With your health in mind
Many of the chemical-synthetic pesticides used by conventional farmers can be detected on the fruit itself. Of course the maximum permitted quantity is rarely exceeded, especially in German apples. It is also a fact that pesticides which are not registered or approved in Germany, are nevertheless used in other European countries (incl. other EU countries). Toxicologists often criticise that the legal threshold values, especially for children, are still too high.
It has still not been sufficiently analysed, which effects the combination of several agrochemicals which are used at the same time have on people. Professor Irene Witte from the Oldenburg University: "By means of human cell cultures we were able to demonstrate that composites can have a toxic effect, even though toxicity in these concentrations could not be accounted for in the individual pesticides (taz 26.10.2001).
It cannot be denied that human beings are constantly coming into contact with new chemical compounds, be it through the large variety of foodstuffs, by breathing in toxins in your own home or by means of polluted textiles etc. In every case the immune system is exposed to a lot of stress and is grateful for everything which is less or not at all polluted. Organic apples are only treated with substances, which nature and the human organism is familiar with.
Mr. Stefan from Buxtehude, who became familiar with the Augustin organic apples through a report on television, says: "I haven't eaten a single apple for the last 15 years and I'm very glad that I've now discovered organic apples from Augustin. I can safely enjoy these without suffering from an asthma attack."
Every time Ms Strahl from Elstorf visits her grandchildren she gives them Augustin apples to eat because, since eating these, they have not suffered from any new attacks of neuordermatitis. Ms Sander, a student from Hamburg, has reported the same phenomenon.
Klaus Runow, Director of the Institute for Environmental Diseases (IFU) in Bad Emstal, is familiar with such phenomena: "Especially people who are contaminated with chemicals react sensitively to residual traces of agrochemicals." (taz
26.10.2001)
Pesticides display a peculiarity in not clinging strictly to the surface but penetrating into the interior of the fruit. In so doing, they form such solid compounds with the components in the cell walls that they cannot be dissolved, even under laboratory conditions. They remain concealed. According to Heinrich Sandermann, Director of the Institute for Biochemical Plant Pathology of the GSF Research Centre for Health and Environment in Neuherberg, these nonextractable residues should also be taken into account, as they appear to occur in much higher quantities than the bound residues. Consequently the threshold value can be significantly exceeded (taz 26.10.2001).
Hermann Kruse, Director of the Institute for Toxicology at the University in Kiel: "Some of the substances which are approved in Germany can have a hormonal effect." It is assumed that the reduced fertility rate in humans and animals, which has been discovered during the last ten years, has occurred partly due to these effects. Even the slightest traces can suffice. (taz 26.10.2001).
Organic apples contain more fibrous material (more dry matter) and less water than conventional apples. This may explain their long shelf life in households.
A Swiss Study has shown: Organic apples contain 19 % more phenolic acids. These are secondary plant substances, which have a cancer inhibiting effect in the human body. Apples generate phenols to combat pests and pathogenic agents. The Augustins spray various types of rock flour onto the apples, which scratch the skin of the apples, whereby the generation of these phenols is stimulated. Insofar we can also benefit from organic apples!
Have you ever heard of "picture forming methods"? This is an unconventional method of investigation, which is also recognised by scientists with a more conventional approach. It is concerned with visualising the inner quality of foodstuffs. They show that the juice of organic apples clearly and repeatedly provides different pictures than the juice of apples which have been produced by conventional means. The latter often display structures such as they occur in aged, substandard fruits.
For additional information on the quality of fruit please see:
Research Institute for Organic Agriculture
Ecology and Agriculture Foundation