There is much to be said in favor of organic food. The organic produce industry took in $65 billion in 2016 and that farming method is clearly increasingly popular and is here to stay. Nevertheless, there are various misconceptions and inaccuracies related to organic food.
First of all, there is the belief that organic foods are always healthier and more nutritious than conventional foods. Well, studies have shown that there is little difference in the nutritional content of organic and conventional food. Blind tests show little difference in taste between them as well.
A second misconception is that organic means no pesticides. This is not exactly true. Organic means no manufactured chemical pesticides. Organic pesticides are allowed and sometimes large amounts of them are needed to keep pests at bay.
On the other side of the fence, there is the belief that organic foods are much more expensive than conventional foods. While this is sometimes the case, there are increasing examples where it is not at all a valid complaint.
Another prevalent myth is that you either should buy only organic foods, or not bother at all. This makes little sense. Some products are simply less affected by the fact that they are organic than others. Making buying decisions based on real information rather than a strict rule is the way to go.
And that brings us to the final myth about organic food: that you should listen to expert advice about which organic foods to buy. Not all experts agree about what is worthwhile and what isn’t. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what you should buy. Do your own research and consider your own budget to figure out what is best for your kitchen, your meals and your body.
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Organic Food: Debunking 5 Common Myths
Photo, posted July 23, 2013, courtesy of Oregon State University via Flickr.
‘Myths About Organic Food’ from Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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