More Than Nutritious: Why Organics Are Still Healthier

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:



More Than Nutritious: Why Organics Are Still Healthier
Two recent studies concluded that organic food is no more nutritious than non-organic food. But the value of organics involves health on multiple levels, from that of farmers to eaters to the planet itself.

by Robin Broad, John Cavanagh
posted Nov 19, 2012


We have seen many outrageous studies that reinforce the worldview of giant corporate agribusiness over the years, but two in the last three months really take the cake.

Before we tell you what they are, we ask you to take 10 seconds and answer this one-question survey:

My understanding is that those who buy organic do so because:
1) They want to avoid the pesticides used in non-organic produce.
2) They are looking for more nutritious food.

If you are like the American University students who took this survey, you correctly selected number one. No one who answered our survey chose number two on nutrition. Indeed, the main selling point for eating organic has long been that it is healthier because of the absence of chemicals in your food. Think, for example, of Rachel Carson, who exposed to the world the horrors of pesticide exposure 50 years ago in her classic Silent Spring.

Which brings us to two attention-grabbing studies: In early September, Stanford University researchers (publishing in the Annals of Internal Medicine) made headlines in mainstream media by claiming to have proven that organic food is no more nutritious than food grown with pesticides. On its heels, a second study—this one by the American Academy of Pediatrics—reached the same basic conclusion. Both studies were presented as harsh blows against organic farming, essentially telling parents that there was no nutrition-based reason to buy organics for their children. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/john-cavanagh-and-robin-broad/yes-on-organics-no-on-deceptive-headlines

[cilla4progress]

1. Thank you!

Posted on FB, where this discussion was had earlier this year, with a farmer friend disputing the value of organics. This explains my position succinctly: avoiding, limiting pesticides is better for me, my family, and the planet!

[cprise]

2. 3) We want to avoid genetically modified food. n/t

[2naSalit]

3. But then consider...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1880039

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.