Due to increasing consumer demand for safe, high quality, ethical foods, the production and consumption of organic food and produce has increased rapidly over the past two decades. In recent years the safety and quality of organic foods has been questioned. If consumer confidence and demand in the industry is to remain high, the safety, quality and health benefits of organic foods must be assured. With its distinguished editor and team of top international contributors, Handbook of organic food safety and quality provides a comprehensive review of the latest research in the area. Part one provides an introduction to basic quality and safety with chapters on factors affecting the nutritional quality of foods, quality assurance and consumer expectations. Part two discusses the primary quality and safety issues related to the production of organic livestock foods including the effects of feeding regimes and husbandry on dairy products, poultry and pork. Further chapters discuss methods to control and reduce infections and parasites in livestock. Part three covers the main quality and safety issues concerning the production of organic crop foods, such as agronomic methods used in crop production and their effects on nutritional and sensory quality, as well as their potential health impacts. The final part of the book focuses on assuring quality and safety throughout the food chain. Chapters focus on post-harvest strategies to reduce contamination of food and produce, and ethical issues such as fair trade products. The final chapters conclude by reviewing quality assurance strategies relating to specific organic food sectors. The Handbook of organic food quality and safety is a standard reference for professionals and producers within the industry concerned with improving and assuring the quality and safety of organic foods. Improve the safety, quality and health benefits of organic foods Discusses the latest research findings in this area Focuses on assuring quality and safety throughout the food chain

The increasing interest in organic foods has created a need for this book, the first practical manual to cover the processing of organic food and drink. The book shows how a company can process organic foods, emphasising economic and legal considerations. The authors have been selected for their extensive 'hands-on' experience of organic food processing. By demystifying the processing of organic foods this book will encourage those from outside the current organic food industry to become involved. An initial introduction to organic food is followed by a review of organic legislation (chapter 2) and the organic certification process (chapter 3). The following six chapters cover the major organic commodity groups: Fruit and Vegetables, Cereal Products, Meat and Meat Products, Dairy Products, Other Processed Foods and Alcoholic Drinks. Chapter 10 is devoted to developments in the USA. Finally there is an extensive directory, giving details of the major players and organic organisations throughout the world. The book will appeal to technical and marketing personnel in organic food and drink processing companies, as well as their counterparts in companies who want to become involved. Other people who will find this book of interest include retailers who sell organic foods; farmers who grow organic crops; lecturers and students of Food Science and Food Tech nology; lecturers and students of Agriculture; and anyone who wants an introduction to this rapidly developing sector of the food industry.

The Organic Food Handbook examines an important trend and provides a concise, easy-to-follow guide to eating and buying organic food. It clearly explains what organic food is and how it is produced, and where to buy it at the most economical prices. The book, also, covers: how conventional food poses threats to our health and environment; why organic is a healthier, safer choice for us all; how organic certification ensure that organic food is produced to the highest standards; and, how the high costs of conventional foods are hidden in the subsidies we support. As this book shows, organic food clearly benefits our personal health as well as the environment. Eating organic contributes to a more sustainable world and a healthier future.

Organic Food and Farming: A Reference Handbook is a valuable resource for students and general readers curious about the history, evolution, and growth of the organic food movement. Organic Food and Farming: A Reference Handbook begins with a deep dive into the origins of organic farming, offering a clear discussion of what constitutes organic production and how that has changed over time. Next, the volume provides a comprehensive overview of growth of organics as both an industry and a social movement and the inherent challenges that occur from trying to be both. The book additionally covers controversial issues and challenges, along with good news about what is working and what is possible. Included are essays by scholars, farmers, and experts working with NGOs as well as profiles of key people and organizations in the organic sector. Additional chapters include data and documents, a comprehensive resource list, and a detailed chronology of the key events in the history of the organic sector. Distinguishing it from others that laud or dismiss organic food and farming practices is this book's objective nature, which allows it to be used as a definitive resource on the topic.