Organic Foods Could be a Waste of Money
Many people like to buy organic foods believing in the notion that it is a better product. Unfortunately, this ”superior” product can cost three times as much as non-organically grown foods. A study published in August of 2008 in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture suggests that buying organically grown food for nutritional value could be a waste of money.
In the study, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have stated that there is no clear evidence to suggest that organically grown food is more nutritious than food grown with pesticides and other chemicals. The study looked at the retention of minerals and trace elements in animals fed with a vegetable diet from three different cultivation techniques:
1. low nutrient soil using animal manure and virtually no pesticides
2. low nutrient soil using anmial manure and pesticides
3. high nutrient soil using mineral fertilizers and pesticides
All crops experienced the same weather conditions and all were harvested at the same time. The results showed that in all three cases, no differences in the percentage of trace minerals were seen in the crops. The harvested produce (carrots, kale, peas, apples, and potatoes) was then fed to animals over a two year period and the uptake, if any, of these trace minerals in animal tissues was measured. The results showed that no differences were seen in mineral retention based on the three cultivation techniques above.
The scientists go on to state that organic crops are more of a lifestyle choice for the people that can afford to purchase them.