Eating Organic

Eating organic foods is one of the most common examples of dietary patterns that we see today to support health promotion. Our current food system produces the majority of food products by utilizing chemicals, pesticides, or food additives that greatly improve productivity and yield: ie. making food production cheaper and more efficient for manufacturers and farmers. Organic food is the closest option that consumers have to items that are grown or raised in their natural environment. For a food to be labeled as ‘organic’ (the little green USDA sticker on a package), it must have been produced following specific guidelines. Produce and grains must be grown without the use of pesticides, GMO’s, or other additives, as well as grown in an area of soil that has not been treated with these products for at least 2 years 1. Animal products labeled organic must also be fed organic food, given no additional antibiotics or hormones, and must be raised in an environment that supports their natural habits, such as in a pasture or having ‘free-range’ 1.

Are Organic Foods Better for You?

            In short, probably, and this diet would benefit most individuals. The science supporting the negative health impact of pesticides and food additives, such as hormones and antibiotics, is strong. You have probably already heard of the link between the common herbicide, Round Up, and diseases such as cancer. Round-Up contains glyphosate, which is not only linked to cancer, but also immune system disruption, such as by increasing inflammation, negatively effecting the functioning of lymphocytes, and altering how beneficial microorganisms may interact with the immune system 2. Other pesticides, in addition to glyphosates and other organophosphates, such as organochlorines and bipyridyl herbicides disturb the body’s antioxidant capacity 3. Oxidative stress is directly linked to the development of many chronic diseases.

            Beyond the lack of disease-influencing additives, do organic foods contain more nutrients that their conventionally produced counterparts? In short, again, probably. There has been an increase in research over the last 40 years on the nutrient content of organic foods. A meta-analysis (a review of many individual pieces of research regarding organic food) found organic foods to be on average 25% nutritionally superior to conventional foods 4. This means that they contain more micronutrients: ie. vitamins and minerals.

Unrealistic Expectations

         So now that we have established that organic foods are indeed significantly more health promoting than conventional items, there are still things that should be considered. For example, it is a difficult and grueling (not to mention expensive) process for manufacturers to earn the organic label on their products. While this means you can all but guarantee an organically labeled product is, indeed, free from harmful additives, the product is then able to be sold at a premium. Organic foods can be priced up to 70% higher than conventional products, which can certainly make it more difficult for individuals to purchase these products 5. The price of food in general is expected to rise another 3-4% in 2023, down from the 9.5-10.5% they rose on average in 2022, but a rise nonetheless 6. An organic premium in addition to the increasing average food prices can make a fully organic diet difficult for many to follow.

Counterfeits and Precautions

            Additional food labels such as ‘all-natural’ or ‘hormone-free’ sound similar to organic to many consumers, but the regulation on these statements is far less rigorous. There is also a stark difference between items labeled ‘grass fed’, which may lead consumers to believe the animal product was only fed natural grass from a pasture, versus ‘grass finished’, which is the true label suggesting the animal exclusively ate from a pasture without supplemental products. Additionally, while the USDA organic label is highly beneficial to manufacturers and consumers, the expensive and lengthy process to have an item certified in this way can be difficult for smaller food manufacturers. There are some products out there that may be produced organically, yet not have the ability to be labeled as such.

Conclusion

            Organic foods are, almost inarguably, healthier for individuals to consume. However, one should take caution to ensure items purchased are indeed labeled with the correct seal. Due to financial constraints, even if one is not able to purchase all organic foods, choosing to purchase the organic versions the foods they most regularly consume may yield beneficial results in terms of disease prevention and nutrient intake.

References:

  1. McEvoy M. Organic 101: What the USDA organic label means. USDA. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means. Published March 13, 2019. Accessed November 20, 2022.
  2.  Peillex C, Pelletier M. The impact and toxicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on health and immunity. J Immunotoxicol. 2020;17(1):163-174. doi:10.1080/1547691X.2020.1804492
  3. Abdollahi M, Ranjbar A, Shadnia S, Nikfar S, Rezaie A. Pesticides and oxidative stress: a review. Med Sci Monit. 2004;10(6):RA141-RA147.
  4. State of Science Review: Nutritional Superiority of Organic Foods. https://www.organic-center.org/. https://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/Nutrient_Content_SSR_Executive_Summary_FINAL.pdf. Published 2008. Accessed November 20, 2022.
  5. Jaenicke, E.C. and Carlson, A.C. (2015), Estimating and Investigating Organic Premiums for Retail-Level Food Products. Agribusiness, 31: 453-471. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21413
  6. Summary findings: Food Price Outlook, 2022 and 2023. Economic Research Service . https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/. Accessed November 20, 2022.
  7. USDA Organic. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic. Accessed November 20,2022.