Organic or Not Organic

How far do you go to protect the health of your family? I'm sure if you're a mom like myself, your answer is all the way. I know of some people who are very particular with the food they buy, they prefer organic ones for the primary reason that they are grown pesticide free so therefore they are supposedly safer to eat. And yet some believe that organic is more nutritious than the conventional foods. Regardless of whether they are doubly priced than the conventional foods, still some people would rather buy organic food. I respect their opinon, to each his own so to speak. But I for one who although have used organic products still prefer conventional foods because they are cheaper for one and I believe one is not more nutritious than the other. While searching online, I saw this interesting article at the Institute of Food Technologists that reads "Organic Foods Not Healthier Than Conventional" and it confirmed my belief exactly. I'd like to share this article to hopefully correct the wrong notions of the advocates of organic food.

ORGANIC FOODS NOT HEALTHIER THAN CONVENTIONAL

CHICAGO–Organic foods are not superior in nutritional quality or safety when compared against conventional foods, yet organics do have the potential for greater pathogen contamination. Thus, purchasing organically grown produce is not necessary for safety or nutritional reasons, according to the Institute of Food Technologists, an international, not-for-profit scientific society.

“Consumers need to understand that organic production does not mean pesticide-free and pathogen-free production,” says IFT food science expert Carl Winter, the director of the FoodSafe Program at University of California at Davis.

Neither organic nor conventionally grown foods are free from pesticides. And scientific evidence indicates that health risks associated with disease-causing microorganisms are far greater than risks associated with pesticide residues, which are negligible. In its most recent Expert Report, IFT reveals that scientific information is insufficient to ensure that foodborne pathogens are killed during composting and applying manure, a significant vehicle for pathogens and the major source of fertilizer used for growing organic produce.

“Organics cannot supply foods always free from pathogens or pesticides, and cannot provide our nation with a more nutritional, diverse, and safe food supply than we currently enjoy,” says IFT President Mark McLellan, an expert on agricultural methods and director of the Institute of Food Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University.

“Conventionally grown foods that utilize well-researched techniques including biotechnology benefit all consumers worldwide with a more abundant and economical food supply, foods of enhanced nutritional quality, and fresh fruits and vegetables with improved shelf life,” McLellan asserts.

IFT steadfastly supports the techniques of rDNA biotechnology which significantly reduces or eliminates the application of pesticides.