Is Organic Food Healthier?
If you have been noticing the word “organic” slapped on just about every product these days, you are not alone. Outside of the initial sticker shock in price, there doesn’t seem to be any observational differences between organic and conventionally grown foods (or products). While there seems to be this ever present health halo around organic food, the question to ask is - “is ‘organic’ food nutritionally superior to its conventional counterparts? Is eating organic food the healthier option?
First some background - the origins of organic food trace back to the late 1930s, as a response to the overuse of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides skyrocketing in the fast paced industrial agriculture practices. Regulations overseen by the government for creating standards of practice for farmers to gain organic certification didn’t take place until 1990 by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). It is within the USDA’s operations to monitor farming practices “integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.” Farms that adhere to 95% organic processing practices can legally stamp the “USDA organic” seal on their products.
In comparing organically grown food to conventional food - studies have not found any nutritional advantage in the consumption of organic foods. From a nutrient perspective, organic and conventional food have the same concentrations of vitamin and mineral content. Leading to the argument that organic food is not “healthier” in that the difference in vitamin and mineral content is not statistically significant. There are no nutritional advantages to consuming organic over conventional.
The choice to use organic products can be driven by socioeconomic status (organic products are usually more expensive than conventional), subjective perception of quality and taste, and ethical reasons (ie humanely raised animals without growth hormones or antibiotics).
In my next post, we will review the recommendations from the Environmental Working Group for suggestions on how to use organic food as part of your diet.
