Organic products are quickly taking over the grocery shelves of America. If you walk down any grocery store aisle you will find organic labels on everything from carrots to laundry detergent. With so many choices it can be confusing for a consumer to know when, or if, it is really necessary to buy an organically labeled product. But while the high cost of purchasing organic is often difficult to reconcile, there is some evidence indicating that consuming organically grown foods - produce specifically - may provide certain health benefits.
Kathleen Merrigan, an organic proponent and an assistant professor at Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, states that there are several reasons to choose organic foods. One of the most well-established reasons is to reduce food borne pesticide exposure (the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized pesticides as skin irritants, carcinogens and endocrine system disruptors). "The average conventionally grown strawberry is treated with 65 different chemicals," says Merrigan. In addition to pesticides, the use of antibiotics in animal production to prevent disease has also been linked to antibiotic resistance in humans and the environment. USDA labeled organic foods are certified to be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones.
The EPA has established tolerance guidelines for the chemicals and pesticides on foods, but according to Merrigan, "while the levels of these chemicals may fall within normal ranges, the threshold required for safety remains uncertain." In other words, no one is 100 percent certain what amount of pesticide exposure is "safe." Choosing to consume organic foods can help minimize exposure to pesticides.
The apparent benefits of consuming organic produce have led to the assumption that it is necessary to buy organic all of the time. But many Americans are not willing (or able) to pay the premium cost, which can be nearly double the price of conventional produce. The most cost effective benefit derived from organic foods is obtained when organic is substituted for conventional foods that consistently carry higher levels of pesticides. Moreover, purchasing organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy can help minimize exposure to antibiotics and growth hormones often used in non-organic animal feed.
For the budget conscious, there are some cost effective ways to buy organic foods. Organic produce is frequently sold at local farmers' markets at a much lower price than in supermarkets. Comparison shopping between local grocery stores for your favorite organic items can also help you find the lowest price, as can buying in-season. Other options include joining a community-supported farm that provides a weekly supply of produce. The website, www.sare.org, provides a list of community-supported farms to help identify local farms.
Anna Zampini is a graduate student in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. FOOD is a student initiative at the Friedman School of Nutrition dedicated to promoting dialogue and action on cultural, political, economic, and environmental aspects of food.
