One of my jobs is a nanny for many different families. One family that I work for has two kids and I watch them Monday through Friday in the mornings from 5:30 until 8:30. Some mornings for breakfast the kids ask for cereal. They are a healthy family that in general buys organic foods and they always buy their cereal from Trader Joes. One the front of one of the boxes of cereal it says "Organic Cereal" in big letters across the top of the box. Below that lettering if says "lowers cholesterol" Both o these statements are vague statements. "Organic Cereal" is a vague claim because what qualifies as organic? Is every ingredient used in the cereal organic? The company puts this label on their cereal because many people believe that if it says organic it is healthy. The statement "lowers cholesterol" is also a vague claim because not every person that eats this cereal has reduces levels of cholesterol. This cereal may help people with high cholesterol reduce their levels but it is not a guarantee. The company that makes this cereal puts this on their cereal because people who have high cholesterol see this claim on the box and buy it because they believe this claim to be true.
I also had the generalized thought that if I saw the label "organic" whatever, then it would be healthier. But you're right. Different people have diverse views about what qualifies as organic. Great!
ReplyDeleteI think the same thing whenever I see organic written on any type of food. I actually just found out in one of the health classes that I am taking that there are stadards that companies must follow in order to write certain things on their food packages. If it says 100% organic than it has to contain 95-100% organic nutrients and if it just says organic than it must contain at least 75% of organic nutrients.
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