Are organic vegetable more of the “supermarket choice”?

Health foodies may have to be disappointed! Scientists have affirmed that even if the organic food tastes better, there is only a negligible difference between the conventionally produced food products and the organic food products. Do the organic vegetables influence health or just make a hole in the wallet? Or are they just a “supermarket choice”?

Organic sales

People feel that the organic foods are safer as they are grown without pesticides and fertilizers. The livestock brought up with organic techniques without growth hormones and antibiotics. The organic way of farming insists on soil conservation and removing pollutants.

Prices of the locally produced organic vegetables have rocketed sky high in the last few years. Nearly 4.2% of the retail food sales are of the organic origin and its sales occupied a market of roughly 31 billion dollars in 2011 . The sales figures recorded in 1997 showed a mere $ 3.6 billion market pointing out the astronomical climb in sales of organic vegetables last year.

Organic V/S conventional food stuffs

Scientists at Stanford University carried out an analysis on nearly 250 evaluations of organic versus the conventional food produces. They researched nutrients and quality levels in fruits, grains, vegetables, poultry, eggs and meat in the study.

The facts pointed out a marginal difference in pesticide level in both. The levels fell under the allowance limit, though organic food showed 30% lesser residue of pesticides than the conventional foods.

The scientists felt the reason for the purchase of the organic produce may be understated. The organic food stuffs showed a higher omega 3 fatty acid amount in organic chicken and milk, and a slightly higher phosphorous level in many foods. Both the food stuffs showed the presence of bacteria that was responsible for causing food poisoning .

But the comparison rates showed just a negligible difference that was contrary to the hype regarding the benefits of the organic food produces. The only difference is that the organic foods taste a little better than the conventional foods.

“I buy only organic” has slipped off many a lips many a times , and the debate on its advantages goes on. Dr. Michelle Hauser, a certified chef, nutrition educator, and clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School.states “This is a controversy that’s been going on for a long time,” The “acceptable limit “ exposure to pesticides of are still dependent on further studies .

The organic foods do not promise better nutrition but the pesticide levels are questionable and the budget cost of the family should be the deciding factor in the purchase.