Buying organic is great, but how do you know it's organic? Can you trust farmers and wholesalers to be honest in their labeling and packaging without extensive regulation and stiff penalties? No, you cannot, and this is an area where regulators have little precedent or experience to rely on. And just what does "organic" really mean, anyway?

Besides, even the most conscientious growers and retailers may be dumping poison in our food inadvertently, the stuff is so ubiquitous in our environment, and we know so little about the long term or synergistic effects of so many substances, even in tiny amounts, and how physical and biological systems modify, disperse and concentrate them. And a lot of perfectly benign additives are being given a bad rap, too, there's a lot of paranoia and superstition in this area. And of course, there is so much ignorance.

What is really needed before we do anything else is that all ingredients and processes be throughly documented and clearly posted so consumers can make their own decisions, and researchers and journalists can ask the right questions. And it will also alert us to potential problems: beware of those who self-righteously resist telling us up front what it is they are putting in our food. If they can afford to advertise their toxins, they sure as hell can afford to label them.