Organic food is one of the fastest-growing categories in the food industry, despite the fact that it can cost as much as double the price of conventional foods. But is it worth spending more when it comes to buying organic?
Many cynics reckon it’s all a big marketing ploy, another way for supermarkets and producers to charge us extra by playing on our concerns about healthy eating. Organic food has ballooned from a niche industry into a big business. I recently checked the price of organic broccoli in my supermarket and found it to be double the price of the usual non-organic variety. If you’re confused by the organic debate, you’re not alone; so are many experts. Research released last month, commissioned by the United Kingdom Foods Standards Agency surprisingly claimed that buying organic food in the belief it is better for your health is an absolute waste of money. What the research showed was that there is little, if any, nutritional difference between organic and conventionally produced food and that there is no evidence of additional health benefits from eating organic food. The official line of the Food Standards Agency, which is the body that’s responsible for what we eat in the United Kingdom, has always been that organic food is no more nutritious than non-organic, a theory backed up by the new study just released in July.
But the matter is still very much up for debate. The Soil Association, which certifies organic food produced in the United Kingdom, reacted with great disappointment to this study. Peter Melchett of the association points out that the study fell short due to the absence of any research into pesticides and said: “Customers who purchase organic products are not just buying food which is free of pesticides; they are supporting the highest welfare standards for animals, which ban routine use of antibiotics and increases wildlife on farms.” So while the study has said the food has no increased nutrient value there is still the debate of whether it is better to pay extra to avoid pesticides, antibiotics and to eat animals that have lived stress-free, enjoyable lives. For a long time parents, who haven’t been able to afford organic food have been made to feel they are not feeding their children the best. So in some way studies like this can be helpful in making the right decisions for your family.
What is organic food?
Genetically modified crops or ingredients are banned under organic standards, as is the use of additives (for example hydrogenated fats, or aspartame, the artificial sweetener). Animals must be reared without the use of drugs. It’s not just about human health, though—the organic movement is also concerned with the welfare of animals and the environment. The main thing that puts many us off organic food is the cost, and the reason it’s so expensive is because organic farming is slower, harder and not as profitable as the conventional sort but it the animals have a much better life and organic farming is better for the environment in the long term. So it seems there is still a lot to be learnt on this subject, and we have to make this decision for ourselves. Locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers can be found at great prices at the vegetable souq and I would prefer local produce to fruit and vegetables that have traveled thousands of miles.
Ask Alva
I am feeling unhappy with my weight. Can you work out my BMI so I will know how much weight I should lose? My mother keeps telling me I am not fat and I am always looking for food to eat during the day. I am 5’2” feet tall and I weigh 65 kg. — Reem M
Your BMI is 26 so you really only need to lose three or four kilos. I think if you exercise you would tone up and feel better and would be less likely to want to snack. You should only have one sweet snack per day and realize when you have finished you may feel like more, but that feeling will fade in a few minutes. If you still feel hungry have a piece of fruit. E-mail me at [email protected] for a free copy of my healthy eating guide. — Alva