Organic Food is No Healthier (Don’t Believe It!)

Yesterday on the subway, I was reading the Daily News over someone’s shoulder, and in an almost full page article the title read, “Organic food isn’t healthier than non-organic, new study reports.” How ridiculous is that statement? In the article it turns out that the scientists were only addressing the nutritional value of the food, and weren’t taking into consideration the tons of synthetic chemicals that are kept off of the food, or how those chemicals are then also kept out of our soil and water. The subject of nutritional value has been controversial for some time, but there are some reports that organic food does have more nutritional value (just as with any “study” you can always find the pros and the cons). My thoughts are always to err on the side of caution, why would I want to put non-organic chemical laden food into my body at all? Why take the chance? And I do believe that organic food is better, even nutritionally. And that’s how I voted in the poll!

The Daily News online also has a poll running with this article:

Will you still buy organic food, even if it’s not nutritionally superior?

Yes. I don’t care what one study says.  44%
I know organic is better for me. 18%
No. Seems like it’s not worth the extra money. 37%
I never bought organic to begin with. 0%

It is important to keep the big picture in mind when looking at local, organic, and sustainable – educate yourself about all the issues, and make decisions based on the information you have… so far 44% don’t care what the studies say, and I’m with them.

For more information about the issues surrounding sustainable food, please see the “Issues Pages” on the Sustainable Table website.