Why Does Everyone Hate Organic?

That would seem to be the case the last few days following the publication of a new study by researchers at the Food Standards Agency in England. The study (200+ pages! Click if you dare) analyzed the last fifty years worth of research on the nutritiousness of organic foods versus conventionally grown foods. A year and £120,000 later, what did they find? There are some differences between organic and conventionally produced food but these were not sufficiently important to make any difference to a person’s health or give nutritional benefit.

That is, as the Boston Metro put it, "Organics not really better for you."

Ok, so my first reaction was, "Duh." Food is food is food. An organic carrot is not more magically nutritious than a genetically modified carrot grown with pesticides. There seem to be slightly higher amounts of some minerals and other things, but overall, they typically provide the same amount of basic nutrients.

It is true that some organic products are purported to be more amazing than they actually are, and there are many people that swear by organic produce because of it's health benefits and whatnot. The one good thing about this study is that it silences those annoying people and products for now.

However, the retarded media is spewing the conclusions of this new study like they've just blown the lid off the Organic Industry's tightly sealed jar of LIES. Um, no, not really.

The Times Online says, "Shoppers pay more for organic fruit, vegetables, chicken, beef and milk but the food gives no nutritional enhancement to people’s diet." Who's talking about enhancement? Organic products are not like other items you might see on late night infomercials.

Or check out this short local news report from WPRI Channel 12 in Providence, Rhode Island:

"There is no compelling reason to buy organic." ????? And I thought the news media was supposed to be unbiased.

But don't take my word for it. Let us defer to an expert. I've been reading What To Eat by professor/food expert Marion Nestle and she discusses this issue in some depth. (In fact, she just posted on this very topic yesterday on her blog!) When asked if organic farming methods have any effect on the nutritional effect on foods, Nestle says, "Don't go there":

I can't think of any reason why organically grown foods would have fewer nutrients than conventionally grown foods, and I have no trouble thinking of several reasons why they might have more, but so what? I doubt the slight increase would be enough to make any measurable difference to health. Just as people differ, carrots or heads of cauliflower differ, and the differences in the nutrient content of one carrot or cauliflower and the next can be substantial.

The thing is, (HERE'S THE THING) there are other reasons to buy organic! Choosing fruits and veggies and dairy products and meats that are produced without pesticides and chemicals and hormones and other craziness may not have a huge health benefit to you personally, but that doesn't mean there are no reasons at all to buy organic.

To explain these reasons, Nestle quotes Joan Gussow, the former head of the nutrition department at Columbia University. She asks:

shouldn't we hope that people will choose organic foods on grounds more reliable than whether they contain a little more carotene or zinc? Isn't the most important story that organic production conserves natural resources, solves rather than creates environmental problems, and reduces the pollution of air, water, soil... and food?

Conservation of natural resources, eh? Resolving environmental problems? Reducing pollution? I would consider these to be fairly compelling reasons.

"But what's in it for ME?" you ask. Sure, organic products cost more and there may not be a direct benefit to your health by consuming them. What can you do? I'd say, the best you can, people! Obviously, no one can eat organic stuff ALL THE TIME without running out of money for their light bill.

So you do the best you can. Eat an organic potato once in awhile. At least now you know whats up. Don't be a h8r.