Organic Food vs. Non-Organic Food

**debbystewart** · #1 08-31-2009, 01:18 AM

Last month, the UK based Food Standards Agency released a study that found organic grown foods have no more nutritional value than non organic foods.

You can read about the study's findings at: Study: Organic food not more nutritional

Researchers studied five different crops -- carrots, kale, mature peas, apples and potatoes -- which were cultivated both organically (without pesticides) and conventionally (with the use of pesticides) and found that there was no higher level of trace elements in the food grown organically.

Study leader Dr Susanne Bügel said: "No systematic differences between cultivation systems representing organic and conventional production methods were found across the five crops so the study does not support the belief that organically grown foodstuffs generally contain more major and trace elements than conventionally grown foodstuffs."

Will this study make you think twice about forking the extra money to purchase organic foods? Or will you stick with organic food regardless of this study's findings?

**esper_d** · #2 08-31-2009, 01:33 AM

It's not about "more" nutrition. It's about leaving out harmful pesticides and hormones. There is a big difference. So to answer your question, no this study doesn't change my opinion. It just makes me realize they don't even realize WHY people eat organic in the first place. Its to give our families pure, unprocessed foods which have less risk of harm to our health.

**fireladyst2** · #3 08-31-2009, 08:55 AM

I don’t think that this study changes my opinion either. I am more concerned about the pesticides and harmful chemicals that are used to grow fruits and vegetables, not the nutritional value. I think organic foods help everyone “be green”.

**Mikelegan** · #4 08-31-2009, 01:50 PM

In fact, the researchers ignored all studies that directly look at nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods, and found enormous differences anyway. Only in their conclusion did they dismiss the differences as "irrelevant":

Here are some of the "irrelevant" nutritional differences they found in organic foods:

* Protein: 12.7% higher
* Beta-carotene: 53.6% higher
* Flavonoids: 38.4% higher
* Phenolic compounds: 13.2% higher
* Copper: 8.3% higher
* Magnesium: 7.1% higher
* Phosphorous: 6% higher
* Potassium: 2.5% higher
* Sodium: 8.7% higher
* Sulphur: 10.5% higher
* Zinc: 11.3% higher

To say they found no differences is easily proved false. Just read the report.

**debbystewart** · #5 09-02-2009, 03:04 PM

Here is another article that addresses the same issue: Organic food not healthier, study finds | Science | Reuters

Organic food has no nutritional or health benefits over conventionally produced food, according to a major study published on Wednesday.

Its conclusions were challenged by organic food campaigners.

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.

**ron046** · #6 09-02-2009, 08:47 PM

I don't think the article changes my position either. I attempt to buy the healthiest items that I can find regardless if they are organic or not.

I do feel more confident with organic, as the standards for production are higher. Also, I don't want my food genetically altered, or hormones used. Meats especially are troubling in the mass production and standards at meat packers. I'll take farm raised, grass feed, beef any day over what the meat mills have to offer. I also prefer food that has seen the least amount of processing, and no preservatives, if possible.

**jmills** · #7 05-20-2011, 10:22 AM

organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.
Its not about the nutritional value but the chemicals and pesticides used in non organic foods that raises concerns.

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**carmineshelton** · #9 04-11-2012, 02:23 AM

I am really for organic foods. I have been buying it for 5 years now. I won't let this article change my mind about organic foods.