Does eating organic food really make any difference?

I was reading about the latest British report which concludes that eating organic food does not provide any significant nutritional or health benefits. The independent report which was commissioned by the British Food Standards Agency (FSA) found there were no important differences between organic and conventionally produced food. The conclusion was reached after a team of researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine reviewed all papers published over the last 50 years relating to nutrient content and health differences between the two kinds of produce.

In one way I am happy to hear that, because although I choose to eat organic a lot of the time, I am very aware that this choice is not available to everyone for financial reasons. In this case, it just adds to the socio-economic inequities when it comes to examing the role of diet in cancer prevention. My own reason for choosing organic is because I prefer to eat food that has been grown without pesticides and hormones as I believe that there is an environmental component to cancer. While I agree with the report that organic is not any more nutritionally healthier, nevertheless for me personally I want to minimize my exposure to chemicals as much as I possibly can. There are others though who will always maintain that labelling food organic is nothing but a marketing wheeze which justifies charging higher prices for basic food staples.

Here in Ireland, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association yesterday criticised the report and said an important study carried out at Newcastle University last year was not included in the review as it did not meet the criteria outlined by the researchers.

This report, Quality Low Input Farming, which was carried out by 31 research institutes and universities throughout Europe, showed there were more antioxidants and vitamins in organic vegetables than non-organic ones, according to the growers association.

It had also found, it added, there was more Omega 3 in organic dairy products than those which were non-organic. “Nutrition is only one reason why people eat organic food, other major reasons include the fact that organic food does not contain pesticide residues.”

The principal author of the British report, Dr Alan Dangour, said a small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically and conventionally produced crops and livestock, but these are unlikely to be of any public health relevance.

The British Food Standards Agency said it supported consumer choice and was neither pro nor anti organic food, recognising there were many reasons why people chose to eat it.

So what do you think? Do you choose to eat organic food as part of your cancer prevention or cancer treatment program? Does it really make all that much difference in the end?

(This post partially adapted from The Irish Times 31/07/09)