Re: Is Organic Food Better?
Vaughan Jones (jonesv@wave.co.nz)
Mon, 25 Nov 1996 22:26:04 +1300
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 11:29:25 +1300
>To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu
>From: jonesv@wave.co.nz (Vaughan Jones)
>Subject: Re: Is Organic Food Better?
>Cc: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu
>
>>Is Organically Grown Food Better for You? I asked that question decades
>>ago, and every year students in my soils and sustainable agriculture classes
>>ask it anew. I have made several attempts to get at the truth of the matter
>>in the scientific literature. I have served on graduate committees for
>>students researching aspect of the issue. My conclusion has always been
>>the same: Foods grown with organic production methods do not differ
>>significantly from conventionally grown foods (neither better or worse) with
>>regard to nutritional value. They do not even differ with regard taste (when
>>studies are done properly to avoid bias). Recently a double-blind test
>>panel in Israel preferred the taste of organic in some cases and
>>conventional in others...again no consistent pattern.
I've seen several figures which show that organic vegetables have a higher
mineral content because they grow more slowly, and they have lower
nitrates.
The taste test could be affected by people being accustomed to non-organics.
Some modern NPK forced fruits are tasteless.
Best wishes
Vaughan Jones
(ex dairy & beef farmer & consultant)
Hamilton
New Zealand
jonesv@wave.co.nz