Should It Be Organic Foods or Nothing?

The organic food industry is booming. In the United States, it has been adding more and more billions of dollars every year. This is an evidence of how people are shifting their attention to foods that are produced the organic way.

This type of food is believed to be friendlier to human health and the environment. Some researchers have actually found they can be better for protecting against unpleasant health conditions. On the other hand, foods that are produced using conventional methods are being "demonized," so to speak.

But, considering their typically higher prices, could organic foods be a rip-off? Are they really worth the extra amounts consumers pay for them? Continue reading to learn more.

What is Organic Food?

Before going any further, let's start by briefly explaining what people mean by organic food.

This is a type that is produced with special consideration for human health and the environment. It is food that is believed to be better for us and for nature.

In organic agriculture, there is greater interest in preserving natural resources and avoiding use of certain synthetic substances. Part of its goals is also to promote animal health and welfare.

In America, organic foods are strictly regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). There are standards that must be met in their production, including that:

there must be inspection of soil intended for cultivation for harmful chemicals;
crops must be grown without the use of irradiation to kill harmful microorganisms;
farmers cannot produce genetically modified crops;
animals must not be administered synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics;
animals should be allowed to move freely on an organic farm without being confined all the time, and
feed for animals must be grown organically

Only foods that meet these standards can carry the "USDA Organic" seal. At least, such must be found to be 95 percent organic.

It is obvious that this strict regulation of production is what is causing many people to embrace organic food. This makes it look to be safer for humans and for our environment.

Organic Food and Health

Researchers have found that organic foods are more healthful than those produce the conventional way. They are free of antibiotics and growth hormones. They also have significantly lower pesticide and fertilizer residues.

Synthetic chemicals in the foods that people eat have been linked to a wide range of medical conditions. These include birth defects and cancer.

It is feared that exposure to even a low amount of pesticides can be harmful to health.

It has been argued that plants are able to boost their natural production of phytochemicals for better protection against pathogens. These substances include antioxidants and vitamins. This makes them potentially more beneficial to your health.

As for organic animals, the argument is that the lack of antibiotics and synthetic growth hormones make them safer for health. Some of these drugs are similar to those used by humans.

When you have too much antibiotics in your system, including from meat, it can increase the risk of bacteria becoming resistant to them. This can make it difficult to fight certain infections using antibiotics.

Organic Food and the Environment

Advocates argue that organic agricultural practices are more nature friendly. Not many people can argue against that.

It is not uncommon to hear or see people campaigning against the use of pesticides because of the harm they do the environment. There are even songs against the use of these chemicals.

A particularly divisive, very powerful pesticide is dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane, popularly known as DDT.

The Organic Trade Association says farming without use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers makes the soil richer to support robust plant growth. It also reduces the risk of soil erosion.

In addition, organic agriculture reduces pollution of groundwater. It lowers the amount of pesticides that can find their way into the water available to some homes for drinking.

Experts have found that pesticide levels in tap water available to people in some cities are above the safety thresholds for weeks at a time.

Organic farming is more energy-efficient than the conventional method as well. It was found in a study that about 50 percent less energy is used.

Taste of Organic Food

Some of those who go organic don't do so because they think it's healthier or good for the environment. They make the decision based on taste.

Many organic food enthusiasts will tell you this kind tastes a lot better than what is produced the conventional way. But is there any scientific basis for this? Yes, there is.

Researchers observed in a 2014 study in the British Journal of Nutrition that the organoleptic qualities of organic produce might be enhanced by its higher antioxidant content. In other words, organic food might have better aroma and taste.

Is Organic Really Better?

With the information provided up to this point, you could easily conclude that going organic is better. But wait a minute: there is no such consensus among researchers. This makes you wonder whether there is some sort of conspiracy somewhere.

Although there appears to be agreement that organic food contains fewer pesticide and fertilizer residues than the regular, some experts argue that the levels within both types still fall within safe consumption levels.

There are also those who argue that the difference between organic and regular pesticides isn't much. Also, the fact that organic produce are non-GMO means they are likely to be less resistant to diseases, necessitating use of more organic pesticides. The effect may then not be much different, if at all, from conventional produce.

In a Harvard Health article, registered dietitian Kathy McManus stated that the long-term effect of pesticides and fertilizers on health is not yet well understood. It's hard to tell whether these chemicals or other environmental variables are mainly responsible for health issues.

It is not entirely clear whether organic pesticides are significantly safer than non-synthetic ones used for conventional produce. It was observed in a 2010 study that certain organic pesticides do more harm to the environment than some regular types.

Also, in terms of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, McManus noted that conventional and organic produce are similar, based on available evidence.

Furthermore, there are medical experts who do not agree that the absence of antibiotics or growth hormones in organic animals makes them any healthier than the regular ones. Their reason: there is inadequate information at this time.

Is Organic Food Worth the Price?

One thing you would have surely noticed on your visits to a local grocery store is that the prices of organic foods are usually higher. The difference could be by any amount between 10 and 50 percent. The average hike is more than 40 percent!

While production costs of organic produce are higher, it appears that the popularity is mainly responsible for the higher prices. It has been found that these foods often cost no more than 7 percent extra to produce.

Little wonder then that earnings by players in the organic produce scene continue to surge. The industry was worth about $29 billion in 2010. Sales reached roughly $36 billion for 2014.

But are organic foods worth the premium people pay for them? Not always.

In some cases, you may not do so badly simply washing your fruits and vegetables very well before consumption. But if you can afford it, you can go organic to be on the safer side pending when there is better understanding of risks of conventional produce.

It helps to keep tabs on the annual Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The Dirty Dozen often require more pesticides to scare away bugs, while the Clean Fifteen require less.

The Dirty Dozen for 2018 are:

Strawberries
Spinach
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatoes
Sweet bell peppers

As for the Clean Fifteen, they are:

Avocadoes
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Cabbages
Onions
Frozen sweet peas
Papayas
Asparagus
Mangoes
Eggplants
Honeydew melons
Kiwis
Cantaloupes
Cauliflower
Broccoli

You should try as much as possible to splash the cash on organic variants of the Dirty Dozen. But the residues on those fruits and vegetables in the Clean Fifteen you can reduce by washing and removing the outer covering.

Organic food is worth the price for children who do not yet have well developed immune system. It is also better for pregnant women.

Final Thoughts

On the basis of available evidence, organic foods are not always better than conventional ones. But most people will easily conclude that the former is better due to typically lower pesticide, fertilizer, and antibiotic residues. Those substances have been linked to a variety of health issues.

Organic farming is also good for the environment. It lowers the amount of pollutants in groundwater and constitutes less risk to the quality of drinking water in homes.

However, there are those who think that organic residues are about as problematic as the conventional ones.

It is a great thing to go organic. While some argue that there is not much difference from the conventional, it is better to be on the "safer" side.

If cost is an issue, you may go organic only on the foods that are known to be subject to high amounts of pesticides. Simply wash and peel off the covering of conventional produce with thick skin to get rid of much of the residues.

Always look out for the USDA seal when buying organic.

REFERENCES

Facts About Organic Foods - Pros and Cons of Organic Produce (https://www.redbookmag.com/body/healthy-eating/a2016/truth-about-organic-foods)

Should you go organic? - Harvard Health (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-you-go-organic)

Is organic food actually better? Here's what the science says (https://www.zmescience.com/other/science-abc/organic-food-science02092015/)

EWG's 2018 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce (https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php)

EWG's 2018 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce (www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php)