A Literature Review consists of multiple sources gathered and explained as they all are interconnected in a certain way. This Literature Review was done by gathering sources and connecting them to one another regarding the topic I chose, which was Organic Foods. Below is the final essay:
Organic Foods
Organic foods have been popular for years. These foods are products of a certain farming method. “Organic” is a term that refers to how agricultural goods have been prepared. Organic products, such as fresh meats, produce, and dairy products, are farmed without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. Many scientists conduct research on foods that people consume as today’s society gets more exposed to the many various sorts of new foods being offered. Being surrounded by organic foods everywhere can lead organic and non-organic consumers to have a change in perspective based on sales and quality of food, as well as what is in it.
This literature review will consist of the discussion of four sources deriving from various articles, newspapers, and websites, and go into depth on abundant themes on how organic foods may be beneficial for the human body, as well as sales being affected by organic food consumers and non-consumers. The question that this literature review will explore is, how have sales and perspectives on organic foods been affected by the influences and ideas of organic food consumers and non-consumers?
The following is a preview of what each of the four sources used in this essay discuss. “The Organic Foods System: Its Discursive Achievements and Prospects”, written by David Pearson, is a piece of writing informs the audience how there are many different opportunities and places where organic foods can be bought, but the word, “organic”, is a very heavy word and many different groups of individuals do not get to know the real meaning of “organic”. This article undergoes the idea that people have different versions on what the word “organic” really means and they understand it differently than others. The article, “Organic Food: What We know (And Don’t Know) About Consumers”, written by David Nowacek, is a combination of different research reports on organic foods. It discusses how organic foods have become the way they come to be, and the way that certain people only buy it, which brings down the sales for certain products. Carl Winter wrote and article called “Organic Foods”, which gives insight on food economics and its health benefits on its consumers. Winter also goes into depth explaining how sales are affected based off a variety of reasons. The article, “Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives? A systematic review”, written by Margaret Brandeau, argues that there are not completely clear health benefits of organic foods, but on the other side, discusses how consuming organic food may lead to less exposure to pesticides.
Organic Foods are considered “Healthy” To Some:
The article written by Pearson, as well as the article written by Nowacek, both have overlapping themes when it comes to the debate of how beneficial organic foods are. Authors Nowacek and Pearson both mentioned how organic foods are contentious, and many individuals have strong feelings about them. Some consumers believe organic foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are costly and unworthy of their money. Both sources contain the expertise of others to discuss organic foods and their impact. However, the article written by Nowacek fails to give more in depth information regarding how organic foods have been exposed throughout the years and explain the reason as to what is making people purchase organic food.
In the mid 1900’s many organic organizations were created that still exist to this very day. As the years progressed, more and more people wanted to purchase organic foods as the organic movement became a national idea. To this very day, research has shown that the same people are constantly buying organic foods (Pearson, 2011). Individuals who have received higher education, make more income, young children, and those who have their own gardens and grow their own fruits and vegetables all fall under this category. In London, a report has been done that showed that about less than 1% of the population in London buys organic foods on a daily basis (Nowacek, 2008). The civilians in the London population are not exposed to all of the health benefits that organic foods provide. The article does not provide a specific reason stating why this is the reason. However, it can be interpreted that anyone in London is either not educated on organic foods or they know that non organic foods are healthy for them. The food in London is not as chemically processed as it is in America. Hence, some Londoners believe that they do not need to purchase organic foods due to the fact that regular nonorganic foods are safe and do not contain anything harmful to their body. This is what makes the percentage of the population in London so small when it comes to ho purchases organic foods and who does not.
The Safety of Organic Foods
Winter, Pearson, as well as author Nowacek as mentioned in the previous paragraph all discuss the aspects of organic food into depth. All three of these sources are reliable and have strengths when describing organic food consumers versus nonorganic food consumers and how people decide whether or not an organic food lifestyle is the best for them. The article written by Davis gives the most information and context as to how the organic food lifestyle is safe and provides all the nutrition people worldwide need.
The first theme involves the safety of consuming organic foods as well as its health benefits. Scientists say that health benefits of organic food are preventing exposure to pesticides (Winter, 2006). As people understand how it is important it is to consume healthy foods, hearing those organic foods will prevent people from bringing pesticides and bacteria into their body is something that makes more people want to purchase all of these organic types of foods. Studies and surveys convey evidence that compare different outcomes based on the food type consumed (Davis, 2006). For example, purchasers who ingest organic foods tend to have a reduced risk of gaining weight and as well as have a lesser chance of developing allergies since they are not exposed to the harmful chemicals in organic foods.
Consumers argue that organic produce is good for the human body and that it is a benefit because it has fewer chemicals than other fruits and vegetables. Organically grown food is food that has been grown without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilizers (Nowacek, 2008). Someone else’s motivation of purchasing organic foods could be to improve and protect the consumers’ and their families’ health. Organic foods provide vitamins and minerals to those who consume them, which are lacking in non-organic foods. (Pearson, 2011). There are numerous people that hold opposing views on organic farming. Nonorganic foods are high in chemicals, which is why some people will only buy organic foods: they want to know that what they’re putting into their bodies is safe and healthy. The main reason of organic foods are to provide more health to certain people, especially if they need to have certain vitamins. Both articles support the idea that consumers may be opposed to organic foods, as they may not be beneficial, while others are for organic foods, as the health benefits are scientifically proven.
Organic Foods Purchased at Specific Establishments
Authors Nowacek and Pearson share very similar ideas when it comes to organic food consumers purchasing their products from specific stores. Nowacek fails to provide evidence with statistics describing how many people who consume organic foods purchase those types of food from specific place. Pearson provides a lot of information and percentages describing who purchases organic foods in certain areas and how that has increased as the years have progressed.
The articles have connecting themes when it comes to the discussion of sales of organic foods at certain supermarkets throughout the years. Some food consumers say that they do not prefer to purchase organic foods from small supermarkets and would rather purchase from a place like Whole Foods, because it is known for its fresh organic produce and fruits and vegetables (Pearson, 2011). People will always have different motives when purchasing organic foods. They do not all purchase organic foods for the same exact reason. A consumer can purchase organic foods because he/she is concerned about the environment effects that rely on chemical pesticides. This motive is improving the environment (Nowacek, 2008). Someone else’s motive could be to improve as well as protect the health of the consumers and their family. This concept of having different motives when buying organic foods ties back to the meaning of organic foods, and how people buy something because it is organic for one reason, while someone else can purchase organic food for a different reason.
Organic food consumers each impact the sales and the number of organic foods being sold at major wholesale stores compared to smaller not as known supermarkets for the reputation of selling fresh organic food. The reasons people purchase foods from more “known” food markets would be because they believe that is where they will get the highest quality organic foods. The sales at known food stores like Whole Foods have skyrocketed in the past fifteen years, way more than comparing that to smaller supermarkets (Nowacek, 2008). The consumers who purchase organic foods are about seven percent of the American population. The other ninety-three percent are Americans who either do not purchase organic food at (Pearson, 2011). Although this is a small percentage, the more people that begin to become part of the group where they “constantly” purchase foods make the sales of organic foods rise rapidly. The reason of the increase in sales, based on both of these articles, has to do with the fact that more Americans are being exposed to organic foods and their possible benefits, hence them being attracted to large food stores that carry many organic foods such as Whole Foods.
Organic foods have been consumed by many for years. However, recently there has been
a perplex of how it affects its consumers as well as non-consumers. Organic foods tend to be known as “more expensive” and “healthier”. The more people that buy organic foods leads to the more sales of organic foods increase rapidly. Although organic foods are deemed as “more expensive”, people who believe its health benefits and preventions from pesticides are beneficial, will continue to purchase and encourage other non-consumers of organic food to begin to purchase organic foods (Brandeau, 2012). It can be analyzed that organic foods bring numerous benefits to their consumers and that the greater the number of customers who consume these foods, the more likely they are to encourage those around them to begin eating organic foods as well. This indicates that customers strongly suggest organic goods to others, as seen by the fact that sales have risen fast over the last decade. Safety is important when it comes to foods, which has led to higher prices in organic foods because the customers are paying for health and safety. When it comes to food, buyers are willing to pay more for health and safety, as seen by the fact that organic food sales have always exceeded non-organic food sales. Overall, organic foods have led its customers to heading in the right direction when it comes to more health benefits and putting safe foods in their body.
Works Cited
Brandeau, M. L., et al. (2012). Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives?:
A systematic review: Annals of internal medicine: Vol 157, no 5 Annals of Internal Medicine.
from https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007
Nowacek, David M. (2008). “The Organic Foods System: Its Discursive Achievements and Prospects.” College English, vol. 70, no. 4, National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 403–20, https://doi.org/10.2307/25472278.
Pearson, David, et al. (2011). “Organic Food: What We Know (and Do Not Know) about Consumers.” Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, vol. 26, no. 2, Cambridge University Press, pp. 171–77, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44490636.
Winter, Carl. (2006). Organic Foods – uciotech.org. Institute of Food Technologists. from
