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By Matthew Rees

Food and Health Fact #78: The health profile of organic food vs. non-organic food

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Organic food is healthier than non-organic food, right? Nearly half of all Americans believe so. But the authors of several studies dispute the claim. When researchers at Stanford University sifted through 237 research papers, they found little evidence that organic foods are better for you than conventional alternatives. And an academic paper published last year, based on an analysis of 35 studies, concluded that, “The current evidence base does not allow a definitive statement on the health benefits of organic dietary intake.” Even a pro-organic news site acknowledges that there is “not nearly enough [evidence] to make categorical claims” about organic food being “nutritionally superior” to non-organic food.

The absence of nutritional superiority reflects that organic and conventionally grown foods are “really similar for vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates,” points out the head of nutrition of at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The misguided belief in organic food’s health benefits can also be harmful to human health. A study by two University of Michigan professors found a belief that those who consume organic food have a reduced need to exercise. Other studies have shown that the “organic” designation on some cigarettes can reduce perceptions of their ill effects. The existence of organic potato chips and ice cream sandwiches has led experts to point out, “organic junk food is still junk food.” The ultimate objective should be eating 4-5 servings of fruits and of vegetables every day -- whether organic or not.