It seems like now-a-days, every other product you pick up at the grocery store claims to be organic or natural.  But, often these products are also higher in cost than their non-organic counterparts.  So, the question really becomes, is organic worth the cost?  Am I doing my children and family an injustice by not serving organic foods or am I really just wasting my money?  Well, the answer isn’t as simple as most people would like.  There are a lot of different factors, such as family economics, that make organic nutrition a very personal choice for each individual family.  Here I explore a few of those deciding factors. 

SAFETY  

The main safety concern between conventional and organic products is pesticide residuals and presence of E. coli.  It’s important to remember, though, that all foods are covered under US Food Safety and Regulation Laws despite the production method.  USDA sources show that pesticide residues are considerably lower than the government threshold, although lower in organic produce.  However, E. coli has been documented in several studies to be more prevalent in organic produce, especially in the farms using animal manure fertilizer and ‘low input’ farming methods. 

Because the research on the effect pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and hormones may have on our body is still fairly inconclusive, if this is the deciding factor for you, there are two lists that you may follow to significantly decrease your ingestion: the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen. 

The Dirty Dozen (foods with the highest chemical residues) include:

Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes (imported), carrots, and pears

The Clean Fifteen (foods with the lowest chemical exposures) include:

Onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, mangos, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes

NUTRITION CONTENT

Whether or not organically grown food products are more nutritious than their conventional counterparts is an ongoing debate.  Large-scale study reviews produced in the UK and France demonstrate few nutrient differences between conventional and organic products. 

However, here are a couple possibilities to consider in nutrient differences:

-          Some organic fruits, vegetables and juices may contain more phytochemicals

-          Organic meats may reduce the development of human antibiotic resistance

-          Pasture-raised, grass-fed beef contains less total fat than meat from grain-fed animals

-          Consumption of organic dairy has been connected with a lower incidence of eczema during the first two years of life (more research is still needed!)

-          Meat and milk from pasture-raised, grass-fed animals may contain greater levels of heart beneficial fatty acids such as omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid and conjugated linoleic acid

PERSONAL AND FAMILY ECONOMICS

The price for organic produce and products is generally higher than their conventional counterparts.  However, buying conventionally grown produce out of season will also produce a higher mark-up in the price.  To counteract some of the financial differences, focus on buying produce that is locally grown and in season. 

COMMUNITY ISSUES

Community and environmental issues really top the list of reasons to switch to an organic lifestyle. 

Organic agriculture helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counteract global warming, can reduce soil erosion and rehabilitate poor soils, and enhances biodiversity which makes these farms more resilient to unpredictable weather patterns and pest outbreaks.  These environmental benefit examples are only a spattering of how organic agriculture can benefit the planet. 

UNDERSTANDING THE LABELS

If you decide to go the route of organic foods, be a smart consumer and understand the differing labels that food manufacturers may advertise with.  Simply seeing the word ‘organic’ on your food, does not guarantee that it is made with 100% organic products. 

Here are the typical ‘organic/natural’ labels that you may see:

100% Organic

If the product is labeled "100 percent organic" it means that, by law, there are no synthetic ingredients. Also, production processes must meet federal organic standards and must have been independently verified by accredited inspectors.

Organic

If the label says, simply, "organic," no less than 95 percent of the ingredients must have been organically produced.

Made with Organic Ingredients

If a product is labeled "Made with Organic Ingredients," you can be sure that at least 70 percent of its makeup is organic. The remaining ingredients must come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approved list.

All Natural - Natural

Labels that specify "natural" or "all natural" do not mean organic.

There is no standard definition for these terms, except when the terms are applied to meat and poultry products, which the USDA defines as not containing any artificial flavoring, colors or synthetic ingredients.

Free Range

The terms "free-range" or "free-roaming" are similarly meaningless. U.S. government standards are weak. The rule for the label's use on poultry products, for example, is merely that outdoor access be available for "an undetermined period each day."

BOTTOM LINE

So what is the bottom line? From a nutrition perspective, the balance and variety of your family's diet is the most important factor in how healthy it is. Before switching to organic foods, try to focus on these goals: healthy portion sizes, less refined sugars, more whole grains and fiber, and more heart healthy fats.  Then try to eat more home-cooked meals and try to make your plate display all the colors of the rainbow. If your finances are limited but you want to buy organic foods, focus on buying organic products based on the Dirty Dozen list and conventionally-grown based on the Clean Fifteen list.