Organic food is no healthier, study finds
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.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Simon Jessop)
I hate to say I told you so, but the organic food thing is pure carp as I thought!
And that's The Northern Truth!!
2 Rants:
You are telling me no one is allergic to the sprays & dips that are used on fruit & vegetables. I believe 'Organic,' means less harmful sprays & dips & less forced growth with too much manure. Now they tell me Cow Poo is no good, full of e-coli! What next?
I disagree with your conclusion. First, I would need to read the studies myself to see their strengths and weaknesses. Second, there are many studies that say the reverse, again, I have not read many of these either. Lastly, I have only to critically reflect on my own experience of swapping from sprayed and GM to organic and home-grown to see a difference.
How about we ask JCU students needing a thesis project to do some testing?
This is an important issue, as health is always a critical social concern.
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