Are there flaws in the legitimacy of labeling a food as "organic?"?

[Dave M]

'm not completely sure what the current specifications are for something grown to qualify as organic, at one point in time, it is my understanding that one of the requirements were that the land couldn't be treated with pesticides/chemicals for the last 5 years.

Now, I'm not sure if chemicals and pesticides have the half-life of say, plutonium, but is something labeled "organic" really devoid of various chemicals and toxins?

Also, how can we be sure that acid rain doesn't fall on organic farms?

Or that the honeybees and other pollinating insects specifically don't fly from a non-organic plant to an organic one?

Are the requirements too weak? Too strong? Impossible or economically improbably improve upon?

[Tweegan]

organic farms get inspected quite often to make sure that they are organic. The soil etc gets tested to make sure there are no chemicals present. The standards are pretty good, but you are right, you cant be entirely sure. Just take confort in the fact that they are doing their best

[Kes]

The label is as honest as the person who placed it on a product. However, the term 'organic' differentiates the product from those that are non-organic, using reasonable care and following current guidelines.

[rohak1212]

The current standards are pretty good. But they're pretty new. Not long ago there was no formal standard for organic produce, so it was really hit and miss. I think that impression has lingered.

[Duckie68]

Well, this one has always driven me crazy, but from the other end of the argument.

'Organic' can be defined scientifically means something is made up of chemical compounds that are carbon based. That would be any living thing you can eat. The marketing definition is actually much looser then you describe. No artificial pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, gene modification, or radiation.

My problem with the marketing definition is that it implies that anything made by humans is automatically bad... but how far do you go with that? Nearly every 'natural' pesticide and fertilizer is still tweaked by humans. Most are a combination of several different compounds, so what's the difference?

For that matter, why is 'human made' so bad? A lot of companies try to imply that organic means 'no chemicals'...

...

What does THAT mean? Again, it is implied that no chemicals made by man, but what about arsenic? That's not man made, it's pretty common in nature, but I sure don't want arsenic coated apples!

I dunno. I just don't like marketing...

Cheers!

PS: The specs for the term as you use it are listed in the link. Hope that helps!