Are you always buying all-organic foods? Well, a new study suggests that eating organic may not be doing you any favours when it comes to additional nutrition.
A four-year project looked at 240 other studies covering nutrients in foods as well as potential contaminants like pesticides and found that even though we might pay more for our organic veggies, fruits and meat, they’re no better for us than regular food.
Some of the most notable findings from the study include:
- There wasn’t much of a difference between the vitamin content of A, C and E in organic fruits and veggies compared to conventional produce.
- That while there was more detectable pesticide residue in conventional products compared to organic (38% to 7%), the amount was usually still below the maximum allowed limits in the European Union. Both kinds of produce were found to be susceptible to bacterial contamination.
Consumers pay a premium price for organic food, but the scientists warned that if you’re solely concerned about the health value of your products, there’s no reason to buy organic over conventional. And while many people do like organic products because of how they’re grown (or how the animals are raised and fed in the case of meat and dairy products), a Nielsen study says 76% of shoppers buy organic because they think it’s the healthier choice.
Does this change your opinion on buying organic vs non-organic produce?
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3 Comments
This is the stupidest “study” – buying organic is and was never about additional nutrition (that would have to be GMOed and that’s totally against the point of buying organic!)
Buying organic (or growning your own) is about *reduced* pesticide use and residues (and a whole 20% less pesticide ingested is GREAT in my books, who wants to eat pesticide?!), shorter supply chains, non-GMO, and fewer drug resistant hormones.
I have not seen any ads by organic fruit or vegetable producers ever claiming their produce had higher nutritional content. Anyone who understands it that way is poorly mistaken and completely missing the point. (And if you can find me one, please let me know so I can write them and tell them to stop being stupid with their advertising)
However, you failed to mention the study did find some produce did have higher amounts of potassium – which can be good or bad depending on your dietary needs.
This is one of those pseudo-science articles made by a large GMO-producing corporation to try to get people to keep eating their pesticide and hormone-laden produce. It doesn’t deserve any attention.
I like your articles, Steve, but I would seriously consider removing this. Or at least do a better job educating people with it.
Of course it isn’t more nutritious. People who choose organic produce are concerned about the pesticide residues and general use in the environment. What is the point of this article and was it commissioned by Monsanto?
Jen,
You bring up a good point – everything isn’t about nutrition but many organic foods are promoted that way. The point of this website is to show ways Canadians can save money on groceries.
Consumers should be educated on what they are buying.
Thanks!