The organic food debate
The latest research project findings into organic food and it’s benefits have found that organic food has no nutritional benefits over conventional food. However many consumers and experts are sceptical of these results and are likely to continue eating organic food despite the findings.
The research which is a review of scientific studies for the last 50 years and was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has been criticised by organic farming experts for a number of reasons. One of the main controversies about the research is about why it dismisses studies that found organic food to be higher in some nutrients. The research only took into account 55 of the total 162 studies that had been carried out. When all 162 studies were taken into account organic farming was found to be frequently higher in nutrients than conventional produce. The debate being over the criteria through which the research to be included was chosen by the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Selective use of research in this way is highly likely to be influenced strongly by the criteria used for selection.
Looking at this research in isolation also ignore some very important points and the bigger picture.For example pesticides were specifically excluded from the scope of this study. Even ‘if’ organic food does not contain more nutrional benefits than conventional food, many people eat organic food for other reasons including the lack of potentially harmful toxins, the long term effects, the environmental benefits of organic farming, the flavour, freshness and taste of organic food and trust in the ethics of the organic food companies.
The debate rumbles on and consumers will continue decide for themselves whether to buy organic.
Further reading:
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/organic-food-benefits-downplayed-1764448.html
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/organic-food-debate-boils-over-1767911.html
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/29/organic-food-nutrition-fsa
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/29/organic-food-nutrition-fsa
