Stanford University researchers concluded there is little evidence that going organic is much healthier, citing only a few differences involving pesticides and antibiotics.(Photo: AP)
The jury is still out on whether eating organic foods offers kids
greater health benefits than conventional foods, concludes a report out
today by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Based on an analysis
of scientific studies surrounding organic produce, dairy products and
meat, the report says that the health advantages are inconclusive.
"Current evidence does not support any meaningful nutritional benefits
or deficits from eating organic compared with conventionally grown
foods, and there are no well-powered human studies that directly
demonstrate health benefits or disease protection as a result of
consuming an organic diet," it says.
The report does cite lower
pesticides in organic produce and potentially lower risk of exposure to
drug-resistant bacteria, but the needed long-term studies do not yet
exist to show that eating pesticide-free food makes people healthier,
says Joel Forman, an associate professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai
Hospital in New York and co-author of the report, in November's issue of
the journal Pediatrics.
It was released at the academy's meeting in New Orleans. "We don't really have a 100% answer," says Forman.
A study released in September in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine concluded
that organic products have no significant nutritional advantage over
conventional foods, even though consumers often pay more than them. For
that report, researchers looked at 240 studies conducted from 1966 to
2011 covering nutrient and contaminant levels in foods.
Sales of
organic food and beverages totaled $29.22 billion in 2011, according to
the Organic Trade Association in Brattleboro, Vt.
Organic foods
make up 12% of all U.S. fruits and vegetable sales, nearly 6% of the
market for dairy product sales, and only 0.375% of meat, fish and
poultry sales, says the group.
In a statement, Christine Bushway,
president of the trade group, agreed that additional scientific research
is needed to improve understanding of long-term health effects from
dietary choices. But she added, "It is clear that organic presents a
valuable option for consumers who want to lower their family's exposure
to pesticides and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and reduces risk to
farm workers and their families from exposure to toxic pesticides while
maintaining agricultural productivity."
Organic or not, parents
should focus on getting their children to eat a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, says
Forman. The health benefits of eating that kind of diet "are very well
proven and we need to do that first," he says.
If opting for
organic, get "the most bang for your buck" by selecting organic versions
of foods that retain the most pesticide residue -- such as apples and
grapes, Forman recommends. Save money on items such as corn and onions,
which have the least amount.The report cites organic shoppers' guides
like those provided by Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group as good references for consumers.
USA Today