Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded. There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) who commissioned the report said the findings would help people make an “informed choice”.
The FSA went gone on to say that they are neither pro nor anti organic food and recognized there were many reasons why people choose to eat organic, including animal welfare or environmental concerns.
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Well this is worth arguing over. Have you learned what the agricultural business in this country has done to our soil since World War II? The soil is ladden with tons of chemicals that leach into our water supply. All those nasty pesticides and fungicides and herbicides have poluuted the land more than the majority of the population will ever know. More people need to support the local organic farmer who supports their family and lively hood. Sustainable living through organic agriculture.( produce,dairy,meat). I understand it is hard to claim that organic food is more nutritous than non- organic food. I believe they are very simular in nutrional makeup. The argument should be with the “franken food”or Genetically Modified Organisms. All those genetically altered seed banks that feed these large non organic agribusinesses and cooperations who are out for the almighty dollar. I’ll guarantee that the certified organic produce tastes better than conventional. The price may be almost twice that of conventional but one must realise how many billions of dollars got to farmers who are government subsidised thus keeping conventional pricing way down compared to organic farmers. Organic farmers are recieving help form the government but not nearly as much as conventional. I could go on and on. Eventually its the consumers choice and I’m glad to offer the organic alternative in my store.
I thought the article might be controversial! 😉 There are two distinct issues here, is organic food healthier and is the organic production process less damaging to the environment? The article really questions the former and it isn’t the first time the question has been raised. The second point is probably more significant and I’m sure most people would agree that the process or organic production is more sustainable and less damaging. But really the question over which method of production is better wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t a demand for both. Modern farming methods originated because of a demand for cheap produce and growing populations. Populations who have also, in more recent generations, become accustomed to enjoy the luxuries and pleasures that surplus income, not spent on food and other essentials, can be used for. Just like the problems we face regarding the cost of dwindling supplies of gas and the damaging effects of fossil fuel consumption, the debate over the merits of organic foods is more about how much we are prepared to accept changes to our life styles.
A customer said that Food Inc. is a movie that I should see. Its playing in Madison I think. This may convince folks what kind of food we should avoid eating.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/ Check the trailer out for this movie. The organic food industry has been the fastest and largest growing sector of the food business. And big companies know this. And they want a part of the profit. The US government is trying to regulate the Organic Industry to favor big companies like Kraft and General Mills thus making organic regulations less strict. etc etc etc…
I love a “healthy” debate! (Pun intended). I suspect that it is true that the “nutritional benefits” of organic are not significantly different, apple for apple, so to speak, between “organic” or “ordinary”. Long term toxicity may be a different issue, and I believe the jury will remain “out” on that one for years to come. Sustainability is a different debate altogether, but still very relevant. In addition to the issue of environmental damage, if we had no large-scale, chemically driven farming, the few of us remaining would eat a very different variety of foods (no longer an “apples for apples” comparison), and I am confident that variety would represent a healthier mix than the typical diet today. In the end, ALL decisions are economic ones, whether they involve money or not.
This is an interesting debate and one that will be argued over for some time to come….
For me, without question, organic trumps conventional foods. Taking this a step further, topping both comes wild foods. We can’t duplicate the nutrition to what is found out in nature..
Personally, I don’t feel that big time corporate organic farms in California are growing optimal foods. The soil is overworked, lacking minerals, and basically dead. I do my best to source out small organic or even better, biodynamic farms.
I feel, that this debate is a matter of raising consciousness. Are people consuming fast foods and conventional foods that connected to the environment? Do you think the people consuming organic foods, and growing a garden are the ones tossing there D+D cups out the window or leaving piles of beer cans out in the woods?
Spraying pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and many many other chemicals into the earth or onto our bodies, then consuming the food, is not the best choice ever.
I am not sure if I am making any sense here, but Yes, organic is better!