RAB Source Entry 2–Anabel Nunez

MLA CITATION

Heather Honea. “Opinion: Organic food labeling is evolving to help consumers make more informed choices.” The San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 February 2023.https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2022-02-25/regenerative-organic-farming-food-labels

Part 2: Summary

In this opinion piece “Opinion: Organic food labeling is evolving to help consumers make more informed choices,” Heather Honea expresses the idea that marketers should make it easier for consumers to understand their food labels. According to the writer many consumers who purchase organic foods have difficulty defining what it actually means for a product to be organic. Honea includes that nearly half of American consumers prefer organic foods and wouldn’t mind paying more for organic than conventional food. The writer mentions that organic food requires more human labor and land which can downplay the long term benefits for the people with the verified organic label. Consumers assume that organic food comes from family farms growing diverse crops while in reality a small number actually supply the organic food to the markets. Honea mentions that organic foods cannot contain chemicals but detractors state that organic foods could contain compounds that are potentially dangerous and are not clearly labeled for the consumer. The writer concludes by stating that clarity and transparency through marketing will reveal the true values of goods while helping consumers understand meaningful information and support consumption decisions. 

Part 3: Reflection 

I agree with Honea with the overall idea that marketers should make it easier for consumers to understand their food labels. Without the understanding of the labels consumers are not sure of what exactly they are buying. Being a consumer myself I have at times failed to understand the true meaning of words like “fair trade” or “non genetically modified organisms.” I wouldn’t mind paying a certain price for the products I know have truth to their labels . I have personally seen certain products in the market state they are family farm grown and all things come from a family based company but it is all marketing. I felt comfortable with products from family farms as I believed these manufacturers supported my values on food. Marketers manipulate the consumers to believe that the products are organic and don’t hold any harmful chemicals even though at times the products do and it is not clearly stated in the food labels. A clear food label will help consumers understand information that is beneficial to them when purchasing any goods at any market.  

Part 4: Rhetorical Analysis

This article is an opinion piece. The purpose for this opinion piece is to express the idea that food labels should be made more clearly and understandable for consumers. Heather Honea is a Professor at the Marketing Department in San Diego State University with a completed doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. Honea’s writing style is persuasive because throughout the article she provides relatable reasons as to the reason why consumers have trouble reading food labels. The dangers of not being able to identify certain words on a label.Honea uses the rhetorical appeal of pathos by speaking on points that readers can relate to when it comes to understanding food labels. The San Diego Union-Tribune is a daily newspaper published in San Diego, California, being around since 1868. The San Diego newspaper gained its name from the merger of two major daily newspapers The San Diego Union and the San Diego Evening Tribune. 

Part 5: Notable Quotables 

“ Nearly half of American consumers state a preference for organic foods, and many are willing to put their money in their mouth by paying more for organic than conventional food.” ( Heather Honea)

“They argue that organic food can require more human labor and land for equivalent production levels, downplaying the long-term benefits to the people and land associated with a verified organic label.” (Heather Honea)

“In many cases, consumers are willing to pay more for food that is labeled as organic because they believe it is better for their health. They are highly sensitized to what they put in, on and near their bodies because the potential for contagion is more palpable — they legitimately worry about the harmful effects of additives, preservatives and chemicals in their food.” (Heather Honea)

“While organic foods cannot contain synthetic chemicals that research has verified as toxic, detractors note that organic foods could contain naturally occurring compounds that are potentially dangerous at high levels and may not clearly be labeled for consumers.” (Heather Honea)