Is Organic Food Worth The Price?

In our current health-conscious society, people are constantly looking for any product that is said to be the “healthier choice”, and are willing to pay the price for it. This trend has led to the rise of organic foods, which are foods that are produced without the use of conventional pesticides or fertilizers. Organic foods are more expensive than conventional foods since they require more land and attention to be cared for. Many people hear the word “organic” and assume it is the safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly option. However, does “organic” necessarily mean healthier or is it just a way to trick consumers into spending more money in the grocery store?

The organic food industry is worth billions. According to an article posted by Food Business News, sales of organic foods have rose 5.9% in 2018 reaching $47.9 billion, in the United Sates alone. One of the reasons consumers have become more willing to spend the extra cash on products labeled “organic” is because of a belief that they are grown more ethically than conventional foods. However, growing organically requires more land and many organic farmers using a method known as compost, which is a way to give nutrients to plants through irrigation. Compost is considered a “healthier” alternative compared to synthetic fertilizers. However, compost leaves a very high carbon footprint because of methane emissions, whereas synthetic fertilizer leaves a much smaller carbon footprint.

Another perk that attracts consumers to organic products is the idea that they have more nutrients and are better for their health. This mostly stems from the idea that additives like synthetic pesticides are dangerous and can cause negative health side effects. However, in a study conducted by Stanford Medicine  found that there was little significant difference in health benefits between organic and conventional foods. According to Crystal Smith-Spangler, who is an instructor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine, “organic produce had a 30 percent lower risk of pesticide contamination than conventional fruits and vegetables, organic foods are not necessarily 100 percent free of pesticides.” Smith-Spangler said, “the pesticide levels of all foods generally fell within the allowable safety limits.” A few of the common misconceptions about synthetic pesticides is they are toxic and they aren’t tested for consumption. However it would require a large amount of pesticides to be considered poisonous or toxic. When it come to if pesticides are safe to consume, According to the AG Daily, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the pesticides that are used by farmers to protect crops grown for human food and animal feed and  also they set limits on the amount of pesticides allowed to be used in foods sold within the United States. The test administered by the EPA are extensive and include short and long term effects of both humans and animals. Pesticides will not be permitted if they damage DNA, cause cancer, cause organ damage or can potentially cause birth defects. 

So when it comes to buying organically it is not necessarily required in order to eat healthy. If you have the extra money to splurge on organic food then go for it but just making sure you are washing your fruits and vegetables before eating them works just as well.