A recent study from Stanford University looked into if “Organic” foods are more nutritious than conventional foods. Thank you Stanford, for two things.
- The “Organic” industry is run by the same industry that produces all the junk food you love. Have a look at your favorite organic company and you’ll see they are probably owned by a bigger, non organic company, and said company is just filling a market niche.
- Making me even more depressed about the state of today’s food systems, corporate control, and how doomed we are.
The food world has me reeling right now, and it seems to me as if my Bullshit detector has been running in the red nonstop since the ’90s. Government subsidies help out big agribusiness, small farms are a thing of the past, and even the ones that still exist in any commercial respects are one crop wonders, and will soon be enveloped by the centralized systems that have taken over our dinner plates. This study looked only at the nutritional value, and the FUCKING media has taken hold of it and is helping push the agendas of the few. Sorry, I don’t swear often on this site, but c’mon…
The researchers found that fruit and vegetables labeled organic were no more nutritious than the conventional ones. Ok, I get it. A carrot is a carrot. They also found they were less likely to be contaminated by dangerous bacteria like E. coli. Ok, that comes from the poop. Plants need poop. The researchers also found no obvious health advantages to organic meats. [Whaaa?] They do mention that conventional fruits and vegetables had more pesticide residue, but that the levels were under the allowed safety limits.
Although there was no direct funding for this research from agribusiness companies, many believe that there still was some influence. Alas, the media then took ahold of the issue and downplayed what MANY, MANY good people have been trying to do for years: Help people eat a healthier diet so as to stem the obesity epidemic (among others, like diabetes, cancer, gluten intolerance…)
Here’s my two cents. Its not about if this carrot has more nutrients than that one. Its about all the other crap that has been sprayed, injected, or even genetically changed that worries most of the people against industrial farming practices. Its about the hormones, its about tomatoes that are grown to be red and last longer, rather than taste good. It’s about preservatives. Its about shelf life. It all comes down to money, and what we are willing to trade for it. And now, its about the general welfare of humanity, and the fact that money ALWAYS wins over whats right for any population. Wonder why there are so many people with gluten allergies? Ask Monsanto here, here, or on the Occupy Mosanto Facebook group. Bottom line kids, its time to start growing as much of your own food as possible. If you have a yard, use it. If you can start a community garden, do it.
Now, some other sources are spinning in their own direction. Here’s a few links to read more about the brew-ha-ha that was started with this study:
- Huff post did a great job with this article
- A previous (2011) comparison scientific study from Kirsten Brandt of Newcastle University showed results leaning towards organic foods
- Forbes’ two cents
- NYTimes
- The Star Phoenix (second try at this topic after posting a story from Reuters called “Organic food no more nutritious than non-organic: study”)
- You also may want to check out another infographic, What does “organic” really mean?
From the study:
Background: The health benefits of organic foods are unclear.
Purpose: To review evidence comparing the health effects of organic and conventional foods.
Data Sources: MEDLINE (January 1966 to May 2011), EMBASE, CAB Direct, Agricola, TOXNET, Cochrane Library (January 1966 to May 2009), and bibliographies of retrieved articles.
Conclusion: The published literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods. Consumption of organic foods may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
I would love to hear your opinions on this issue, so please leave your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to share!
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