In Singapore, the demand for organic food has been increasing over the past few years. One of the possible reasons is because there’s an increase of those who lives in Singapore that deems Organic food to be the healthier food source due to the lack of chemicals. If you are one of those who are interested to switch to organic food, here’s some of the things that you might want to know about Organic Food in Singapore and also some general information related to organic food!

Where to shop for organic food in Singapore?

There are so many places you can go to buy organic food in Singapore. The places range from an organic type of supermarket, a cafe selling organic food, and even stores selling organic produce. You can check out this list of Organic Food Delivery in Singapore to get your organic food delivered to your doorstep in Singapore! 

Does organic food taste better?

Top reasons why people buy organic food are health concerns and taste. But, does it really taste better? It all depends on the person eating it. Formal academic studies find this matter rather inconclusive. However, if we really think about it, this makes sense. Taste is truly a personal preference.

People who are all about healthy-eating and are proponents of an organic lifestyle might find that organic food taste better because they feel that they are consuming something better for them. On the contrary, people who are so into junk food and are not so concerned about healthy habits, they might find eating organic food as an unsatisfying eating experience.

Regardless of the studies and what people say, just give it a try! Switch to buying organic produce for the whole week and cook up creative dishes while you’re at it. When you go out, try cafes and restaurants that sell organic food. Who knows, you might fall in love with it faster than you think!

Why organic food is usually more expensive?

This definitely has to do with production costs. Think about it, not only that it takes more effort to grow and cultivate organic food, but the resources needed to do this are also more expensive. These are two factors that bring significant increase in production costs. The market for organic food also hasn’t reached a point where the amount of supply needs be so big. It doesn’t need farmers to be at a mass production level. Therefore, cost efficiency is not something you would get from organic food.

What are the advantages of organic food?

Organic food is safer for you to consume in the long run. It is chemical and GMO free, and it goes through a natural and substance-free farming process. Keep in mind that it needs to be a long-term commitment because only consuming organic food for certain occasions won’t bring much benefit.

If you still buy non organic food, the amount of chemicals and toxic additives you consume from regular food will still be high. This cannot be offset by a once-a-week organic meal. To experience the benefits of organic food at the fullest, it will require a change of lifestyle, and not just replacing several non-organic meals on occasions.

Is organic food completely free of pesticides?

That’s not necessarily true. The goal is to grow the food using all natural ingredients and processes. An alternative that farmers use in organic farming is to use all-naturally processed pesticides. They will stay away from synthetic pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and use so-called organic pesticides. So yes, organic food is free of synthetic and chemically processed pesticides.

In the UK, organic certifications require that products with the “organic” label on them to contain at least 95% organically farmed and processed ingredients. [1] In the US, the organic label from USDA means that they contain at least 70% organically farmed and processed ingredients. What about the 30%? Although this 30% doesn’t have to be organic ingredients, but they have to be grown and produced using natural processes, and not via artificial processes (example: genetical engineering). [2]

In the case of organic farming, good organic farmers will ensure that the farming process is totally free of synthetically processed chemicals from beginning to end. Passing an organic certification requires that farmers and food producers pay attention to every ingredient used in the faming process, the process itself, and the final product. So, passing the organic certification will be enough to represent the farmer’s integrity in the production process and final product.

What are the pros and cons of organic food?

If you’re considering to change towards a more organic lifestyle, here are the pros and cons you can consider before you look into organic food even further.

Pros: It doesn’t contain chemicals and food additives that can negatively impact our health in the long-term. You have read in question no.3 that studies haven’t confirmed how significantly healthier organic food really is. However, we know for sure that chemicals and additives are not good. So, pursuing an organic diet is worth considering.

Cons: It is more expensive. Yes, this is a huge disadvantage for many people. Budget is important because organic food is significantly more expensive than regular food. Depending on where you live, there are surely cities and regions that provide a closer and easier access to organic food. Living in these places means you can get organic food at a cheaper price. In Singapore, organic food is for sure way more expensive. If you are on a tight budget, consider starting with certain ingredients in your diet and gradually move to a full organic lifestyle as you go.