Is organic food really something to be ashamed of?

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And Jennifer Bowden’s columns in the NZ Listener and here at listener.co.nzsubscribers can access his biweekly “Myth busters” column, where he explores myths about food and nutrition. This
Last week, he looked at whether organic foods cost more.

Natural foods have created a near-mythical status in the supermarket aisles. They are often considered the holy grail of health, with the promise of being safer, more nutritious, and better for the planet than their conventional counterparts, all of which marketers use to justify their premium. the price that goes with the “organic” label.

But is it clever marketing or is there something behind the hype? Let’s dig into the facts and find out if organic foods live up to their healthy reputation – or are they just cashing in on a healthy-looking face.

Organic foods are grown without large amounts of man-made fertilizers, pesticides, certain medications (such as antibiotics), growth hormones, food additives, and many synthetic chemicals. In other words, organic foods are produced through more agricultural and food production methods than conventional non-organic foods.

Consumers choose organic foods for a variety of reasons, often based on their positive effects on our environment, animal welfare, human health and safety. Consumers expect organic foods to contain less pesticide residue than conventional foods.

Although agricultural chemicals, such as synthetic pesticides, are credited with improving crop yields, so the quantity and price of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts also have risks.

In high doses, some agricultural chemicals can cause serious damage to the nervous system, lungs, reproductive system, endocrine and immune system and possibly cause cancer.

Long-term, low impact can also be a concern. For example, French researchers found that exposure to pesticide residues was associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over a four-year period. In addition, there are real concerns about the effect of agricultural residues on infants and children who are at risk of chemical poisoning; exposure in childhood may have a greater risk of cancer than the same exposure later in life.

It’s no wonder that studies consistently find that organic products contain less pesticide residue. A 2012 systematic review, of studies published between 1966 and 2011, found that organic produce had a 30% lower risk of pesticide contamination than conventionally grown produce.

Recent observations confirm this earlier. At the same time, clinical trials in children and adults have confirmed that switching to organic food for one week significantly reduces pesticide residues from the body.

Also, according to a 2022 clinical trial published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, abandoning the Western diet of highly nutritious food to the highly respected Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, ingesting pesticide residues.. However, switching to organic products, regardless of the diet, has reduced pesticide residues.

However, contrary to popular belief, organic food does not contain more nutrients than conventionally grown food, as proven by many studies. However, a large Harvard University review study found that eating more fruits and vegetables with lower levels of pesticides (such as organic produce) was associated with longer life. it’s big. High pesticide residues appeared to cancel out the benefits of fruits and vegetables.

However, as a cautionary tale, the Harvard study does not prove that pesticide exposure caused the shortened lifespan, as other lifestyle and dietary factors may have contributed to the findings. these.

Therefore, placing credit for increased longevity at the feet of organic foods is premature. Indeed, in 2020, an Australian review repeated the results of earlier reviews, noting that “the current evidence does not allow a clear statement about the health benefits of eating organic food”.

Finally, organic foods are more expensive, but the effect of their low pesticide residues on long-term health is unclear. Additionally, organic foods do not have many nutrients or clear health benefits compared to conventionally produced foods. We know that eating a lot of food is good for your health.

So, if you’re looking for a safe bet for your food budget, focus on eating a variety of whole foods, whether organic or not, rather than eating a few expensive items.