I think we all can agree that the organic food is becoming more and more popular, so popular that of course big companies like Kraft are getting involved. The scary part of this is that when big companies get involved, standards drop as we know they're in it for money, not for our personal health.
Before, we had to look closely over labels, make our own bread, search for hard-to-find organics, buy locally, and skip on items such as pasteurized milk... well, now, America makes it easy for you. Drive to Wal-Mart or Safeway and it's easily accessible. Wrong. Although it may say "organic", and yes, there are some regulations, it still doesn't mean fresh, or pesticide-free.
If you are interested in health, you will already know that it's much better to buy locally than to buy organic from Mexico (or any other exporting countries). Truth is, when produce is distributed across the world, there are a lot of "check points" that can be overlooked, not to mention different countries' regulations... local farmers often use organic sprays and don't spray as often, but because they are small cannot afford the certifications to be a proclaimed "organic farmer". Talk to one. They know their produce like you know your child! (I happen to have a best friend that was raised on a small-business apple ranch, she can attest)
Pasteurized milk is a whole different subject--we try to steer clear from it, but of course, my constantly contradicting belief system jerks me into Starbucks for a treat about once a week... I digress.
Yogurt, although pasteurized, can make up for most of the lost nutrients and vitamins that were boiled out of the milk by providing live bacteria and enzymes to help the digestive system... therefore pasteurized yogurt and kefir are a better alternative to milk. But beware. I have yet to find a fruit yogurt that doesn't contain sugar. This is why we make our own. We use whole milk organic plain yogurt and add fresh or frozen fruit to it. It tastes just as good, but without the second ingredient being cane sugar (or worse yet any artificial ingredients that Yoplait and other brands provide). Also, the warning continues--in these super convenient Stonyfield Farms yogurts (they even make baby yogurt with whole milk), not only do they have added sugar, but the milk itself is powdered in New Zealand and sent over to the US... depleting the yogurt of any nutritional value... as if the pasteurized content originally had any. Doesn't that make you sick?
I guess this posting serves as a warning, if you are interested in natural living, be sure to do your home work as each little bit helps. Sometimes I get overwhelmed at the amount of toxins that we're exposed to, and even the small things like eliminating powdered yogurt and sugar from your diet may just allow you to make room for that occasional two-pump mocha. :-)
