Myth vs. Fact: Organic Farming and Animal Welfare

1. Organic food is just another expensive healthy lifestyle fad.

Myth

Fact

You’re right! That’s a myth.

Choosing organic food is a practice that benefits more than just our health, it also benefits the environment. The production of organic food in Canada is based on 4 principles:

• Health: Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals, humans and the planet as one.

• Ecology: Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

• Fairness: Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

• Care: Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well‐being of current and future generations and the environment.

Based on these principles, we believe that we can create a sustainable, regenerative and resilient organic food and farming system that benefits Canadians in many ways.

Actually, that’s a myth.

Choosing organic food is a practice that benefits more than just our health, it also benefits the environment. The production of organic food in Canada is based on 4 principles:

• Health: Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals, humans and the planet as one.

• Ecology: Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

• Fairness: Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

• Care: Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well‐being of current and future generations and the environment.

Based on these principles, we believe that we can create a sustainable, regenerative and resilient organic food and farming system that benefits Canadians in many ways.

2. Organic livestock just means that the animals have been fed organic food and haven’t been given antibiotics.

Myth

Fact

You’re right! That’s a myth.

The Canadian Organic Standards have strict animal welfare requirements, including limits on stocking densities. Organic livestock must also be provided with fresh air, sunlight and access to the outside whenever weather conditions permit.

These practices help to minimize stress, promote good health and prevent disease.

For example, organic poultry cannot be kept in row or battery cages; instead farmers must provide living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behaviour of poultry including free access to pasture, open-air runs, and other exercise areas, subject to weather and ground conditions. (2)

2 https://www.publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.854643/publication.html

Actually, that’s a myth.

The Canadian Organic Standards have strict animal welfare requirements, including limits on stocking densities. Organic livestock must also be provided with fresh air, sunlight and access to the outside whenever weather conditions permit.

These practices help to minimize stress, promote good health and prevent disease.

For example, organic poultry cannot be kept in row or battery cages; instead farmers must provide living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behaviour of poultry including free access to pasture, open-air runs, and other exercise areas, subject to weather and ground conditions. (3)

3 https://www.publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.854643/publication.html

3. Globally, more antibiotics are used for animal production than for human health.

Myth

Fact

Actually, that’s a fact.

Around the world, more antibiotics are used to raise and sell animal products than to treat humans — and the implications of this don’t stop at animal welfare and food quality.

The World Health Organization has identified the over-use of antibiotics in animal production as a contributing factor to increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the diseases they cause — for both livestock animals and humans.

The good news is, there is a lower risk of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance when organic animal farming practices are used. (5)

5 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/581922/EPRS_STU(2016)581922_EN.pdf

You’re right! That’s a fact.

Around the world, more antibiotics are used to raise and sell animal products than to treat humans — and the implications of this don’t stop at animal welfare and food quality.

The World Health Organization has identified the over-use of antibiotics in animal production as a contributing factor to increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the diseases they cause — for both livestock animals and humans.

The good news is, there is a lower risk of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance when organic animal farming practices are used. (4)

4 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/581922/EPRS_STU(2016)581922_EN.pdf

4. The only difference between organic and non-organic food is the use of pesticides.

Myth

Fact

You’re right! That’s a myth.

When you buy certified organic food, you can be sure that it has been held to strict Canadian organic standards, which outline limits and prohibitions on:

• Persistent pesticides

• Synthetic macronutrient fertilizers;

• The routine use of drugs, antibiotics or synthetic hormones;

• Animal cloning;

• Genetic engineering (“GMOs”);

• Sewage sludge (“biosolids”); Irradiation; and

• Artificial food colours, flavours, sweeteners, preservatives and many other processing aids and ingredients in processed foods.

At COG, we believe that these standards make a world of difference for better animal welfare, sustainability and health, which is why we advocate for more support for organic farming across the country.

That’s incorrect.

When you buy certified organic food, you can be sure that it has been held to strict Canadian organic standards, which outline limits and prohibitions on:

• Persistent pesticides

• Synthetic macronutrient fertilizers;

• The routine use of drugs, antibiotics or synthetic hormones;

• Animal cloning;

• Genetic engineering (“GMOs”);

• Sewage sludge (“biosolids”); Irradiation; and

• Artificial food colours, flavours, sweeteners, preservatives and many other processing aids and ingredients in processed foods.

At COG, we believe that these standards make a world of difference for better animal welfare, sustainability and health, which is why we advocate for more support for organic farming across the country.

5. Better animal welfare can also have positive impacts on the quality of animal products.

Myth

Fact

Actually, that’s a fact.

Better animal welfare can also have positive impacts on the quality of animal products. For example, animals raised with organic practices have plenty of access to forage like grass and clover, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Organic milk has been found to have about 50% more omega-3 fatty acids on average. (9)

9 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/581922/EPRS_STU(2016)581922_EN.pdf

That’s correct.

Better animal welfare can also have positive impacts on the quality of animal products. For example, animals raised with organic practices have plenty of access to forage like grass and clover, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Organic milk has been found to have about 50% more omega-3 fatty acids on average. (8)

8 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/581922/EPRS_STU(2016)581922_EN.pdf

6. Following the Canadian Organic Standards, medical treatment should not be withheld from sick or injured livestock to preserve their organic status.

Myth

Fact

Actually, that’s a fact.

If organic methods are not sufficient, appropriate medications should be used to restore health.

If antibiotics are used, meat from the animal won’t be sold as organic. Milk from the animal may be considered organic after a specified withdrawal period.

That’s correct.

If organic methods are not sufficient, appropriate medications should be used to restore health.

If antibiotics are used, meat from the animal won’t be sold as organic. Milk from the animal may be considered organic after a specified withdrawal period.

7. Certified organic products have undergone a strict certification process to ensure they meet Canadian Organic Standards.

Myth

Fact

Actually, that’s a fact. Certified organic products have undergone a strict certification process to ensure they meet Canadian Organic Standards which are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

For most farmers becoming certified for the first time, the process from the time of their application will take a minimum of 15 months. At least 36 months must have passed since the last use of prohibited substances to achieve organic certification. Organic Operators are inspected annually by organic certifying bodies to ensure they continue to meet the Canadian Organic Standards.

When you buy imported food bearing the Canada Organic logo, you can also be confident it meets the standards. After careful examination, if the CFIA concludes another nation’s organic standards are comparable to ours, Canada may sign an equivalency arrangement. Products that meet equivalency requirements can receive the Canada Organic logo.

That’s correct. Certified organic products have undergone a strict certification process to ensure they meet Canadian Organic Standards which are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

For most farmers becoming certified for the first time, the process from the time of their application will take a minimum of 15 months. At least 36 months must have passed since the last use of prohibited substances to achieve organic certification. Organic Operators are inspected annually by organic certifying bodies to ensure they continue to meet the Canadian Organic Standards.

When you buy imported food bearing the Canada Organic logo, you can also be confident it meets the standards. After careful examination, if the CFIA concludes another nation’s organic standards are comparable to ours, Canada may sign an equivalency arrangement. Products that meet equivalency requirements can receive the Canada Organic logo.

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Myth vs. Fact: Organic Farming and Animal Welfare

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