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With the recession blowing in like a mighty winter storm, people are looking for savings everywhere, including food. Organic is more expensive than conventional, so for those purchasing organic produce, switching back may be a substantial money saver. An article in the LA Times weighs the pros and cons of organic:

…the truth is that, from a hard-nosed science point of view, it’s still unclear how much better — if at all — organic food is for one’s health than non-organically grown food.

…the word “organic” has not been designated as an official health claim by the government. Such a designation is used only when there is evidence of significant health benefits — and so far, that evidence is lacking for organic food.

…It’s clear, however, that conventionally grown food has remnants of pesticides on it.

…which raises the question: How much harm do pesticides cause?

Read the article…

What you need to know:

“Organic” means food grown without most conventional pesticides or fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website (usda.gov). To carry the “organic” seal, a product must be certified as having been produced according to federal regulations. Small farmers are exempt.

The organic reasoning can be divided to two parts:

1. Concerns over personal health.

2. Concerns over the health of this planet and society (health of soil, animal, farms, farmers, and earth).

Putting #2 aside for today, how does consumption of organic food affect our personal health? This issue can be broken down to two parts as well:

A. pesticide and herbicide residue in conventional produce, and its health effects on humans.

B. nutrient quality of an organic fruit or vegetable vs. its conventional counterpart.

There’s no doubt organic produce is pesticidally “cleaner”, but as the article suggests, scientists are arguing on whether the residue levels are sufficient to cause harm, especially in young children. Many parents don’t want to take any risk.

Regarding nutrient quality, researchers will bicker over this point too ad infinitum. Keep in mind though, organic produce is sold fresher than conventional on many occasions, especially at farmers’ markets. That in itself provides a higher nutrient level (not to mention superior taste).

The whole organic vs. conventional argument become moot though, when considering a very good point made halfway through the article:

The real issue is to get people to eat more fruits and vegetables, whether they’re grown conventionally or organically…

Most Americans would do much better for their health just by adhering to their 5 a day. By eating insufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables, many people are doing themselves more damage than the difference between organic or conventional food ever could.

What to do at the supermarket:

If you can afford it, there doesn’t seem to be a downside to organic produce. If you can’t go full house, choose organic for thin skinned fruit, leafy greens, and strawberries, which tend to get sprayed more often, and retain more pesticide residue than thicker skinned produce.

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