On 30th January 2008 The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Consultative Council hosted an open meeting to discuss current attitudes and findings in relation to organic food.
Over 100 people attended the ‘Organic Food - Fact or Fiction?’ event in Dublin, which highlighted consumer understanding of the perceived benefits of organic food. The open meeting provided an opportunity for a robust discussion on the organic food debate whilst also giving the general public an opportunity to see the workings of the Consultative Council. Speakers at the event included Ms Clodagh McKenna, chef, media presenter and food consultant; Ms Siobhán Morris, Organic food consultant; Dr. Con O’Rourke, Plant Scientist and Dr. Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist, Public Health Nutrition, FSAI. Delegates at the meeting heard that research shows that while 80% of people surveyed understood the benefits of organic food to be free from pesticides and chemicals, some 32% felt organic produce is a healthier option and only 15% believed that organic food is ‘full of flavour and taste’. The survey also showed that more than half of Irish consumers have ‘never’ purchased organic food. The number one reason cited for this was cost, with 54% believing organic food was too expensive.
Ms Clodagh McKenna outlined her view in relation to how people need to be more aware of the food they eat and the need to see it holistically rather than as a plate of calories or a portion of nutrients. She said “This current obsession to view food scientifically I believe further disassociates us from it. We have lost our connection with food. Our relationship to it is by and large passive. We don’t grow it, 99% of the time we have no idea how or where it’s grown; we don’t kill it or milk it often we don’t even cook it. There have never been more celebrity chefs or cook books and yet less of us than ever are cooking food from fresh. It’s like buying a gym membership and never going - we love the idea of being fit but don’t exercise. We love the idea of good food and cooking but we don’t do it.”
Over 100 people attended the ‘Organic Food - Fact or Fiction?’ event in Dublin, which highlighted consumer understanding of the perceived benefits of organic food. The open meeting provided an opportunity for a robust discussion on the organic food debate whilst also giving the general public an opportunity to see the workings of the Consultative Council. Speakers at the event included Ms Clodagh McKenna, chef, media presenter and food consultant; Ms Siobhán Morris, Organic food consultant; Dr. Con O’Rourke, Plant Scientist and Dr. Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist, Public Health Nutrition, FSAI. Delegates at the meeting heard that research shows that while 80% of people surveyed understood the benefits of organic food to be free from pesticides and chemicals, some 32% felt organic produce is a healthier option and only 15% believed that organic food is ‘full of flavour and taste’. The survey also showed that more than half of Irish consumers have ‘never’ purchased organic food. The number one reason cited for this was cost, with 54% believing organic food was too expensive.
Ms Clodagh McKenna outlined her view in relation to how people need to be more aware of the food they eat and the need to see it holistically rather than as a plate of calories or a portion of nutrients. She said “This current obsession to view food scientifically I believe further disassociates us from it. We have lost our connection with food. Our relationship to it is by and large passive. We don’t grow it, 99% of the time we have no idea how or where it’s grown; we don’t kill it or milk it often we don’t even cook it. There have never been more celebrity chefs or cook books and yet less of us than ever are cooking food from fresh. It’s like buying a gym membership and never going - we love the idea of being fit but don’t exercise. We love the idea of good food and cooking but we don’t do it.”
