Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the big deal about people using organic food to feed their pets with? Am I missing something? I understand the pesticide issue, but if you can't wash your food before you give it to your animal, maybe you shouldn't be bothered to have a pet. Is there anyone out there that can help me with this?

your talking about here. I've heard about organic food for people but are you talking about food for reptiles? Or are you talking about the recalled dog/cat food that has some kind poison in it?

Personally I like organic food. Here's the kind of organic food I try and kill with my archery gear every year. I like elk..................... they taste just like.......elk.

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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables

I was leaning more towards the vegetable industry. I've read for things like tortoises and Blue-tongued skinks and such that prganics were the best/only option. I was just wondering if I missed something, because I've been eating non-organic food all my life, and I think I'm doing all right. And that's a nice pic of an elk there, Vichris. Elk sure are tasty. My personal favorite though is buffalo.

I see where you're coming from. I just wash my fruits and veggies with dihydrogen monoxide and call it good

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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables

Although it's more of a personal choice, the advantage to organic foods is that there are no chemicals involved in their growth, harvest, transportation, or marketing (provided the company's honest.) Always wash fruits and vegetables before using them, because cross-contamination can and does occur.

Non-organics are fine as long as there are no pesticides or preservatives in them. I personally avoid packaged pet foods for my herps after noticing how much happy and healthier creatures such as hermit crabs are on a natural diet.

Just play it safe and don't feed them foods that are not safe for humans.

You are not missing anything. In fact, it is those who are purchasing organic foods that are missing something. They are missing $$$ from their wallet!--not to mention harming the environment. The supermarkets love it however. The make about 4 times the profit from organic foods. How would you like to make 4 times as much money from doing the exact same amount of work? Now you see why the big fuss? It's called marketing.

I was listening to an expert on this subject on the radio talking about the myths of organic foods. One thing he commented on was that plants produce natural pesticides to ward off pest insects. When measured with modern detection equipment, these natural pesticides are thousands of times stronger (measured in parts per billion and parts per trillion) than the man made pesticides residues on foods, even if you don't wash them at all!--due to our strict regulations regarding pesticide use, their biodegradability, etc! When you add to that, the fact that the more vegetables you eat the longer you live, better you resist disease, etc. as shown in actuarial tables, it is clear that the benefits from eating large amounts of vegetables outweighs any negative effects from pesticides-natural or man made. --And studies have shown that natural vs. synthetic pesticides produce the same side effects at similar doses. Natural isn't any safer.

And how does organic hurt the environment over non-organic? More land needs to be cleared for farmland because of the lost product from pests, and more land needs to be used due to smaller crops due to the use of less efficient organic fertilizers, and more land needs to be used just to make the organic fertilizers in the first place.

Rodney

Yes I've heard the same stuff. Organic farming is totally ineffecient(sp). It consumes about 10 times the water too. I don't know what is is about some people who think we need to turn back progress in some parts of out lives but are all for screwing up our culture and traditions. Its like lets stomp on the good and embrace the bad.
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables

Yeah, I'm with you on the idiocy of the organic foods thing. I was just wondering if there was any sort of a factual basis for all the crying about organics.