Soil Association launches top Christmas organic food swaps

The Soil Association is encouraging shoppers to make Christmas matter by discovering why organic is food as it should be and making simple organic food swaps. This festive season shops, farms and producers will be showcasing how easy it is to shop and cook with organic ingredients using the wealth of choice available.

With more than 50,000 organic food and drink products currently certified by  Soil Association Certification, new recipes and gift guides have plenty to offer people looking to make even just one switch at Christmas to go organic.

Whenever you see  the Soil Association organic symbol on a product you can be sure what you buy has been produced to the very highest standards with fewer pesticides, no artificial additives or preservatives, the highest levels of animal welfare and no GM ingredients.

Clare McDermott, Soil Association Certification business development director, said: “Christmas is a time for giving back as well as celebrating with family and friends and we know that people are increasingly thinking about where their food comes from and how they can help tackle environmental issues.

 “Choosing organic is a great way to give something back at Christmas as even making one organic swap makes a big difference to animals, wildlife and the planet.

“Every single one of us has the power to change the way food is produced and every time you buy an organic product you send a message that can influence a shift towards more sustainable food and farming systems. It’s about making small changes with a big impact.

 “Organic is food as it should be, and always means fewer pesticides, no GM ingredients, no routine use of antibiotics, always free range and no artificial colours or preservatives. It has a fully traceable supply chain right back to the farm. It’s inspected at every stage of the process meaning you really can know what’s in your food and how it has been produced.

“As well as making gift guides and recipes available, we are also encouraging shoppers to visit their local independent organic retailer, try a box scheme, and to look out for the organic logo when they are doing their Christmas shopping.”

Simple organic swaps include:

• Choose organic vegetables: With up to 50% more wildlife on organic farms, swapping just one vegetable makes a big difference in helping birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, bats and wildflowers! Organic crops are also nutritionally different with up to 69% more antioxidants than those produced with non-organic methods and carrots are the most popular organic vegetable.
• Select high welfare, organic meat & dairy: If you want to be sure your Christmas turkey is truly free range, choose organic: no system of farming has higher animal welfareThe routine use of antibiotics is also banned in organic, resulting in better conditions for animals and lessening the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
• Celebrate with organic wine, beer & spirits: Organic wine contains less sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Less sulphur dioxide is in your wine is rumoured to reduce hangovers!
• Give the gift of organic with health & beauty products: the terms ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ aren’t regulated within the cosmetics and personal care sector. By choosing Soil Association certified products, you can ensure your Christmas health & beauty gifts are made up of the highest possible proportion of organic and sustainable ingredients.

Shoppers can also make their Christmas more sustainable by looking for the Organic Served Here certification at restaurants and cafes when eating out or booking the Christmas party and opting for FSC certified cards and wrapping paper, which provides a guarantee that the trees used in production will be replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally.

This Christmas follows the seventh consecutive year of growth within the organic market and Soil Association Certification expects to see repeated support for organic products that reflect the season of celebration this festive season, particularly for organic beer, wine and spirits which saw an 8.7% rise in sales in 2018.^[1]

For inspiration on how to find, try and buy organic and make Christmas matter by making simple swaps visit http://bit.ly/organicchristmas2018, which will showcase information and tips such as gift guides, recipes and where to find organic products.