Sainsbury's in "learning some chemistry" shocker!

[baratron]

Richard just brought in a couple of tetrapaks of "So Organic chick peas". Apparently Sainsbury's have decided that tetrapaks are more environmentally-friendly than cans - I'm guessing because the mass of the tetrapak is much less than that of a steel can, so less energy is needed to transport food in tetras. Anyway, on the back they say:

Ingredients: Chick Peas, Water.
Of the ingredients that can be organic, 100% are organic. Water cannot be organic.

Sainsbury's, you are absolutely right - but probably not for the reason you think.

Comments

[jasini.livejournal.com]

Because there's no C in H20?

That's the reason *I'd* think.

[keldaryth.livejournal.com]

It COULD be in the sense that it could have a lot of organisms in it...

lol

Okay I'm stretching it, but fun!

[judiff]

i'm sure you say "similar" sometimes and not mean it in like a maths way

[softfruit.livejournal.com]

Surely, "water cannot be organic but we could still sell you some premium priced water that you can pretend is"? :P

[ailbhe]

I R confused. There's more than one way for water to be inorganic?

[lizw.livejournal.com]

... except that, even using organic in the sense they presumably mean, water can be from sources on organically- or non-organically-managed land, and can therefore be about as organic as organic milk, which Sainsbury's also sells. (This is why I prefer to buy Highland Spring rather than any other bottled water, when I can't get to a tap or don't have a suitable bottle handy.)

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is chemically correct. Water is not well known for being a carbon compound :)

[baratron.livejournal.com]

I hope there aren't too many organisms living in my chickpeas before I open the packet! The whole point of canning or tetrapaking is to seal the food away from bacteria so it lasts longer...

[baratron.livejournal.com]

There's only one way for water to be inorganic - it isn't a compound containing carbon chains or rings. But there are two ways for it to be not organic. The other of which refers to "organic" farming.

[keldaryth.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I tend to get the organic dried chickpeas and soak them up... :)

[ailbhe]

I always forget that part. In spite of saying "silicate apples anyone?" and so on.