Organic food not healthier, study finds

[alienlovechild 75]

I know this was posted months ago but I've seen so many posters yak on about how organic food is healthier when there's nothing to support that notion. Enjoy paying premium prices for the luxury and if it tastes better to you ok. I've the same thing about bottled water for years until the environuts realized the bottles were made of plastic.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said consumers paid higher prices for organic food in part because of its perceived health benefits, creating a global organic market worth an estimated $48 billion in 2007.

A systematic review of 162 scientific papers published in the scientific literature over the last 50 years, however, found there was no significant difference.

"A small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs, but these are unlikely to be of any public health relevance," said Alan Dangour, one of the report's authors.

"Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority."

The results of research, which was commissioned by the British government's Food Standards Agency, were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Peter Melchett, policy director of Britain's Soil Association, which promotes organic farming, said he was disappointed by the conclusions reached by the study's authors.

He criticized the methodology of the study, which he said had led researchers to reject some clear nutritional benefits as "not important."

Melchett also pointed out there was not sufficient research to assess the long-term effects of pesticides on human health.

Sales of organic food have fallen in some markets, including Britain, as recession has led consumers to cut back on purchases.

The Soil Association said in April that growth in sales of organic products in Britain slowed to just 1.7 percent in 2008, well below the average annual growth rate of 26 percent over the last decade, following a plunge in demand at the end of the year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE56S3ZJ20090730

Edited February 21, 2010 by alienlovechild

[Danno 1,228]

I know so many people sucked into this Organic food stuff.

Russians are programed for this kind of stuff.

[Nasturtium 500]

I think people are just silly and have very little understanding of reality. An organic potato and a non-organic potato of the same variety are the same potato, end of story. The only difference is the organic one was either grown without commercial fertilizer, pesticides, or both (but it's usually one or the other and guess which one is often still used... you need your veggies to be pretty afterall and not bug-eaten). Natural is actually a better classification and a safer one IMO because it's up to the discretion of the farmer to do what his or her crop needs (or animals need).

I'm a natural grower.. i have not ever used commercial fertilizers and have only used pesticides once in the past 14 years... but... my philosophy is to use what is necessary at the time. I just had such a bad infestation of japanese beatles last year i walked out and sprayed them/my peach tree and walked back in. Otherwise, I would have had zero crop. it was a one-time occurance.

[Peikko 1,575]

As if that's the reason why people buy these foods - most people buy organic because of the farming methods not because people believe an organic tomatoe has more vitamin c than a conventionally grown one

[Nasturtium 500]

As if that's the reason why people buy these foods - most people buy organic because of the farming methods not because people believe an organic tomatoe has more vitamin c than a conventionally grown one

People with sense, no... but have you been out recently? Most people are sucked into some idea that organic vegetables have more vitamins and nutrients. I have no idea why. That isn't at all why I would buy them if i did/do (I usually just grow my own, you know? Then you totally know what went into it).

[Ali G. 37]

Our review indicates

May want to pay extra attention to the second word..

As if that's the reason why people buy these foods - most people buy organic because of the farming methods not because people believe an organic tomatoe has more vitamin c than a conventionally grown one

Bingo! Doesn't take a background in rocket science to realize that things raised naturally are better off than those artificially laden in chemicals, in-order to grow in 1/4 of the time.

I am sure my actual experience in growing and eating foods produced in a nation, which due to population doesn't need to heavily use chemicals, is no match for the opinion of Rush and others here.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Booyah

[Peikko 1,575]

People with sense, no... but have you been out recently? Most people are sucked into some idea that organic vegetables have more vitamins and nutrients. I have no idea why. That isn't at all why I would buy them if i did/do (I usually just grow my own, you know? Then you totally know what went into it).

True, my understanding is that organic labelling in the US isn't nearly so strictly applied as it is in the UK and EU. Organic in the UK is what it says and often means that it is locally sourced, although not exclusively.

Oh and yes, growing your own rocks - even while I still can't beat the mildew, gargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The only difference is the organic one was either grown without commercial fertilizer, pesticides, or both (but it's usually one or the other and guess which one is often still used...

That is a big reason why people choose organic produce. But also buying organic produce often benefits smaller farms because the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers are systematic of the larger, corporate farms. Although nutritionally it may be debatable whether conventional produce is not on par with organic, buying organic produce supports farming techniques that are more earth friendly, more sustainable, and less harmful to your body.

[Nasturtium 500]

True, my understanding is that organic labelling in the US isn't nearly so strictly applied as it is in the UK and EU. Organic in the UK is what it says and often means that it is locally sourced, although not exclusively.

Oh and yes, growing your own rocks - even while I still can't beat the mildew, gargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's expensive to be certified here-- so that's the hold-up for most smaller farmers... they simply cannot afford it. Also, many of the small-time dairy and meat farmers actually care for their flocks/herds and are not interested in uncessecarily torturing them by not helping them when they are sick with medication (and of course then they pull the sick goat or whatever and treat it, but in the meantime that means they cannot be labeled organic). I respect that totally. I have a good friend who is a small time dairy farmer in MO and she goes under the label natural. She does exactly what I described above. She also tries to home her male babies instead of kill them outright, but that is another story... Here organic means a lack of something (or used to 3 years ago when i looked into the whole of the regulations, so this is 3-year-old info when i looked at it) either pesticides OR fertilizers, but not necessarily both. And yes, it has nothing to do with local sourcing at all.

Did you try baking soda or milk for your mildew yet? I seem to remember you did, but I am just checking.

[Nasturtium 500]

That is a big reason why people choose organic produce. But also buying organic produce often benefits smaller farms because the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers are systematic of the larger, corporate farms. Although nutritionally it may be debatable whether conventional produce is not on par with organic, buying organic produce supports farming techniques that are more earth friendly, more sustainable, and less harmful to your body.

Exactly. It doesn't denote local though, which I think maybe should have a seperate classification. It also does not necesarily denote non-GMO either. Still though, it is true many believe it does have something to do with nutrition. Frozen veggies are actually the best in your average market.

[Ali G. 37]

That is a big reason why people choose organic produce. But also buying organic produce often benefits smaller farms because the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers are systematic of the larger, corporate farms. Although nutritionally it may be debatable whether conventional produce is not on par with organic, buying organic produce supports farming techniques that are more earth friendly, more sustainable, and less harmful to your body.

ALC needs to read the article we saw the other day regarding China's soil being destroyed due to overuse of chemicals. Chemical that destroy soil but apparently have zero impact on our health.

Edit: Actually, anyone who has been to GW's house, would know he was heavily into green farming and taking care of your land.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Booyah

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Exactly. It doesn't denote local though, which I think maybe should have a seperate classification. It also does not necesarily denote non-GMO either. Still though, it is true many believe it does have something to do with nutrition. Frozen veggies are actually the best in your average market.

Yep. That's what I've read...because of the flash frozen process that is used now, frozen vegetables retain most of their nutritional value until they are ready to eat.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

ALC needs to read the article we saw the other day regarding China's soil being destroyed due to overuse of chemicals. Chemical that destroy soil but apparently have zero impact on our health.

Edit: Actually, anyone who has been to GW's house, would know he was heavily into green farming and taking care of your land.

Sustainable farming is really what the movement towards organic is about.

[Ali G. 37]

Sustainable farming is really what the movement towards organic is about.

That is one aspect. Personally, I don't want food that is grown in chemically laden soil. Having cousins who actually work in various research fields, I follow their lead, and they are heavily into organic. These guys are also the furthest thing from being considering a tree hugging nut-job liberal hippy.

[Peikko 1,575]

That is one aspect. Personally, I don't want food that is grown in chemically laden soil. Having cousins who actually work in various research fields, I follow their lead, and they are heavily into organic. These guys are also the furthest thing from being considering a tree hugging nut-job liberal hippy.

Unlike me of course