Organic food is no healthier, study finds

[stjr]

To be... or, not to be.  Discuss amongst yourselves!

Organic food is no healthier, study finds
Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:29pm EDT
 
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.

[thekillingwax]

My fiance and I have always laughed at the whole organic movement. My aunts in georgia have grown their own food for generations and do things the old fashioned way and I dare you to find a better product but since it's not certified organic, it's crap. We buy all our veggies at Beaver St. and we've never had any issue with them. It's not that I mind people trying to make things in a more responsible manner but the insanity that comes along with it just grates my nerves. I remember taking the sneak peek tour at whole foods and the produce guy was telling us how they take great measures to see that nothing that isn't certified organic EVER touches the holy organic items. Really? Penn and Teller are doing an episode of Bullshit on organic stuff this season, should be entertaining to watch.

I do think that careful growing measures to aide heirloom and special varieties of items is good and free range meat is certainly ethical but I hate the marketing stupidity that has infected the masses in thinking that eating an organic apple is somehow better for you than a regular one. Affording a healthy, balanced diet is hard enough these days, don't go out there and rob poor families of money by telling them that it's not good enough.

[thekillingwax]

The pesticides are an issue but I wash all my stuff before I eat it anyway and I've never been sick. Organic as a marketing term is just insane. They literally have organic anything now and it's just marketing bs. I'm going to petition for organic Mad Dog 20/20 and organic King Cobra.

I think it's fine to have an organic option, I do not think that it's right to trick people into thinking they're getting additional benefits from it.

[ben says]

Organic food isn't just about 'is it healthier or not?'

Organic means many things...

For instance,

Cleaner water sources

Cleaner soil

Less harmful to ecosystem/nature/species/biodiversity

Helps keep rural communities healthy

Reduces health risks associated with synthetic chemicals

Etc...

[Garden guy]

Tell that to the mom who is dealing with a 10 year old with boobs and a visitor once a month...in an attempt to keep us safe our food system has become a mafia  system that keeps a few very very rich...fertilizer companies...food engineers...cheap food that grows fast...the food system has screwed itself and our population.

[JeffreyS]

Hormones and antibiotics in meat are the bigger reasons to go organic.  For higher nutritional value go with flash frozen over fresh.

I love studies with limited basis for comparison this one used only one.  The idea of a study like this is usually to get the answer you want.  Same deal for people looking to spin the other way may just study the antibiotics making us lees immune or just the hormones making people fat and so on.

I am 41 in junior high we all ate at Burger King, had Doritos and cokes and stayed skinny as rails.  Go visit a junior high today your eyes will tell you the truth about what we are eating.

[buckethead]

Organic food IS ordinary food.

I would also suggest it wise to grow your own food where possible and to resist the encroaching monopoly of the food supply by supporting organic and independent growers.

It's always easier to go with the flow, but when the river is diverted to a path towards tyranny, is it wise to go with the flow?

[JeffreyS]

Organic food IS ordinary food.

I would also suggest it wise to grow your own food where possible and to resist the encroaching monopoly of the food supply by supporting organic and independent growers.

It's always easier to go with the flow, but when the river is diverted to a path towards tyranny, is it wise to go with the flow?

+1 You hippie wanting your cow to eat grass.

[Garden guy]

Organic food IS ordinary food.

I would also suggest it wise to grow your own food where possible and to resist the encroaching monopoly of the food supply by supporting organic and independent growers.

It's always easier to go with the flow, but when the river is diverted to a path towards tyranny, is it wise to go with the flow?

+1 You hippie wanting your cow to eat grass.

Mmmm...grass fed filet mignon....talk about a nice dinner.

[Dapperdan]

Grass fed beef tatses much better. I get a few organic items and I do it because most of the organic items I purchase come from local farms that you can visit and I also know that no pesticides, etc were used and in the case of the beef, they are only fed grass. There is a  noticeable taste difference.

[finehoe]

The pesticides are an issue but I wash all my stuff before I eat it anyway and I've never been sick.

If you are cancer-free twenty years from now, then you can make that claim.

[JeffreyS]

The growth (make you fat) hormones and antibiotics are what I am trying to avoid.

[ben says]

I've always had a hard time understand the "anti-organic" crowd, for lack of a better term. You know, the ones who say 'its overpriced' or 'not worth it' or 'if you're cancer free then you can talk'. What exactly are you guys advocating? We know that pesticides are bad for us and the environment. We know artificial growth hormones, genetically modified organisms, and antibiotic tainted food isn't great...why NOT push for more organics? What's with the unwarranted skepticism?

[BridgeTroll]

I've always had a hard time understand the "anti-organic" crowd, for lack of a better term. You know, the ones who say 'its overpriced' or 'not worth it' or 'if you're cancer free then you can talk'. What exactly are you guys advocating? We know that pesticides are bad for us and the environment. We know artificial growth hormones, genetically modified organisms, and antibiotic tainted food isn't great...why NOT push for more organics? What's with the unwarranted skepticism?

Im not "anti organic" as it is undoubtedly a better alternative.  The more organics the better.  It will likely always be a niche food however.  Modern pesticides and fertilizers produce yields that are not attainable organically.  Loss of organic crop yield is much higher due to spoilage, insects and vermin.  While grass fed beef is a better product... the grass lands to to allow them a "free range" diet are expensive and dwindling.  Costs for organic foods are indeed a factor for many people and the organic label is a luxury.

[buckethead]

At what point does technological advancement become a detriment? Just because a population of 50 billion (for instance) might be "supported" on Earth, should it?

Do we need to return at some level, to an agrarian society?