotics and growth hormones;
· Farmers must register any animal treatment. Treatment records are reviewed annually by certifying bodies;
· the use of radiation and genetic engineering in the production of Organic products is strictly prohibited;
· if a product is labeled as Organic, its manufacturer is obliged to use 100% organic ingredients;
“So it is in Europe, but our nature is much cleaner and apples from the “favorite garden” are much tastier and healthier,” you might say.
Yes, everything is correct, and tastier and healthier, but only who checked it, where does the confidence in this come from? Where is the guarantee and criteria, which is more useful?
Unfortunately, no one can give you guarantees. There are no criteria yet.
There are many voluntary certification schemes that will make your ordinary products "environmentally friendly" for a "modest fee". At the same time, these voluntary organizations have their own criteria for evaluating products. Whether they have the right criteria or not, at the moment it is impossible to figure out, since there is no law that sets the standards for Organic products.
As a result, we have many Russian food products that use the terms of European standards to increase the sales of their products. Who among us has not seen juices, kefir, mayonnaise on store shelves, and this list can be continued for a long time, with the designations “BIO”, “BIO”, “Environmentally friendly product”, “Checked by environmental expertise”, etc. In fact, it turns out that our consumer is being misled, simply saying "they are fooling our brother, gentlemen, marketers."
At the same time, in many European countries, at the state level, organic product standards have been introduced. A system has been created to monitor the implementation and compliance with these standards.
How can our customer figure out which products on store shelves are really Organic?
The easiest and fastest way is to find one of the badges of European certification bodies on the product label. Here are examples of some of them:
| Organic Agriculture - EC Management System | European Union | In March 2000, the European Organic Commission introduced this emblem. It is used exclusively voluntarily by those manufacturers whose products comply with the European Union standard system adopted in 1991. |
 Bio-Siegel (Environmental Seal) |
Germany | In 2001, the German Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture introduced a national label - Bio-Siegel (Environmental Seal), which identifies the products of enterprises that adhere to the requirements of the EU regulation. |
| Agriculture Biologique (Ecological products) | France | France was one of the first European countries to introduce a national label for organic food, which has replaced private labeling systems and is the property of the French Ministry of Agriculture. The application of this logo on goods is allowed after signing an agreement with the owner of the mark and fulfilling all the requirements established by EU law. The mark may also be applied to organic products from other countries, subject to the requirements of French legislation for farms using organic methods. However, plant products must be produced in the European Union, with the exception of exotic ones. |
| Valvottua tuotantoa/Kontrollerad ekoproduktion (Certified Organic) | Finland | This state mark is issued by the Finnish Crop Inspection Center |
| Sweden | In Sweden, the only accredited control organization is KRAV. Its standard is more stringent than the requirements stipulated by European legislation. Issued by the Swedish Society for Agricultural Control. The mark is also found on products produced outside of Sweden (coffee, tea, fruit). | |
| Netherlands | This mark is issued by the Dutch State Inspection Authority called Skal. | |
 United States Department of Agriculture |
USA | This mark has been licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2002 under the National Organic Program (NOP) |
| Finland | This ladybug badge is issued by Finland's private certifying authority, Luomuliito. Most often this sign is found on vegetables. | |
 |
Europe, America, Africa, New Zealand | The environmental certification standard Demeter, which appeared in 1924 on the basis of the work of Rudolf Steiner ("Spiritual and scientific foundations for the successful development of agriculture"), became the first world standard for organic agriculture. The presence of the Demeter biodynamic production mark on the product packaging not only characterizes the special conditions of strict control at all stages of product creation according to Organic standards, but also reflects a special approach to careful and meticulous farming, taking into account many natural features (moon phases, seasons, etc.). .), incl. care for the cleanliness and preservation of soils and the environment. Demeter International currently has 18 member organizations in Europe, America, Africa and New Zealand. |
And what about our environmentally friendly packaging?
This issue is no less serious, but easier to resolve.
Why serious?
Yes, because, no matter how environmentally friendly products are produced, if the packaging is toxic, it will spoil us, the quality of the products that we were so striving for.
Why is it easy to solve?
What is environmentally friendly packaging, it is such a packaging that comes into the least contact with the products contained in it, without changing the quality properties of the products. Today, the packaging market can offer many options for solving environmentally friendly product packaging. At the same time, packaging manufacturing and production technologies are constantly being improved.
Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine
Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade. M. Tugan-Baranovsky
on the topic of: "Environmentally friendly products"
Donetsk 2009
In our modern time, when the air, water and earth are polluted with products of human vital activity and the ecological situation, despite all the efforts of mankind, continues to deteriorate, people are starting to think more and more about their health.
There is a Chinese proverb - "Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are." This proverb most accurately characterizes the relationship between the food you eat and how you look and feel.
In the food market today there are a lot of proposals on the topic of "healthy eating". Starting from all kinds of pills, powders (BAA) and ending with products with an optimally selected diet. But, no one can answer the question which of them are really useful and most effective, for one simple reason: there are so many people on the planet earth and there can be so many options for the impact of these products on them.
So is there one single solution to the problem of healthy eating?
Yes, it exists, and like everything ingenious it is simple. To do this, it is necessary to grow products in an environmentally friendly environment and package them in an environmentally friendly way.
Why is this particular option the only one?
The answer to this question is simple. Products created by nature without human intervention in the process, most fully and balanced contain all the necessary substances for the life of the human body. In this case, you can apply the phrase "made by nature." And this phrase will most fully and capaciously contain the answer to your question.
What is an environmentally friendly environment?
Where and how are the standards and criteria for an environmentally friendly environment established?
The European certification system can give us the answer to this question.
In 1980, the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) established the Basic Standards for Organic Production (IBS).
Here are some of them:
· cultivation of land for at least three years should be carried out without the use of chemical fertilizers;
· seeds for organic farming must be adapted to local conditions, resistant to pests and weeds and, most importantly, not be genetically modified.
· Soil fertility should be maintained with a varied crop rotation and biodegradable fertilizers of exclusively microbiological, vegetable or animal origin.
· the use of herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, nitrogen-containing and other chemical fertilizers is prohibited.
· physical barriers, noise, ultrasound, light, traps, special temperature conditions, etc., should be used to control pests;
· When raising livestock to obtain Organic meat, it is prohibited to use antibiotics and growth hormones;
· Farmers must register any animal treatment. Treatment records are reviewed annually by certifying bodies;
· the use of radiation and genetic engineering in the production of Organic products is strictly prohibited;
· if a product is labeled as Organic, its manufacturer is obliged to use 100% organic ingredients;
“So it is in Europe, but our nature is much cleaner and apples from the “favorite garden” are much tastier and healthier,” you might say.
Yes, everything is correct, and tastier and healthier, but only who checked it, where does the confidence in this come from? Where is the guarantee and criteria, which is more useful?
Unfortunately, no one can give you guarantees. There are no criteria yet.
There are many voluntary certification schemes that will make your ordinary products "environmentally friendly" for a "modest fee". At the same time, these voluntary organizations have their own criteria for evaluating products. Whether they have the right criteria or not, at the moment it is impossible to figure out, since there is no law that sets the standards for Organic products.
As a result, we have many Russian food products that use the terms of European standards to increase the sales of their products. Who among us has not seen juices, kefir, mayonnaise on store shelves, and this list can be continued for a long time, with the designations “BIO”, “BIO”, “Environmentally friendly product”, “Checked by environmental expertise”, etc. In fact, it turns out that our consumer is being misled, simply saying "they are fooling our brother, gentlemen, marketers."
At the same time, in many European countries, at the state level, organic product standards have been introduced. A system has been created to monitor the implementation and compliance with these standards.
How can our customer figure out which products on store shelves are really Organic?
The easiest and fastest way is to find one of the badges of European certification bodies on the product label. Here are examples of some of them:
|
Organic Agriculture - EC Management System |
European Union | In March 2000, the European Organic Commission introduced this emblem. It is used exclusively voluntarily by those manufacturers whose products comply with the European Union standard system adopted in 1991. |
Bio-Siegel (Environmental Seal) |
Germany | In 2001, the German Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture introduced a national label - Bio-Siegel (Environmental Seal), which identifies the products of enterprises that adhere to the requirements of the EU regulation. |
|
Agriculture Biologique (Ecological products) |
France | France was one of the first European countries to introduce a national label for organic food, which has replaced private labeling systems and is the property of the French Ministry of Agriculture. The application of this logo on goods is allowed after signing an agreement with the owner of the mark and fulfilling all the requirements established by EU law. The mark may also be applied to organic products from other countries, subject to the requirements of French legislation for farms using organic methods. However, plant products must be produced in the European Union, with the exception of exotic ones. |
|
Valvottua tuotantoa/Kontrollerad ekoproduktion (Certified Organic) |
Finland | This state mark is issued by the Finnish Crop Inspection Center |
| Sweden | In Sweden, the only accredited control organization is KRAV. Its standard is more stringent than the requirements stipulated by European legislation. Issued by the Swedish Society for Agricultural Control. The mark is also found on products produced outside of Sweden (coffee, tea, fruit). | |
| Netherlands | This mark is issued by the Dutch State Inspection Authority called Skal. | |
United States Department of Agriculture |
USA | This mark has been licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2002 under the National Organic Program (NOP) |
| Finland | This ladybug badge is issued by Finland's private certifying authority, Luomuliito. Most often this sign is found on vegetables. | |
 |
Europe, America, Africa, New Zealand | The environmental certification standard Demeter, which appeared in 1924 on the basis of the work of Rudolf Steiner ("Spiritual and scientific foundations for the successful development of agriculture"), became the first world standard for organic agriculture. The presence of the Demeter biodynamic production mark on the product packaging not only characterizes the special conditions of strict control at all stages of product creation according to Organic standards, but also reflects a special approach to careful and meticulous farming, taking into account many natural features (moon phases, seasons, etc.). .), incl. care for the cleanliness and preservation of soils and the environment. Demeter International currently has 18 member organizations in Europe, America, Africa and New Zealand. |
And what about our environmentally friendly packaging?
This issue is no less serious, but easier to resolve.
Why serious?
Yes, because, no matter how environmentally friendly products are produced, if the packaging is toxic, it will spoil us, the quality of the products that we were so striving for.
Why is it easy to solve?
What is environmentally friendly packaging, it is such a packaging that comes into the least contact with the products contained in it, without changing the quality properties of the products. Today, the packaging market can offer many options for solving environmentally friendly product packaging. At the same time, packaging manufacturing and production technologies are constantly being improved.
Summing up, we briefly formulate the formula of "healthy eating".
To obtain "healthy food" products, only two components are needed: "nature" without human intervention and "environmentally friendly packaging" technology created by man.
Ecological products and products for a healthy diet are different concepts.
However, it is worth distinguishing between ecological products and products for a healthy diet. If we approach this issue formally, we can say that these are different concepts. A product produced in strict accordance with environmental standards does not necessarily fall under the concept of "healthy food". You don’t classify a piece of fatty pork as a “healthy diet”, even if the pig was raised according to all the rules. On the other hand, any "innovative" drink, which is a mixture of juice, skimmed milk and various additives enriched with vitamins, positioned by the manufacturer as a product for "healthy eating", cannot be called ecological.
Enriched foods contain vitamin complexes, trace elements, probiotic microorganisms (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (food for them). The name and quantity of this kind of "flora and fauna" must be indicated on the packaging. Such products include, for example, juices, mineral waters, isotonic drinks (usually drunk during sports), muesli, breakfast cereals, bakery products and, of course, dairy and sour-milk products. The main task of enriched foods is to improve human health, reduce the risk of various diseases and eliminate the deficiency of substances necessary for the body.
The content of vitamins and microelements in fortified foods is calculated in accordance with the average daily human need. One serving provides an average of 30 to 50% of the recommended intake.
The idea of fortification appeared in the 1930s of the last century. It belonged to the Russian professor-vitaminologist Viktor Efremov, who at the stage of flour production began to add vitamins B1, B2 and PP to it. The first Russian manufacturer to use a prebiotic in its products was Wimm-Bill-Dann (WBD), which produced bio-milk Bio-Max. According to a study conducted by AC Nielsen, in June-July 2005, WBD accounted for about 34% of the dairy market. In the market for fortified dairy products, their main competitors are Danone, Ochakovsky Dairy Plant and Petmol. In the yoghurt and dessert market, and to some extent in the baby dairy market, Wimm-Bill-Dann competes with foreign companies such as Danone, Campina, Ohnken and Ehrmann. They continue to actively invest in their business activities in Russia.
In addition to ecological and enriched foods, there is a third category of "healthy" food - functional foods. They combine the properties of enriched foods and biologically active food supplements (BAA). The addition of certain extracts from plant and animal raw materials leads to the fact that the products begin to bring specific benefits: normalize metabolic processes, regulate specific physiological functions, biochemical reactions and stimulate the immune system. Soy derivatives are often added to functional products: fibers, proteins, lecithin. They are used in the production of minced meat, sausages, mayonnaise, pasta, etc. Many manufacturers mix several useful products in one. Such products do not fall into the category of functional, but their effectiveness does not decrease from this. Separation of functional and enriched foods is not supported by all experts. This is marketing. The manufacturer needs to somehow distinguish their products. So he gives her various incomprehensible names. There are also “fitness products”, “innovative products”, etc. They probably have some medically important differences, but from the point of view of the consumer they belong to the same category - a healthy diet.
New ways to fight for your own health
Natural products have become a part of our daily life. But, even realizing how beneficial the consumption of healthy organic food is, not everyone includes it in their daily diet. In Western countries, there are special stores where you can easily buy natural and guaranteed eco-friendly products. Their quality is confirmed by special certificates. Russia has not yet created a large network of such "healthy" grocery stores, but there are already prerequisites for this.
We decided to make a list of 10 alleged organic products and tell the whole truth about their benefits.
- Harmful substances - pesticides - provoke low birth rates, deviations in the development of children, hormonal disorders, the development of cancerous tumors, leukemia, cardiovascular diseases and problems with the nervous system. The government claims to control the use of pesticides and other harmful additives in our food. But because it is very difficult to completely protect ourselves from exposure to chemicals, we must also make every effort to provide ourselves with a healthy diet.
Pesticides are chemical compounds used to protect plants from insects and pests. Their improper use can harm the environment and human health. They can be in the soil for many years, even after the decomposition of the organic product. The main way to protect yourself from getting into the body of chemical elements is to use peeled vegetables and fruits in food.
Babies, pregnant and breastfeeding women are most exposed to the harmful effects of pesticides. Their body is not able to resist harmful substances. Compared to adults, children's bodies are less able to eliminate the negative effects of chemicals.
Below we provide a list of foods that have always been considered beneficial for our body. Is it really?
Milk itself is a typical natural product, but don't forget that cows that produce milk are fed supplements containing hormones or antibiotics. Supplement studies have shown that milk and dairy products contain bovine growth hormone (RBGH), which can lead to a number of hormonal abnormalities. Studies have found that only natural milk does not contain harmful additives and hormones. Organic milk is rich in vitamin E, contains omega-3s, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
Eggs are an essential source of protein. But in order to increase the number of eggs, chickens are fed with special preparations. As a result, just like with dairy products, only organic eggs are beneficial. With them, foreign hormones do not enter the human body.
Eating "hormonal" eggs or the same chicken broth, children acquire a tendency to grow too fast, and this adversely affects their health.
Potato
Chlorthalonil, a popular fertilizer for potatoes, is especially dangerous for children. It was recognized as so unhealthy that in America, due to the excessive use of chlorthalonil, heated debate erupted, which reached the court. In Canada, scientists have found a link between pesticides sprayed on potatoes and asthma in rural areas. Ketchup will not help you get rid of chemicals. Good for those who are fond of gardening and plant potatoes on their own, despite all the difficulties of working in a potato field and fighting the Colorado potato beetle. For those who do not have their own site, the only way out is to buy eco-friendly products.
Even such a useful product for both adults and children as spinach becomes simply dangerous after pollination with chemicals. Although by nature it is full of unique vitamins.
Grape
Grapes native to the sunny country of Chile contain a lot of fungicides - chemicals used to combat fungi that cause plant diseases. The brothers from other warm corners of the earth are not very different from him.
It doesn't matter how good a sweet and juicy pear tastes if it has been fertilized with fungicides or other chemicals. Part of the toxic substances remained on the fruit itself. For example, the chemical azinphos-methyl, which is often used to protect plants from insects.
Strawberry
Even sweet strawberries show high pesticide content. This is due to the abundance of chemicals with which they try to protect it from insects and fungi. For example, the substance vinclozolin interferes with the normal functioning of the male hormone androgen, and this is not the most severe consequence.
Any nutritionist will advise his patients to consume bell pepper. It contains high amounts of vitamin C. But, unfortunately, 95 percent of the greenhouse pepper crop contains traces of neurotoxic substances and fertilizers.
The English usually say: "An apple a day and you don't need a doctor." But this folk wisdom only applies to organic fruits. Apple trees are generously fertilized with pesticides and other chemicals. Be careful buying oversized and glossy apples. This fruit occupies the first place in the ranking of products "from the garden" subject to chemical processing. Ideally, try to buy apples in the village or in special markets, from sellers who feed on these fruits themselves.
Some scientists claim that this seemingly innocent fruit contains 10 times more nitrates and pesticides than other fruits and vegetables. And these chemicals are very unsafe for our health. They can lead to the development of cancer.
If you are buying imported organic products, look for labels. If these are products from the USA - organic, if from Europe - bio. Of course, their prices are one and a half to two times higher than for ordinary products. Carefully study our list and think about whether you want to save on your health?
genetically modified foods
Why humanity is switching to genetically modified foods (GMF) and what is ecological food are complex questions. Not always understanding exactly what the essence of these definitions is, we tend to compare and contrast them.
In fact, all the organisms that surround us now are the result of mutation. New plant species, animals that differ from their ancient dinosaur ancestors - all these are the strongest fighting for survival for thousands of years. Those whose genetic code is most suitable for existence on earth. But if nature needs more than a dozen centuries to form a new species, then a few years are enough for modern science.
The heyday of genetic engineering came at the end of the 20th century. In 1982, scientists conducted an experiment to change the genetic code of tobacco. And the first genetically modified food was a tomato, which was "deprived" of the ripening gene. The new species is able to be stored for months at a temperature of 12 degrees and in a few hours become ripe in warmth. The following experiments resulted in corn and pears, which release their own poison against insect pests, potatoes, which absorb a minimum of fat when frying, and about a hundred more "improved" crops. Russian scientists have developed a genetically modified potato that improves immunity due to the human blood interferon contained in it. And sheep, in whose milk rennet is present. Only 200 animals of the “new model” are able to provide the whole of Russia with cheese.
Humanity does not yet know the final answer to this question. Are GMFs capable of provoking allergic reactions, is resistance to antibiotics a consequence of the use of genetically modified foods, and how to “negotiate” with nature that maintains a natural ecological balance? To date, there is no unambiguous evidence of the harm of GMF for humans, which, however, does not mean otherwise.
Supporters of the development of genetic engineering claim that artificially bred plants are much cleaner from an environmental point of view than natural ones grown on pesticides and fertilizers. Standing up for the ubiquitous distribution of GMF, geneticists give weighty arguments. According to scientists, by the end of this century, the number of people living on earth may double. How will the people of the future earn their living, if already today a number of countries and regions are starving? The answer is simple: genetic engineering is an affordable way to feed humanity.
The main arguments of the opponents are as follows. Short-term trials are not capable of capturing the full range of consequences of GMF use. The negative impact can manifest itself only after a long time. The loss of the gene pool is one of the main reasons for the rejection of genetic experiments. For example, it is believed that there is no place on earth where corn crops would not be contaminated by genetically modified plants. The same fate awaits other species.
To eat or not to eat - everyone decides for himself. Public opinion is opposed to modified foods, demand for them is falling, and individual food manufacturers are “screaming” about their “genetic purity”. And to be honest, there are practically no people who have never touched the GMF in their lives. This is evidenced at least by the fact that today about 120 types of genetically modified products are registered in Russia, but food manufacturers do not report the presence of modified components either, of course, in advertising or on product packaging. Meat and dairy products, vegetables, etc. sometimes contain more than 80 percent of transgenes, but there is no law that would oblige manufacturers to label goods in a special way.
If you are afraid of running into GMF, do not buy: semi-finished meat products (they often include modified soy), broiler chickens (they are “fed” with growth hormones), unnaturally even and beautiful vegetables, food in fast food restaurants, corn.
When we see trays with cucumbers or packages of kefir on the supermarket counter, marked with eye-pleasing seals “ecological”, “from natural raw materials”, “bio”, etc., we naturally pay attention to this. And although the goods with a “label” are much more expensive, the hands themselves take them off the shelf and put them in the cart. The fashion for healthy eating has come to Russia. We realized that the diet should consist of natural and environmentally friendly products. But how much the quality of the content corresponds to the inscription on the package, and on what basis the manufacturer puts the label is unknown.
In the West, there is the concept of "organic food" - organic, natural food . But the Russian market of organic food is the same innovation as genetically modified products. By saying "environmentally friendly, organic product", we mean that it is not harmful to the human body, that vegetables do not contain nitrates, sausage and ham - carcinogens, yogurt and curds - artificial color enhancers and preservatives. And there are more vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances in them than in traditional ones. Therefore, "organic food" is a source of health, energy and vitality.
Advertising, as a rule, draws attention to products produced in ecologically clean areas, without the use of pesticides and other inorganic fertilizers. In addition, any additional ingredients (fillings, fillers, dyes), without which it is simply impossible to do in production, must be natural. Although they are much more expensive than artificial ones, they are unstable to temperature fluctuations, their possibilities are limited. That is why it is more profitable for a mass producer to use artificial additives.
The widest selection of organic, natural food available today in the US. Movie stars and top models, popular TV hosts and economic moguls publicly declare their love for organic products. Several giant supermarket chains, a large number of farms provide "organic food" to everyone. In our country, real ecological food is still scarce. Of course, we can assume that everything that is grown in the fields of Russian outbacks is “organic food”. A variety of products are called healthy, natural, environmentally friendly. But they do not pass any special checks. Apparently, the problem is also that the very concept of "environmentally friendly" is not legally fixed by anyone.
When independent organizations check products for the absence of harmful chemicals, when a certificate and a special sign on the product label are a guarantee of "purity", then the ranks of adherents of ecological food will grow. It will be sold in pharmacies, fitness centers, specialized supermarkets.
In Russia, for environmentally friendly products there is still no single name prescribed in the law or state quality standards. In professional circles, different concepts are used: "organic", "bio" or "eco", the meaning of which is the same. Organics refers to everyday consumption and satisfies the physiological needs of a person in high-quality proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. It includes a wide variety of products: fruits, vegetables, cereals, groceries, baked goods, milk, cheeses and confectionery.
All raw materials are produced in accordance with the principles of organic agriculture, which are designed to care for the environment. An important feature of organic products is the non-use of genetically modified organisms, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides at any stage of their production. The yield of such crops is 20-30% lower than that of traditional crops, but due to the growing demand, the area under their cultivation is increasing.
At the final stage, the production of ecological products is completed without the use of foreign chemicals: dyes, flavor enhancers, preservatives. Of course, the shelf life of such products is less than that of traditional ones. This leads to a number of difficulties, for example, with transportation. Therefore, the cost of organics is 20-30% higher than the cost of conventional food.
Manufacturers are entirely responsible for pricing. However, the price of some products of the "healthy" group, for example, products enriched with beneficial bacteria, is slightly higher than for similar products that do not have such beneficial properties. This is not surprising, because such products involve a complicated technological process of production, transportation, storage and sale. In European countries, the estimate of additional costs for the manufacturer of ecological products also includes services for mandatory control by certifying organizations.
In 2004, the organic market in the US reached $16 billion, accounting for 2% of total food sales. In Germany and Denmark, the share of such products is 3%, and in France - only 0.5%. There are no exact data on the Russian market of "healthy" products. Market players and experts assess it as dynamically developing, but at the same time find it difficult to support their assessments with specific figures. “We assess the domestic healthy food market as promising and rapidly growing, but there are no exact data on its volume,” says Fyodor Ogarkov, CEO of the meat products manufacturer CampoMos. - There is a general trend - people are paying more and more attention to healthy eating. By the nature of consumption, our market is similar to the European one. The total share of eco-products in Europe is about 3%. The volume of the world market of organic food products in 2004 amounted to more than $28 billion”. The global demand for organics is increasing annually by an average of 15 - 20%. According to KOMKON, over the past five years, the number of Russians who are willing to pay more for organic products has grown by 19.5%.
In Europe and the US, organic products are distributed not only through ordinary supermarkets. There are many specialized retail chains, such as American Wild Oats Markets or Whole Foods Market. Often, these retailers launch their own lines for the production of eco-products, which are then sold at a much lower price than well-known eco-brands.
The CVS Consulting agency conducted a survey of manufacturers involved in the processing and sale of agricultural and food products in Russia. 52% of the respondents said that organic food should be sold in specialized places, 48% - everywhere.
Domestic retail chains are increasingly launching marketing campaigns in favor of "healthy" products. So, in March 2003, the long-term Healthy Eating program was launched at Perekrestok. As part of this program, the retailer, together with the Institute of Healthy Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, has identified a number of products that correspond to the doctors' idea of a proper diet. These products are highlighted on the shelves with multi-colored markers.
In response to the growing consumer demand for goods of the "healthy" group, retail chains provide it with a growing offer. More than 15% of the products sold in the Seventh Continent stores belong to the “healthy” group: vegetables, fruits, cereals, dairy products, as well as diabetic, dietary products enriched with beneficial bacteria.”
"Antipodes" for organic products are products with genetic modifications. Fragments of foreign DNA are implanted into plants in order to develop resistance to herbicides and pesticides, increase resistance to pests, and increase their yield. Donors can be microorganisms, viruses, other plants, animals, and even humans. So, for example, a frost-resistant tomato was bred in the USA. The gene for the North American sea flounder has been added to its DNA. The vegetable does not spoil on the outside, but rots on the inside. A scorpion gene was used to create a drought-tolerant wheat variety. The first plantings of transgenic cereals were made in the USA in 1988, and in 1993 the first products with genetically modified ingredients (GMI) appeared on the general market. Transgenic products began to capture the domestic market in the late 1990s. According to the Greenpeace study conducted in Russia in 2004–2005, transgenes were found in 20–50% of samples of the studied products. The number of such products is growing every year. Most often, GMI are included in the composition of meat and dairy products, as well as in confectionery.
Many experts believe that the artificial shuffling of genetic structures is far from an exact science, so the consequences of playing with DNA can be the most unpredictable. Greenpeace does not consider GM foods to be safe, so we cannot classify them as a healthy diet,” commented Natalia Olefirenko, coordinator of the Greenpeace genetic campaign in Russia. “The future belongs to organic food, the production of which does not undermine the ecological and biological diversity, does not lead to chemical pollution.” In 1998, Arpad Pusztai, a professor at the British University of Aberdino, conducted a series of experiments on animals that prove the connection between the use of products containing GMI and the development of esophageal cancer, liver diseases, and allergic reactions. GMI-containing products do not have any nutritional advantages compared to conventional unmodified products.
According to the law in Russia, transgenic plants cannot be grown in the open field, but there is no ban on the presence of GM products on the food market in the country. In the production of food products, including children's food, the use of 13 imported types of GMI is allowed. Industrial production of GMI in Russia is prohibited. In accordance with the amendment to the Consumer Protection Act of 2005, each product containing GMI must be marked with a special label. However, requirements and control rules have not yet been developed for it.
The National Genetic Safety Association (NAGB) considers this rule to be speculative. If only because small amounts of GMI can get into products without the knowledge of the manufacturer. For example, in one delivery sometimes there are mixtures of GMI and conventional components, which are not always traceable. Such a rule only provokes manufacturers to hide information about the presence of GMI in their products. “We are in favor of introducing a European threshold of 0.5 - 0.9% of each ingredient in the product,” says Dmitry Starostin, head of the press service of the OAGB. “For example, if a sausage weighing 1 kilogram contains 300 grams of soy, including 2 grams of transgenic soy, then the sausage must be labeled as containing GMI.”
Non-governmental organizations are trying to influence the market. Greenpeace is now in its third year of publishing a guide to avoiding GMI products. It tells which domestic and foreign companies operating on the Russian market use GM components in their production. This or that verdict is made on the basis of written requests from manufacturers and random checks. The release of the updated guide is to take place on October 17, 2005.
Ecological products are produced in accordance with ecological agricultural standards without the use of foreign chemicals, that is, without fertilizers, dyes, flavor enhancers, preservatives.
Enriched foods contain vitamin complexes, microelements, probiotic microorganisms and prebiotics, the name and quantity of which must be indicated on the packaging.
Dietary supplements are concentrates of natural or identical to natural biologically active substances intended to enrich the human diet. They are not food by themselves.
Functional products combine the properties of enriched products and dietary supplements. They are complete foods that can be part of a person's daily diet.
Organic foods or environmentally friendly products - produced in accordance with certain standards, meaning that they were grown without the use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers. In Europe, such a standard is the “Pan-European Agreement on organic production of agricultural products” No. 2092/91 of June 24, 1991 (Council Regulation No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products). To assign the status of "Environmentally Friendly" to the final product, regulatory authorities inspect the entire path "from grain to counter": agricultural land and agricultural practices, seed, processing methods, packaging. Compliance with the provisions of the Cleaner Production Agreement is monitored by national certifying organizations. The sign of such an organization on the product label is a reliable guarantee of its quality and environmental friendliness.
Such a product is determined by three parameters: environmentally friendly raw materials, environmentally friendly ingredients and technological process.
Environmentally friendly raw materials
Organic farms do not use mineral fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides. Biological and physical methods are used to control pests: natural enemies, noise, ultrasound, light, traps, etc. Many types of agricultural practices are carried out by hand so as not to harm plants and soil.
Eco-Friendly Ingredients
In addition to raw materials, the composition of the product includes various ingredients that are indispensable in the production of a complex product: fillings, fillers, dyes, preservatives. Ecologically clean ingredients are considered to be obtained only from natural raw materials, without the use of synthetic elements. For example, when canning, grape or apple cider vinegar is added.
In addition to advantages, environmentally friendly ingredients have a number of disadvantages: for example, natural dyes are unstable to temperature, have low intensity tinting abilities and are extremely expensive to manufacture.
Technological process
They process environmentally friendly raw materials in gentle physical ways, preserving nutrients as much as possible. Completely prohibited: chemical refining, deodorization, hydrogenation; radiation exposure; artificial and synthetic sweeteners, preservatives, flavors; mineralization and vitaminization of products, genetically modified ingredients. For example, the process of producing vegetable oil looks like this:
obtaining oil by cold mechanical pressing, as in ancient times;
oil packaging in dark glass or metal bottles (protection from ultraviolet rays); injection of hydrogen into the neck to prevent oxidation.
In Europe and America, products that do not contain agricultural and food chemicals have long become popular. They are called "organic" - "organic", which even surpasses our idea of \u200b\u200borganic products. Organic products do not contain residues of chemical fertilizers, chemical preservatives, flavors, taste and color improvers, genetically modified ingredients. And there are 50% more vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances in them than in traditional ones. Therefore, "organic" products strengthen and heal, bring energy and cheerfulness. A well-organized system for monitoring the ecological purity of organic products guards their high quality. Independent certifying organizations check the absence of harmful chemicals and genetically modified components at any stage of production: from the field to the counter. A guarantee of purity and usefulness is a certificate and a special sign on the product label. The ranks of adherents of "organic" are constantly growing. First of all, these are those who are always in sight: movie stars and top models, popular TV presenters and journalists, industrial and banking magnates, in a word, the elite. "I eat organic!" means not only taking care of your health, but also a high social status, prestige, the opportunity to be at the forefront of glamor and fashion. Although organic products are significantly more expensive than traditional products, more and more middle-income people are shopping in organic stores. And their right choice in favor of "organic" is quite economically justified.
Organic agriculture is a production system that maintains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. The system is based on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles, taking into account local conditions, and also tries to avoid methods with adverse consequences. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and scientific excellence to benefit from the environment, spread sensible relationships and a good quality of life for all involved in this system (as defined by IFOAM).
The organic goods market offers not only organic food and drinks, but also organic clothing, children's products, cosmetics and medical products, pet food and toys, organic furniture, flowers, etc. In the late 1990s. in Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany, the first "organic" hotels appeared, where all food, bed linen and a number of other goods are organic. However, the main category of organic goods is still organic food.
All links in the production of organic food undergo a rigorous certification system every year. It inspects both the absence of chemical additives and genetic engineering technologies in the production, as well as a whole range of other requirements for organic products. “Organic” pets, for example, have a strictly regulated area of residence, special food, and they must walk in the fresh air every day.
You can recognize organic products by a special sign on the packaging. Most economically developed countries have their own widely recognizable mark, certifying that the methods of production of products meet national requirements. There may be several signs on the product, which indicates certification by several organizations at once.
Nowadays eco-technologies are becoming more and more popular. A growing number of people are beginning to care about the impact of the products they purchase on the world around them. These people want to know where fruits and vegetables are grown, how their clothes are made, what is in the things they use, and so on. There is a large selection of green goods that did not exist even a few years ago: from cleaning products to clothes, from grocery bags to fruits and vegetables, from pasta to children's toys.
Definition
Eco-friendly (also eco-friendly or green) is an ambiguous term used to refer to goods, services, laws, policies that claim to cause minimal or no harm to an ecosystem or environment. This term is most commonly used for products that are green and/or conserve resources such as water and energy and/or that do not pollute the environment…
The expert tells about what actually organic products are and what is only called that.
Title right
With complete confidence, only those products that have a certificate from one of the world's most recognized certifying organizations can be called ecological or organic.
Russian certification that you can trust - the badge "Leaf of Life" of the St. Petersburg Eco-Union. Of the foreign ones generally accepted on the Russian market, the most widespread are the EU Eurolist, the American USDA Organic, the Italian ICEA, private foreign certificates of the Demetra and Bioland systems.
If we talk about the differences between our and not our certificates, the Russian national standard for organic products has been adapted with international generally accepted standards and has minor differences. True, it came into force quite recently, only this year.
Certificate - quality assurance
The certification mark on a product means that it…
In modern megacities and in particular in Moscow, you can buy any product. On the shelves you will find all kinds of additives and preservatives, vegetables and fruits heavily seasoned with growth stimulants, pesticides and nitrates, chicken and meat stuffed with antibiotics. No one doubts that the most valuable thing a person has is his health. Therefore, it is worth taking care of the quality of the products that fall on your table. Because of our ecology, it is quite difficult to find truly pure products. You can go to the market and buy granny groceries, but are you sure that they are really organic, not grown near the highway and not seasoned with fertilizers?
You may wonder: what are organic products and where to buy them in Moscow?
Ecological products can be considered products grown in an environmentally friendly environment.
1. Land cultivation should be carried out without the addition of chemical fertilizers (pesticides, herbicides and others).
2….
- these are products that are grown on pristine clean land without the use of chemical fertilizers, man-made impacts, including the processing process. When sold, such products are labeled with the “eco” emblem and cost an order of magnitude more expensive (about 3-5 times, which is 60-70% of the cost of conventional food)
Why? Eco-products are positioned in the premium segment and their production requires more costs, manual labor, certification, veterinary control, laboratory research, packaging, etc.
Organic vegetables and fruits contain 40% more antioxidants, which reduces the occurrence of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and the milk of biotech animals has 90% higher levels of antioxidants. Eco-products contain more minerals, vitamins, microelements, which are so necessary for people living in a metropolis.
In the world, according to experts, every year there is an increasing interest in the consumption of environmentally friendly products. So the demand for eco products increased from 20 billion dollars in 2000 to 60 billion dollars in 2012 - more than 3 times! It is assumed that by 2020 the demand for will increase to 200 - 250 billion dollars! The leaders in the production of eco-products are the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland. Russia, on the other hand, lags behind European producers in terms of the technology for the production of eco-products by 15-20 years….
Signs of environmentally friendly products in Europe and requirements for its production.
All products marked with such signs are subject to strict control at all stages of production and sale. Production quality control includes:
- production of organic products in isolated places to prevent mixing of products
– controlling organizations carry out annual inspections of production sites 
products are also entitled to unannounced inspections and controls. After each inspection, a report is drawn up by the inspecting organization.
- enterprises must document the origin, quantity and type of all fertilizers, feed, plant and animal protection products, including their use.
- Accounting should daily reflect the number of products sold, its type, as well as information about the buyer who sells the products. And, of course, accounting for products sold to the end customer.
- only those products that are controlled by inspecting organizations can have the labeling of environmentally friendly products.
These requirements are spelled out in the "Regulation on Organic Farming and the Appropriate Labeling of Agricultural Foods" No. 2092/91 dated 06/24/91. and includes all EEC countries.
American standards for the production of organic products.
In order to obtain the "Demeter" or "Biodin" brand, the farmer must use the biodynamic method of production for two years under the supervision of a representative of the Demeter Association or the Biodynamic Association, and also conclude a contract with these organizations. An assessment of the performance of farmers is carried out every year.
The whole process of producing organic products must be carried out in accordance with the "Lectures on Agriculture" described by Rudolf Steiner. The lectures prescribe that pets and pet food should be farm-produced and raised as much as possible. The basis of soil fertility is organic fertilizers, compost from plant residues, biodynamic compost preparations. If it is necessary to import feed, fertilizers, then a thorough check for compliance with the requirements of Demeter follows.
It is forbidden to use nitrogen, phosphorus synthetic fertilizers, potassium salts containing chlorine, and lime, phosphorite, crushed rocks are allowed to be used depending on local conditions. It is also forbidden to use sewage, garbage, composted production waste, due to the high content of lead, mercury, chromium, zinc, etc. It is strictly forbidden to use synthetic and poisonous plant protection products (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, chemical growth regulators, etc.)
Farmers must strictly adhere to the prescribed instructions up to the scheduled diet of pets and poultry. Feed for them should not contain antibiotics, synthetic additives. And when processing farm products, it is unacceptable to use nitrites, artificial fillers, etc.
All activities of the farmer, his planned activities for the fertilization of the site, the use of animal and bird feed must be declared in writing and must be approved by representatives of the Demeter Association or the Biodynamic Association or the local farmer's group. In addition, the annual quality assurance of the Demeter Association.
Russian market of eco-products.
Law GOST R 51074-2003 “National standard of the Russian Federation. Food products. Information for the consumer" prohibits the unsubstantiated use of "organic product", "grown without the use of pesticides", "grown without the use of mineral fertilizers", etc. on product labels, and also requires the disclosure of the general composition of ingredients, food additives, flavorings, dietary supplements, etc…
Thus, the law contains general requirements and regulations for consumer information. There is no regulatory framework for determining the environmental friendliness of products in the country. And the consumer market eco products accounts for only 0.1% of the sale of all food products.
Why is the demand for environmentally friendly products so low in Russia? Are there really few people in Russia who think about a healthy lifestyle, about high-quality and safe food? There are several reasons:
- sometimes the label "eco" is a marketing ploy and products marked with this sign are no different from ordinary ones.
- the solvency of the population in Russia is lower than in Western Europe, not every Russian buyer can pay 190-200 rubles for a dozen eggs, 100 rubles for 1 liter of milk, 200 rubles for 500 g of sour cream, and 700 rubles for a village chicken per kg.
- in Russia today there is no integrated system for the production of environmentally friendly products at the state level, so the market for demand for eco-products has not been created. So, in Europe, in the production of organic milk, pet meat and poultry, a certificate is issued for the land on which organic food for pets and birds is grown. There are certain standards and norms of production.
- lack of information about the production, about the quality of eco-products.
However, there are Russian producers who supply organic food products to the market. The “Professional Association of Producers and Suppliers of Ecological Products and Ecoservices” created in Russia unites manufacturers from different regions of the country – from St. Petersburg and Moscow to the Urals and Siberia. They voluntarily certify the products they produce.
What are the difficulties in forming the Russian market of eco-products and what are its prospects?
1. The productivity of eco farm products is much lower than that of conventional farms. Manufacturers do not use chemical fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, growth accelerators, etc. If the average wheat harvest per hectare in Russia in 2011 was 30-40 tons, then on an eco-farm it was 4-5 tons.
2. The shelf life of organic products is very short - from 36 hours to no more than 72 hours. Difficulties in organizing deliveries to the consumer. Manufacturers cannot afford to overstock their products in order to meet storage standards.
3. In Russia, there is no national system for confirming standards and quality control of eco-products. When this is created, then the market for eco-products will acquire civilized forms - farmers will have access to retail chains, educational institutions, food outlets, and a supply chain will be established.
The Ministry of Agriculture is currently developing a law on ecological agriculture. Hearings were held in the Public Chamber on the problems of developing the market for ecological agricultural production. Now it has become obvious that it is necessary to support this sector of the economy.
According to the Ministry of Health, economic losses from diseases associated with disorders of the digestive system amount to 1,512.74 billion rubles annually. With the support of the state, it is possible to reduce the cost of production, expand the market for eco-products, and improve people's health in general.
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