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Organic food is a term that describes crops grown without artificial fertilisers or pesticides and meat from animals that have not been given large amounts of medicines
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Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill insects and they can be found in many of the non-organic fruits and vegetables we eat
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Organic farming also tries to minimise its impact on wildlife and the environment
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Chemicals often have a detrimental effect on the countryside. The number of birds living on farmland have decreased by 95 per cent in some areas since pesticides started to be routinely used
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Chemical treatments of crops can also find their way into our water supplies, and £120 million is spent annually on removing chemicals from our water
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Being organic doesn't just mean growing without using pesticides. It also means foods, such as biscuits or cereals, don't contain additives such as hydrogenated fat or artificial sweeteners
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Organic meat contains limited levels of antibiotic medicines. Some people think that high levels of antibiotics in food will make the medicines less effective at fighting illnesses in humans when they are really needed
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The organic mark on food also guarantees certain levels of animal welfare. For instance organic eggs come from chickens that are free to roam in large areas
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Organic groups also claim that organic food tastes better and contains more vitamins and minerals
