BeanDiet

So in case you've missed the latest nutrition controversy this summer: a new study (actually a review of previous studies) produced by the Foods Standards Agency in London has concluded that organic foods are no more nutritious than conventional ones.

As you can guess, there has been quite a response by other researchers who find this conclusion preposterous. Here is part of a response by Peter Melchett, Policy Director at the Soil Association:

"We are disappointed in the conclusions the researchers have reached. The review rejected almost all of the existing studies of comparisons between organic and non-organic nutritional differences. This was because these studies did not meet particular criteria fixed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which carried out the review.

"Although the researchers say that the differences between organic and non-organic food are not 'important', due to the relatively few studies, they report in their analysis that there are higher levels of beneficial nutrients in organic compared to non-organic foods. For example, the mean positive difference between the following nutrients, when comparing organic to non-organic food, was found in the FSA study to be:

- Protein 12.7%
- Beta-carotene 53.6%
- Flavonoids 38.4%
- Copper 8.3%
- Magnesium 7.1%
- Phosphorous 6%
- Potassium 2.5%
- Sodium 8.7%
- Sulphur 10.5%
- Zinc 11.3%
- Phenolic compounds 13.2%

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Which begs the question, why did writers of this review conclude that organically grown foods are not superior?

In addition, a primary-research study (where researchers do the work themselves, as opposed to reviewing other researchers' studies) done just a year before by The Organic Center found that organically produced crops were significantly higher in antioxidants. In fact, they found "nutrient levels in organic food averaged 25% higher than in conventional food", leading these researchers to conclude that the consumption of organic produce adds enough nutrients to equal an additional serving of fruit or vegetables on an average day.

For those of us scrambling to get our five a day, this is good news. Better yet, it's quite credible if you read the meticulous study that it's derived from (read here).

There are, of course, other factors to consider when looking for the most nutrients, such as freshly-picked/harvested, seasonal and locally-grown produce. Which is why I am such a proponent of Farmer's Market's. But we need to be honest when analyzing organic foods. And honestly, it's worth it.

For more on this subject, please visit my new favorite nutrition/food blog: Summer Tomato.