Organic food--maybe it's no better for you

We may like to think organic food is more healthful -- but is it, truly? Reports of a new study suggests it doesn't, at least, provide more minerals and trace elements.

The study, done by Susanne Bügel and coworkers at the Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Copenhagen and published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, examined carrots, kale, peas, apples and potatoes grown three ways:

--with manure, no pesticides (except for a natural one added to kale);

--with manure and pesticides;

--mineral fertilizers plus pesticides.

All crops were grown under similar conditions and harvested at the same time -- and then analyzed for their content of various nutrients and trace elements: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper and oh, a few more. The scientists didn't find any differences.

Then the team fed the food they'd grown to rats over a two-year period and looked to see what amounts of these nutrients were taken in and then excreted -- and found that the amounts were no different in the animals eating organic food than those getting food not grown organically.

Of course, this is just one study. And there are other nutrients to consider when assessing organic food -- as well as presence or absence of pesticide residue and the relative effect on the environment of organically and non-organically grown crops. Lots to chew on, here.

Here's a take from the Mayo Clinic on the organic food issue.

And here's a whole slew of organic info from CNN.com.

-- Rosie Mestel

Comments

[Antonio Pacheco]

I do not necessarily believe that people eat organic food because they believe that it is better for them in terms of nutrient absorption, etc. Instead, I feel that organic food is popular because of the environmental and psychological benefits it has. By that, I mean that it is generally believed that organic food is less detrimental to the environment than generic, pesticide/fertilized crops grown and this fact is a plus for people who can afford to consume organic food. There is also a certain sort of piece of mind that comes along with organic food in that you know you aren't eating food that has indeed been doused in synthetic fertilizers and chemicals that aside from being environmentally destructive, probably aren't that good for you to begin with.

It seems that for anyone to believe that organic food is better for you (in terms of nutrient absorption, etc) is a bit silly. The people who believe this are indeed misinformed. The truth is that while organic food is not necessarily better for you, it's at least less bad for you than non-organic food (at least, in theory) because of its lowered environmental impact and use of dangerous chemicals.

That being said, however, there are gigantic problems with the organic system in terms of cost of certification, definition of what it means to be organic, and costs passed on to the consumer that have made organic food a niche, high-end market instead of something that is accessible to everyone.