Organic - It's in the Whiskers

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Organic produce, researchers have shown, generally packs more antioxidants and other healthier and more flavorful phytochemicals than conventional produce. Wow, that's great, but why?

The current theory is that organic produce creates more phytochemicals, which plants use to ward off microbes and insects, than conventionally grown veggies treated with pesticides and fungicides. The extra work makes organics taste better and makes them healthier for us to eat.

What's this got to do with guinea pigs and rats? Apparently people can't seem to detect the subtle taste difference between organic and conventional foods, even if the organic has more taste-enhancing phytochemicals, but guinea pigs and rats can.

A team of Swiss and Austrian scientists recently showed in the results of their 21-year study of organic wheat production. They gave lab animals a choice of biscuits made from organic or conventional wheat. In this case, the rats ate significantly more of the former.

So there you have it. Clearly the difference is in those adorable whiskers.

Just by accident, we discovered that our guinea pigs knew the difference between organic and non organic veges. Having been raised on fresh vegies from our own patch (organically grown) and purchased organic fruit and veg that we top up our own supplies, the guinea pigs healthy tastebuds were well developed.

Recently purchased herbs and beetroot were obtained from the local farmers market, (sold as organically produced and spray free) were fed to the pigs. After a cursory sniff, these were rejected immediately. To check, we bought non-organic carrots - just a sniff and the adorable little cavy's left them in their bowl.

Deciding our little discovery could be avantageous to us, we now use the pigs (aptly named Purry and Fluffy by our son) to test produce we purchase off new suppliers. If the vegetables or fruit are rejected, we know that the produce is suspect and we don't purchase off that supplier again.

Now, who said guinea pigs were just an eating/pooing machine. Besides being adorable pets, they are good food testers as well.

German researcher Katrin Woese reported in her 1997 literature review that "animals distinguish between the foods on offer from the various agricultural systems and almost exclusively prefer organic produce".

Organic food is an important safe haven in today's polluted and processed world. Organic food is not a luxury. It is how food is supposed to be. Even guinea pigs know that!