New USDA Organic Food Regulations + Price of Healthy Food a Major Barrier for Maintaining a Heart-Healthy Diet

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated its organic food regulations to tighten guidelines around organic products. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the update, which comes after a number of allegations claiming farmers have tried to sell non-organic or conventional food products with the lucrative white and green USDA “organic” label. Even though the USDA has stringent rules for what is considered organic, there are varying rules in different countries that are prone to fraud and forgery. The new guidelines require the USDA’s National Organic Program certification for all imported organic food, increase the certifications of more businesses in the supply chain and boost authority for inspections, record-keeping, traceability and fraud prevention practices. The team is pleased to hear about a long-awaited update, but wonders whether organic produce is worth the price.

Also in this episode, Sydney talks about a new survey from the Cleveland Clinic that sheds light on some of the major challenges for maintaining a heart-healthy diet, with the cost of healthy food as the biggest barrier. According to the survey, 46 percent of Americans believe the cost of healthy food is the biggest barrier to eating healthy. Participants surveyed also cited a lack of time to prepare healthy meals (23 percent) and unfamiliarity with healthy ways of cooking (20 percent). Access to healthy food was also an issue, especially for minority communities. The survey also confirmed that there is still confusion amongst participants over what is considered healthy, with ten percent of Americans having chosen a fast-food diet as the most heart-healthy diet. The team is glad this survey revealed these answers, but posits that all levels of government should be doing more to give all Americans access to affordable, healthy food.