Organic food is no healthier, study finds

[almaty 19]

LONDON (Reuters) – Organic food has no nutritional or health benefits over ordinary food, according to a major study published Wednesday.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said consumers were paying higher prices for organic food 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.

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.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Wonder if they took in account the pesticides vs no-pesticides (non-organic vs organic)?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Thats horesechit.

[HAL 9000 96]

Wonder if they took in account the pesticides vs no-pesticides (non-organic vs organic)?

Not really- and that is where the real difference lies.

(although some pesticides can be 'considered' organic)

[DeadPoolX 9]

Wonder if they took in account the pesticides vs no-pesticides (non-organic vs organic)?

Not really- and that is where the real difference lies.

(although some pesticides can be 'considered' organic)

To be fair, it doesn't matter if you don't eat the skin of certain fruit or vegetables (like bananas). The real issue is with items like grapes, tomatoes, etc.

[Philosykos 0]

Wonder if they took in account the pesticides vs no-pesticides (non-organic vs organic)?

I am wondering about that, too. The point of organic food for me is that they do not contain certain toxins, and I never expected them to contain more nutrients.

[MissStacey 1]

I shop at Whole Foods just as much as I shop at the regular grocery. Just depends what I am needing. I was looking at some cauliflower one day at the regular grocery, they had both organic and regular. The organic had little bugs crawling all over it so I happily chose the one that used the pesticides instead.

[Anna C. 4]

I wonder who financed the study

The real reason for me to buy organic: no pesticides, no GMO (I find that really concerning), not antibiotics, no hormones, no animal-by-product fed animals (concern for milk, eggs, meat - I mean just look at the "success story of mad cow disease" - it spread cause they fed dead cows to cows. yucky).

[HAL 9000 96]

Wonder if they took in account the pesticides vs no-pesticides (non-organic vs organic)?

Not really- and that is where the real difference lies.

(although some pesticides can be 'considered' organic)

To be fair, it doesn't matter if you don't eat the skin of certain fruit or vegetables (like bananas). The real issue is with items like grapes, tomatoes, etc.

Fair to the non-organics- as long as the chemicals make it to the edible parts. Unfortunately, many do cross over inside plants as they develop fruits and veggies. Most of these chemicals are aqueous... meaning they enter the plant via its vascular system and thus, what you eat.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm....Organic = Molecules that has carbon....aka Organic Chemistry....In-Organice Chemistry = non carbon chains molecules....

Everything that kills through destroying enzymes or cells are pretty much organic....Somehow, somewhere the idea of organic replaces natural...

Edited July 29, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[HAL 9000 96]

I shop at Whole Foods just as much as I shop at the regular grocery. Just depends what I am needing. I was looking at some cauliflower one day at the regular grocery, they had both organic and regular. The organic had little bugs crawling all over it so I happily chose the one that used the pesticides instead.

Sounds cool.

Besides... who the heck buys at Whole Foods to buy non-organic, GMO foods? For that you may as well go to Aldi.

I personally shop organic and non-organic at a local produce shop. Instead of spending $50 on 3 bags of produce at WF 4 blocks down from this store, I get the same amount for $15.

[What Happened? 4]

Actually wild growing plants produce their own naturally occuring pesticides.....otherwise they would not survive in nature. Those naturally occuring pesticides can also be harmful.

Justbecause something is being grown organic does not mean it is not being treated with pesticides. The fruit or vegetable crop would not survive if it were not being treated with something. Usually they are treated with naturally occuring pesticides not synthetic ones. But even naturally occuring pesticides like sulfur based products can cause illnesses in some people.

So just because something says organic doesn't mean it is healthier.

[mawilson 2,133]

LONDON (Reuters) – Organic food has no nutritional or health benefits over ordinary food, according to a major study published Wednesday.

Organic food *is* ordinary food, only without all the #######.

Besides... who the heck buys at Whole Foods to buy non-organic, GMO foods? For that you may as well go to Aldi.

Sadly, not everything at WF is organic.

Edited July 29, 2009 by mawilson

[MissStacey 1]

I love WF for their smokehouse- they make some awesome BBQ. They also have great pizza- 2 big pieces for 5 bucks. Yum! I go there a lot to pick up something for lunch.

[HAL 9000 96]

Actually wild growing plants produce their own naturally occuring pesticides.....otherwise they would not survive in nature. Those naturally occuring pesticides can also be harmful.

Justbecause something is being grown organic does not mean it is not being treated with pesticides. The fruit or vegetable crop would not survive if it were not being treated with something. Usually they are treated with naturally occuring pesticides not synthetic ones. But even naturally occuring pesticides like sulfur based products can cause illnesses in some people.

So just because something says organic doesn't mean it is healthier.

Darn.

Which naturally occurring pesticides would those be for them not to be artificially synthesized and used on a crop? I'm super curious now.

I love WF for their smokehouse- they make some awesome BBQ. They also have great pizza- 2 big pieces for 5 bucks. Yum! I go there a lot to pick up something for lunch.

Yeah I'll check that out. In a pickle its a good 'cafeteria.' Yum.