Comments on Organic Retailing In Australia: 300% markup or just bad buying?

Image: chickenExpensive free-range, corn-fed and e...

2008-12-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

Image: chicken

Expensive free-range, corn-fed and even organic chickens don’t taste any better than the average factory-raised chook, according to a CHOICE taste test.

The consumer advocate says the narrow range of fast-maturing breeding stock now used in almost all chicken production makes any differentiation between the meat produced by different methods effectively meaningless.

A panel of four food experts taste tested eight different roast chickens: two organic, two free-range, one corn-fed and three regular factory-farmed birds. While there were no significant differences in their scores, all agreed chickens don’t have as much taste as they used to.

The chooks, which ranged in price from $3.99 per kg for a regular factory-farmed chicken to $12.50 per kg for organic, were all prepared and cooked without seasoning or stuffing.

CHOICE says the results tie in with international trials, which also indicate consumers can’t tell the difference between organic and ordinary chicken breast meat.

we love macro

2008-12-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

we love macro

A more recent release from ofa also supports the n...

2008-08-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

A more recent release from ofa also supports the notion that organics is superior to conventional farming in the nutrition stakes:

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Thursday 17th April 2008

ORGANIC FOOD IS MORE NUTRITIOUS – IT’S A FACT

A new scientific study from the Organic Center provides strong evidence that organic foods are definitely
more nutrient dense.

“It’s official that organic food is healthier. A new report by scientists from Washington State University and
the University of Florida lends credibility to what we have been saying all along. The researchers compared
11 key nutrients and found that organic foods contained, on average, 25% higher concentrations of
nutrients.” Andre Leu, the Chair of the Organic Federation of Australia stated

“The researchers evaluated all the available published studies and managed to establish 236 comparisons
between organic and conventional foods that they organised into matched pairs. “ Mr Leu said

“They found that across all 236 matched pairs that the organic food averaged 25% higher levels of nutrients.
The size of the study along with the level of statistical difference clearly shows that dieticians and others can
no longer say that there is no evidence that organic food is more nutritious”

The report titled ‘State of Science Review: Nutritional Superiority of Organic Foods’ was researched by
scientists from Washington State University, University of Florida and the Organic Center.

The nutrients included:
• Four measures of antioxidants (total phenolics, total antioxidant capacity, quercetin, kaempferol),
• Three precursors of key vitamins (Vitamins A, C, and E),
• Two minerals (potassium and phosphorous),
• Nitrates (higher levels are a nutritional disadvantage), and
• Total protein.

Press Release From OFA:LARGEST EVER STUDY INTO ORG...

2008-08-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

Press Release From OFA:

LARGEST EVER STUDY INTO ORGANICS PROVIDES CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF
NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS

A study released by Newcastle University delivers incontrovertible proof of the benefits of organics

The largest ever study into organics has found that organic food is more nutritious. The Newcastle University study
found that organic vegetable crops contained up to 40% more beneficial compounds and organic milk contained
over 90% more nutrients than conventionally produced milk. These results come from the lead Scientist of this
project and the full findings will be published next year.

The research was conducted at a 725-acre farm in Newcastle upon Tyne in a four year, A$30M experiment funded
by the European Union. Researchers from Newcastle University created two identical farms; one managed using
conventional farming practices and the other managed organically. 33 academic centres across Europe participated
in this four year project. The resounding conclusion was that the organic produce contained higher levels of
compounds thought to boost health and combat disease.

Professor Carlo Leifert, the co-ordinator of the European-funded project said in a Sunday Times article that the
differences were so marked that organic produce would help to increase the nutrient intake of people not eating the
recommended five portions a day of fruit and vegetables. He was quoted as saying, “If you have just 20% more
antioxidants and you can’t get your kids to do five a day, then you might just be okay with four a day.”

While the study did find that some conventional crops contained larger quantities of some vitamins, the research
has confirmed that the overall trend is that organic fruit, vegetables and milk are more likely to have beneficial
compounds.

Andre Leu, the Chair of the Organic Federation of Australia says, “It’s official that organic food is healthier and this
report lends credibility to what we have been saying all along. This study adds to the 83 reports that say that on
average, organic food has a higher nutrient content. The exciting thing about this is that it involved 33 academic
institutions across Europe led by Newcastle University, and as a result, it has enormous scientific credibility. The
significant increase in cancer fighting compounds shows that investing in organics is excellent value for
consumers.”

Pierce Cody, Executive Chairman of Macro Wholefoods Market says, “It’s pleasing but not surprising that yet
another highly respected research program has zeroed in on the very clear benefits of organic food versus the rest.
Recent claims that the ‘jury is still out’ look silly when placed with such clear evidence.”

Shame to see another Specialty Retailer (The Barn,...

2008-06-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

Shame to see another Specialty Retailer (The Barn, Rozelle, Sydney) close it's doors, Tough retail world out there!

nice link mc

2008-06-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

nice link mc

http://sustainablyorganic.blogspot.com/2008/06/sus...

2008-06-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

http://sustainablyorganic.blogspot.com/2008/06/sustainability-organic-should-they-mean.html#links

My biggest concern is How Green are the Organic Ch...

2008-06-20T19:35:00.001-07:00

My biggest concern is How Green are the Organic Chains?
I DO believe that Organics needs to be mainstreamed, not at ANY cost though.
A nice example would be Cleaning Products, please explain the philosify behind buying imported (American) PHOSPHATE FREE Laundry Powder?
Surely the Transport of these products has Nullified ANY advantage the phosphate free once had?

I don't disagree in principle with what Anonymous ...

2008-06-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

I don't disagree in principle with what Anonymous has to say. What I do disagree with is that as a whole the larger Retailers tend to carry more imported (carbon heavy) items, they need to try a little harder to carry Local Product, it's out there (often a little more expensive) Through negotiation these product should be firmly planted on the well thought out racking.
Regarding the Bagging: this blog is moderated only for Liable, feel free to have your say . . .

this site seems to be doing more bagging out of co...

2008-06-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

this site seems to be doing more bagging out of companies willing to promote organics than actually talking about organics. As a naturopath, I personally believe that any company that has the ability to bring the benefits of organic food into the lime light is doing a good job... not only are they promoting healthy eating, but they are promoting a healthier environment. Although some of the bigger retailers are expensive, I see this as a good thing as they are not underpricing the smaller co-ops. So lets not focus on the general problems of big business, and focus on something else instead like organic products using cancer causing chemicals that are hidden.

I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, when do we sta...

2008-06-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, when do we start?

What amases me about PPC is that he is the most un...

2008-06-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

What amases me about PPC is that he is the most unhealthy mutt I've ever stood beside. Organics, do they do an organic cocaine?

Cool new green series about to hit the nine networ...

2008-06-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Cool new green series about to hit the nine network! http://www.destra.com/presentations/doitgreen/

Great site: http://www.daylesfordorganic.com/

2008-05-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Great site: http://www.daylesfordorganic.com/

I believe it closed last september, shame, the sto...

2008-05-19T00:48:00.000-07:00

I believe it closed last september, shame, the store seemed to have potential, something about badly negotiated lease & italians not embracing organics

Does anyone know what happened to the M_C_O store ...

2008-05-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know what happened to the M_C_O store in Concorde?

I tend to agree with PPC on the Choice article, Wh...

2008-05-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

I tend to agree with PPC on the Choice article, What scientific evidence could there be that would repudiate PPC's own thoughts. PPC has surely one of the most scientifically based minds in our known universe . . . THE MAN IS A THINKER!

Battle of the articles?

2008-05-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

Battle of the articles?

WTF?

2008-05-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

WTF?

You Need To Ask PPC that Question!

2008-05-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

You Need To Ask PPC that Question!

of Who's ?

2008-05-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

of Who's ?

wasn't she a lover?

2008-05-18T21:48:00.000-07:00

wasn't she a lover?

WHO IS ANGELA CLARK?

2008-05-18T21:45:00.000-07:00

WHO IS ANGELA CLARK?

Yikes . . thats a nasty link

2008-05-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Yikes . . thats a nasty link

More an up the duff kinda relationship!

2008-05-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

More an up the duff kinda relationship!