What exactly is the difference between organic and processed food?

Answer 1

The PRICE

Answer 2

Organic foods are grown only with no, or natural, fertilizer, to say there are no chemicals is incorrect, ( no synthetic(man made in a factory) chemicals are used), however naturally occurring chemicals can be added, & are present in the soil. Food cannot exist without chemicals, because everything is composed of chemical compounds or elements.
Processed means that it has gone through a usually mechanical (viz. homogenisation of milk, which is squirting (in a sealed system) it at high pressure, this breaks up the fat globules into fine particles thus allowing the protein present in the milk to join to the fat & stop it from settling out of solution), or heat treating process- which is done to kill off bacteria and give the product a good shelf-life - viz a can of food is sealed & then heated to 120'C to kill any bacteria in the food & make it sterile so that the can of food will last, but it will not be the same as the fresh (unprocessed) product.
If you are interested enough you can find out all the details on any product. However, it is fair to say that in processing some details may be left out, that depends on the ethics of the manufacturer. In the same way in oganic food you are dependant on the ethics of the manufacturer, that is why organic certification has developed.

Answer 3

Oraganic food is mainly natural and doesn't contain any artificial processing while processed food comes to you as a result of organic food being processed and mixed with different kinds of stuff.
Compare chicken to jelly beans

Answer 4

Organic food is produced according to legally regulated standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. Also, at all levels, organic food is produced without the use of genetically modified organisms.

Historically, organic farms have been small family-run farms – which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets. Now, organic foods are becoming much more widely available because organic food sales within the US have enjoyed 17 to 20 percent growth for the past few years while sales of conventional food – while still larger in size – have grown at only about 2 to 3 percent a year. This large growth is predicted to continue, and many companies are jumping into the market.

There is evidence that organic farms are more sustainable and environmentally sound, among other benefits (see benefits). These claims, however, are subject to dispute and are not settled among scientists. One vocal critic in particular, Anthony Trewavas, has written detailed critiques of organic agriculture

Fresh food
Fresh food is seasonal and perishable. Vegetables and fruits are the most available type of organic, fresh food, and are closely associated with organic farming. They are often purchased directly from growers, at farmers' markets, from on-farm stands, supermarkets, through speciality food stores, and through community-supported agriculture (CSA) projects. Unprocessed animal products like organic meat, eggs, dairy, are less commonly available in their purely "fresh" form.


Chips, cookies, and other snacks are an example of processed food.

Processed food accounts for most of the items in a supermarket. Often, within the same store, both organic and conventional versions of products are available, and the price of the organic version is usually higher (see modern developments). Most processed organic food comes from large food conglomerates producing and marketing products like canned goods, frozen vegetables, prepared dishes and other convenience foods.

Processed organic food usually contains only (or at least a specified percentage of) organic ingredients and no artificial food additives, and is often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions (eg: no chemical ripening, no food irradiation).

Answer 5

The amount you pay for it.

Msot chemicals in processed food come from other "organic" (meaning palnt or animal) sources anyway.

Imagine paying a lot of money so that your peas don't touch your steak. It still gets mixed up in the tummy.

Answer 6

organic means there are NO chemicals in any step of producing it. all natural fertilizers, food, water, sun. processed means it's been through every imaginable sort of machinery, and all types of things with names i wouldn't even dare to pronounce have been dumped into it. one pound of organic apple sauce is made from one pound of apples. but one pound of processed applesauce... shoot. it may have been passed over an apple cart while they were dumping all the goop into the jar, just to get the smell!!

Answer 7

organic has nothing to do with being processed. organic food is made grown or raised with not pesticides and other chemicals.

Answer 8

Organic food has no chemicals, including artificial color/flavor, added.