Organic Versus Conventional Foods

This post is bound to stir up some deep discussion, as the choice of whether to purchase and eat organic versus conventional foods is a hot topic these days.

First off, let's define what "organic" actually means. Basically, organic referes to foods and crops that are grown or developed (in the case of animals) without the use of synthetic hormones or antibiotics, chemicals, or fertilizers. The USDA states the following in their informational brochure for the general public (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Consumers/brochure.html ):

"Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too."

All this sounds pretty good to me. Based on that description, I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to eat and support Organic agriculture and products. When you dig deeper however, it is evident that Organic foods are not always the best choice for various reason which I will discuss next.

1) Do Organic farmers use Peticides? First, most people assume that Organic farmers do not use pesticides; this is NOT true. They do use pesticides, only ones that are from "natural" sources which means they have to use a lot more to get the same effect as the modern day "synthetic" variations which are more efficient.

According the Brian Dunning, a skeptical consumer advocate who creates some very informative podcasts from his free website (www.skeptoid.com):

"Since the organic pesticides and fungicides are less efficient than their modern synthetic counterparts, up to seven times as much of it must be used. Organic pesticides include rotenone, which has been shown to cause the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and is a natural poison used in hunting by some native tribes; pyrethrum, which is carcinogenic; sabadilla, which is highly toxic to honeybees; and fermented urine."

(Remember, small amounts of the above-mentioned "natural" chemicals doesn't mean increased health risk for consumers any more than the allowable and tested "synthetic" and conventional pesticies used today).

Also, many organic crops are grown in composted animal feces (manure) which adds to the risk of bacterial contamination. Brian Dunning (mentioned above) also stated the following noteworthy statistics in his podcast:

"In the United States, 2006 brought two major outbreaks of E. coli, both resulting in deaths and numerous illnesses, ultimately traced to organically grown spinach and lettuce. According to the Center for Global Food Issues, organic foods make up about 1% of all the food sold in the United States, but it accounts for 8% of E. coli cases."

The lesson from this: WASH YOUR FOODS CAREFULLY AND BE LEARY OF BAGGED LETTUCE AND SPINACH.

2) Are Organic Foods Healthier? Organic fruits, grains, veggies, etc. are actually genetically identical to their conventional counterparts. The only thing that differs is the manner in which they are grown and cultivated. It does appear that SOME tests show slightly higher levels of certain nutrients in certain fruits and vegetables (probably due to the better soil but are these effects going to mean much superior health and wellness compared to conventional foods? I'm not sure). If you really believe that Orgainc foods are going to keep healthier, than by all means spend the extra money. The problem is when someone who can't afford to buy Organic fruits and vegetables ends up eating none.

PLEASE, AT LEAST EAT THE CONVENTIONAL, THE BENEFITS OUTWAY THE RISKS.

3) Are Organic Farming Methods better for the environment? From my research, it actually seems as of Organic farming methods take up more land and yield fewer crops per acre. This is essentially how all farming used to be done before modern agriculture. It was very inefficient and that is why so much of the population used to be involved in the farming industry compared to just a few percent of the population today. Also, fewer people would be fed if we relied exclusively on Organic farming methods.

4) Organic Foods Give a Blow to Big Evil Food Corporations. This is more than false. Actually, more and more big food corporations are getting into the Organic food market becasue of higher prices that can be charged. These are the same companies that sell the conventional food products, so either way, they win. But you gotta eat something. If you really want pure, nor coporate food, then grow your own and have your own farm (not a bad idea for some).

THE BOTTOM LINE: Organic foods may be a little more nutritious (how significant this is I don't know) and do promote less synthetic pesticides being entered into the environment. However, they do seem to come with a slightly higher risk of bacterial contamination (read: E. Coli) and are significantly more expensive and less efficient in food volume produced per acre. I guess it's really a personal decision but the science doesn't really support the notion that Organic foods are significantly more nutritious or better for the environment for that matter (less efficient crops means more land needed and more de-forestation). I occasionally buy Orgainc produce and meats just for the "health" of it, but I'm not sure I'm anything more than a little more broke in the bank department.