Organic food benefits a ‘myth’

MELBOURNE - Food grown without pesticides or herbicides should not be promoted as healthier because there’s no evidence to show that it contains more nutrients than conventionally grown food, claims a major University of Sydney study.

According to the author of the study, conducted by the School of Molecular Bioscience, consumers should stick with commercially grown fruit and vegetables because they are cheaper and, therefore, people could eat more of them.

To reach the conclusion, the study surveyed the international literature on organic produce, conducted laboratory analyses of Australian foods and surveyed Australian health professionals about organics.

The results will be published in the international science journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

“We conclude from the analysis that the nutrient composition differs very little between foods that are produced by organic and conventional methods,” the report’s author, Associate Professor Samir Samman, told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Some health professionals believe that organic foods have more nutrients and elicit favourable effects on health. This advice is given despite the lack of scientific evidence to support it.” (ANI)