The study was conducted using organic cookies versus conventional cookies that contained the same amount of calories. Participants perceived the organic cookies as more healthy, therefore, they felt that exercise was less important because of the perceptions of organic being healthy. The judgments of calorie content were influenced by the organic claim.
The examiners found biases in consumer perceptions of the attributes, such as low calorie and more lenient attitudes toward exercise, which gives an effect of justification of eating more calories. This is a firm example of an uneducated consumer pool on what ‘organic’ actually is and what it is not. Just because it is ‘organic’ does not mean it has less calories, or is healthier than conventional brands.
In order for any food to be certified organic, the growing and manufacturing processes have to contain 5% or less toxins. That means that organic products are grown with little or no herbicides, pesticides, or manufacturing chemicals for preservation. Cookies are still a processed food, regardless of whether they are ‘organic’ or conventional. The difference between ‘organic’ and conventional deals with the chemicals used to produce the food, nothing else.
In the respects of toxins, ‘organic’ foods are healthier with less toxins in producing them. As far as the actually food is concerned, it has the same health benefits and calories as conventional foods. For example, ‘organic’ fruits and vegetables are only healthier because of less toxins used in the growing processes. The same goes for packaged ‘organic’ foods.
Even if someone chooses the ‘organic’ products, a health regime should also be implemented. The body needs exercise, regardless of whether ‘organic’ foods are eaten or not. When counting calories and choosing ‘organic’ foods, the calorie counts are still the same as eating conventional foods instead.
There is a lot of marketing hype with food claims and the ‘organic’ label is no different. Manufacturers want consumers to believe that natural organic foods are healthier, when in reality, it is only toxin level used in the production processes that distinguishes the difference. These are false perceptions that come from food claims.
Consumers should educate themselves on the meanings of the labels in order to prevent being caught up in the marketing hype with food claims. Education is the key to understanding what natural organic foods consist of and what they do not. Processed foods are still processed foods, regardless of whether they are organic or conventional.