Secret Ingredients

I am embarrassed to admit that I have not always been a proponent of eating organically. Like many people, I thought the cost of organic did not provide the corresponding value.

My thinking began to change when I read a story about genetically modified seeds (GMO’s). I was shocked to learn that large companies were purposefully introducing pesticides into seeds. From that point, I began to pay more attention to seeds and switched to purchasing only organic seeds. However, while I now understood the value of organic products, I still did not have a complete focus on purchasing organic. That changed when I went to a conference and heard Kathleen DiCiara speak about years her family suffered due to “secret ingredients” in their food.

Based upon a report from the US Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 1.1 billion pounds of pesticide were used in the US in 2011 and 2012. The agriculture sector accounted for 90% of pesticide usage, with glyphosate (Roundup) being the active ingredient used most often. Home and garden use accounted for approximately 6%, with 2,4-D (Weed-B-Gone) and glyphosate (Roundup) leading the way.  Staggering……

I encourage you to check out Kathleen’s story. While I wanted to cry with Kathleen, at the same time I was so proud of her determination. Kathleen changed my mind and my purchasing habits. Today, I go out of my way to purchase organic products. This ensures that I am not consuming the ‘secret ingredients” found in so many products.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments.