Organic products have become more prevalent than ever, both at grocery stores and farmers markets. But with food prices on the rise, how can consumers decide what foods should be purchased organic versus those which can be bought non-organic?
Understanding what an organic label represents can help shoppers make informed choices. It is essential to remember that “organic” and “natural” do not refer to equivalent terms.
Health Benefits
Organic food has created quite a stir among consumers and many believe that its consumption can offer health advantages. Unfortunately, however, scientific proof for its benefits has yet to emerge, since few clinical trials have evaluated improvements in human health outcomes by adopting an organic diet.
Organic fruits and vegetables contain far fewer pesticides and herbicides than their conventionally produced counterparts, often linked with developmental delays among children as well as hormonal imbalances in adults.
Organic products are free from synthetic additives like artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives – which means they’re great for both your body and the environment. If you can’t afford to buy everything organic at once, Cynthia Sass suggests prioritizing purchases from EWG’s Dirty Dozen list as a starting point – milk, eggs and meat should all be purchased organic if possible; for those with allergies switching to organic flour, salt or processed food products may help limit exposure to additives; while using personal care or cleaning products can help limit exposure to harmful toxins – such as plasticizers found in conventional items.
Environmental Impact
Organic farming relies on small-scale local operations that boost local economies while simultaneously supporting sustainable environments. By eliminating long-distance transportation altogether, this reduces its negative environmental impact significantly.
Synthetic pesticides damage biodiversity and ecosystem health. Organic agriculture practices use biological control agents that don’t harm the environment instead of using harmful chemicals for pest control.
Comparative to conventional products, organic produce contains significantly reduced levels of pesticide residue – up to 81% less. Organic food also typically has much fewer nitrates and heavy metals present than its conventional counterparts.
Organic plants get most of their nitrogen needs from soil-borne humus colloids rather than synthetic fertilisers, thus reducing leaching and eutrophication downstream. Conversely, livestock produced organically are likely to receive their nitrogen through animal manure regulated under organic production system rules that restrict when and how this manure can be collected – this helps avoid potential negative environmental impacts like land use change and soil organic carbon loss.
Cost
Organic products may cost more than their nonorganic alternatives, but they offer greater value to families looking to improve both health and the environment. For instance, organic poultry is raised without antibiotics that contribute to drug-resistant infections; while organic grains use fertilizers with reduced soil carbon levels to lessen climate change impacts.
Though some farmers employ price strategies that consider production costs and add a profit margin, many tend to sell their organic foods at market prices which fluctuate daily – making it hard to know exactly how much this organic food costs.
So it is encouraging that more research is being done on organic markets. For instance, the website Mercaris offers weekly price reports on both conventional and organic versions of common commodities like corn and wheat that can help understand supply-demand dynamics in organic markets. In addition, many national organizations collect data regarding pricing and product demand at conventional grocery stores.
Nutritional Profile
Studies have demonstrated that organic foods contain higher concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids and beneficial fatty acids compared with their conventional counterparts; however, more research must be completed in order to ascertain their true impact on human health.
Organic meats and dairy products offer an optimal blend of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce heart disease risk.
One case-control study with 150 high organic food consumers and 150 low organic food consumers demonstrated that those who consumed more organic fruits and vegetables had lower urinary concentrations of organophosphate pesticide metabolites compared with those who consumed less [48].
Consider purchasing produce grown locally when selecting produce to eat. Visit your local farmers’ market or join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm to gain direct access to fresh, seasonal items from farmers – this way avoiding foods from the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list, which contain high levels of pesticides and chemicals.
