Evidence shows organic produce are not all that different from conventional alternatives

Sep 4, 2012 19:51 GMT  ·  By
Organically grown and conventional foods are not all that different, argue Stanford researchers
   Organically grown and conventional foods are not all that different, argue Stanford researchers

Whenever adult consumers decide to embrace a healthier life-style and pay closer attention to what is being served on their plates, the organic produce department found in most supermarkets takes center stage.

This is because it is believed that the foods sold under this label are both more nutritious, and less likely to cause one to become sick on the long run.

However, researchers from the University of Stanford have recently made mincemeat out of this assumption, as one of their latest studies shows that, when it comes to comparing organic foods to conventionally grown ones, there really isn't all that much of a difference.

Granted, the risk of becoming exposed to various types of pesticides is significantly bigger in the case of your run-of-the-mill fruits and vegetables, yet the nutritious values associated to both these categories of foods are roughly the same.

“Some believe that organic food is always healthier and more nutritious. We were a little surprised that we didn't find that,” commented on these findings Smith-Spangler from the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Researcher Dena Bravata also wishes to emphasize that, “There isn't much difference between organic and conventional foods, if you're an adult and making a decision based solely on your health.”

Moreover, as Eurek! Alert reads, although organically grown produce do indeed run considerably fewer risks of being contaminated with pesticides, this does not necessarily mean that they are completely free of various chemical compounds which might turn out to be harmful for one's health if ingested in high quantities.

Apparently, what the team of researchers who investigated this issue wished to prove is that, when it comes to making informed decisions concerning their next meal, citizens need not necessarily choose organically grown fruits and vegetables simply because there are presumed to be healthier, especially given the fact that they typically cost more than conventional ones.

“This is information that people can use to make their own decisions based on their level of concern about pesticides, their budget and other considerations,” further explained Smith-Spangler.