Organic and Health Foods

Questionable ‘Which?’ Study Claims Organic Food Isn’t Any Better

Is Organic produce really any better than its chemically treated alternatives? A new survey suggests that the rhetoric surrounding the superior quality of Organic produce may be entirely false, though this will come as little surprise to many. The appeal for consumers of more expensive Organic produce has been that pesticides don’t become part of your meal, and that ‘natural’ growth is in some way more wholesome than current farming methodology. But if you’re convinced that this is going to make you healthier, you may as well order Wandsworth takeaways because you’re going to need something substantial inside of your in order to swallow the truth about organic food.

Ok, so the health benefits of organic produce isn’t the full story. When it comes to the environment, buying organic has a lot of proven benefits. The use of chemical fertilisers has been shown to almost to emerge in concentration at the higher end of the food chain, poisoning carnivorous and often endangered animals. Another well publicised problem with chemical fertilisers is the effect that they have on algae in international rivers: when algae grows too much, it blocks out light and suffocates aquatic life. But the claims of the almost snobbish organic growers will need to focus on these proven benefits if they’re too retain custom.

A new study from ‘Which Gardening’ grew a sample of potatoes, broccoli and tomatoes that had been subjected to organic methods, and one another subjected to modern chemical methods. Which? identified several benefits to consuming the non-organic vegetables on offer. The Broccoli contained high levels of antitoxidants. The non-organic tomatoes were said to taste better than their organic alternatives (which doesn’t sound awfully scientific, truth be told). Non-organic potatoes contained more Vitamin C. So if you’re eating ‘non-organically’, you’re not going to find an excuse to bypass your salad and reach straight for the Chinese delivery, but who needs an excuse anyway?

Counter voices to the study were quick to spring up. The UK’s Soil Association (yes, it exists) described the study as ‘unscientific’ and ‘irresponsible’. The Garden / allotment setting of the study was enough to ring alarm bells. And the small sample of vegetables was also brought into question. But then, all this arguing about food just makes me hungry. Anyone for chinese delivery southampton?

Wayne’s Organic Garden & the Willimantic Food Co-op