Don’t pay a premium for organic food just to be “healthier”

There is no strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious. Only 3 studies looked at how healthy people were after eating it, and none found a difference. Organic produce does have pesticide residues detected 30 percentage points less often, but a detection is not the same as exceeding the limit.

Cost

Typically 1 to 3 times the price of regular versions of the same foods.

Benefit

One systematic review combined findings from 17 human studies and 223 studies analyzing food composition. Its conclusion was that “there is insufficient evidence to show organic food is significantly more nutritious than conventional food.” Of those human studies, just three looked at actual health outcomes such as allergies and symptomatic infections; no differences were observed between organic and conventional diets. The perception that organic food offers better value stems from the common-sense chain of reasoning: “no pesticides means greater safety, and greater safety means better health.”

Notes

Very few studies have directly examined how organic food impacts human health. Therefore, the conclusion is “there is no evidence that organic food is superior,” rather than “it has been proven to offer no benefits.” Environmental impact, animal welfare, and taste are not addressed here. Eating more fruits and vegetables remains beneficial regardless of whether they are organic or not.

Sources · 1

1. Smith-Spangler C et al. (2012). Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives?: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007